Spaldings contributions to modern golf are considerable. And Spalding predated Mizuno by at least 60 years with a copper undercoating for its forged blades in the mid-50s. On sole: club# + SPALDING. Spalding introduced the Vardon Flyer, a golf ball that was popularized by Harry Vardon. History of Spalding Golf Clubs | Golflink.com But Zevo Golf is one of those on this list that was a pioneering. Really solid clubs. 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!) Learn how your comment data is processed. Although they wont win any awards for innovation, Spaldings Molitor clubs are a decent game improvement set and a good option for beginners. During their time together, Vardon and Spalding agreed the best way to grow the game in the U.S. and grow the market for Spalding golf products was to build more golf courses. You should shoot me some pics of your new set. BarbaJo, you da man! Love to see them. I may be way off they had a a plain face -but the back was a series of round holes -like a honey comb design does any one remember these what were they called and who made themmy friend died so I cant ask himanyway thanks. (Cavity back blades???) Ugly or unconventional, I felt a more confident with them and Stan Thompson fairway woods. I STILL play with my Spalding Executive set 2 SW. The Ginty, fueron palos adelantados a su poca, las maderas Ginty parecen las antecesoras de las big bertha de callaway, el material del que estaban hechas no poda aguantar las inercias, pero el diseo ya era adelantado a su tiempo. The ball was introduced in 1900. He also worked at Zevo when the LoB Irons were developed. We knew something was up, recalls White. . Great set. when were spalding executive golf clubs made 11 golf clubs/sets you owned and what they're worth now - PGA I played them for years, they were solid, and they looked really good at address for their time period. i just hit a 8 iron in that series last night. By He also had some copycat Browning irons in the trunk, but I refused I couldnt even look at them with a straight face. Bought a set for $25 as to help out a young lady with cancer. Thanks. Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. So, if youre buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with. They kept slashing the pricing. Press J to jump to the feed. Is that so? Hope you find this one interesting!!!! As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. With the help of computers, we designed a unique shape we call the `Bull Nose which extends the toe weight out far enough to balance the head without creating an elongated appearance. Dynamiter wedges featured deep grooves, often in unusual shapes, that ultimately prompted the USGA to outlaw them. Quite honestly, we werent ready for that.. The Executives were the bomb back in the day. The real prize for Callaway was the Chicopee ball plant. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #2. I got balls, well ProV1's anyway. ***GIVEAWAY*** Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge! The company also announced an alliance with Bob Bettinardi to create a line of high-end Hogan putters. Shortly thereafter, Spalding signed him as spokesperson, vice president and director of research. With a few months of work and some radical design modifications it was turned into the first modern Metalwood. Fantastic article John! 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. Thanks! & Bubba Dickerson won the 2001 US Amatuer with a set of Nicklaus Bears! Turns out it was just 20 years ago. I have a set of Lynx Parallax irons that were my fathers. Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. Still bagging their wedges. I don't mind the executives though, don't really know much about them either. The company was already selling golf balls when, in 1905, it became the first in America to offer its own brand of golf clubs. My golf team partner talked me into getting new technology Ping G-20s a couple years ago, & I can not hit them nearly as well. Non-Tapered Golf Grips: 8 Facts to Know Before You Buy! That was a great history lesson!!!!! The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. The 1999 Hogan Apex, forged by Endo Manufacturing in Japan, remains a sought-after collectible, and a very playable blade, to this day. Yet again, the same fate as MacGregor had. 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. Well these irons which were designed out in LA by Stan Thompson were made to capitalize on that same concept. Oddity? CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 I accidentally broke it in the late 1970s the shaft was installed over a milled section of the hosel! when were spalding executive golf clubs made Regardless, both are great sets. I learned the game on a set of used Spalding Execs-still have them today. GolfWRX_Official But as you can see could cause some serious digging issues. Pretty sure that was the first major won for a solid core ball. Look at many of todays hybrids. Nice article John! 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. I owned two sets of Unique ironsstarting in 1976. 1 Iron Spalding Executive x EZ Oversize. I have a set of both the 440s and the 500s, and there is no difference in face depth. 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. NOW AVAILABLE: GolfWRX G/Fore Hats and Holderness & Bourne Polos! Some crazy lookin clubs, Why didnt you include the 1st set of Ping Irons? In the meantime, this should hold you over, https://mygolfspy.com/why-does-the-ben-hogan-equipment-company-still-matter/. Nabbed them just for the pure ugliness. They looked like a full set of hybrids but only lasted a short period of time. Jeff Sheets had been Director of R&D for Top-Flite since 1995, and his first club for Hogan became a legend. 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. C $75.53. Great looking blade and the low COG really lets one hit it high. In 1938, the USGA passed an edict limiting players to 14 clubs. They preceded hybrid irons by 20 years or so. Recently I bought another set (I keep an eye on E-Bay for them) so I could have extras & other club sets for friends that come into town. Im 65 and still playing to seven with them. Spalding decided it would be good business to provide golf course design services free of charge to anyone with the money and inclination to build one. No. I have a set of Ben Hogan AHS Hybrids and the SW is even a hybrid! Finally, my number came up along with everyone else in the product management and marketing teams.. Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. What was wacky about the Bears? These were said to be Moe Normans favorite clubs and are rated by the MyGolfSpy Forums resident vintage club expert Big Stu as the third greatest pure forged blade of all time. Spalding Executive Left Handed Golf Clubs There are several different types of left-handed golf club sets, so which one is the best for you? Man crush on Nicklaus led to this purchase. Jim, If you are interested in writing about the history of the urethane covered golf ball at Titleist, I can provide all of the facts. 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 Somehow they squeezed 492 dimples on them Those balls were rocketships. 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 have been playing golf over 40 years and have owned many brands of clubs. Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasnt for some time now. The result is the easiest-to-hit long irons ever. Hmmmare you wondering why all irons arent made out of titanium then? These were great clubs. } They are also said to be legendary Canadian player Moe Normans favorite clubs of all time. This putter is a remake of the model Bobby Jones used in the 1930s and features a head made from nickel plating over copper plating over forged carbon steel. Some scumbag broke into my vehicle and stole the set about 25 years ago. Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. I would appreciate any help you could offer! Men's Right Handed. I actually have a set of 440s I bring them out every year or two when I am hitting the ball poorly. I have a full set of Exec XE irons. We have been making them since 1992ship them all over the worldto soldiers, traveling execs, private pilots, cyclists, retirees that want to walk but cant lug a full set, and many other categories. Incidentally, Vulcan (Chicago suburb club makers who made some of the earliest hybrids) made a full set of hybrids 3-SW. You have not lived until you hit good hybrid wedges! What the hey. Win a bunch of BogeyPro swag! That debt burden, however, finally proved fatal. GolfWRX_Spotted posted a topic in Tour and Pre-Release Equipment, February 13. My wife says I never met a strange-looking golf club I did not want to own and play with. Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons - Ironfinder Spalding stopped making golf clubs in 2002, and their last clubs were branded as Top Flite Oversized irons. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Spalding sponsored Vardons 1900 tour of America, culminating in Vardon winning the U.S. Open in Chicago. The History of Spalding Golf Clubs - Hickory Golfers So I sent it in and got the iron. In one sense, Spalding suffered the same fate irrelevance as did fellow legacy golf brands Wilson Staff and MacGregor. We had small layoffs on an ongoing basis, and people kept looking over their shoulder. Tommy Armour TI 100 need to be on the list, they were twice the size of any other iron produced ever. i was hitting 8 iron and was suprised how high the ball flight was. One of my favorite balls back in the late 80s was the Top-Flite Plus. 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. "@type": "ImageObject", This new construction was a major technological advancement in golf balls. A very interesting stroll down golf history. FIND A SET! Your previous content has been restored. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons. "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"], I agree, though it does deserve a deep dive. I just picked up 6 thru 9 of the Browning 440 Plus irons at the Goodwillcant wait to try them out. Spalding spent the last half of the 20th-century battling with Titleist for golf ball supremacy. is fantastic, but the club is as stiff as an old water pipe and is accordingly harsh. Why are Spalding golf balls called Top Flite? The VAS are ugly, but they work. It came with Driver, 3W, 5W and 3-PW. However as a caddy the Spaulding staff bag was a real trunk!! Thanks. PING was still PING, and Tiger was becoming Tiger. That year Spaldings sales topped $537 million, with over $400 million coming from the golf division. I actually like the looks of those babies! Spalding, however, never dominated the pro game as Wilson and MacGregor did. 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. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Spalding also started the Spalding Athletic Library; a series of sports and exercise books published from 1892 through 1941. In the early days, golf clubs were hand-forged using a hammer and anvil. Corey Pavin says, If I wont paid to play them ugly ass sticks they would have never been heard of ;). Under Chapter 363, it bid $125 million for Top-Flite. It felt like a rock but flew like a rocket and weekend warriors bought them by the bushel. It was a close race but in the end we felt like it was finally time for the super-rare and hard to find Lil David Slingers get the recognition they were due. You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! White says the KKR leadership team was much more hands-on than the Cisneros brothers had ever been, which is understandable if you just shelled out a billion simoleons for a sporting goods company. I played Spaulding Black Dots back in late 60s. The Top-Flite acquisition made it a player. 1 Iron (18) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE. What a mess that design was! * Note: These irons were designed by Karsten Solheimsure most of you knew that though. Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets. I didnt realize Spalding was still a player as late as 2000. Although they did have issues with the shafts actually wrinkling due to the configuration of the shape of the toe on this ironcrazy little factoid. not just the American side , some of Europe and some from Japan makers also wacky !!! Spalding Ladies Golf Club History | Golflink.com 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. I still have the samurai irons,2-pw and woods,driver,3w,5w,7w,,and still use them. Yes, it sold a ton of golf balls, but as one former employee told us, the brand was decidedly blue-collar and not focused on the golf professional. 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!! Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. Pat Simmons of Tiger Shark fame (and others) is the most underrated club designer of all time! Seu lugar para proteger o seu capital. The Browning 440 was a marvelous clubas you say off the fairway!!! Whats more, Spalding Molitor clubs currently retail at $280 for an entire set, which is a price point that is pretty hard to beat. I would love to have you include my Whole-In-One Adjustable Telescopic Golf Club in your mixdefinitely fits the criteria of unusual clubs. * Note: These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. Spalding Executive Left Handed Golf Clubs - Left Handed Golf Clubs Don't let scams get away with fraud. The BIG BOYS missed on this one. Especially in America. The Zing2s were the first set I bought when I started playing golf. I remembered them from this article. "datePublished": "2022-05-12", they were a good iron, that looked good at address, and were easy to hit. I was interested in golf until around 2001 and soon discovered spoiling was on anachronism at that point. info@pgatradein.com Mon-Fri: 9AM - 5PM EST . or Best Offer. I dont think I paid more than $300 for all four sets combined- Im a Salvation Army searcher. MGS can never have too much content regarding the man, his company, or his impact on golf. Get10% offat Global Golf with Code:SwingYard. }, 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. "dateModified": "2022-05-12", 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. Top Flite is now synonymous with bargain or cheap instead of being the club of choice for the greatest golfers on tour. The company experimented throughout the 1920s and 1930s with lathe-turned hickory shafts that featured circular ridges spaced at standard intervals down the entire shaft. I just love them! Im not sure how rare they are, but youd think there would be a trace of them somewhere. I am still playing with my set every week! No matter what brand of club you pull from your bag, you owe some thanks to one company Spalding. Return Policy > WORLDWIDE SHIPPING. I just found a set of Slingers at the thrift store for $10. Thats great. The 300XXL Driver was so lightawesome clubhead speed ! Latitude Irons also give the golfer an added patented design feature of dual skids on the sole. John, Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. higher loft is really your best bet for getting out of these difficult fairway lies, Top 10 Best Cheap Drivers (Updated 2021 Buying Guide), 5 Advantages of A Strong Golf Grip (Everything To Know), What Is An Overrun Golf Ball? They actually play pretty well. Also, consider TaylorMade sold last spring for $1.6 billion, while KKR paid nearly $1 billion for Spalding in 1996. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Had a set of McGregor Irons called Doctor Rx, they felt good hit in the middle, they reminded me of a Pringle potato chip. 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. "author": "Ned Howard", From the 1950s to the 1990s Spalding was in the bag for many major victories, and was played on municipal courses across the country. And Spaldings ace in the hole Strata was old news by the time the Pro V1 and Nike Tour Accuracy hit the scene. You can check it out at http://www.adjustablegolfclub.com. If you have any you think we should include or have any additional info about the clubs listed feel free to post your comments. My only wacky set now are some Macgregor MT Splitsoles in very gd cond which were bought at a Thrift store. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. It had a good locking mechanism, and was made for poorer people who could not afford a whole set. Someone suggested to me they were a prototype club for Johnny Miller, but were never marketed. Shallow faces (not as shallow as the 440 of course) and less offset than many of the long irons they replace. Its pretty clear KKR didnt do its due diligence. Just bought a set of Nicklaus Linear Dynamics N1 Golf Irons at a thrift shop in Vegas. "image": { It was an excellent article and some of the follow-on comments from industry stalwarts like Jack Wullkotte, David Hueber, Tom Wishon, etc. 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. In 1892 Spalding went into acquisition mode, buying up two key competitors: the A.J. werent as good. Spalding Executive Golf Clubs for sale | eBay BogeyPro Golf (T-Shirt Design Contest), RYDER CUP CONTEST! Dreadful golf balls! I think Browning was leaving the golf business then and they were discounted last set in the store. When my father would shot a 215 yard iron into the hole, his fellow golfers wold ask him what club he used. Theres even premium urethane cover options (Pro V1 and X styles) for ~$15 a dozen. I completed the set off of eBay for around $100. There are worse things. I seem to remember them being pretty wacky. WITB Albums. As previously mentioned, you can buy Spalding Molitor clubs at Rock Bottom, and theyre a great option for beginner players. I cannot find any information on this club, maybe they were a golfsmith thing from early 2000s?? when were spalding executive golf clubs made 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? (8 Ways To Know) . Club-makers traditional method had been to shape metal heads with an anvil and forge. !but they had a very proprietary, strange-sized grip. when were spalding executive golf clubs made I cant remember who made them, but I remember reading about an iron that was adjustable so its loft could be wildly altered. Spalding Executive Golf Clubs for sale | eBay Circa 1985-ish if memory serves. does ohma have a child [email protected] buy all 6 get free shipping) Let me know by ebay . 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. The old Spaulding Executive set I had back in the early 1980s. In the 1920s, Spalding started making irons and innovated an assembly line style forging process that was much cheaper, faster, and more precise than the ole hammer and anvil. (What Exactly Happened?). Spalding EXECUTIVE Iron Set - PGA It was the mold makers attempt to make at a hollow head, wooden shape club. 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 A very easy to hit blade. At the 2003 PGA Show, Hogan introduced the Apex 50 blade commemorating its 50th anniversary, the game improvement CFT irons, and the Carnoustie and Riviera wedges. Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? I had never seen the Fila irons before now. Still have the clubs in my basement. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I have a Simmons Great White Shark putter with a 7 blade. Almost , http://www.intheholegolf.com/store/f2is.html. but worth a kings ransom, Great post thanks mgs but i agree with dj ,The doctor rx has to be on the list. Sold millions of those over the years. In April, KKR sold the Spalding name and all of Spaldings non-golf businesses to Russell Athletic for just $65 million. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. The woods were the strangest looking things. Those Slinger Irons were the brain child of Jim Flood. They also made a set made entirely of woods. when were spalding executive golf clubs made MENU. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); MyGolfSpy is gearing up to conduct the second edition of our groundbreaking ball test. They introduced the Browning 500 Series to counter that effect.But, they waited too long and by that timethe party was over! But they seem to work though. If so send us some picsdont worry we will keep it 100% anonymous . Spalding EXECUTIVE XE Irons Individual, Single, Replacement Golf Irons Wed have monthly meetings at their West 57th Street offices in New York. My Dad's execs from the 70's were blades that had aluminum shafts. I can't imagine them being worth a shit. Its factory could only make about six million dozen a year, and it was paying patent royalties. In the 1960s, Spalding introduced the Spalding Executive line of clubs and balls and the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons with the Bird on Ball logo. Is my equipment holding me back? Man, some of my favorites on this list. It was fun to have and I actually hit the thing really really well. maybe EVER. Learn how your comment data is processed. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, (your email address will not be published), CONTEST Adams Pro Black Giveaway! Those and the Ram Tour Grinds that Watson played were my bucket list irons, but never could afford them. Perception-wise that made Spalding a second-tier, big-box company compared to Titleist. Ive got a set of graphite Samurai ironwoods years ahead of their time lying around in the basement, I think. My first clubs were Spalding top flites. So, if youre looking for a decent set of golf clubs without breaking the bank, theres no reason not to invest in a used set of Spalding clubs if you see a set that you like online. Spalding used to own Top Flite before selling the subsidiary to Callaway. Display as a link instead, The Top-Flite, Strata, and Hogan brands stayed alive for a while, but Callaway eventually mothballed them all. I recently tried an old Jack Nicklaus 7 iron made by MacGregor many years ago. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. Driver to 15 wood. Ugly. And in 1930, it hit the jackpot. ), Takomo Golf Clubs Review: (As Good as Expected? #15 - Stan Thompson Ginty Irons You might remember the popular Stan Thompson woods with the unique sole design. Still, if youre looking for more information about Spalding golf clubs, youve come to the right place. I love them but Im mystified with the hex screw in the bottom of every shaft! Happily, I can say that I have seen these over the years, but none of them ever made it into my golf bag. Over two million Bobby Jones sets were sold in America. Needed a set of clubs to play for a few days and found these. Spalding is a big name in American sports, having manufactured equipment for basketball, American football, and golf over the years. I had some Staff FG-17 and my friends dad had the Executives.