His company quickly expanded into making equipment for every sport imaginable. Well they made execs for over 20 yearswhich ones do you have? All that creativity has led to the great clubs we have today. Some of the most popular Spalding Club models were: At one time, Greg Norman used the Spalding Tour Edition irons, now a collectors item, on Tour. marrano patio homes lancaster, ny 9, Juin, 2022. horse property for sale pocatello, idaho; Anyone hear of them? * NOTE: Stan Thompson was an interesting guy and a well respected designer. Its factory could only make about six million dozen a year, and it was paying patent royalties. These irons which I dont know who actually designed were called the Ray Cook Titanic irons and were made back when Scotty Cameron was a putter designer for the company. Dreadful golf balls! Jerry Barber Golden Touch shank-proof irons (BeCu, ideally), Powerbilt TPS with the Goalpost Alignment System, And I agree with a previous posters suggestion of the Spalding Cannon ADVANCE. (Sponsored by: GolfCircuit.com), CONTEST! The 1999 Hogan Apex, forged by Endo Manufacturing in Japan, remains a sought-after collectible, and a very playable blade, to this day. As the 21st Century dawned, it had impressive sales and deep-pocket owners, but in reality, it was staring down the barrel of a gun. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I also had a set of Ping Zings too.. My partner had that set of Cleveland VAS and believe it or not we had a partner that bought a used set of Slingers 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. Ugly. Also, consider TaylorMade sold last spring for $1.6 billion, while KKR paid nearly $1 billion for Spalding in 1996. I use them in Central Texas when the fairways are hard and the greens harder (late summer and all winter). The VAS are ugly, but they work. Just saw a full set of them again today. My Dad's execs from the 70's were blades that had aluminum shafts. No sir, they are in my bag and are still being used after all these years. I accidentally broke it in the late 1970s the shaft was installed over a milled section of the hosel! 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. I also have a set of Browning TR600s. 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. Estimated resale value today:. I played a set of Mags for years until I got to where I could not swing fast enough to bend the stiff shafts. 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. ENTER NOW! Great research John with some very interesting history facts about the company and its equipment. Thanks. I think you are talking about the Spaulding Executive XE irons,ahead of their time,I played a set for a couple of years then sold them, looking back I wish I hadnt. Not sure if the Black Knight, Gary Players endorsement sucked allot of buyers into buying.LOL. Jeff Sheets had been Director of R&D for Top-Flite since 1995, and his first club for Hogan became a legend. My only wacky set now are some Macgregor MT Splitsoles in very gd cond which were bought at a Thrift store. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #2. Steve Almo } Used to play traditional blades with the odd shank. Spalding, seemingly, was on top of the world. The company was already selling golf balls when, in 1905, it became the first in America to offer its own brand of golf clubs. MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Model: Tour Pro Offset By the Roaring '20s, A.G. Spalding & Brothers was using the process of "drop forging" to manufacture metal club-heads. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. Im surprised that nobody has mentioned the Wilson Fat Shaft irons for ugliness. Or maybe it was just wacky that a German car company decided to start selling $1500 golf clubs that sucked. Thanks for the history lesson and walk down memory lane. You can post now and register later. when were spalding executive golf clubs made Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. They had fantastic fairway woods that I still take out for a spin every once in a while. My Nike Slingshots is the best set I have ever used. No, while you might be able to find Spalding golf clubs at thrift stores and via used online marketplaces, Spalding no longer manufactures golf clubs. When my father would shot a 215 yard iron into the hole, his fellow golfers wold ask him what club he used. 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. 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 Oversized high center of gravity heads and huge amounts of offset are what killed long irons IMO. I saw the Cisneros brothers maybe once in my time there, he says. ), Undersize Golf Grips Explained (8 Key Facts!). They play as well as any other set I surely do remember those Dot balls that my brother and I would find on OFCC in south suburbs of Chicago because we couldnt afford them but you really had to pay attention to look at those balls before you grounded your club or you would put a significant cut in them. Dynamiter wedges featured deep grooves, often in unusual shapes, that ultimately prompted the USGA to outlaw them. There are worse things. 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. He changed from forged blades and balata balls to cavity back, investment cast irons and sold core balls, White tells MyGolfSpy. In 1900, Spalding released the Vardon Flyer, the golf ball used by Harry Vardon. Previously, they manufactured equipment for golf, American football, and baseball, but they have downsized considerably in recent years. Both were smart, competent leaders but had little golf experience. Starting in 1900, Spalding opened clubmaking factories in London and in Fife, Scotland, producing forged iron heads for Spalding clubs sold both in the UK and U.S. One of my favorite balls back in the late 80s was the Top-Flite Plus. Instead, well hit the highlights. Was a fan of the TopFlite XL. About Spalding Just bought a set of Nicklaus Linear Dynamics N1 Golf Irons at a thrift shop in Vegas. 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. My wife says I never met a strange-looking golf club I did not want to own and play with. 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. We will miss Jim and his innovation ! Today, Spalding focuses nearly all of its commercial interests on basketball, producing balls, hoops, rims, and nets. Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. 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. Reach and the Wright and Ditson sporting goods companies. General Albums. What a great list! I think a list of the craziest irons made should definitely include the Jerry Barber Golden Touch irons made over 40 years ago. MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. and they wonder why they went out of business. In the early days, golf clubs were hand-forged using a hammer and anvil. The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight. - BenHogan. It was fun to have and I actually hit the thing really really well. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. Why is that I have the Tiger Shark 7 iron and the Spalding Exec XE 5 iron in my golf collection??? The real prize for Callaway was the Chicopee ball plant. ), Phat Golf Scooters Reviews (Good or Waste of Cash? I just found a set of 10 plops slotz. They also said this, Because titanium is 40% lighter than steel, yet incredibly strong, the Ray Cook design team was able to create club heads substantially larger than standard oversize irons and add significantly more mass in the heel and toe. It is my Go To clubmy favorite. Thanks for the history lesson, truly amazing how fast Spalding unraveled. 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. But unfortunately for the VASs they were dethroned from their long held position. He traded a set of classic Burke PunchIrons to get the Lynx. In 1892 Spalding went into acquisition mode, buying up two key competitors: the A.J. When he would get ready to play, he would hold the club so that the sole was visible to everyone. He re-gripped them and beats the Taylormade hand-me-downs of his friends. MyGolfSpy is jumping into the DeLorean and taking a 1.21 jiggawatt-fueled look at the long life and quick death of Spalding Golf. (Everything To Know). Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. Norman credited the extra spin of the Tour Edition for winning the 1986 British Open. So, while Spalding is nowhere near as prevalent as it once was in the world of golf, you can still pick up a set of Molitor clubs for a very reasonable price online. By 2002, players such as Hal Sutton, Bernhard Langer, and Luke Donald were playing the Hogan Apex ball. when were spalding executive golf clubs made Perception-wise that made Spalding a second-tier, big-box company compared to Titleist. And Spalding predated Mizuno by at least 60 years with a copper undercoating for its forged blades in the mid-50s. Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons - Ironfinder They preceded hybrid irons by 20 years or so. Those and the Ram Tour Grinds that Watson played were my bucket list irons, but never could afford them. The Strata, however, proved to be a gold mine for Spalding. 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. when were spalding executive golf clubs made. What can you find out about Wilson x 70 irons. With KKR, it was a 180-degree turnaround. i was hitting 8 iron and was suprised how high the ball flight was. One with the sticker decal and one without. "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Spalding-Irons-by-Year.jpg" Image: Central Press/Hulton Archive via Getty Images. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. I believe Robert Molitor was the fellow who developed the Top Flite. 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. 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. TaylorMade, now owned by adidas, was rising, and Callaway was a major force. Was: C $107.89. What was wacky about the Bears? Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. 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. why did patrice o'neal leave the office; why do i keep smelling hairspray; giant ride control one auto mode; current fishing report: lake havasu Here Im going to date myself a bitBack in the late 70s there was a company called Unique..The iron set design was oversized head with a deep cavity that was covered with a hard plastic. 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. And in 1930, it hit the jackpot. You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! More on the tr600!!!! Remember when pros like Norman and Stadler and others with that bright red Spaulding Tour Bag. but worth a kings ransom, Great post thanks mgs but i agree with dj ,The doctor rx has to be on the list. He could not believe the smoothness of the Driver. Placing the hosel behind the face eliminates the occasional `shank, creating forward-face progression. Many of which might have even found there way into a few of your bagseven if you dont want to admit it. Great looking blade and the low COG really lets one hit it high. it was at my range's rental bin. 1-949-642-6484 . However as a caddy the Spaulding staff bag was a real trunk!! The company was founded in 1973 and today produces high-quality golf clubs using the . There are a couple different models of this iron. 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. Read on to learn more about the history of Spalding clubs and what you can expect from various models. Of course, it is the Indian not the arrow to some extent, but he does well. 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. So what did his famous Ginty patent actually mean? My golfing buddy borrowed my old set, including the driver and had one of his best rounds ever. 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!! I would appreciate any help you could offer! 2 iron sw. Let me know if anyone is interested. Havent been able to give them up since my Dad died in 99, Does anyone remember a set of irons made in the 80s (I think) that were actually a bunch of small woods, even the PW was made from wood. The BIG BOYS missed on this one. Got the 3 PW for 3.99 a club, bought the 5- PW first, played two rounds and went back and bought the 3 & 4. The Early Years Starting in 1900, Spalding opened clubmaking factories in London and in Fife, Scotland, producing forged iron heads for Spalding clubs sold both in the U.K. and U.S. What about the Porsche irons? BogeyPro Golf (T-Shirt Design Contest), RYDER CUP CONTEST! I used to have a set of Ajay Pro Classics that were my dads. This is the story of Spaldings Final Countdown. You can buy a set in good condition on eBay for around $100. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Thanks. I just found a set of Slingers at the thrift store for $10. What are the Most Forgiving Forged Irons? As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. Spaldings contributions to modern golf are considerable. http://www.geekgolf.com. Love it or hate it the Nike Slingshot irons made the list. I wonder what Jack thought of them. You can check it out at http://www.adjustablegolfclub.com. By 1970, the ownership group morphed into the Questor Corporation, and Pyramid Rubber was rechristened Evenflo. Made from 1989-1994 and originally sold for $680. You should shoot me some pics of your new set. Still, the Uniques are the best irons I have ever hit! Way ahead of their time in the perimeter weighted genre. With Spalding's mass-market success breeding scores of imitators, players could pick and choose from countless club lines. 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. Now, like Henry Ford's assembly-line Model T's, Spalding craftsmen used a mechanical hammer to craft club-heads, drill sockets in them to attach the shaft and then polish the heads, all of which allowed Spalding to mass produce matching club sets. but fairly forgiving. Spalding Executive Registered 3 4 5 Driver Wedge P Golf Clubs Set Made In USA $26.21 Local Pickup or Best Offer SPONSORED Vintage lot of 3 Woods Top Flite Spalding Model 133 Professional 1 3 4 golf Club $29.95 $17.95 shipping or Best Offer SPONSORED PERSIMMON Spalding Robert Jones Jr Percussion Woods Set Golf Clubs Driver & 3 $60.00 $15.00 shipping It is the Super Stick. Can you come up with any info on these? And although Top Flite is still in business today, its a brand that most golfers associate with cheap equipment of inferior quality. Circa 1985-ish if memory serves. The chrome When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs. Spalding Ladies Golf Club History | Golflink.com Albert Spalding died in 1915, but his company continued to flourish. Spalding released multiple iterations of its Executive clubs throughout the sixties and seventies, and they became popular with professional golfers and recreational players alike. Spalding sold off its majority ownership in Evenflo in August of 1998. Youve forgotten the worst offender. . Did KKR overpay? I actually have a set of 440s I bring them out every year or two when I am hitting the ball poorly. The Top-Flite, Strata, and Hogan brands stayed alive for a while, but Callaway eventually mothballed them all. Look at many of todays hybrids. C $75.53. and they placed it in the show. Goldwin was a San Diego company, years ahead of its time. 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!) Some crazy lookin clubs, Why didnt you include the 1st set of Ping Irons? Great collection! They are also perfect in a steep slope due to the curved bottom of the club head. On sole: club# + SPALDING. It wasnt very sophisticated back then, and they wanted to add layers of sophistication that they had in their other businesses. Peter lived in Ridgefield,Ct. Sold millions of those over the years. Spalding spent over 125 years as a sporting goods giant. Perhaps they were a little ahead of their time (3-PW). i just hit a 8 iron in that series last night. Spalding introduced many variations of hickory-shafted clubs to bring distance and control to the professional and duffer alike. TaylorMade then entered the bidding but, after 30 rounds, Callaway wound up buying Top-Flite free and clear for $175 million. *chuckles* Maybe its a good thing I took a 30 year golf hiatus. Spalding also produced the first U.S.-made golf shoes, the first clubs to use numbers instead of names, and the first completely matching set of woods and irons (the Kro-Flite). I have a full set of Exec XE irons. KKR was established in 1976 by partners Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts. I don't mind the executives though, don't really know much about them either. The top of the club head is horisontal and is easy to set up perpendical to the target. 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. We want your input before testing begins. I had read your original 2018 article about why Hogan still mattered. "image": { Welcome back to the latest installment of Historys Mysteries. The Kro-Flite in 1930 was golfs first liquid center golf ball, while the Spalding DOT was a mid-century icon. The Executive clubs are among the finest pure forged blades ever produced and have certainly stood the test of time. It adjusts to every loft in a full bag, plus half lofts. Back in the day (early-60s), I caddied at a CC in so. Spalding also started the Spalding Athletic Library; a series of sports and exercise books published from 1892 through 1941. I learned the game on a set of used Spalding Execs-still have them today. 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.. Thus, the USGA implemented the one ball rule, Thanks John for another great piece of history. Its impossible to overstate Albert Spaldings vision and ambition. 2 Iron Spalding . Whats more, KKR continued adding to its golf empire, buying Etonic in 1996 and Ben Hogan a year later. But $1 billion is a lot of cabbage, and KKR borrowed heavily to make the deal. 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. Buyers can still find Spalding clubs on some secondary sites. I wonder how much influence he had on those? "author": "Ned Howard", "name": "Swing Yard", Somehow they squeezed 492 dimples on them Those balls were rocketships. These were actually a pretty good iron for the time and I think Trevino had something to do with this designbut not sure. 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 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spaldings most easily recognizable clubs. Ironfinder has a good selection of individual Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball golf clubs in stock to help you replace a missing single golf iron. }. "@type": "Article", Thanks, http://www.clubsofdistinction.com/cod3/ucir5177.htm.