Vintage Golf

[Crow]

Ted Manton was our Club Pro from 1914-43 so a bit before even my time. Started playing in 1970 and joined Kirby when we moved to Leics in 1981

Seeing those clubs reminded me of when the club pro's had a workshop "out the back" and were able to repair and refurbish all sorts for their members.

Don't think there are many like that around any longer.

BTW don't get me wrong I am a fan of many of the old school features of golf, including some of the clubs, particularly persimmon woods. Still got a hankering for an Eye-o-Matic.

I suppose there's no need for a workshop out the back these days as everyone seems to change their clubs as soon as they're a couple of years old.
I tired to find a local place to get some lies checked and adjusted but gave up in the end.

You can pick up an Eye-o-Matic fairly easily, I know the seller of this one, quite pricey but a quality offering.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/812112415884185/permalink/1029653064130118/

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I suppose there's no need for a workshop out the back these days as everyone seems to change their clubs as soon as they're a couple of years old.
I tired to find a local place to get some lies checked and adjusted but gave up in the end.

You can pick up an Eye-o-Matic fairly easily, I know the seller of this one, quite pricey but a quality offering.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/812112415884185/permalink/1029653064130118/

I travel to Dorridge in Solihull for any repairs or adjustments. Phil at Club Class Golf Repairs is very experienced and qualified as well as being helpful.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Not sure if this truly counts as vintage golf. But as I snapped my driver last week I have brought my Callaway Steelhead III Big Bertha (11*) out of retirement. Bought around 2003 I guess, I will play it this weekend - might well take it out for a few holes this evening. Such a small head - it looks like how I remember a 2 wood looking ?.

 

[Crow]

I was very excited to have a recent ebay win delivered today, these are the match for one of my favourite iron sets, the Dunlop Peter Thomson, 1957 version.

An advert from May 1957 is reproduced below with the woods shown.
The pictures in the listing weren’t the greatest and condition was obviously “used” but I’m happy to say that they’re better than they appeared. The worst damage is to the heel of the brassie as shown and I’m sure that this can be easily repaired.
With these woods I’m as close as I think I can be to the full set, 2 to 9 plus retriever in the irons, I’m not sure if there was a sand wedge as the advert reads: ”Note, the classic sandblaster unchanged is included in this series.” so I assume that this was a generic club rather than a Peter Thomson model. As I’m not sure what the generic model was, I’ve included a sand wedge from the next generation set, the Peter Thomson, Contour Sole, which came out in 1962.
For the putter I’ve opted for one slightly different to that shown in the advert which more closely matches the style of the irons, picture shown, it’s a bit rough looking but the chrome on these putters seems to come off very easily.
Just need to restore the woods now….

 

[Crow]

Nice set of Ben Sayers "Mentor" forged irons here, I assume 3 to 9 plus PW, a bargain at £30 if you live in the London area and can collect.

I have a set of these and they play beautifully.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Set-of-l...612871?hash=item2d16891cc7:g:P7YAAOSw31pfUh-e

 

[golfbluecustard]

Am looking currently at some very shiny Mizuno TP 11 or MS 1 blades they look like they have a chrome finish

No idea how they'll play but will look great in my soon to come garden room / where I'll WFH and it'll be fun taking them out with some cherry red persimmon woods i have my eye on.

Anyone got any experience of these or suggestions for similar?

GBC

 

[Crow]

The TP-11s were a successful set and used by many pros at the time, among them Sandy Lyle for his Masters win.

The Pro MS-1 are earlier and are another great looking set.

The TP-9 and TP-18 are two more beautiful looking sets if you're looking for Mizuno alternatives.

 

[Leftie]

Just out of interest (mine) Nick, do you have anything made by Jack Randall. He was the first professional and club maker at my club.

 

[golfbluecustard]

The TP-11s were a successful set and used by many pros at the time, among them Sandy Lyle for his Masters win.

The Pro MS-1 are earlier and are another great looking set.

The TP-9 and TP-18 are two more beautiful looking sets if you're looking for Mizuno alternatives.

Thanks that's my evening / weekend sorted

GBC

 

[Crow]

Just out of interest (mine) Nick, do you have anything made by Jack Randall. He was the first professional and club maker at my club.

I've not heard of him.
A quick search and I assume we're talking about Sundridge and the early 1900s?
If so then they'll be hickory or early steel shafted clubs which I don't have many of.

Here's a putter at a high price, this seller always asks above the going rate.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hickory-...m-Mallet-Putter-Lead-Face-Superb/124300227212

In this lot as a Pyratone coated steel shafted niblick, the price being asked for these is also very optimistic.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Vintag...all-Little-Slam-Harry-Brown-Bag-/224116392415

 

[Leftie]

That's the chap Nick. Maybe our club's heritage researcher has embellished Jack's importance. There is an annual Senior's comp "The Jack Randall Putter" and we do have some hickory shafted clubs (that I assume are his originals) securely fixed to a wall behind a presentation case. Apparently one of our courses was laid out by Willie Park jnr, who also made clubs, and the work was overseen by Jack and a chap called James Braid.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Crows pics had me looking at my persimmons - oh I love em - don’t use them but still love them - my driver ?

 

[Crow]

That's the chap Nick. Maybe our club's heritage researcher has embellished Jack's importance. There is an annual Senior's comp "The Jack Randall Putter" and we do have some hickory shafted clubs (that I assume are his originals) securely fixed to a wall behind a presentation case. Apparently one of our courses was laid out by Willie Park jnr, who also made clubs, and the work was overseen by Jack and a chap called James Braid.

I'm sure Jack was important in his day and certainly to your club.

I do have a Willie Park club, a hickory shafted cleek that I re-shafted.

 

[Crow]

Crows pics had me looking at my persimmons - oh I love em - don’t use them but still love them - my driver ?View attachment 32517

Very nice, looks like you had it refinished not long before retiring it.

 

[golfbluecustard]

These arrived today from Ebay and were a joy to hit at the range, no idea what loft they are but felt really nice to hit.

 

[Crow]

These arrived today from Ebay and were a joy to hit at the range, no idea what loft they are but felt really nice to hit.

Nice, are they Ping Eye 2?

Wood lofts for this era are typically:
Driver 11 degrees
3 wood 15 degrees
5 wood 20 degrees

Although Ping were generally stronger lofted than contemporary clubs so if yours are Ping they might be a degree or two stronger for the 3 & 5 wood.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Very nice, looks like you had it refinished not long before retiring it.

I never Used it much - preferring the 3w off the tee. But every year I had the three - driver, 3w and 5w in for a service.

 

[golfbluecustard]

Nice, are they Ping Eye 2?

Wood lofts for this era are typically:
Driver 11 degrees
3 wood 15 degrees
5 wood 20 degrees

Although Ping were generally stronger lofted than contemporary clubs so if yours are Ping they might be a degree or two stronger for the 3 & 5 wood.

Well spotted they are the Ping Eye 2's £ 25 + p&p

Couldn't get over how small the head's are vs my modern M 2 Driver etc... Or how easy they are to hit, albeit if was at the range.

Next stop some bladed irons !!!

GBC

 

[Crow]

Well spotted they are the Ping Eye 2's £ 25 + p&p

Couldn't get over how small the head's are vs my modern M 2 Driver etc... Or how easy they are to hit, albeit if was at the range.

Next stop some bladed irons !!!

GBC

You're on your way to fun golf.

Ping Eye 2 woods are renowned for being easy to hit, and why wouldn't they, it's how Ping built their name!
(Watch what range balls you're hitting, some of the real rocks can damage the older woods.)

I don't know where you're based but if you're any where near Brentford then these are a steal.
The Spalding woods look to be Persimmon.
The Slazenger Bobby Locke Personal irons look to be the full 2 to 9 iron plus sand wedge, they date from the late 1950s.
If I lived near Brentford I'd be on them like a shot.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mixed-se...875789?hash=item1aa4abdacd:g:XOkAAOSwS9NfcMD1

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Well spotted they are the Ping Eye 2's £ 25 + p&p

Couldn't get over how small the head's are vs my modern M 2 Driver etc... Or how easy they are to hit, albeit if was at the range.

Next stop some bladed irons !!!

GBC

i am using my old Callaway Big Bertha III driver until I get a new driver...everyone thinks I’m using a 3 wood from the tee - one of my playing companions told me I’d be very really long off the tee if I used a driver. He had to check my club when I said I already was ?. Another asked if I’d got it out of my loft...yup ?