The company stayed the course, and the result is a thriving, profitable company. Only until tomorrow until my hybrids come in and boom they're gone. Various . "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjT3UiJflw60ZD31-6yC4mA", my Dad is still pulling new 90s & 2000s Top Flights from the closet to play lol. And I remember drooling over those Tour Edition Custom blades in the pro shop. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. . Can you help me find the history of the club? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He loves telling stories, writing about golf and golf travel, and enjoys classic golf equipment. Bought the Slotlines new. lots of memories here. Inventory available of individual, single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding EXECUTIVE XE Irons. Our mission is #ConsumerFirst. 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. it was at my range's rental bin. The Spaulding Executive was just too far ahead of its timegreat club! They are also perfect in a steep slope due to the curved bottom of the club head. In 1938, the USGA passed an edict limiting players to 14 clubs. What a great list! 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. It was the mold makers attempt to make at a hollow head, wooden shape club. He also had a head for business and knew a good opportunity when he saw one. The market was changing rapidly, as well. Looking through eBay listings, you can find a range of vintage Spalding golf clubs in various conditions to suit different budgets. I bought them new. It is the Super Stick. Sign In. I would appreciate any help you could offer! Today its hard to fine a wooden golf club in a bag!!!! Spalding also started the Spalding Athletic Library; a series of sports and exercise books published from 1892 through 1941. FS - Fiberbuilt Flight Deck / GripMaster Roo pulls, New Vokey SM8 52 & 56 wedge set / New Titleist Caps (for bigger heads) / New Cobra RadSpeed 10.5* Driver, Peacoat, with premium, upgraded shaft, TSR3 ub-6x, cobra radspeed, TEE pro 721 driver and 3w, Ventus Black TR Folds of Honor 6x w/ TM Adapter, Ventus Red TR 6x w/ TM Adapter, Adidas Tour 360 22 Size 13, MyStealth2 Driver Headcover. I actually travel with it and use it at the driving range, so I dont have to rent clubs. I think Browning was leaving the golf business then and they were discounted last set in the store. You should shoot me some pics of your new set. I don't mind the executives though, don't really know much about them either. Great looking blade and the low COG really lets one hit it high. The real prize for Callaway was the Chicopee ball plant. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, (your email address will not be published), CONTEST Adams Pro Black Giveaway! remove head from shaft? It wasnt the shank that bothered me, it was waiting for it to happen that was the problem. The History of Spalding Golf Clubs - Hickory Golfers Men's Right Handed. I played them for years, they were solid, and they looked really good at address for their time period. Actually, we used to produce more golf balls than Titleist. We want your input before testing begins. 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. Unfortunately, the remaining companys sales still couldnt support the debt. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. 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). Why are Spalding golf balls called Top Flite? In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. What can you find out about Wilson x 70 irons. They play as well as any other set Those were first made around the end of the 19th century during the hickory era. Although they wont win any awards for innovation, Spaldings Molitor clubs are a decent game improvement set and a good option for beginners. 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. My Dad had the XL-4s (I still have them), one Uncle had the Executives and another had the Cannons. Great nostalgia with the article. "image": { I will admit to having a hankering for those slick lookin Zevo Lobs tho. 11 golf clubs/sets you owned and what they're worth now - PGA A very interesting stroll down golf history. Placing the hosel behind the face eliminates the occasional `shank, creating forward-face progression. Started Yesterday at 04:29 AM, By does ohma have a child [email protected] buy all 6 get free shipping) Let me know by ebay . money, time and performance. The Executive clubs are among the finest pure forged blades ever produced and have certainly stood the test of time. Is my equipment holding me back? 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. Oversized high center of gravity heads and huge amounts of offset are what killed long irons IMO. Just came back from the PGA Tour Superstore after reading this site last night. 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. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs. 2 Iron Spalding . "https://www.pinterest.com/Swingyard/blog/" what is spanish colonial music? I finally gave it to a friend of mine who is a beginner and he says it is the only club he can hit reliably. I still have a set of samurai woods and irons,,and still use them,,had a pro hit my 7 iron once,,it flew his 7iron,,he was amazed,they hit great,,but graphite wears down over years and breaks,and when that happens,,its hard to find a replacement,,,. Its high point came in 1998 when Mark OMeara won the Masters and the Open Championship for Spalding. "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Logo-1.svg" The biggest of them all, however, may well have been the aforementioned Bobby Jones. Can anyone tell me about Spalding executives : r/golf - reddit They looked like a full set of hybrids but only lasted a short period of time. Im from SD, so I had a set. I just found a set of Slingers at the thrift store for $10. Sold millions of those over the years. Ive got a crazy iron set that is one telescoping iron with a blade that changes position to vary the loft. 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. he is a cleveland iron man now, but he still owns the spalding executives. Its an interesting question to ask about a company that was a factor for over 125 years. Iomic Golf Grips: 8 Key Facts Before You Buy. Since you mentioned it in the article, how about doing the history of Ben Hogan golf from its inception in 1953 to itd ultimate demise under Callaway and then its resurrection in 2015. SPALDING EXECUTIVE 3-PW Iron Set Golf Clubs R/H Jet Step Stiff Flex Steel. I collect odd golf items. I think all the readers as well as the golfspies would love to learn as much about these past designs as possible. 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. The company was already selling golf balls when, in 1905, it became the first in America to offer its own brand of golf clubs. "dateModified": "2022-05-12", Thus, the USGA implemented the one ball rule, Thanks John for another great piece of history. Almost , http://www.intheholegolf.com/store/f2is.html. As a golfer of a certain age, these history articles are fascinating! Odyssey to Callaway In July 1997, Callaway Golf purchased putter maker Odyssey for $130 million, or nearly four times the company's annual sales of $35 million at the time. 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? As a designer, the design is perfect and although they look funny, they were a great club, ask Cory Pavin. vicunas. Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. The primary reason why Spalding halted the production of golf clubs was that they couldnt keep up with the competition. And although Top Flite is still in business today, its a brand that most golfers associate with cheap equipment of inferior quality. Tom Farrell. I used to have a set of Ajay Pro Classics that were my dads. I just love them! Its impossible to overstate Albert Spaldings vision and ambition. Ugly or unconventional, I felt a more confident with them and Stan Thompson fairway woods. Heres one for the booksTommy Armour EQL one length irons. But since the early 2000s, Spalding has practically disappeared from the golf landscape. Read on to learn more about the history of Spalding clubs and what you can expect from various models. Spalding released multiple iterations of its Executive clubs throughout the sixties and seventies, and they became popular with professional golfers and recreational players alike. Protactic Golf in Chicago. 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 $1 billion is a lot of cabbage, and KKR borrowed heavily to make the deal. Long irons with shallow faces, little offset and perhaps slightly softer shafts can be quite playable. The company experimented throughout the 1920s and 1930s with lathe-turned hickory shafts that featured circular ridges spaced at standard intervals down the entire shaft. The company was founded in 1973 and today produces high-quality golf clubs using the . Non-Tapered Golf Grips: 8 Facts to Know Before You Buy! He could not believe the smoothness of the Driver. Still use them. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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. ), Takomo Golf Clubs Review: (As Good as Expected? 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. Happily, I can say that I have seen these over the years, but none of them ever made it into my golf bag. Find golf club trade-in and re-sales values for over 4,000 models of used golf clubs at the PGA Value Guide, from leading manufacturers such as Callaway, TaylorMade, Taylor Made, Titleist, Ping, Odyssey, Nike, Cleveland, Mizuno, Cobra, Adams, Wilson. The original Strata ball was amazing when it came out spin for days! We had small layoffs on an ongoing basis, and people kept looking over their shoulder. Throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s, Spalding and Titleist were running neck and neck in golf ball production. when were spalding executive golf clubs made. Pasted as rich text. they were a good iron, that looked good at address, and were easy to hit. 0 bids. From 1932 until 1973 two years after Jones death Spalding sold over 15 different models and two million sets of Bobby Jones clubs. Never met a set of strange clubs I didnt want to try. He also worked at Zevo when the LoB Irons were developed. 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. I saw a set go for well over $300 (I think it went closer to $500, but I just would not swear to it). 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). He also had some copycat Browning irons in the trunk, but I refused I couldnt even look at them with a straight face. Of course, it is the Indian not the arrow to some extent, but he does well. You cannot do that with any other club. Well today is going to be a little bit different. I would hand stamp #7 on all irons. When were Spalding executive clubs made? - Trentonsocial.com "datePublished": "2022-05-12", By the Roaring '20s, A.G. Spalding & Brothers was using the process of "drop forging" to manufacture metal club-heads. The Ginty was the first modern Utility club. Although the Inertial irons werent so lucky. Not quite Bryson-like, but innovative for the day. Ive seen several of those uglies up close over the years so this was fun to view. " [We] decided that . "logo": { Well done. Regardless, both are great sets. Thanks for the history lesson and walk down memory lane. One of my buddies gave me a Tiger Shark wedge the one with 3 different alignment lines, concave dimples on the face instead of grooves, and a funky dual bounce sole configuration. Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? - Windtree Golf 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. Win a bunch of BogeyPro swag! I demand a re-count!, He went on to say, and as owner of MyGolfSpy you should feel ashamed since you were given a set as a gift 15 years ago and I remember you putting me in play for a few rounds, how could you do this to me?, Slotline had a hit on their hands with their Slotline Inertial puttersthey sold over 2 Million of those flatsticks. The Pyramid Rubber Company, a maker of baby bottles, strollers, and other infant products, bought a controlling interest. They produced more premium balls, but we used to make 25-, 26-million dozen a year.. i used to work in a golf shop in ohio and we had the worst set i ever saw. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #3. No matter what brand of club you pull from your bag, you owe some thanks to one company Spalding. Make Request. Would the F2 wedges still be legal if the crank were a few inches further up but still keeping the same angle please. Remember all the other clubs, good to read. werent as good. #15 - Stan Thompson Ginty Irons You might remember the popular Stan Thompson woods with the unique sole design. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs? (Solution) Previously, they manufactured equipment for golf, American football, and baseball, but they have downsized considerably in recent years. The legendary Spalding bird logo appeared on their clubs in the 1960s, with the Top-Flite Elite Professional irons proving popular on Tour. Today, Spalding Executive clubs arent worth a great deal of money. 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. 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. Top Flite is now synonymous with bargain or cheap instead of being the club of choice for the greatest golfers on tour. 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!) The Spalding Top-Flite first came out in 1970. The reason why Spalding clubs arent particularly valuable is that they have been widely available for so many years. These gentlemen used them to win large amounts of money on the course from unsuspecting victims. Its a great story that needs to be told. I was the Sales Manager of Stan Thompson golf company for several years and worked very close with Stan. Spalding Executive Left Handed Golf Clubs - Left Handed Golf Clubs Remember when pros like Norman and Stadler and others with that bright red Spaulding Tour Bag. Dont be ashamed thoughsome of these designs have actually been pioneering for the industry. ), Finn Scooter Golf Reviews (Are These the Real Deal? 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. So for those of you who own a set and are fellow collectors of the ridiculoustoday is your day to shine. Theres even premium urethane cover options (Pro V1 and X styles) for ~$15 a dozen. (Cavity back blades???) Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. Spalding started adding Tour staff during the 90s, with Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Graig Stadler, and Nick Price all playing Stratas. "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"], Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. 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. The old Spaulding Executive set I had back in the early 1980s. PING was still PING, and Tiger was becoming Tiger. I love these old clubs. 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). 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.. My Dad's execs from the 70's were blades that had aluminum shafts. MacGregor Doctor X. I had the Bears. If so send us some picsdont worry we will keep it 100% anonymous . Jim, If you are interested in writing about the history of the urethane covered golf ball at Titleist, I can provide all of the facts. 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. Was a fan of the TopFlite XL. What about Pax (Paul Goydos promoted them)? He also was one of the best designers in the golf biz. As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons. 15 Craziest Golf Club (Irons) Ever Made! - MyGolfSpy Who knows what might have happened if someone else had gained control, Im 75 and recall that my Dad was a Spalding Dot guy. You can post now and register later. With KKR, it was a 180-degree turnaround. Spalding got so inventive with their clubmaking, they had golf bags around America sporting 20-30 clubs. is fantastic, but the club is as stiff as an old water pipe and is accordingly harsh. The early Top-Flites were juast the opposite; you couldnt cut one of them with an axe. "https://twitter.com/_swingyard_", made it even more interesting and valuable. This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets. If you have any you think we should include or have any additional info about the clubs listed feel free to post your comments. Finally, I think a distinction needs to be made between the wackiest looking and worst irons made. In 2001 Spalding launched a $17 million ad campaign for Hogan and Strata. Youve forgotten the worst offender. I have one of those! 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). Latitude Irons also give the golfer an added patented design feature of dual skids on the sole. In 1880, Spaldings League Ball became the official baseball of the National League (and later of the American League), a position it held until 1976. Never get tired of reading these types of articles. Can you come up with any info on these? Within weeks, Top-Flite filed Chapter 11. Slotline Inertial E-Max irons laying around ? By this time, Spalding was making everything from barbells, dumbells, punching bags, and rowing machines to fencing blades, whistles, shot puts, javelins, and golf clubs. Return Policy > WORLDWIDE SHIPPING. I have no ideabut I sure loved my Tommy Armour silver Scotts. But the funky look kept me from ever thinking about buying a whole set. But, in the rough the club went right underneath the ball. 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.. 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 In 1892 Spalding went into acquisition mode, buying up two key competitors: the A.J. Was: C $107.89. 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. But just because it was wacky did not mean it was not a hellova seller. 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. I love them but Im mystified with the hex screw in the bottom of every shaft! Executives were my first real set of golf clubs. I was told they only made a few hundred sets. He changed from forged blades and balata balls to cavity back, investment cast irons and sold core balls, White tells MyGolfSpy. "@type": "Article", 1983 when were spalding executive golf clubs made MENU. Men's Right Handed. Make sense as I do have a Johnny Miller PW which looks just like an X 70. Maybe it is a good idea or maybe it is not. 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.