when were spalding executive golf clubs made

they were a good iron, that looked good at address, and were easy to hit. Finally, I think a distinction needs to be made between the wackiest looking and worst irons made. So for those of you who own a set and are fellow collectors of the ridiculoustoday is your day to shine. Their original design was a smaller headed Tony Penna model Innovator, they became the n1 and then the Bears came out when oversize irons hit the market. FIND A SET! Can you help me find the history of the club? * Note: These irons were designed by Pat Simmons and ex-pilot and engineer which also had a part in the Zebra putter design. Almost , http://www.intheholegolf.com/store/f2is.html. Play to a 4 6 cap. I had read your original 2018 article about why Hogan still mattered. Spalding, seemingly, was on top of the world. If so send them to contact(at)mygolfspy.com. You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! I bought them new. Wilson never really recovered after Pepsi bought it in 1970. Spalding sold off its majority ownership in Evenflo in August of 1998. In the early days, golf clubs were hand-forged using a hammer and anvil. It means the Son of a Scottish brood that keeps getting into trouble only to easily find his way out of trouble! For more info on Stan Thompson click here. Not to belittle them because KKR is incredibly successful, but they didnt know the golf business the way we did, says White. It is more of a you gotta be kidding me), an Integra 650 cc driver (you have to dig a ditch before you swing), etc. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 Great list! Id like to include the Wilson Reflex irons and PGF Slammer series. Spalding took off with sales and production with Bobby Jones joining the team. This technology is a shank-proof hosel. There are a couple different models of this iron. Brings back great memories! The real prize for Callaway was the Chicopee ball plant. The VAS irons have finally been dethroned from their previous top spot as Worst Iron Ever Made! Although from a phone-in interview Mr. VAS told us, I feel robbed. I can't imagine them being worth a shit. For more than 25 years, he has contributed to a wide array of publications including "American Heritage," "American History," "Yankee," "VFW," "Golf," and "Golf News." The strangest set I play with at the moment is a matching set of 3 through 15 fairway woods made by Protactic Golf in Chicago (part of the remains of Northwestern Golf, I think). Non-Tapered Golf Grips: 8 Facts to Know Before You Buy! Unfortunately, the remaining companys sales still couldnt support the debt. I think Browning was leaving the golf business then and they were discounted last set in the store. Well these irons which were designed out in LA by Stan Thompson were made to capitalize on that same concept. It was if I walked into the store from a time machine. 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. You can post now and register later. "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjT3UiJflw60ZD31-6yC4mA", Just terribleand never sold thruas well it shouldnt. Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets. I actually have these clubs. I demand a re-count!, He went on to say, and as owner of MyGolfSpy you should feel ashamed since you were given a set as a gift 15 years ago and I remember you putting me in play for a few rounds, how could you do this to me?, Slotline had a hit on their hands with their Slotline Inertial puttersthey sold over 2 Million of those flatsticks. I gave the set to my nephew, and he loves them. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Goldwin was a San Diego company, years ahead of its time. Peter lived in Ridgefield,Ct. Different, yes, but they are the only ones where you can really aim at the target! Spalding spent the last half of the 20th-century battling with Titleist for golf ball supremacy. I still have the samurai irons,2-pw and woods,driver,3w,5w,7w,,and still use them. In 1993 Payne Stewart signed a multi-million-dollar deal to go full Top-Flite, a move that sidetracked Stewarts career. Great collection! The chrome How about the Spalding Exec SE. You might be wondering how the hell did a Ping iron make the listbut look againthis one definitely deserves to be on the list for Wackiest Irons. Today, Spalding golf clubs still exist, but theyre nowhere near as popular as they once were. These articles are all outstanding. Im from SD, so I had a set. I asked him about it and he said he had shown it to Spaulding, Wilson and MacGregor and their response was It will never sell!!!! The likes of Callaway, TaylorMade, and PING all enjoyed good commercial success in the late nineties, and Spalding couldnt match the same feats achieved by the biggest brands. "height": "342", Both are really great. By then the Cisneros brothers had taken the money and ran. In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. Two years prior, they sold Spalding and Evenflo to Wall Street investment firm KKR for an estimated and unbelievable 1 billion dollars. During the time of the KKR takeover I was employed as the Managing Director in Australia/ NZ The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight. - BenHogan. (What Exactly Happened?). They owed more to its creditors than Spalding was worth. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #3. today. By the early 1920s, Spalding began using a mechanical hammer to drop-forge heads in an assembly line, making the process faster, more consistent, and considerably less expensive. Very well researched and well done, as someone who is not super well versed in some of golfs history, it was a great, informative read! Had 3-PW plus 1, 3, & 5 woods. I actually travel with it and use it at the driving range, so I dont have to rent clubs. Design the future of bad golf! I became a +2 handicap using those irons, and a lot of people scoffed at them early ontill they saw me hit them. Spalding developed the first liquid center golf ball, the Kros-Flite. * Note: These irons were designed by Dave (cant remember last name) which was considered a very good designer by others in the business at the time and one that some felt did not get as much credit as he deserved. 1-949-642-6484 . Today, collectors prize the narrow-faced Cran Cleek. They produced more premium balls, but we used to make 25-, 26-million dozen a year.. 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? Thanks! In 1895, Spalding started making golf balls. ), shoplifted about four dozen balls each from a failing department store in New York City. I dont think I paid more than $300 for all four sets combined- Im a Salvation Army searcher. That means providing you with equipment reviews you can trust, Since you mentioned it in the article, how about doing the history of Ben Hogan golf from its inception in 1953 to itd ultimate demise under Callaway and then its resurrection in 2015. FS - Fiberbuilt Flight Deck / GripMaster Roo pulls, New Vokey SM8 52 & 56 wedge set / New Titleist Caps (for bigger heads) / New Cobra RadSpeed 10.5* Driver, Peacoat, with premium, upgraded shaft, TSR3 ub-6x, cobra radspeed, TEE pro 721 driver and 3w, Ventus Black TR Folds of Honor 6x w/ TM Adapter, Ventus Red TR 6x w/ TM Adapter, Adidas Tour 360 22 Size 13, MyStealth2 Driver Headcover. Decent? But $1 billion is a lot of cabbage, and KKR borrowed heavily to make the deal. Copyright 2023. Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. Known for launching the ball from a nice crisp fairway lie but it jumped the shark when it came to hitting it from any kind of fluff. President I have a 3-15 wood set that are fun to play with. Thanks, http://www.clubsofdistinction.com/cod3/ucir5177.htm. I traded in some Titleist Acushnet blades for themI had only paid $99.00 for the set of Acushnets (used)they gave me $139.00 in trade value, and wanted another $100 for the UniquesThey were some of the easiest to hit irons I have ever ownedout of the 40 50 different sets I have had. But the funky look kept me from ever thinking about buying a whole set. 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. KKR wanted Spalding to make money the KKR way. The stickers are silver, but the Slinger logo is a black heavy type face and says pat. When I was starting golf, I went to the shop and these were the clubs that I hit the best (compared to cavity backs) and bought them. Spaldings buddy Wright had been doing the same thing since 1892. $89.99. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. Under Chapter 363, it bid $125 million for Top-Flite. Im not sure how rare they are, but youd think there would be a trace of them somewhere. I bought my first set of real golf clubs around 1991 or 1992, the Spalding Executive. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, (your email address will not be published), Acushnet 2022 Financials: $2.27 Billion and Counting, Penfold Ace Golf Balls: Whats Old Is New Again, Four Testers Wanted Inesis Spikeless Shoe. Thanks. 1 Iron Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball . I owned two sets of Unique ironsstarting in 1976. Alternatively, you can look on a discount site like Rock Bottom Golf. They looked like a full set of hybrids but only lasted a short period of time. BarbaJo, you da man! Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. In 1998 Spalding released the Top-Flite System C and System T golf balls which, Spalding claimed, were designed to perform best with two top-selling drivers of that year, the Callaway Big Bertha and the TaylorMade Ti Bubble 2. There was a time when Spalding was one of the biggest brands in golf. Amazing how so of the old stuff works better than the hyped up new stuff! Just got Calloway X20s last week. not just the American side , some of Europe and some from Japan makers also wacky !!! Great article takes me back to nostalgia. Although the Inertial irons werent so lucky. I was wondering if anyone had ever tried Slotline Classic Copper golf clubs. Decided it was time for me to get some cavity back irons. They got so popular at the time that it scared club makers badly (Every set was pretty much custom built then), and Golfing associations banned the club from play. I really enjoy reading your articles, John. Duclos, a former flight engineer worked on the Skylab and S-IVB (third stage of the Saturn V rocket, responsible for getting the Apollo module from the Earth to the moon). This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. Turns out it was just 20 years ago. Weve done a mini-history on the Hogan Company, with input from a couple of longtime Hogan employees. when were spalding executive golf clubs made. I have a set of Ben Hogan AHS Hybrids and the SW is even a hybrid! Well then so did everyone else. He struggled quite a bit with the change.. So, if youre buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with. Really solid clubs. But more trouble was coming for Spalding. I didnt know until I read this article that evidently FILA was the designer of the original face forward iron design; speaking of which, I wouldve thought the F2 Face Forward Irons wouldve made the list (http://www.intheholegolf.com/store/f2is.html). Mr. Adams had just formed Taylor Made Golf in late 1978 and this was their first showing in the market. It kept some of those out of my bag Im sure. An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. In fact, one of Spaldings most popular models was the Bobby Jones collection, selling two million sets between 1932 and 1973. Cleveland was giving them away for free if you send in some coupon from golf digest. They also specialized in unique clubs like the Cran Creek. when were spalding executive golf clubs made MENU. And Jim Furyk won the 2003 U.S. Open with the new Strata Ace, which featured playing card suits (a la Penfold) instead of numbers. I love them but Im mystified with the hex screw in the bottom of every shaft! However, the name of their popular brand Top Flite was sold to Callaway, and is used for discount clubs and balls. Started Thursday at 03:24 PM, Please put and questions or comments here, Please put any questions or comments here, Please put any questions of comments here. What about the Porsche irons? What about Giant Irons, I remember seeing those on an infomercial a few times. Or maybe it was just wacky that a German car company decided to start selling $1500 golf clubs that sucked. HellI know I dont and I have been involved in some type of internet golf business since[], THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST: Farve The Looper (CONGRATS!) 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #1. It is my Go To clubmy favorite. 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. I was interested in golf until around 2001 and soon discovered spoiling was on anachronism at that point. It became the most consistent and durable golf ball ever made. The Start Of Spalding Golf Clubs In 1905, a sporting goods company saw that golf was starting to become quite popular in the United States. Thanks for the history lesson, truly amazing how fast Spalding unraveled. (Sponsored by: GolfCircuit.com), CONTEST! I will let the then Chariman of FILA Golf tell you a little bit about these 1994 released set of ironsand take you back in time like you were there for the original launch: Never before have so many game improvement features been built into one club. Insurmountable debt, uncertain management, and stiff competition forced Spalding to stop production. I want to say they were called Ironwoods but I cant find them on the internet maybe they were just in one of my wild dreams!! Throughout America, the affordable Spalding clubs flew off the shelves and reaped huge catalog sales. Callaway had been making balls but never turned a profit. Currently play AP2s coming out of the bag for a few rounds and if the linear dynamics keep performing like they did in Vegas the AP2s will be taking a long rest. ), Undersize Golf Grips Explained (8 Key Facts!). * Note: These irons were designed by Karsten Solheimsure most of you knew that though. With a few months of work and some radical design modifications it was turned into the first modern Metalwood. Read on to learn more about the history of Spalding clubs and what you can expect from various models. Inside cavity: blue/back button; EXECUTIVE x EZ. Actually, we used to produce more golf balls than Titleist. It was in A Disordly Compendium of Golf I cant find my copy (actually havent seen it in a few months) but I know it was in there. ), Phat Golf Scooters Reviews (Good or Waste of Cash? I see that a few from my list made it. GolfWRX_Official Yes it has some smoother lines compared to some of the other clubs on the listbut you put that PowerBow as Nike says on any of those other irons and it is a dead ringer for this list of crazies. have a putter,,that comes in a case,,like a pool stick,,on thecourse when its time to put,,i take it out,each piece screws together to form the putter,,,,,,,putts really good,,,. He actually manufactured a set of irons whose heads were literally upside down take an iron, turn in upside down, your top edge now hits the turf, the sole having a hosel. I know that this is a very late reply but I actually knew the designer of these irons and spent time speaking with him. The plan was to position Hogan as the premium forged line sold through pro shops. TaylorMade, by comparison, has been sold twice in the past four years. maybe EVER. It wasnt the shank that bothered me, it was waiting for it to happen that was the problem. Spalding stopped making golf clubs in 2002, and their last clubs were branded as Top Flite Oversized irons. Is that so? Anyone ever hear of anything like that? I just love them! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. but fairly forgiving. They are awesome clubs, very well-weighted, with a great center of gravity for high loft shots. If so send us some picsdont worry we will keep it 100% anonymous . I believe Robert Molitor was the fellow who developed the Top Flite. There are worse things. Its high point came in 1998 when Mark OMeara won the Masters and the Open Championship for Spalding. In 1977 while having molds made for my new line of Irons at a mold makers in Oxnard California, I spotted a very interesting club in a bag at the rear of the shop. The Executive clubs are among the finest pure forged blades ever produced and have certainly stood the test of time. Just remember, Its always the indian and not the arrow. 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. PING was still PING, and Tiger was becoming Tiger. Leather Golf Grips Review: Should I Use Them? TaylorMade, now owned by adidas, was rising, and Callaway was a major force. werent as good. "mainEntityOfPage": "https://swingyard.com/spalding-irons-by-year/", While theyre old-school, Spalding clubs are made to high standards and are built to last, making them a great option if youre looking for a cheap and cheerful set of clubs. Upload or insert images from URL. It was fun to have and I actually hit the thing really really well. Ive got other odd clubs, a clear/see thru 5W, 68 & 73 degree wedge (of course, they may not be considered crazy. Those were first made around the end of the 19th century during the hickory era. Is it worth getting a new set of clubs, or should I focus on getting spikes and a gloves, ( I currently golf in thing sandles). The Kro-Flite in 1930 was golfs first liquid center golf ball, while the Spalding DOT was a mid-century icon. It wasnt very sophisticated back then, and they wanted to add layers of sophistication that they had in their other businesses. Some deserve to be on the former, but definitely not the latter! 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. John is an aging, yet avid golfer, writer, 9-point-something handicapper living back home in New England after a 22-year exile in Minnesota. 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 It had a good locking mechanism, and was made for poorer people who could not afford a whole set. There are still folks around from when Mr. Hogan ran the company and I am sure you can get some keen insights not only of the company but of Mr. Hogan himself. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs. Callaway wound up suing Spalding for using its imagery on Spalding packaging. The Browning 440s took my game from the 150s (Wilson clubs) to the low 70s. As a designer, the design is perfect and although they look funny, they were a great club, ask Cory Pavin. This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets. 2 Iron (21) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE . Within three years, it would be gone for good. But Zevo Golf is one of those on this list that was a pioneering. I don't mind the executives though, don't really know much about them either. GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, Tuesday at 04:47 PM, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, February 20, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, February 13, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, February 6, GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, January 31, By The name was acquired by the folks behind Nitro golf balls and they now have a full line you can buy on RockBottomGolf. #PowerToThePlayer. Remember all the other clubs, good to read. I played them for years, they were solid, and they looked really good at address for their time period. MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. And although Spalding would show operational profits, debt service kept turning those profits into losses. I think a list of the craziest irons made should definitely include the Jerry Barber Golden Touch irons made over 40 years ago. Seu lugar para proteger o seu capital. Wed have monthly meetings at their West 57th Street offices in New York. * Note: These irons were designed by Duke Duclos. Those Slinger Irons were the brain child of Jim Flood. Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. The pro-shop who had them could not find a buyer. Both were smart, competent leaders but had little golf experience. Duke gave me an original solid brass/bronze Greenirons Slotline putter (heel shafted with slot in top line and white dot on lower rear section).. When we got out there, his Black Dot was split all the way to the liquid core I played D1 golf in college and we got three Red Dots for every match. Although they wont win any awards for innovation, Spaldings Molitor clubs are a decent game improvement set and a good option for beginners. My Dad's execs from the 70's were blades that had aluminum shafts. KKRs $25 billion takeover of RJR Nabisco was chronicled in the book (and tv movie) Barbarians at the Gate. The old Spaulding Executive set I had back in the early 1980s. Today its hard to fine a wooden golf club in a bag!!!! Starting in 1900, Spalding opened club-making factories in London and in Fife, Scotland, producing forged iron heads for Spalding clubs sold both in the UK and U.S. The brand was popular until the late 1990s, but Spalding opted for a new direction at the turn of the century and focused on other sports instead of golf. Eventually banned because it was too straight. I still have a set of samurai woods and irons,,and still use them,,had a pro hit my 7 iron once,,it flew his 7iron,,he was amazed,they hit great,,but graphite wears down over years and breaks,and when that happens,,its hard to find a replacement,,,. I would hand stamp #7 on all irons. 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. Don't let scams get away with fraud. MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Extra weight added to the toe keeps the center of gravity where needed and also keeps the club head square at impact, resulting in straighter shots.. C $75.53. The legendary Spalding bird logo appeared on their clubs in the 1960s, with the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons proving popular on Tour. Thanks for the article. Got them for $200.00 which was a really great price other pro shops were asking $450.00 for a set. The Top-Flite, Strata, and Hogan brands stayed alive for a while, but Callaway eventually mothballed them all. Spalding club-makers paid as much scrutiny to shafts as heads. About; Blog; Service; Contacts In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. So what did his famous Ginty patent actually mean? Current owner FILA Korea Ltd took Acushnet public, and the company has thrived ever since. Again THANK YOU FOR THE GOLF LESSON!!!!! ), Finn Scooter Golf Reviews (Are These the Real Deal? We knew something was up, recalls White. The Ping Zings were the worst! The Pyramid Rubber Company, a maker of baby bottles, strollers, and other infant products, bought a controlling interest. MacGregor Doctor X. I had the Bears. Spalding, like its old school brethren Wilson and MacGregor, simply wasnt sexy to a new generation of golfers. This is the story of Spaldings Final Countdown. Though he is a footnote in the PGA history he was briefly on tour in the 50s. The design gave the clubs an exotic bamboo look; the underlying message being that these clubs offered players bamboo's legendary flexibility and whip-like strength. Norman credited the extra spin of the Tour Edition for winning the 1986 British Open. 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos, 2023 The Honda Classic - Discussion and Links to photos, 2023 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to photos, 2023 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Discussion and Links to Photos, 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am - Discussion and Links to all photos. You can check it out at http://www.adjustablegolfclub.com. I am the person that brought the first Metalwoods to the market. Spalding Top-Flite In 1995 Spalding Sporting Goods reorganized its golf club division by forming the Top-Flight golf company as its premium club brand. Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. Thank you for your research efforts. Did KKR overpay? I got an incomplete set at the Salvation Army for $15. I tried to hit it oncenot a good idea! Still, the Uniques are the best irons I have ever hit! Just found and bought a set of Lil David Slingers. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. The "New York Times" frequently syndicates his work. Thanks for the memories, John Barba. As weve discussed before, its extremely difficult for legacy brands to remain relevant, especially when new, fresh brands get aggressive. The Top Flite name lives on, however, thanks to the purchase of its namesake via Callaway in the early 2000s. In 1962, Pyramid merged with Dunhill International and the AP Parts Corporation. Various . Spalding was the big name in women's golf clubs by 1950. We (and tour players) figured out it was very stable in the wind and was 2 clubs longer with the irons. Over two million Bobby Jones sets were sold in America. Is it worth getting a new set of clubs, or should I focus on getting spikes and a gloves, ( I currently golf in thing sandles) 0. When youre in the market for Spalding clubs, bear in mind that they were branded as Top-Flite clubs for a while, so be sure to broaden your search to include Top-Flite models. I have one of those! Corey Pavin says, If I wont paid to play them ugly ass sticks they would have never been heard of ;). By The 1999 Hogan Apex, forged by Endo Manufacturing in Japan, remains a sought-after collectible, and a very playable blade, to this day. They are similar to the Nike slingshots as they have a powerbow looking thing on the back of them. but worth a kings ransom, Great post thanks mgs but i agree with dj ,The doctor rx has to be on the list. The Spalding brand, however, is still alive under the Russell Athletic umbrella, making basketballs and apparel. I bought a set of blue-backed Uniques back in the early 80s. Although lots of factors influence how much golf clubs are worth, you can typically pick up a set of Spalding golf clubs for less than $100. * Note: These irons were designed by Jim Flood and were considered a controversial design and are often times very hard to find. Not the first or the last business to be destroyed by KKR. What about the old Bullet Driver that was hollow in the center (like an inverted U shape)? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The Endo-forged Hogan Apex Plus cavity back irons came soon after, along with a solid-core Hogan Apex ball. These gentlemen used them to win large amounts of money on the course from unsuspecting victims. . CT. We had a very good amateur player, reputed to be one of the longest hitters in the state. OK MyGolfSpyers, its time to get creative! You cannot paste images directly. You can still buy Top-Flite and Strata branded balls at DICKS and Golf Galaxy. I just searched eBay right now and saw a set for $139.

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