Some scumbag broke into my vehicle and stole the set about 25 years ago. 0 bids. Ive owned. In 1906 Bendelow designed the expansion of Atlantas East Lake Club, the eventual home club of one Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. Well spare you the decade-by-decade rundown of Spalding innovations (and there are many). Original? Ever hear of Belmont (internal, removable sole weighting)? when were spalding executive golf clubs made Ive seen several of those uglies up close over the years so this was fun to view. I have not 1 but 2 sets of Browning 440 irons. Great article takes me back to nostalgia. I am on my 2nd set.I used to lovem and had friends that bought as they loved the ball flight and were also a great set of chippers. Brilliant idea? Great collection I remember many of them in the past 30 years often thought of buying some of them, but luckily, I didnt, Ive purchased dozens of iron sets in the last few years (Big Bertha,FTI, Taylor Made, Cobra, Nike V series) NOne of these work as well as my Ping Zings, Hey, what about Shakespeare and fiberglass. My wife says I never met a strange-looking golf club I did not want to own and play with. Whats troubling to us is the extent to which a reputable company that has its own trademarks and has invested a lot of money and time feels it needs to become a predator on somebody elses goodwill to sell its products, said Callaway chief Don Dye at the time. President Weve done a mini-history on the Hogan Company, with input from a couple of longtime Hogan employees. Read on to learn more about the history of Spalding clubs and what you can expect from various models. The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spalding's most easily recognizable clubs. Within three years, it would be gone for good. Golf bags bulged with 20 to 25 clubs, and the USGA, fearing too many specialty clubs had watered down the skill required in golf, took action. Thanks, http://www.clubsofdistinction.com/cod3/ucir5177.htm. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. My Dad's execs from the 70's were blades that had aluminum shafts. Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasnt for some time now. Smooth tempo swingers Ventus Velo isn't working for me other brands/models suggestions? I really enjoy reading your articles, John. New entries such as Nike and Adams were turning heads as well. Getting sold doesnt have to be the end of the world, but it can be if the buyer doesnt do their homework and pays too much. Spalding Executive clubs were established in the 1960s, with the Top Flite Executive Synchro-Dyned golf clubs being the first in a super popular series. One of my buddies gave me a Tiger Shark wedge the one with 3 different alignment lines, concave dimples on the face instead of grooves, and a funky dual bounce sole configuration. I use them in Central Texas when the fairways are hard and the greens harder (late summer and all winter). I still think I deserve to be recognized as the leader in this category and will be appealing your decision. In 2001 Spalding launched a $17 million ad campaign for Hogan and Strata. The Ping Zings were the worst! Callaway had been making balls but never turned a profit. MacGregor Doctor X. I had the Bears. I have a 3-15 wood set that are fun to play with. One with the sticker decal and one without. I was told they only made a few hundred sets. Executives were my first set as wellI thought they were a great starter set. GolfWRX_Official we closed and then were just screwing around with some of the rental clubs. Titleist and PING were established competitors, while TaylorMade and Callaway were flexing their muscles. This stuff is really interesting.. He also had a head for business and knew a good opportunity when he saw one. Although the Inertial irons werent so lucky. All Irons for men were 37. By the Roaring '20s, A.G. Spalding & Brothers was using the process of "drop forging" to manufacture metal club-heads. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 I wonder what Jack thought of them. Like previously stated the Slotline Lowpro irons were for the most part an exact copy of the Browning 440 irons. Thats great. What about the Porsche irons? The company was already selling golf balls when, in 1905, it became the first in America to offer its own brand of golf clubs. I have two sets of Browning 440 Gold clubs (including the driver, 3 and 5 woods), and a set of Browning 500s. So what did his famous Ginty patent actually mean? Got them for $200.00 which was a really great price other pro shops were asking $450.00 for a set. What can you find out about Wilson x 70 irons. Im from SD, so I had a set. (Cavity back blades???) Money put a few of these clubs on touralthough that does not mean they were worth a penny. i think special t golf was the only people dumb enuff to handle these. We (and tour players) figured out it was very stable in the wind and was 2 clubs longer with the irons. "logo": { Like its sporting goods brother-in-arms MacGregor, Spalding ownership changed hands in 1958. Kind of reminds one of the Hogan radial but not near as wide on the soul. Someone suggested to me they were a prototype club for Johnny Miller, but were never marketed. I have a set of Spalding exec XE love them- I dont play more than 5-6 rounds a year now, but they are so consistant , I could go a year between swings and still play the same- got them back in 1980- ish. Dynamiter wedges featured deep grooves, often in unusual shapes, that ultimately prompted the USGA to outlaw them. He also was one of the best designers in the golf biz. It was a low loft club used for poor lies and putting. Long irons with shallow faces, little offset and perhaps slightly softer shafts can be quite playable. They are nearly in perfect condition. It made its mark in the 80s through leveraged buyouts buying undervalued or poorly managed companies with other peoples money, improving their bottom lines, and then spinning them off at a profit. And if you did not have the exact lie to match your swing could cause issues with the toe or heel diving down at impact. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I'm 25 years old and I've been playing with my grandfathers Spalding executives for 10 years now, and I shoot about a 80-85. Sold millions of those over the years. Instead, well hit the highlights. Started Yesterday at 04:29 AM, By Great set. The early Top-Flites were juast the opposite; you couldnt cut one of them with an axe. Ugly or unconventional, I felt a more confident with them and Stan Thompson fairway woods. With Spalding's mass-market success breeding scores of imitators, players could pick and choose from countless club lines. Non-Tapered Golf Grips: 8 Facts to Know Before You Buy! At the turn of the 20th Century, golf had stirred mild interest in the United States, and A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods saw an opportunity. Today we are going to be spotlighting the crazy, the absurd, and some of the wackiest irons the golf world has ever seen. Wright was the driving force behind Bostons Franklin Park golf course, the first municipal course in the U.S. Bostons other muni is named after Wright, who donated the land for the Donald Ross design. He was a pro at having fun when he played golf! More on the tr600!!!! 11 golf clubs/sets you owned and what they're worth now - PGA I dont know how people could justify any of the others. worst time to visit costa rica; apartments for rent in fort pierce with utilities included; sunshine plaza opening hours sunday; photosynthesis and cellular respiration kahoot We want your input before testing begins. Europe was a bit ahead of the United States when it came to golf, and the sport had only just started to explode in the United States. I got balls, well ProV1's anyway. ***GIVEAWAY*** Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge! CT. We had a very good amateur player, reputed to be one of the longest hitters in the state. Since the Ryder Cup is shortly upon us MyGolfSpy & GolfCircuit.com thought it[]. They also specialized in unique clubs like the Cran Creek. today. Although they wont win any awards for innovation, Spaldings Molitor clubs are a decent game improvement set and a good option for beginners. They produced more premium balls, but we used to make 25-, 26-million dozen a year.. APPLY NOW: Cleveland Frontline Elite Putters! If so send them to contact(at)mygolfspy.com. (Everything To Know). Author: Ned Howard Retired PGA Teaching Professionalif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'swingyard_com-box-3','ezslot_6',194,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-swingyard_com-box-3-0'); Spalding has one of the most storied histories in sports, and a major impact on golf. Who knows what might have happened if someone else had gained control, Im 75 and recall that my Dad was a Spalding Dot guy. I wonder how much influence he had on those? Spalding Executive clubs were established in the 1960s, with the Top Flite Executive Synchro-Dyned golf clubs being the first in a super popular series. Happily, I can say that I have seen these over the years, but none of them ever made it into my golf bag. KKR had been trying to dump Spalding as early as 2000, but no one would take on the debt burden. PING was still PING, and Tiger was becoming Tiger. Eventually banned because it was too straight. Upload or insert images from URL. Still have the XL-4s in the garage. Im 65 and still playing to seven with them. ), shoplifted about four dozen balls each from a failing department store in New York City. "headline": "Spalding Irons by Year", I had some Staff FG-17 and my friends dad had the Executives. If youre looking to buy or sell vintage Spalding clubs, the best place to do so is on eBay or Craigslist, where you can list the clubs in the condition that they are currently in. He would hold up the club so they could see the 7 on the bottom and with a big grin say I hit a 7 iron. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Sponsored by: GolfCircuit.com, Maxfli Tour, Tour X and Tour S Golf Balls, Penfold Ace Golf Balls: Whats Old Is New Again, Topgolf Callaway 2022 Financials: $4 Billion? I used to have a set of Ajay Pro Classics that were my dads. jazzbone, September 4, 2006 in Equipment. I still have the irons to this day! Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. Make sense as I do have a Johnny Miller PW which looks just like an X 70. The reason why Spalding clubs arent particularly valuable is that they have been widely available for so many years. My Uncle had the Executives and my Dad had the XL-4s. My golfing buddy borrowed my old set, including the driver and had one of his best rounds ever. Callaway had long wanted Top-Flites ball factory and patents but didnt want to assume any debt. Jones famously retired from golf after winning the 1930 version of the Grand Slam. They introduced the Browning 500 Series to counter that effect.But, they waited too long and by that timethe party was over! I played a lot of Spaulding equipment as a kid in all kinds of sports. Case in point: The article makes the statement that The (Cleveland) VAS irons have finally been dethroned from their previous top spot as Worst Iron Ever Made! I dont think Cory Pavin would have won PGA tour events and endorsed them if this had been true. Dont be ashamed thoughsome of these designs have actually been pioneering for the industry. BombTech Golf Reviews (These Golf Clubs Any Good? Used to play traditional blades with the odd shank. Leather Golf Grips Review: Should I Use Them? Please put any questions or comments here. I have one of those! A very easy to hit blade. Still, the Uniques are the best irons I have ever hit! Yet again, the same fate as MacGregor had. Even tho I play with graphic shafts I really like the way those play. This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets. But as you can see could cause some serious digging issues. Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. I had a few customers back in the 1970s who ordered custom irons and would request the same number on the sole of their heads. I love these old clubs. In one sense, Spalding suffered the same fate irrelevance as did fellow legacy golf brands Wilson Staff and MacGregor. They dropped the Tour Edition moniker and focused on the expansion of their touring staff on the PGA, Senior PGA and LPGA tours. About half of our sales are with personal names or corporate logos in the back and given as gifts. The Ginty was the first modern Utility club. Bought a set for $25 as to help out a young lady with cancer. Mr. Adams had just formed Taylor Made Golf in late 1978 and this was their first showing in the market. With KKR, it was a 180-degree turnaround. i was hitting 8 iron and was suprised how high the ball flight was. MacGregors ownership carousel started in 1978 when it was sold to lumber conglomerate Wickes. Anybody know anything about them? The shelves are full of the latest and greatest technology (hybrids, woods the size of a frying pan, dozens of shaft offerings), in 20+ years people will be laughing at those funky sticks as well. Corey Pavin says, If I wont paid to play them ugly ass sticks they would have never been heard of ;). They also specialized in unique clubs like the Cran Creek. Insurmountable debt, uncertain management, and stiff competition forced Spalding to stop production. Had a set of McGregor Irons called Doctor Rx, they felt good hit in the middle, they reminded me of a Pringle potato chip. Again THANK YOU FOR THE GOLF LESSON!!!!! (What Exactly Happened?). You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! . It was just crazy how many golf balls we would sell through Wal-Mart in 18-ball pack, adds White Wed get orders on the fax machine for 50,000 18-ball packs, and theyd want them in two weeks.. I am a self-admitted admirer of Mr. Hogan having owned more than 2 dozen sets of various Hogan iron sets over the years and a former member of the only club to have a Hogan-designed course (actually 27 holes). If KKR had appointed Scott Creleman as the head man at the time I firmly believe Dpaldi g would still be a player in the golf industry "keywords": ["spalding irons by year","when did spalding stop making golf clubs","does spalding still make golf clubs","spalding golf clubs history","spalding executive golf clubs history"], marrano patio homes lancaster, ny 9, Juin, 2022. horse property for sale pocatello, idaho; I still think there were others that deserved some consideration. On sole: club# + SPALDING. Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? - Windtree Golf Written by June 5, 2022 . My woods are Taylormade Burners 1 & 3, and I have two Mizuno hybrids. Sold them to a guy 30 years younger who also loved them. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. I love them but Im mystified with the hex screw in the bottom of every shaft! I love them so much I have four sets, just a case a club breaks. That debt burden, however, finally proved fatal. Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver Review, Best Womens Golf Clubs for Intermediate Players, Ned Howard Retired PGA Teaching Professional. Paste as plain text instead, Box 4666, Ventura, CA 93007 Request a Quote: comelec district 5 quezon city CSDA Santa Barbara County Chapter's General Contractor of the Year 2014! By 1970, the ownership group morphed into the Questor Corporation, and Pyramid Rubber was rechristened Evenflo. You can still buy Top-Flite and Strata branded balls at DICKS and Golf Galaxy. Jeff Sheets - Spalding - Past Designs The company's unique "baseball mark" A.G. Spalding had helped put baseball on the map--was stamped on the clubs and below it "Made in Great Britain" appeared. Haha my dad had a set of these and I ended up bagging the 3 and 4 irons as I hated the hybrids that came with my new set. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. Weird thing was I could hit the XL-4 long irons better and the Executives better from 7-PW. Way ahead of their time in the perimeter weighted genre.