Vintage Golf

[Crow]

That collection of persimmon is very impressive but it's come up for sale a few times over the last year or two.

I can understand the seller wanting to sell as one lot, but realistically just how many people are there wanting to buy such a collection for such a price?

 

[Voyager EMH]

Vintage Golf is 50 years old.

In 1973 Johnny Miller won the US Open playing with old bats.
He used only 3 contemporary clubs, 8, 9 and 10(PW) irons.

Johnny Miller 1973 US Open Win
What was in the bag Johnny?

Driver: 1961 McGregor Velocitized Tourney (10.5 degrees) D9 swingweight.
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Steel, X Flex, 43.5 inches.

3-wood: 1945 MacGregor Tommy Armour (15 degrees).
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Steel, X Flex.

4-wood:1941 MacGregor Tommy Armour (19 degrees).
Shaft:True Temper Dynamic Steel, X Flex

Irons: 1945 MacGregor Tommy Armour 915T (2-7).
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Steel, Stiff Flex, +0.5″ shaft length.
2-iron: 210 yards
3-iron: 200 yards
4-iron: 185 yards
5-iron: 175 yards
6-iron: 160 yards
7-iron: 150 yards

1972 MacGregor Tourney Custom (8-PW).
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Steel, Stiff Flex, +0.5″ shaft length.
8-iron: 140 yards
9-iron: 125 yards
PW (10-iron): 115 yards

Sand Wedge: 1959 Wilson Dyna-Power (58 degrees): 85 yards.
Shaft:True Temper Dynamic steel shaft, stiff flex.

Putter: 1952 Acushnet Bullseye Old Standard (36″ shaft)

There has never been a claim that before or since this event has anyone won a major with such out-of-date clubs.

Miller was 26 years old at the time. He was not an "old fashioned" golfer in his style of play or clothing - quite the opposite.
His final round of 8-under par 63 saw him hit very green in regulation. He was not bogey-free, however. He 3-putted a par three, but made 9 birdies.
Only three other players broke 70 on the final day.
His winner's prize money was $35,000 which was about £13,500 at the time.

He was 6-shots behind the leaders going into the final day with "many truly great players" ahead of him including Palmer, Weiskopf, Trevino, Bob Charles, Nicklaus, Player and a few more.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Got a social game tomorrow morning so that gives me a chance to play with some old bats.
Going for a mix and match with some newer ones.

Driver: Cobra F-Speed 10.5°

Woods: 2,4,6 HB&S Max Faulkner Avenger (Just put new grips on these)

Irons: 3,4,5 East Brothers Diamatic (new grips on these, but only these 3 so far)

Irons: 7,8,9 Reid Lockhart (probably playing the full set 3-SW in the comp 2 days later)

Irons: 8 & 9 Forgan PowerPakt

SW: Cleveland Classics 691 58°

You will notice no 6-iron. That is because I think I will hit the 21st century RL 6-iron further than the EB 5-iron.

Now what about having two 8-irons and two 9-irons?
I've not had the lofts measured on the RL irons, but I hit them a very similar distance to my Ping i10 irons.
So the RL 9-iron could be about 42°.
The loft of the Forgan 8 is 44°, half an inch shorter in shaft than the RL 9-iron and the Forgan 9 is 49° (PW and GW in today's terms)

I have put some thought into "gapping" and think I've achieved a good set-up. No 6-iron, two 8-irons, two 9-irons and only one wedge.
Having a 2,4,6 wood set is very pleasing. Not hit a ball with these yet. Same goes for the EB irons.

I'll decide on the putter in the morning.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Although I've payed with only the 3,4,5 so far, I have to say these irons are superb.



Looking forward to getting the rest of them regripped and playing the full set at some point.

Made only 4 pars front nine, but one was a 3-iron on a par three - so that was nice.
Tried to play every club at some point and after 10 holes I had only the 2-wood and the Forgan 44° 8-iron to go.
Used the 8-iron on our short par-3 11th, where the tee had been shoved forward and the hole was at the front. Holed the 10ft birdie putt to win the hole.
Used it again on the par-4 13th after a good drive downwind. 10ft putt holed again for birdie to win the hole.
Somehow my partner and I still managed to lose the game 2&1.
Two birdies and two bogeys gave me level par back nine at that point.
Hit the 2-wood for the one and only time off the 18th tee. Well struck, but a yard into the left rough, leaving only the RL 8-iron to the green. Found the left bunker with that.

Anyway - the East Brothers Diamatic irons get a big thumbs-up and the full set 3-SW will go nicely with the HB&S 2,4,6 woods and I can still put a St Adrews Golf Co driver with them.

 

[Crow]

But what putter did you go with?

 

[Voyager EMH]

But what putter did you go with?

Same old 1980s Ben Sayers Opel Line 1.
Going to be using it in the comp tomorrow - thought I might as well practice with it.
15 putts each nine.

(Later Edit: Exactly the same 15 putts each nine the following day for a 4-over par seniors comp off the yellow tees. Used full set of Reid Lockhart irons.)

 

[IanM]

Any thoughts on Minchinhampton Common as a Painswick/Cleeve style option for a vintage day out?

 

[Crow]

Any thoughts on Minchinhampton Common as a Painswick/Cleeve style option for a vintage day out?

Yes, positive ones.

(Is there a best time to avoid casual walkers on the course?)

 

[IanM]

We have a reciprocal with them now. I'm over playing one of the other courses on Friday. Will suss it out. Have driven past, looks like you can hit cars as well as walkers!

 

[Voyager EMH]

Don't forget - @Aztecs27 wants to know about another Painswick.

I've picked up this phraseology from watching the Chelsea Flower Show on the telly. I heard someone say, "This is my first Chelsea".

Last year was my first Painswick. Looking forward to another Painswick.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Arrived yesterday.
John Letters Lee Trevino Super Mex.
Woods 1, 3, 5.
Irons 2-SW

My poor photography skills with the flash has made the 3-wood insert appear to be a paler colour - which it is not.



So I might as well use the seller's shot for the irons



Circa 1979 - as the resident aficionado informs.

 

[Oddsocks]

Not quite vintage but picked up a lovely set of Taylormade ICW-5 blades 3-S today, the timeline indicates 1991 so about 32yrs young. Have to admit it was an impulse buy as I really want a set of KVD’s, but I started playing in 91 so going to build a set from that year.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Not quite vintage but picked up a lovely set of Taylormade ICW-5 blades 3-S today, the timeline indicates 1991 so about 32yrs young. Have to admit it was an impulse buy as I really want a set of KVD’s, but I started playing in 91 so going to build a set from that year.

I remember looking seriously at the ICWs in 1992 when I decided on updating my Maxfli International irons from 1977.
I went for my first perimeter weighted irons - Ram Laser FX forged 1-SW. Persuaded by price and the fact that the 1 and 2 looked easier to handle. Had a hole-in-one with the 2.
Still have the 1-iron but traded in the rest in 2008. Really regret doing that now.
What are KVD?

 

[Crow]

Ken Venturi Design I think, supposedly the first irons made by Taylor made.

 

[Oddsocks]

Ken Venturi Design I think, supposedly the first irons made by Taylor made.

Exactly this.

 

[Tashyboy]

Crow
Thoughts on this re how old it is. It looked in immaculate condition

 

[RichA]

Crow
Thoughts on this re how old it is. It looked in immaculate condition

My only thought is, "I didn't know Liberace played golf."
It even looks like it's wearing a cape.

 

[Tashyboy]

My only thought is, "I didn't know Liberace played golf."
It even looks like it's wearing a cape.

When I saw it I thought Slazenger have had a bad day

 

[Crow]

Crow
Thoughts on this re how old it is. It looked in immaculate condition

I'd guess 1980s, maybe even 1990s, but hard to date bags.

 

[Tashyboy]

I'd guess 1980s, maybe even 1990s, but hard to date bags.

The plastic club divider made me think it was not too old.
Cheers me man