Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Spalding, seemingly, was on top of the world. C $75.53. Of course Drivers and putters are like women. I have been playing golf over 40 years and have owned many brands of clubs. I owned two sets of Unique ironsstarting in 1976. Really enjoyed them. I played a set of Mags for years until I got to where I could not swing fast enough to bend the stiff shafts. Today we are going to be spotlighting the crazy, the absurd, and some of the wackiest irons the golf world has ever seen. That means providing you with equipment reviews you can trust, I had read your original 2018 article about why Hogan still mattered. Get the best deals on Spalding Executive Irons when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. and had a driving range there for many years. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It was made by Salt Lake City Specialties. You can actually play Spalding golf balls again! The name was acquired by the folks behind Nitro golf balls and they now have a full line you can buy on RockBottomGolf. What about Pax (Paul Goydos promoted them)? "https://www.pinterest.com/Swingyard/blog/" 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. Albert Spalding died in 1915, but his company continued to flourish. 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). While the idea of owning a golf company sounds great, the list of companies that tried and failed is long. * Note: These irons were designed by Karsten Solheimsure most of you knew that though. Both are really great. I was the Sales Manager of Stan Thompson golf company for several years and worked very close with Stan. I have a old slotline cigar putter I still use,,no loift at all,looks like a big tootsie roll,but puts great,,friends still get amazed at how it puts,,. }. KKR was established in 1976 by partners Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts. Spalding EXECUTIVE Iron Set. Oddity? 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. The top of the club head is horisontal and is easy to set up perpendical to the target. Also, consider TaylorMade sold last spring for $1.6 billion, while KKR paid nearly $1 billion for Spalding in 1996. Instead, well hit the highlights. The original Strata ball was amazing when it came out spin for days! Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. He could not believe the smoothness of the Driver. Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. The nineties saw the release of the Top Flite Tour Ti irons, which were among the last clubs that the long-standing brand would manufacture. The company was founded in 1973 and today produces high-quality golf clubs using the . 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. Men's Right Handed. Sold them to a guy 30 years younger who also loved them. I also have a set of Browning TR600s. Spalding stopped making golf clubs in 2002, and their last clubs were branded as Top Flite Oversized irons. The Ginty was the first modern Utility club. All Irons for men were 37. The company stayed the course, and the result is a thriving, profitable company. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, (your email address will not be published), CONTEST Adams Pro Black Giveaway! Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets. Does Spalding make golf balls? At the time of the sale, it was considered the lowest cost and most efficient operation in the industry. They also made a set made entirely of woods. spalding executive golf clubs please read DESCRIPTION BEFORE BUYING . 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. Really solid clubs. And in 1930, it hit the jackpot. 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!!!! It was an excellent article and some of the follow-on comments from industry stalwarts like Jack Wullkotte, David Hueber, Tom Wishon, etc. . When my father would shot a 215 yard iron into the hole, his fellow golfers wold ask him what club he used. The Endo-forged Hogan Apex Plus cavity back irons came soon after, along with a solid-core Hogan Apex ball. After each sale, however, TaylorMades leadership team remained intact. It was an interesting period to work for Spalding but sad to watch the demise of the brand it should never of happened ! You should shoot me some pics of your new set. "width": "645", Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? Throughout America, the affordable Spalding clubs flew off the shelves and reaped huge catalog sales. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. Not quite Bryson-like, but innovative for the day. They preceded hybrid irons by 20 years or so. Your previous content has been restored. I still have several sets of Hogan forged irons, Hogan/Bettinardi putters, several dozen Apex, and Tour Deep balls. Went to graphite (Vulcan Backfire hollow irons). It wasnt very sophisticated back then, and they wanted to add layers of sophistication that they had in their other businesses. It came with Driver, 3W, 5W and 3-PW. I agree, though it does deserve a deep dive. 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. It was first shown at the PGA dealers show at Disney World, Orlando, Florida 1979. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Im sure Scott White would love to contribute. So for those of you who own a set and are fellow collectors of the ridiculoustoday is your day to shine. It is my Go To clubmy favorite. Great looking blade and the low COG really lets one hit it high. Established in Caracas in 1929 as a small material transport business, the Cisneros Group had its fingers in everything from soft drinks, ice cream, and beauty products to banking and a burgeoning telecommunications business. They are for sale. I still have the samurai irons,2-pw and woods,driver,3w,5w,7w,,and still use them. What about Giant Irons, I remember seeing those on an infomercial a few times. Im 65 and still playing to seven with them. Long irons with shallow faces, little offset and perhaps slightly softer shafts can be quite playable. GolfWRX_Official Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. 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,,,. 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!! Your email address will not be published. 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. . 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. In 1895, Spalding started making golf balls. It was a low loft club used for poor lies and putting. Spalding introduced the Vardon Flyer, a golf ball that was popularized by Harry Vardon. In 2012, Callaway sold Top-Flite to DICKS and Hogan to Perry Ellis. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I saw the Cisneros brothers maybe once in my time there, he says. Great research John with some very interesting history facts about the company and its equipment. } 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. His company quickly expanded into making equipment for every sport imaginable. They had fantastic fairway woods that I still take out for a spin every once in a while. I would like to repay you with mine. Amazing how so of the old stuff works better than the hyped up new stuff! (What Exactly Happened?). 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. Spalding quickly grew, making baseball gloves and uniforms and the first modern baseball bat. Goldwin was a San Diego company, years ahead of its time. Paste as plain text instead, The Spaulding Executive XE for me never looked right They were available in 1-SW (I believe) A friend used to play these and I always suggested using his pitching wood :o) My $.02. I love them so much I have four sets, just a case a club breaks. 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. Display as a link instead, The Browning 440s took my game from the 150s (Wilson clubs) to the low 70s. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive x EZ Oversize Irons. Yes, it did. 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. KKRs $25 billion takeover of RJR Nabisco was chronicled in the book (and tv movie) Barbarians at the Gate. The Browning 440 was a marvelous clubas you say off the fairway!!! Spalding introduced many variations of hickory-shafted clubs to bring distance and control to the professional and duffer alike. My high school graduation present from my parents back in 1973 was a set of Executive clubs (back when the irons were forged before they were cast). Right now Ive been with the Execs 2 then 5 SW, Ram 64 wedge, 1 & 3 wood, both hybrids and putter. Thanks. In that year, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) took shape, and many of the fledgling tour's stars already had endorsement deals with Spalding. MGS can never have too much content regarding the man, his company, or his impact on golf. Windtree Golf is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. In 1993 Payne Stewart signed a multi-million-dollar deal to go full Top-Flite, a move that sidetracked Stewarts career. Thanks, http://www.clubsofdistinction.com/cod3/ucir5177.htm. It is called a hollow wedge, but you can putt with it as well. Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. Started Yesterday at 04:29 AM, By With new sexy companies like Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade, and golfers like Tiger and Phil, the new aged golfer wasnt interested in playing their grandpas golf clubs. Sales declined into the 2000s, and Spalding made their last club in 2002. I cant remember who made them, but I remember reading about an iron that was adjustable so its loft could be wildly altered. The Spalding Top-Flite first came out in 1970. Please put any questions or comments here. Though he is a footnote in the PGA history he was briefly on tour in the 50s. But, they were NOS (New Old Stock) and with Ohio State grips and headcovers; so a diehard Buckeye fan. 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. *We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Theyre awesome. Make Request. 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. ), Takomo Golf Clubs Review: (As Good as Expected? Throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s, Spalding and Titleist were running neck and neck in golf ball production. They also specialized in unique clubs like the Cran Creek. 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. Protactic Golf in Chicago. Some deserve to be on the former, but definitely not the latter! The Strata, however, proved to be a gold mine for Spalding. What about the old Bullet Driver that was hollow in the center (like an inverted U shape)? 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. From 1932 until 1973 two years after Jones death Spalding sold over 15 different models and two million sets of Bobby Jones clubs. "https://www.instagram.com/_swingyard_/", You find them on eBay Gary? Still have the XL-4s in the garage. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. when were spalding executive golf clubs madeoregon dpsst training calendar. I think I actually played one of them 150 holes before I gave up. By 2002, players such as Hal Sutton, Bernhard Langer, and Luke Donald were playing the Hogan Apex ball. Norman credited the extra spin of the Tour Edition for winning the 1986 British Open. I can't imagine them being worth a shit. Just came back from the PGA Tour Superstore after reading this site last night. Went back 10 years and got the 845s used. MacGregor Doctor X. I had the Bears. Its factory could only make about six million dozen a year, and it was paying patent royalties. 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). 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. Did KKR overpay? I actually have these clubs. They play as well as any other set Mr. Adams had just formed Taylor Made Golf in late 1978 and this was their first showing in the market. I would love to have you include my Whole-In-One Adjustable Telescopic Golf Club in your mixdefinitely fits the criteria of unusual clubs. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. I still have the irons to this day! 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 Top-Flite line was to feature investment-cast irons and Strata balls sold through pro shops and off-course retailers, while Spalding was to be the value/recreational line sold pretty much everywhere. Why is that I have the Tiger Shark 7 iron and the Spalding Exec XE 5 iron in my golf collection??? Still bagging their wedges. If so, are they any good? Jackie Gleason also owned a set. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); MyGolfSpy is gearing up to conduct the second edition of our groundbreaking ball test. Players would switch balls during a round as conditions warranted. Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver Review, Best Womens Golf Clubs for Intermediate Players, Ned Howard Retired PGA Teaching Professional. Iomic Golf Grips: 8 Key Facts Before You Buy. 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! Spalding spent over 125 years as a sporting goods giant. It was if I walked into the store from a time machine. I was told they only made a few hundred sets. 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. From the 1950s to the 1990s Spalding was in the bag for many major victories, and was played on municipal courses across the country. maybe EVER. Top Flite is now synonymous with bargain or cheap instead of being the club of choice for the greatest golfers on tour. Club-makers traditional method had been to shape metal heads with an anvil and forge. I might suggest you also include input from Tom Stites who worked for Hogan in the 1980s before heading up Nikes golf (mis)adventure. Among Jones innovations: the first matched set of steel-shafted irons, the first set of irons with the sweet spot in the center of each club (denoted by a circle of dots on the clubface), and an iron set where the scoring irons were one length, the mid irons were one length, and the long irons were one length. Had 3-PW plus 1, 3, & 5 woods. Callaway had long wanted Top-Flites ball factory and patents but didnt want to assume any debt. It felt like a rock but flew like a rocket and weekend warriors bought them by the bushel. Still use them. They are exactly like the Cleveland Ironwood set you see now, but it was made y..e..a..r..s ago. What are the Most Forgiving Forged Irons? The Early Years of Spalding Golf 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.
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