While the Top Flite was initially scorned by better players as the rock flight, it probably caused a rule change. Goldwin was a San Diego company, years ahead of its time. I would like to repay you with mine. Image: Central Press/Hulton Archive via Getty Images. money, time and performance. It was in A Disordly Compendium of Golf I cant find my copy (actually havent seen it in a few months) but I know it was in there. does ohma have a child [email protected] buy all 6 get free shipping) Let me know by ebay . 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. Im a sucker for the odd things, I also had a Power Pod(big mistake). Windtree Golf is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. The legendary Spalding bird logo appeared on their clubs in the 1960s, with the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons proving popular on Tour. One day, I was caddying for him and he crushed a drive, but about 100 yards out, it just fell out of the sky. 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. 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. A very interesting stroll down golf history. This stuff is really interesting.. Its high point came in 1998 when Mark OMeara won the Masters and the Open Championship for Spalding. They also specialized in unique clubs like the Cran Creek. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. But, the #1 weird club goes to the Slingeryour #1 choice. The "New York Times" frequently syndicates his work. Love it or hate it the Nike Slingshot irons made the list. I bought my first set of real golf clubs around 1991 or 1992, the Spalding Executive. ), Undersize Golf Grips Explained (8 Key Facts!). * Note: These irons were designed by Jim Flood and were considered a controversial design and are often times very hard to find. Theres even premium urethane cover options (Pro V1 and X styles) for ~$15 a dozen. Even tho I play with graphic shafts I really like the way those play. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets. Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. Our friends[], Amazing Ryder Cup Contest! Sold millions of those over the years. werent as good. Spalding, like its old school brethren Wilson and MacGregor, simply wasnt sexy to a new generation of golfers. Are these considered weird? It made its mark in the 80s through leveraged buyouts buying undervalued or poorly managed companies with other peoples money, improving their bottom lines, and then spinning them off at a profit. In 1895, Spalding started making golf balls. You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! 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. "https://www.pinterest.com/Swingyard/blog/" Previously, they manufactured equipment for golf, American football, and baseball, but they have downsized considerably in recent years. Well these irons which were designed out in LA by Stan Thompson were made to capitalize on that same concept. I love them but Im mystified with the hex screw in the bottom of every shaft! Under Chapter 363, it bid $125 million for Top-Flite. I recently tried an old Jack Nicklaus 7 iron made by MacGregor many years ago. Sold them to a guy 30 years younger who also loved them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Peter F. Stevens is an award-winning author and journalist whose 10 books include "The Voyage of the Catalpa." we closed and then were just screwing around with some of the rental clubs. it was at my range's rental bin. I had a VAS 5 iron. Really enjoyed them. 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. 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. Basically, the new irons are all the same cavity backed design tweaked for the metal content and painted pretty for your golf bag. Spalding used to own Top Flite before selling the subsidiary to Callaway. He could not believe the smoothness of the Driver. Thanks for the history lesson and walk down memory lane. They also made a set made entirely of woods. Somehow they squeezed 492 dimples on them Those balls were rocketships. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. My golfing buddy borrowed my old set, including the driver and had one of his best rounds ever. Never met a set of strange clubs I didnt want to try. (8 Ways To Know) . "image": { 1 Iron Spalding Executive x EZ Oversize. "@type": "ImageObject", Thank you for your research efforts. Look at many of todays hybrids. Way ahead of their time in the perimeter weighted genre. In addition to being a prolific golf club designer and inventor of innumerable gadgets and gizmos, I have led a fascinating life, as you can see by a brief look at a summary of my biography.. Wanted them when I was in college but couldnt afford them then. 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). Great stuff. Now I need some crazy Loudmouth pants and a pink ball. John is an aging, yet avid golfer, writer, 9-point-something handicapper living back home in New England after a 22-year exile in Minnesota. Was: C $107.89. Say what you will but I own a set of Ray Cook Titanic irons. They preceded hybrid irons by 20 years or so. Upgraded my driver from R7 to Razr Hawk, but will never surrender my Slingshots. Well done. "width": "645", I had some Staff FG-17 and my friends dad had the Executives. Today, Spalding golf clubs still exist, but theyre nowhere near as popular as they once were. Much cheaper than renting. With long-term debt in the neighborhood of $600 million, KKR found itself in a negative equity situation. Well they made execs for over 20 yearswhich ones do you have? Whats more, KKR continued adding to its golf empire, buying Etonic in 1996 and Ben Hogan a year later. This is the story of Spaldings Final Countdown. *chuckles* Maybe its a good thing I took a 30 year golf hiatus. spalding executive golf clubs please read DESCRIPTION BEFORE BUYING . The Spalding Top-Flite first came out in 1970. That year Spaldings sales topped $537 million, with over $400 million coming from the golf division. How about Hogan Magnums and Magnum Plus irons big cavity backs from the 1970s. Wilson never really recovered after Pepsi bought it in 1970. Matched them to Wilson Pro Staff low compressions and I was a happy camper. Spalding quickly grew, making baseball gloves and uniforms and the first modern baseball bat. Inside cavity: blue/back button; EXECUTIVE x EZ. Is it worth getting a new set of clubs, or should I focus on getting spikes and a gloves, ( I currently golf in thing sandles) 0. Weird thing was I could hit the XL-4 long irons better and the Executives better from 7-PW. $86.40 shipping. Tom Farrell. You have any pics of the Samurai irons Neilwould love to see them. It became the most consistent and durable golf ball ever made. The companys lead-faced putters also provided better touch for players. What about Goldwin?? 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. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. Seemed like big headed design with half the head chopped off to produce a bigger face!!! The ball was introduced in 1900. Every time I take it out of my bag for some new modern wedge, I go back to it a few weeks later. In one sense, Spalding suffered the same fate irrelevance as did fellow legacy golf brands Wilson Staff and MacGregor. It was the mold makers attempt to make at a hollow head, wooden shape club. They owed more to its creditors than Spalding was worth. These articles are all outstanding. Learn how your comment data is processed. Some scumbag broke into my vehicle and stole the set about 25 years ago. General Albums. I actually have a set of 440s I bring them out every year or two when I am hitting the ball poorly. but fairly forgiving. During his time with Spalding, Stewart dropped from 6th to 123rd on the money list, with his only win coming at the 1995 Houston Open. Thanks for you4 diligence and reporting. jazzbone, September 4, 2006 in Equipment. Make Request. Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. He also had a head for business and knew a good opportunity when he saw one. He re-gripped them and beats the Taylormade hand-me-downs of his friends. Golfers have always known that deep-grooved irons produce better control and spin. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Used to play traditional blades with the odd shank. Whats fun is to find one of those old sets, regrip them and beat your friends with them! So for those of you who own a set and are fellow collectors of the ridiculoustoday is your day to shine. Upload or insert images from URL. [email protected] Great article takes me back to nostalgia. There are so many different sets of irons available nowadays, Im happy with my Execs. Smooth tempo swingers Ventus Velo isn't working for me other brands/models suggestions? And continuity, leadership, and smart decisions matter. Tommy Armour TI 100 need to be on the list, they were twice the size of any other iron produced ever. 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. The company also announced an alliance with Bob Bettinardi to create a line of high-end Hogan putters. Spaldings contributions to modern golf are considerable. Youve forgotten the worst offender. It was an interesting period to work for Spalding but sad to watch the demise of the brand it should never of happened ! Norman credited the extra spin of the Tour Edition for winning the 1986 British Open. One of my favorite balls back in the late 80s was the Top-Flite Plus. My dad has played a set if vicunas for about 40 years! It is called a hollow wedge, but you can putt with it as well. Turns out it was just 20 years ago. Spalding hired Tom Bendelow as his designer, and Bendelow went on to develop many courses still in use today. Back in the day (early-60s), I caddied at a CC in so. Callaway wound up suing Spalding for using its imagery on Spalding packaging. NOW AVAILABLE: GolfWRX G/Fore Hats and Holderness & Bourne Polos! Well today is going to be a little bit different. I am surprised no one ever mass marketed them. 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. Spalding manufactured golf clubs for some of the leading players in the game, including the legendary American player Bobby Jones. In 1900, Spalding released the Vardon Flyer, the golf ball used by Harry Vardon. BombTech Golf Reviews (These Golf Clubs Any Good? MGS can never have too much content regarding the man, his company, or his impact on golf. 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. Another great history piece. Men's Right Handed. Finally, my number came up along with everyone else in the product management and marketing teams.. Kind of reminds one of the Hogan radial but not near as wide on the soul. Mr. Adams had just formed Taylor Made Golf in late 1978 and this was their first showing in the market. Is that so? when were spalding executive golf clubs madeoregon dpsst training calendar. Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. But they seem to work though. You can check it out at http://www.adjustablegolfclub.com. Golfers may also like: PGX Offset Golf Driver Review: is it any Good? when were spalding executive golf clubs made. marrano patio homes lancaster, ny 9, Juin, 2022. horse property for sale pocatello, idaho; 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). By 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,,. Who Makes Dunlop Golf Clubs? Circa 1985-ish if memory serves. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. In the early days, golf clubs were hand-forged using a hammer and anvil. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs. Welcome back to the latest installment of Historys Mysteries. The VAS irons have finally been dethroned from their previous top spot as Worst Iron Ever Made! Although from a phone-in interview Mr. VAS told us, I feel robbed. During that time, Spalding ownership changed hands a half dozen times, and saw the same fate as MacGregor Irons. During the time of the KKR takeover I was employed as the Managing Director in Australia/ NZ Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. 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. They were good at it too, in one year selling off companies for more than $7 billion they had bought for only $1 billion. In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. Im from SD, so I had a set. 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 play them still and love them. These were actually a pretty good iron for the time and I think Trevino had something to do with this designbut not sure. Spalding spent the last half of the 20th-century battling with Titleist for golf ball supremacy. Zevo was a great brand and I played a Zevo Zv2 hybrid for almost 6 years because it was so easy to hit and had incredible feel. Im not sure how rare they are, but youd think there would be a trace of them somewhere. Is my equipment holding me back? 1968 Spalding developed the first 2-piece performance golf ball, the Spalding Executive. he is a cleveland iron man now, but he still owns the spalding executives. You can still buy Top-Flite and Strata branded balls at DICKS and Golf Galaxy. I have been playing golf over 40 years and have owned many brands of clubs. It wasnt the shank that bothered me, it was waiting for it to happen that was the problem. Spalding sponsored Vardons 1900 tour of America, culminating in Vardon winning the U.S. Open in Chicago. Only until tomorrow until my hybrids come in and boom they're gone. i knew a guy who was a 4 handicap, and he used the spalding executives. We used to say three-quarters of the golf balls manufactured in the world came out of the state of Massachusetts, says Ben Hogan CEO Scott White, who started his career as a golf ball product manager for Spalding in the early 90s. Met a friend in Costa Mesa at Mile Square Golf Club back in the early 1970s and he was with Duke Duclos., a friend from their McDonald-Douglas days. 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! Jones famously retired from golf after winning the 1930 version of the Grand Slam. In 1892 Spalding went into acquisition mode, buying up two key competitors: the A.J. Forward-face progression creates a hitting surface 20 percent larger than standard and 5 percent larger than over-sized 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. I play with several timesa year. Pat Simmons first wanted to say thanks and also that, You may not know the Pat Simmons name, but if youre a golfer, you know of several of my inventions. 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. Never get tired of reading these types of articles. But under Section 363 of Chapter 11, a seller can sell assets without having to negotiate with its creditors. Instead, well hit the highlights. The company stayed the course, and the result is a thriving, profitable company. Spaldings buddy Wright had been doing the same thing since 1892. They are similar to the Nike slingshots as they have a powerbow looking thing on the back of them. * Note: These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. Spalding, seemingly, was on top of the world. All that creativity has led to the great clubs we have today. Make Request. Some crazy lookin clubs, Why didnt you include the 1st set of Ping Irons? 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). * NOTE: Stan Thompson was an interesting guy and a well respected designer. spalding golf clubs any good. You should shoot me some pics of your new set. 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. Couldnt decide between the Slotlines emax and the 845s. We had small layoffs on an ongoing basis, and people kept looking over their shoulder. Learn how your comment data is processed. This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets. WITB Albums. My Dad's execs from the 70's were blades that had aluminum shafts. They are for sale. 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. I still have several sets of Hogan forged irons, Hogan/Bettinardi putters, several dozen Apex, and Tour Deep balls. Leather Golf Grips Review: Should I Use Them? #15 - Stan Thompson Ginty Irons You might remember the popular Stan Thompson woods with the unique sole design. And although Top Flite is still in business today, its a brand that most golfers associate with cheap equipment of inferior quality. Men's Right Handed. I still think there were others that deserved some consideration. It kept some of those out of my bag Im sure. It was an excellent article and some of the follow-on comments from industry stalwarts like Jack Wullkotte, David Hueber, Tom Wishon, etc. They definitely arent the prettiest of clubs but I did enjoy playing them. All Irons for men were 37. }, He was a pro at having fun when he played golf! 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. The set I found is 2-9, but the 5 iron is gone. Shallow faces (not as shallow as the 440 of course) and less offset than many of the long irons they replace. Both are really great. Long irons with shallow faces, little offset and perhaps slightly softer shafts can be quite playable. Those Slinger Irons were the brain child of Jim Flood. That was a great history lesson!!!!! ), shoplifted about four dozen balls each from a failing department store in New York City. Just came back from the PGA Tour Superstore after reading this site last night. And although Spalding would show operational profits, debt service kept turning those profits into losses. Money put a few of these clubs on touralthough that does not mean they were worth a penny. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The shaft collapses to 18 inches so it is great for travelsure beats the cost of checking a golf bag these days. 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. Therefore, the Top Flite clubs produced in the nineties and early naughts are technically Spalding golf clubs. The Top-Flite acquisition made it a player. 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. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. I have a Simmons Great White Shark putter with a 7 blade. 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? Get10% offat Global Golf with Code:SwingYard. I still have the irons to this day! And in 1930, it hit the jackpot. Buyers can still find Spalding clubs on some secondary sites. I love them so much I have four sets, just a case a club breaks. What a lovely trip down memory lane, nostalgia is a wonderful thing. info@pgatradein.com Mon-Fri: 9AM - 5PM EST . Cliffy2020 That might be because Golfsmith acquired them back in 2003. The Roaring 20s gave us Babe Ruth, Knute Rockne, Jack Dempsey, and Red Grange. 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. Its obvious that the maker of the Slingers spent SO much money on R&D that he had to use STICKERS instead of stamped lettering. Spalding got so inventive with their clubmaking, they had golf bags around America sporting 20-30 clubs. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Do You have any idea? "https://www.instagram.com/_swingyard_/", Great list! Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. I love these old clubs. Their president at the time said this about the newly released irons, Titanic irons are the first long irons even God and you can hit. Now that is a bold statement that should of had you guys flocking to purchase these beauties. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. What the hey. I was interested in golf until around 2001 and soon discovered spoiling was on anachronism at that point. "description": "List of all the Spalding Irons by the year each set was released", It was first shown at the PGA dealers show at Disney World, Orlando, Florida 1979. I had a set of Tiger Sharks(the short irons hit the ball miles).The follow up Great Whites Don Wood has the patent for the Plop Slotz Irons. Any of you still have a set of these beauties laying around? You cannot paste images directly. The player would then conveniently cover the top of his bag with a towel so that no one would see the length of the irons. Brilliant idea? TaylorMade then entered the bidding but, after 30 rounds, Callaway wound up buying Top-Flite free and clear for $175 million. Dreadful golf balls! Had a set of McGregor Irons called Doctor Rx, they felt good hit in the middle, they reminded me of a Pringle potato chip. Fugly yes looks kinda like a pancake spatula at address but effective. 5 Testers Needed! The real prize for Callaway was the Chicopee ball plant. I think this is the web site for me . I use them in Central Texas when the fairways are hard and the greens harder (late summer and all winter). "datePublished": "2022-05-12", Ive owned. "@type": "Organization", Spalding released multiple iterations of its Executive clubs throughout the sixties and seventies, and they became popular with professional golfers and recreational players alike. He also had some copycat Browning irons in the trunk, but I refused I couldnt even look at them with a straight face. Taylor Made Golf was my Distributor for the U.S. and Canadian market. Titleist has been the Ball King for so long, its hard to remember a time when it wasnt. However as a caddy the Spaulding staff bag was a real trunk!! What about Pax (Paul Goydos promoted them)? But Zevo Golf is one of those on this list that was a pioneering. The Black Dots were longest (for me) but that cover would smile back at you with the slightest mishit. In 1900, Spalding released the Vardon Flyer, the golf ball used by Harry Vardon. Another really well done article. Ive got a set of graphite Samurai ironwoods years ahead of their time lying around in the basement, I think. I speak with Nat Rosassco, former owner, of NorthWestern golf at least every 7 to 10 days and he holds Pat Simmons as one of the best club designers of all time as well. Pretty sure that was the first major won for a solid core ball. Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. I played them for years, they were solid, and they looked really good at address for their time period. I saw a set go for well over $300 (I think it went closer to $500, but I just would not swear to it). 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. Throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s, Spalding and Titleist were running neck and neck in golf ball production. 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). When we got out there, his Black Dot was split all the way to the liquid core I played D1 golf in college and we got three Red Dots for every match. I would love to have you include my Whole-In-One Adjustable Telescopic Golf Club in your mixdefinitely fits the criteria of unusual clubs. I owned a set of Nocklaus N1 irons (the pro versions of the bear irons?). The old Spaulding Executive set I had back in the early 1980s. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. The products soon disappeared from shelves. I see that a few from my list made it. I owned two sets of Unique ironsstarting in 1976. Anybody know anything about them? You can buy a set in good condition on eBay for around $100. Clare. Get the best deals on Spalding Executive Irons when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. What can you find out about Wilson x 70 irons. I had a friend who worked for Gary Player and he sent me his brand called iGNITORS Those were fairly strange and not particular long! Did you forget about Zevo Golf? Duke gave me an original solid brass/bronze Greenirons Slotline putter (heel shafted with slot in top line and white dot on lower rear section).. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. It means the Son of a Scottish brood that keeps getting into trouble only to easily find his way out of trouble! For more info on Stan Thompson click here. "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"], My friends and I (and Im embarrassed to say this now! Spalding is a big name in American sports, having manufactured equipment for basketball, American football, and golf over the years. and they wonder why they went out of business. Purespin (diamond face)? From the 1950s to the 1990s Spalding was in the bag for many major victories, and was played on municipal courses across the country. Especially in America.

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