Love to see them. Well they made execs for over 20 yearswhich ones do you have? (Cavity back blades???) Anyone hear of them? "https://www.linkedin.com/in/swingyard/", With Spalding's mass-market success breeding scores of imitators, players could pick and choose from countless club lines. Taylor Made Golf was my Distributor for the U.S. and Canadian market. I played them for years, they were solid, and they looked really good at address for their time period. Just saw a full set of them again today. He also had some copycat Browning irons in the trunk, but I refused I couldnt even look at them with a straight face. Now I need some crazy Loudmouth pants and a pink ball. Jeff Sheets had been Director of R&D for Top-Flite since 1995, and his first club for Hogan became a legend. Actually, we used to produce more golf balls than Titleist. and had a driving range there for many years. 1 Iron Spalding Executive x EZ Oversize. *We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. And if the Nicklaus Bear irons were used to win the US Amateur, they shouldnt be on a worst irons list either. Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets. Pretty or not (thats the clubs), I have played Fila Latitude irons since they came out. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons. 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." But unfortunately for the VASs they were dethroned from their long held position. Its factory could only make about six million dozen a year, and it was paying patent royalties. The latter is notable as the Wright of Wright and Ditson is one George Wright, a Hall of Fame shortstop for the Boston Red Stockings and a major mover and shaker of turn-of-the-century golf. No copy for them. The solid core Strata now had competition from the Titleist ProV1. He was a pro at having fun when he played golf! Thanks, John. I saw the Cisneros brothers maybe once in my time there, he says. Too bad. The Ginty was the first modern Utility club. Norman credited the extra spin of the Tour Edition for winning the 1986 British Open. Not the first or the last business to be destroyed by KKR. All Irons for men were 37. Within weeks, Top-Flite filed Chapter 11. [email protected] I bought a set of blue-backed Uniques back in the early 80s. With long-term debt in the neighborhood of $600 million, KKR found itself in a negative equity situation. "publisher": { By the Roaring '20s, A.G. Spalding & Brothers was using the process of "drop forging" to manufacture metal club-heads. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. Went back 10 years and got the 845s used. He loves telling stories, writing about golf and golf travel, and enjoys classic golf equipment. Within three years, it would be gone for good. Oh I didnt forget about thosethey almost made the list. With KKR, it was a 180-degree turnaround. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Got them for $200.00 which was a really great price other pro shops were asking $450.00 for a set. If so send them to contact(at)mygolfspy.com. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Do you remember what golf websites you were shopping on back in 1995? Ugly or unconventional, I felt a more confident with them and Stan Thompson fairway woods. 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. Any Spalding clubs that are still in circulation can be regarded as vintage, thats for sure! Men's Right Handed. C $75.53. In 1906 Bendelow designed the expansion of Atlantas East Lake Club, the eventual home club of one Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. Well spare you the decade-by-decade rundown of Spalding innovations (and there are many). Spalding Executive Irons for sale | eBay Fascinating how these once great brands essentially disappeared altogether. Great stuff. 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. I had a VAS 5 iron. We have a new #1 For Craziest Iron Ever Made! For years the #1 spot for craziest iron ever made was held by the infamous Cleveland VAS irons (now #2). $86.40 shipping. I would love to have you include my Whole-In-One Adjustable Telescopic Golf Club in your mixdefinitely fits the criteria of unusual clubs. 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. A very easy to hit blade. I have a set of clubs with Belmont Power on them. I gave those up quickly only because they were really odd looking. 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. Really enjoyed them. By 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. Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? - Windtree Golf I bought them new. 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. What about Pax (Paul Goydos promoted them)? I am surprised no one ever mass marketed them. Its a great story that needs to be told. Say what you will but I own a set of Ray Cook Titanic irons. So, if youre buying or selling Spalding clubs that are in reasonably good shape, you can set your expectations around $100 to begin with. Thanks. GolfWRX_Official Might need to get a full set of Tiger Shark irons to match the wedge!! Remember all the other clubs, good to read. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 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. And continuity, leadership, and smart decisions matter. The VAS are ugly, but they work. Geek Golf }. I love them but Im mystified with the hex screw in the bottom of every shaft! 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. 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. Promoting both sports and sports equipment, the lineup featured titles such as How To Play Second Base by Hall of Famer Johnny Evers, Boxing: A Guide to the Manly Art of Self Defense, and How to Play Golf by Harry Vardon and James Braid. Right now Ive been with the Execs 2 then 5 SW, Ram 64 wedge, 1 & 3 wood, both hybrids and putter. * 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. Someone suggested to me they were a prototype club for Johnny Miller, but were never marketed. You cannot paste images directly. Spalding got so inventive with their clubmaking, they had golf bags around America sporting 20-30 clubs. I had some Staff FG-17 and my friends dad had the Executives. So for those of you who own a set and are fellow collectors of the ridiculoustoday is your day to shine. Spalding stopped producing golf clubs in 2022, focusing on other sports in the years since. Well these irons which were designed out in LA by Stan Thompson were made to capitalize on that same concept. Every iron ever made is ugly as hell when you hit it off the hosel. Since the Ryder Cup is shortly upon us MyGolfSpy & GolfCircuit.com thought it[]. Wide sole. What a mess that design was! Golfers have always known that deep-grooved irons produce better control and spin. Anyone ever hear of anything like that? They are awesome clubs, very well-weighted, with a great center of gravity for high loft shots. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs? (Solution) I can't imagine them being worth a shit. marrano patio homes lancaster, ny 9, Juin, 2022. horse property for sale pocatello, idaho; Spalding stopped making golf clubs in 2002, and their last clubs were branded as Top Flite Oversized irons. I actually travel with it and use it at the driving range, so I dont have to rent clubs. I have had many pros in proams hit them and fascinated by how the ball comes off the club face so fast,,good distance. it was at my range's rental bin. Spalding did have high hopes for the Hogan brand. I played a lot of Spaulding equipment as a kid in all kinds of sports. 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). The plan was to position Hogan as the premium forged line sold through pro shops. ), Undersize Golf Grips Explained (8 Key Facts!). While the Top Flite was initially scorned by better players as the rock flight, it probably caused a rule change. 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,,. Spalding took off with sales and production with Bobby Jones joining the team. I wonder how much influence he had on those? werent as good. Spalding EXECUTIVE Iron Set. Seu lugar para proteger o seu capital. You might remember the popular Stan Thompson woods with the unique sole design. Win a bunch of BogeyPro swag! Great looking blade and the low COG really lets one hit it high. Laugh if you must, but the design works. The remaining golf company was re-named Top-Flite. 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. You can check it out at http://www.adjustablegolfclub.com. Spalding started adding Tour staff during the 90s, with Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Graig Stadler, and Nick Price all playing Stratas. (8 Ways To Know) . Today, Spalding Executive clubs arent worth a great deal of money. My wife says I never met a strange-looking golf club I did not want to own and play with. 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! The company also announced an alliance with Bob Bettinardi to create a line of high-end Hogan putters. And Spaldings ace in the hole Strata was old news by the time the Pro V1 and Nike Tour Accuracy hit the scene. I owned a set of Nocklaus N1 irons (the pro versions of the bear irons?). I know that this is a very late reply but I actually knew the designer of these irons and spent time speaking with him. 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. lots of memories here. 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. Almost , http://www.intheholegolf.com/store/f2is.html. You can still buy Top-Flite and Strata branded balls at DICKS and Golf Galaxy. Jackie Gleason also owned a set. 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 Thus, the USGA implemented the one ball rule, Thanks John for another great piece of history. They are nearly in perfect condition. KKR had been trying to dump Spalding as early as 2000, but no one would take on the debt burden. Whats more, Spalding Molitor clubs currently retail at $280 for an entire set, which is a price point that is pretty hard to beat. The Endo-forged Hogan Apex Plus cavity back irons came soon after, along with a solid-core Hogan Apex ball. I still have them and as a matter of fact I still use a copper Zing2 sand wedge 54. They dropped the Tour Edition moniker and focused on the expansion of their touring staff on the PGA, Senior PGA and LPGA tours. Used to play traditional blades with the odd shank. when were spalding executive golf clubs made 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. All that creativity has led to the great clubs we have today. pend. beneath. Matched them to Wilson Pro Staff low compressions and I was a happy camper. At the same time, the Spalding Top-Flite Syncrho-Dyned irons (released in 1953) were well received, thanks to their flex shaft and copper undercoating. Image: Central Press/Hulton Archive via Getty Images. When I was first introduced to golf in the mid 70s, spoiling was still a player in the recreational market. I still have the irons to this day! I wonder what Jack thought of them. Are these considered weird? Inventory available of individual, single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding EXECUTIVE XE Irons. Estimated resale value today:. not just the American side , some of Europe and some from Japan makers also wacky !!! What you supposed to do, cut your head off!!! Keep up the great work. * Note: These irons were designed by Duke Duclos. but worth a kings ransom, Great post thanks mgs but i agree with dj ,The doctor rx has to be on the list. I have a set of both the 440s and the 500s, and there is no difference in face depth. Although they wont win any awards for innovation, Spaldings Molitor clubs are a decent game improvement set and a good option for beginners. is fantastic, but the club is as stiff as an old water pipe and is accordingly harsh. Some deserve to be on the former, but definitely not the latter! Still have the XL-4s in the garage. We (and tour players) figured out it was very stable in the wind and was 2 clubs longer with the irons. Circa 1985-ish if memory serves. On top line: OVERSIZE. Ugly. By the following year, Spalding began making clubs in the U.S. Model Summary Color chart indicates best . The Executives were the bomb back in the day. Itd take a week to prepare for.. MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Why are Spalding golf balls called Top Flite? One with the sticker decal and one without. Perhaps they were a little ahead of their time (3-PW). BombTech Golf Reviews (These Golf Clubs Any Good? Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. Sold millions of those over the years. Even tho I play with graphic shafts I really like the way those play. (Everything To Know). MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. I didnt realize Spalding was still a player as late as 2000. Like its sporting goods brother-in-arms MacGregor, Spalding ownership changed hands in 1958. Get the best deals on Spalding Executive Irons when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. ), Finn Scooter Golf Reviews (Are These the Real Deal? Today its hard to fine a wooden golf club in a bag!!!! Two years prior, they sold Spalding and Evenflo to Wall Street investment firm KKR for an estimated and unbelievable 1 billion dollars. About Spalding Spalding, seemingly, was on top of the world. He changed from forged blades and balata balls to cavity back, investment cast irons and sold core balls, White tells MyGolfSpy. my 5w distance matches my friends new drivers in distance off tee,,they are amazed. It was a time-consuming, costly and inconsistent process. Great list! Your email address will not be published. In 1893, Spalding bought the Lamb Knitting Machine Company in Chicopee, Mass which made, obviously, knitting machines and, less obviously, eggbeaters, bicycle wheels, and rifles. 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? These were great clubs. And although Spalding would show operational profits, debt service kept turning those profits into losses. "dateModified": "2022-05-12", Golf bags bulged with 20 to 25 clubs, and the USGA, fearing too many specialty clubs had watered down the skill required in golf, took action. Although the Inertial irons werent so lucky. Great collection! They are exactly like the Cleveland Ironwood set you see now, but it was made y..e..a..r..s ago. They were good at it too, in one year selling off companies for more than $7 billion they had bought for only $1 billion. Return Policy > WORLDWIDE SHIPPING. http://www.geekgolf.com. I just searched eBay right now and saw a set for $139. 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. Just terribleand never sold thruas well it shouldnt. The History of Spalding Golf Clubs - Hickory Golfers I have a left handed set that I got from a guy on the senior tour, Bob Carson, who also owned a golf course in Titusville FLA. The "New York Times" frequently syndicates his work. It was fun to have and I actually hit the thing really really well. As a golfer of a certain age, these history articles are fascinating! 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,,,. Spaldings buddy Wright had been doing the same thing since 1892. Peter F. Stevens is an award-winning author and journalist whose 10 books include "The Voyage of the Catalpa." It wasnt the shank that bothered me, it was waiting for it to happen that was the problem. Spalding Executive Golf Clubs for sale | eBay 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. Take the Spalding Executive line. Somehow they squeezed 492 dimples on them Those balls were rocketships. Spalding was the big name in women's golf clubs by 1950. I owned two sets of Unique ironsstarting in 1976. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. Well today is going to be a little bit different. My woods are Taylormade Burners 1 & 3, and I have two Mizuno hybrids. I just picked up 6 thru 9 of the Browning 440 Plus irons at the Goodwillcant wait to try them out. 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. Another great history piece. Jones immediately put his Georgia Tech engineering degree to good use. maybe EVER. lol..!! It came with Driver, 3W, 5W and 3-PW. when were spalding executive golf clubs made. My golfing buddy borrowed my old set, including the driver and had one of his best rounds ever. Spalding Executive clubs were established in the 1960s, with the Top Flite Executive Synchro-Dyned golf clubs being the first in a super popular series. Perhaps you are thinking of the Browning 440 Plus which had more of a standard face depth. Driver to 15 wood. Still playing my cook titanics with the 1 iron. Goldwin was a San Diego company, years ahead of its time. I gave the set to my nephew, and he loves them. However as a caddy the Spaulding staff bag was a real trunk!! Different, yes, but they are the only ones where you can really aim at the target! But, they were NOS (New Old Stock) and with Ohio State grips and headcovers; so a diehard Buckeye fan. Still, if youre looking for more information about Spalding golf clubs, youve come to the right place. Spalding manufactured golf clubs for some of the leading players in the game, including the legendary American player Bobby Jones. No sir, they are in my bag and are still being used after all these years. Can you help me find the history of the club? when I got my samurais,they were expensive,,but you can get them ocassionally on ebay,,picked up a 6iron for 15$. Couldnt decide between the Slotlines emax and the 845s. Just got Calloway X20s last week. Make sense as I do have a Johnny Miller PW which looks just like an X 70. Pat Simmons of Tiger Shark fame (and others) is the most underrated club designer of all time! Each has a special place in my personal golf journey and is still some of the best equipment Ive ever used. Of course, it is the Indian not the arrow to some extent, but he does well. when were spalding executive golf clubs made It overpaid for Spalding and borrowed heavily to do it. I accidentally broke it in the late 1970s the shaft was installed over a milled section of the hosel! 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. Would you make an iron set out of stone? 11 golf clubs/sets you owned and what they're worth now - PGA Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It was the mold makers attempt to make at a hollow head, wooden shape club. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.You can also visit my Am. or Best Offer. 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. That year Albert and his brothers opened the A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods company and started making baseballs. Former Proctor & Gamble chief Edwin Artzt came on as chairman, with former Kraft, Inc executive vice president James Craigie becoming CEO. Read on to learn more about the history of Spalding clubs and what you can expect from various models. I had read your original 2018 article about why Hogan still mattered. 2 Iron Spalding . They had fantastic fairway woods that I still take out for a spin every once in a while. Remember when pros like Norman and Stadler and others with that bright red Spaulding Tour Bag. I think this is the web site for me . I still have the samurai irons,2-pw and woods,driver,3w,5w,7w,,and still use them. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #3. I love it but was told it is no a legal putter. I think all the readers as well as the golfspies would love to learn as much about these past designs as possible. 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. When my father would shot a 215 yard iron into the hole, his fellow golfers wold ask him what club he used. 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. Never get tired of reading these types of articles. If you have any you think we should include or have any additional info about the clubs listed feel free to post your comments. I take them out every couple of years and play a round with them just for fun. I actually have a set of 440s I bring them out every year or two when I am hitting the ball poorly. It was first shown at the PGA dealers show at Disney World, Orlando, Florida 1979. Jim passed away recentlyhe was a great innovator do you remember the Basakwerd Putter As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. 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. When he would get ready to play, he would hold the club so that the sole was visible to everyone. We had hybrids back in the 80s. I dont want to pay the asking prices for individual 440 Plus irons on eBay, so Ill keep my eye out for them at the thrift shops and G-W. Andyou see the Spaulding Executive irons at the Goodwill stores all the time. * Note: These irons were designed by Jim Flood and were considered a controversial design and are often times very hard to find. The primary reason why Spalding halted the production of golf clubs was that they couldnt keep up with the competition. If it works for you use it. If so send us some picsdont worry we will keep it 100% anonymous . 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. 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. I think I actually played one of them 150 holes before I gave up. 2 iron sw. Let me know if anyone is interested. Thanks. 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. "https://twitter.com/_swingyard_", Balata covers. Overall, Spalding clubs arent worth a great deal of money today, but theyre a good option if youre hoping to pick up an affordable set of clubs to get started with. Can anyone tell me about Spalding executives : r/golf - reddit In the mid to late 80s, my father had Spalding make him a set of custom irons. He could not believe the smoothness of the Driver. The products soon disappeared from shelves. Latitude Irons also give the golfer an added patented design feature of dual skids on the sole. when were spalding executive golf clubs made MENU. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Mismanagement and a growing golf market led Spalding to cease manufacturing golf products, selling off popular brands like Top Flite to Callaway in the early 2000s. Fugly yes looks kinda like a pancake spatula at address but effective.
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