when were spalding executive golf clubs made
No sir, they are in my bag and are still being used after all these years. Acushnet has been sold twice since the 1970s, and each time the buyer took the same approach: be profitable, and well leave you alone. 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! I actually like the looks of those babies! He struggled quite a bit with the change.. I became a +2 handicap using those irons, and a lot of people scoffed at them early ontill they saw me hit them. Throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s, Spalding and Titleist were running neck and neck in golf ball production. We (and tour players) figured out it was very stable in the wind and was 2 clubs longer with the irons. The RB880 s by Northwestern are also knockoffs of the Browning 440 s. MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The company was founded in 1973 and today produces high-quality golf clubs using the . What a great list! What about the old Bullet Driver that was hollow in the center (like an inverted U shape)? I was the Sales Manager of Stan Thompson golf company for several years and worked very close with Stan. Return Policy > WORLDWIDE SHIPPING. they were a good iron, that looked good at address, and were easy to hit. * Note: These irons were designed by Don Wood remember the Plop putterswell they are back at it againyou can check them out here. 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. 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. 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. $77.83. Not to belittle them because KKR is incredibly successful, but they didnt know the golf business the way we did, says White. Norman credited the extra spin of the Tour Edition for winning the 1986 British Open. Used to play traditional blades with the odd shank. Take the Spalding Executive line. I saw a set go for well over $300 (I think it went closer to $500, but I just would not swear to it). today. Thanks. Havent been able to give them up since my Dad died in 99, Does anyone remember a set of irons made in the 80s (I think) that were actually a bunch of small woods, even the PW was made from wood. Perhaps you are thinking of the Browning 440 Plus which had more of a standard face depth. I think a list of the craziest irons made should definitely include the Jerry Barber Golden Touch irons made over 40 years 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. Thats great. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive x EZ Oversize Irons. 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. In 1900, Spalding released the Vardon Flyer, the golf ball used by Harry Vardon. Still bagging their wedges. Why are Spalding golf balls called Top Flite? Do You have any idea? Got them for $200.00 which was a really great price other pro shops were asking $450.00 for a set. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Wright was the driving force behind Bostons Franklin Park golf course, the first municipal course in the U.S. Bostons other muni is named after Wright, who donated the land for the Donald Ross design. Various . Had a set of McGregor Irons called Doctor Rx, they felt good hit in the middle, they reminded me of a Pringle potato chip. werent as good. Since the Ryder Cup is shortly upon us MyGolfSpy & GolfCircuit.com thought it[]. My only wacky set now are some Macgregor MT Splitsoles in very gd cond which were bought at a Thrift store. These were actually a pretty good iron for the time and I think Trevino had something to do with this designbut not sure. They introduced the Browning 500 Series to counter that effect.But, they waited too long and by that timethe party was over! The Endo-forged Hogan Apex Plus cavity back irons came soon after, along with a solid-core Hogan Apex ball. To maintain the limit of 14 clubs in the bag, I change off now and then. (8 Ways To Know) . Who knows what might have happened if someone else had gained control, Im 75 and recall that my Dad was a Spalding Dot guy. Spalding was the leading manufacturer of golf clubs in America throughout the mid-twentieth century, highlighting just how popular the brand was. I dont think I paid more than $300 for all four sets combined- Im a Salvation Army searcher. Who Makes Dunlop Golf Clubs? What about Giant Irons, I remember seeing those on an infomercial a few times. Im not talking a couple of degrees, but for one shot you could make it a 5 iron and the next (with a quick adjustment) itd be a PW. when were spalding executive golf clubs made. It felt like a rock but flew like a rocket and weekend warriors bought them by the bushel. But the funky look kept me from ever thinking about buying a whole set. I accidentally broke it in the late 1970s the shaft was installed over a milled section of the hosel! The name was acquired by the folks behind Nitro golf balls and they now have a full line you can buy on RockBottomGolf. Throughout America, the affordable Spalding clubs flew off the shelves and reaped huge catalog sales. I played a lot of Spaulding equipment as a kid in all kinds of sports. Although the Inertial irons werent so lucky. New entries such as Nike and Adams were turning heads as well. They are also perfect in a steep slope due to the curved bottom of the club head. * Note: These irons were designed by Jim Flood and were considered a controversial design and are often times very hard to find. Its on the list! "@type": "ImageObject", Spalding stopped producing golf clubs in 2022, focusing on other sports in the years since. he is a cleveland iron man now, but he still owns the spalding executives. 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. His stuff was marvelous and all original. Thanks for the history lesson and walk down memory lane. What a mess that design was! While theyre old-school, Spalding clubs are made to high standards and are built to last, making them a great option if youre looking for a cheap and cheerful set of clubs. "@type": "Article", I cant remember who made them, but I remember reading about an iron that was adjustable so its loft could be wildly altered. Many of which might have even found there way into a few of your bagseven if you dont want to admit it. Does Spalding make golf balls? 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. When my father would shot a 215 yard iron into the hole, his fellow golfers wold ask him what club he used. "dateModified": "2022-05-12", (Sponsored by: GolfCircuit.com), CONTEST! That debt burden, however, finally proved fatal. When youre in the market for Spalding clubs, bear in mind that they were branded as Top-Flite clubs for a while, so be sure to broaden your search to include Top-Flite models. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Although they wont win any awards for innovation, Spaldings Molitor clubs are a decent game improvement set and a good option for beginners. So for those of you who own a set and are fellow collectors of the ridiculoustoday is your day to shine. If you have any you think we should include or have any additional info about the clubs listed feel free to post your comments. Ugly or unconventional, I felt a more confident with them and Stan Thompson fairway woods. "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjT3UiJflw60ZD31-6yC4mA", Spalding had a long history, terrific heritage, and healthy topline sales of over $500 million. 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 [email protected] That year Spaldings sales topped $537 million, with over $400 million coming from the golf division. Weve done a mini-history on the Hogan Company, with input from a couple of longtime Hogan employees. Corey Pavin won the 1996 US Open Shinnecock with a purple set. Spalding spent over 125 years as a sporting goods giant. Callaway had long wanted Top-Flites ball factory and patents but didnt want to assume any debt. Remember when pros like Norman and Stadler and others with that bright red Spaulding Tour Bag. Inside cavity: blue/back button; EXECUTIVE x EZ. Whats fun is to find one of those old sets, regrip them and beat your friends with them! There are still folks around from when Mr. Hogan ran the company and I am sure you can get some keen insights not only of the company but of Mr. Hogan himself. Display as a link instead, In 1876 Spalding was the manager and ace pitcher of the Chicago White Stockings. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. They got so popular at the time that it scared club makers badly (Every set was pretty much custom built then), and Golfing associations banned the club from play. Never met a set of strange clubs I didnt want to try. Great list of wild clubs. Not the first or the last business to be destroyed by KKR. Pretty or not (thats the clubs), I have played Fila Latitude irons since they came out. They dropped the Tour Edition moniker and focused on the expansion of their touring staff on the PGA, Senior PGA and LPGA tours. From 1932 until 1973 two years after Jones death Spalding sold over 15 different models and two million sets of Bobby Jones clubs. my 5w distance matches my friends new drivers in distance off tee,,they are amazed. They looked like a full set of hybrids but only lasted a short period of time. I play them still and love them. With a few months of work and some radical design modifications it was turned into the first modern Metalwood. Theyre awesome. my Dad is still pulling new 90s & 2000s Top Flights from the closet to play lol. Spalding introduced the Vardon Flyer, a golf ball that was popularized by Harry Vardon. Spalding released multiple iterations of its Executive clubs throughout the sixties and seventies, and they became popular with professional golfers and recreational players alike. ), Finn Scooter Golf Reviews (Are These the Real Deal? 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.. Spalding lost $27 million in 2000 and another $20 million in 2001. It was made by Salt Lake City Specialties. The Browning 440s took my game from the 150s (Wilson clubs) to the low 70s. It was a low loft club used for poor lies and putting. 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). It was a close race but in the end we felt like it was finally time for the super-rare and hard to find Lil David Slingers get the recognition they were due. 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. The Cobra set left handed golf club set is made of premium products. The real prize for Callaway was the Chicopee ball plant. During their time together, Vardon and Spalding agreed the best way to grow the game in the U.S. and grow the market for Spalding golf products was to build more golf courses. Great list! Iomic Golf Grips: 8 Key Facts Before You Buy. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. Quite honestly, we werent ready for that.. Leather Golf Grips Review: Should I Use Them? All of the irons were labeled as a 7 iron, with the real number of the club micro stamped on the faces upper toe. Every iron ever made is ugly as hell when you hit it off the hosel. I just searched eBay right now and saw a set for $139. Well today is going to be a little bit different. Driver to 15 wood. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Every time I take it out of my bag for some new modern wedge, I go back to it a few weeks later. as well as honest reporting on the latest issues affecting the game But as you can see could cause some serious digging issues. By the Roaring '20s, A.G. Spalding & Brothers was using the process of "drop forging" to manufacture metal club-heads. Like many of his other unconventional looking but super functional designs for the time this one flew off the shelves. From the 1950s to the 1990s Spalding was in the bag for many major victories, and was played on municipal courses across the country. Anybody know anything about them? I gave those up quickly only because they were really odd looking. Perception-wise that made Spalding a second-tier, big-box company compared to Titleist. The stickers are silver, but the Slinger logo is a black heavy type face and says pat. 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. Only until tomorrow until my hybrids come in and boom they're gone. Turns out it was just 20 years ago. "author": "Ned Howard", 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. KKRs $25 billion takeover of RJR Nabisco was chronicled in the book (and tv movie) Barbarians at the Gate. 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. Anyone ever hear of anything like that? Still have the clubs in my basement. Those are the reasons they work. }, In that year, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) took shape, and many of the fledgling tour's stars already had endorsement deals with Spalding. 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 Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. It is the Super Stick. Spalding manufactured golf clubs for some of the leading players in the game, including the legendary American player Bobby Jones. 1 Iron (18) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE. And continuity, leadership, and smart decisions matter. Got the 3 PW for 3.99 a club, bought the 5- PW first, played two rounds and went back and bought the 3 & 4. Really solid clubs. They come as a set and include eleven clubs, a golf bag, and head covers. (What Exactly Happened?). What about Pax (Paul Goydos promoted them)? The Black Dots were longest (for me) but that cover would smile back at you with the slightest mishit. It was a time-consuming, costly and inconsistent process. I was the person responsible for introducing urethane prepolymers to Dr Shen Shen Wu, Titleist R&D chemist. #14 - Spalding Executive Irons These were actually a pretty good iron for the time and I think Trevino had something to do with this designbut not sure. The Top-Flite, Strata, and Hogan brands stayed alive for a while, but Callaway eventually mothballed them all. They owed more to its creditors than Spalding was worth. I still think there were others that deserved some consideration. "headline": "Spalding Irons by Year", Jackie Gleason also owned a set. I have a full set of Exec XE irons. 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. $86.40 shipping. Purespin (diamond face)? The success of Spalding golf clubs had compelled the USGA to act, but this success was not destined to last forever. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 I had some Staff FG-17 and my friends dad had the Executives. MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. I take them out every couple of years and play a round with them just for fun. In 1895, Spalding started making golf balls. He also had a head for business and knew a good opportunity when he saw one. Matched them to Wilson Pro Staff low compressions and I was a happy camper. The 1968 arrival of the Executive MV2 Bird Over Ball clubs are among some of Spaldings most easily recognizable clubs. Im sure Scott White would love to contribute. 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. 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. During the time of the KKR takeover I was employed as the Managing Director in Australia/ NZ Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. If you are a beginner and are looking for a . The company's unique "baseball mark" A.G. Spalding had helped put baseball on the map--was stamped on the clubs and below it "Made in Great Britain" appeared. In the late 70s I also had a set of Unique irons which were great apart from the plastic covers covering the cavity back constantly falling out. Starting in 1900, Spalding opened club-making factories in London and in Fife, Scotland, producing forged iron heads for Spalding clubs sold both in the UK and U.S. As previously mentioned, you can buy Spalding Molitor clubs at Rock Bottom, and theyre a great option for beginner players. Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver Review, Best Womens Golf Clubs for Intermediate Players, Ned Howard Retired PGA Teaching Professional. Would the F2 wedges still be legal if the crank were a few inches further up but still keeping the same angle please. Look at many of todays hybrids. I owned two sets of Unique ironsstarting in 1976. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Im surprised that nobody has mentioned the Wilson Fat Shaft irons for ugliness. You cannot paste images directly. I still have the irons to this day! You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! It kept some of those out of my bag Im sure. It adjusts to every loft in a full bag, plus half lofts. You have any pics of the Samurai irons Neilwould love to see them. I am still playing with my set every week! Keep up the great work. Lots of wackiness. I bought a set of blue-backed Uniques back in the early 80s. I want to say they were called Ironwoods but I cant find them on the internet maybe they were just in one of my wild dreams!! 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. 0 bids. Ironfinder has a good selection of individual Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball golf clubs in stock to help you replace a missing single golf iron. I would like to repay you with mine. Pasted as rich text. They also specialized in unique clubs like the Cran Creek. I have a set of Fila Solerno irons/fairway woods that I havent been able to find anything about on the internet. 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. We want you to get the most out of your No matter what brand of club you pull from your bag, you owe some thanks to one company Spalding. I still have the samurai irons,2-pw and woods,driver,3w,5w,7w,,and still use them. By then the Cisneros brothers had taken the money and ran. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. KKR had been trying to dump Spalding as early as 2000, but no one would take on the debt burden. Brilliant writing! I had a VAS 5 iron. My friends and I (and Im embarrassed to say this now! Our friends[], Amazing Ryder Cup Contest! BombTech Golf Reviews (These Golf Clubs Any Good? Titleist and PING were established competitors, while TaylorMade and Callaway were flexing their muscles. Somehow they squeezed 492 dimples on them Those balls were rocketships. It was first shown at the PGA dealers show at Disney World, Orlando, Florida 1979. 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. Did you forget about Zevo Golf? What was wacky about the Bears? Not quite Bryson-like, but innovative for the day. single, replacement or add-on golf irons and wedges for Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons. It overpaid for Spalding and borrowed heavily to do it. NOW AVAILABLE: GolfWRX G/Fore Hats and Holderness & Bourne Polos! About; Blog; Service; Contacts However my 6 iron had twice as much offset as any other iron in the set. My Dad had the XL-4s (I still have them), one Uncle had the Executives and another had the Cannons. Ever hear of Belmont (internal, removable sole weighting)? If so, are they any good? * Note: These irons were designed in Belgium by the Belgium-Browning company. That might be because Golfsmith acquired them back in 2003. Started Thursday at 03:24 PM, Please put and questions or comments here, Please put any questions or comments here, Please put any questions of comments here. We are here to help educate and empower golfers. 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). Still, if youre looking for more information about Spalding golf clubs, youve come to the right place. Theres even premium urethane cover options (Pro V1 and X styles) for ~$15 a dozen. Could not beleive how well I hit this clubs. Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. Each has a special place in my personal golf journey and is still some of the best equipment Ive ever used. 5 Testers Needed! 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. And Spaldings ace in the hole Strata was old news by the time the Pro V1 and Nike Tour Accuracy hit the scene. They all looked like mini woods. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs. By the early 1920s, Spalding began using a mechanical hammer to drop-forge heads in an assembly line, making the process faster, more consistent, and considerably less expensive. He traded a set of classic Burke PunchIrons to get the Lynx. Spalding, seemingly, was on top of the world. The 300XXL Driver was so lightawesome clubhead speed ! Yet again, the same fate as MacGregor had. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #2. Both were smart, competent leaders but had little golf experience. words that have to do with clay P.O. "mainEntityOfPage": "https://swingyard.com/spalding-irons-by-year/", Really enjoyed them. I didnt know until I read this article that evidently FILA was the designer of the original face forward iron design; speaking of which, I wouldve thought the F2 Face Forward Irons wouldve made the list (http://www.intheholegolf.com/store/f2is.html). You can post now and register later. I traded in some Titleist Acushnet blades for themI had only paid $99.00 for the set of Acushnets (used)they gave me $139.00 in trade value, and wanted another $100 for the UniquesThey were some of the easiest to hit irons I have ever ownedout of the 40 50 different sets I have had. 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. However as a caddy the Spaulding staff bag was a real trunk!! I can't imagine them being worth a shit. Cleveland VAS was really great Iron. They are similar to the Nike slingshots as they have a powerbow looking thing on the back of them. Balata covers. Spalding started adding Tour staff during the 90s, with Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Graig Stadler, and Nick Price all playing Stratas. After each sale, however, TaylorMades leadership team remained intact. Its impossible to overstate Albert Spaldings vision and ambition. I have a 3-15 wood set that are fun to play with. Spalding sold off its majority ownership in Evenflo in August of 1998. In fact, one of Spaldings most popular models was the Bobby Jones collection, selling two million sets between 1932 and 1973. But they seem to work though. http://www.geekgolf.com. Spalding EXECUTIVE Iron Set. I still have several sets of Hogan forged irons, Hogan/Bettinardi putters, several dozen Apex, and Tour Deep balls. The "New York Times" frequently syndicates his work. I dont know how people could justify any of the others. The Top Flite name lives on, however, thanks to the purchase of its namesake via Callaway in the early 2000s. The range is for form anyway. I bought them new. Today, Spalding Executive clubs arent worth a great deal of money. Im 65 and still playing to seven with them. "https://www.linkedin.com/in/swingyard/", (Everything To Know). All are memory refreshing .. have been in golf clubhead design , manufacturing 25 years , familiar with the designs ! I still have them and as a matter of fact I still use a copper Zing2 sand wedge 54. 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. This technology is a shank-proof hosel. Bought the Slotlines new. But Zevo Golf is one of those on this list that was a pioneering. Laugh if you must, but the design works. By 1910, the company was selling aluminum fairway clubs and its Gold Medal series (1910 to 1919) featured aluminum bronze. Just remember, Its always the indian and not the arrow. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.You can also visit my Am. Still use them. Thanks for the memories, John Barba. Im not sure how rare they are, but youd think there would be a trace of them somewhere. 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. Great looking blade and the low COG really lets one hit it high. Went back 10 years and got the 845s used. Whats more, Spalding Molitor clubs currently retail at $280 for an entire set, which is a price point that is pretty hard to beat. Spalding did have high hopes for the Hogan brand. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. There is nothing crazy about the Slinger! 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. In 1962, Pyramid merged with Dunhill International and the AP Parts Corporation.