when were spalding executive golf clubs made

Fila Golf has developed this new iron using a patented design feature. 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. Those were real whacky.. bent shafts and roughly milled heads. Upload or insert images from URL. But more trouble was coming for Spalding. With this in mind, this article looks at why Spalding golf clubs are no longer popular and how much some of their most popular sets are worth. 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. The old Spaulding Executive set I had back in the early 1980s. Corey Pavin won the 1996 US Open Shinnecock with a purple set. Someone suggested to me they were a prototype club for Johnny Miller, but were never marketed. 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. While the idea of owning a golf company sounds great, the list of companies that tried and failed is long. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. I have a set of clubs with Belmont Power on them. Every iron ever made is ugly as hell when you hit it off the hosel. Needed a set of clubs to play for a few days and found these. John, I shoot mid-80s like OP. They come as a set and include eleven clubs, a golf bag, and head covers. Today its hard to fine a wooden golf club in a bag!!!! I have been playing golf over 40 years and have owned many brands of clubs. My golfing buddy borrowed my old set, including the driver and had one of his best rounds ever. Spalding stopped producing golf clubs in 2022, focusing on other sports in the years since. 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. Since the Ryder Cup is shortly upon us MyGolfSpy & GolfCircuit.com thought it[]. Oversized high center of gravity heads and huge amounts of offset are what killed long irons IMO. In April, KKR sold the Spalding name and all of Spaldings non-golf businesses to Russell Athletic for just $65 million. The company stayed the course, and the result is a thriving, profitable company. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. However my 6 iron had twice as much offset as any other iron in the set. TaylorMade, now owned by adidas, was rising, and Callaway was a major force. Still use them. not just the American side , some of Europe and some from Japan makers also wacky !!! What is it for weight transfer? It is more of a you gotta be kidding me), an Integra 650 cc driver (you have to dig a ditch before you swing), etc. Thanks for you4 diligence and reporting. Yes, it sold a ton of golf balls, but as one former employee told us, the brand was decidedly blue-collar and not focused on the golf professional. BogeyPro Golf (T-Shirt Design Contest), RYDER CUP CONTEST! * NOTE: Stan Thompson was an interesting guy and a well respected designer. By 2002, players such as Hal Sutton, Bernhard Langer, and Luke Donald were playing the Hogan Apex ball. But just because it was wacky did not mean it was not a hellova seller. These skids are tapered from the leading edge toward the rear of the club head, raising the sole above the ground without raising the leading edge off the ground. *chuckles* Maybe its a good thing I took a 30 year golf hiatus. ), Takomo Golf Clubs Review: (As Good as Expected? Throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s, Spalding and Titleist were running neck and neck in golf ball production. Great nostalgia with the article. With a few months of work and some radical design modifications it was turned into the first modern Metalwood. Whats troubling to us is the extent to which a reputable company that has its own trademarks and has invested a lot of money and time feels it needs to become a predator on somebody elses goodwill to sell its products, said Callaway chief Don Dye at the time. Like many of his other unconventional looking but super functional designs for the time this one flew off the shelves. Decided it was time for me to get some cavity back irons. My dad has played a set if vicunas for about 40 years! Great article takes me back to nostalgia. Even tho I play with graphic shafts I really like the way those play. In the early days, golf clubs were hand-forged using a hammer and anvil. Tommy Armour TI 100 need to be on the list, they were twice the size of any other iron produced ever. He changed from forged blades and balata balls to cavity back, investment cast irons and sold core balls, White tells MyGolfSpy. The Strata, however, proved to be a gold mine for Spalding. (8 Ways To Know) . Albert Spalding was a superstar. My Nike Slingshots is the best set I have ever used. At the same time, the Spalding Top-Flite Syncrho-Dyned irons (released in 1953) were well received, thanks to their flex shaft and copper undercoating. I recently tried an old Jack Nicklaus 7 iron made by MacGregor many years ago. If you have any you think we should include or have any additional info about the clubs listed feel free to post your comments. They all looked like mini woods. Latitude Irons also give the golfer an added patented design feature of dual skids on the sole. 5 Testers Needed! The Sounder irons could be on the list-and are the best irons I ever had (have). With Spalding's mass-market success breeding scores of imitators, players could pick and choose from countless club lines. Spalding EXECUTIVE Iron Set. I know that this is a very late reply but I actually knew the designer of these irons and spent time speaking with him. The only thing a golfer needs is more daylight. - BenHogan. They are exactly like the Cleveland Ironwood set you see now, but it was made y..e..a..r..s ago. Iomic Golf Grips: 8 Key Facts Before You Buy. While the Top Flite was initially scorned by better players as the rock flight, it probably caused a rule change. ), Phat Golf Scooters Reviews (Good or Waste of Cash? Had 3-PW plus 1, 3, & 5 woods. I might suggest you also include input from Tom Stites who worked for Hogan in the 1980s before heading up Nikes golf (mis)adventure. In 2001 Spalding launched a $17 million ad campaign for Hogan and Strata. Any Spalding clubs that are still in circulation can be regarded as vintage, thats for sure! I owned two sets of Unique ironsstarting in 1976. Spalding released multiple iterations of its Executive clubs throughout the sixties and seventies, and they became popular with professional golfers and recreational players alike. The Top-Flite acquisition made it a player. 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! They are also said to be legendary Canadian player Moe Normans favorite clubs of all time. Im a sucker for the odd things, I also had a Power Pod(big mistake). Those and the Ram Tour Grinds that Watson played were my bucket list irons, but never could afford them. Leather Golf Grips Review: Should I Use Them? Spalding EXECUTIVE Iron Set - PGA 1983 But the funky look kept me from ever thinking about buying a whole set. The Zing2s were the first set I bought when I started playing golf. Spalding led the way with such deep-grooved designs as the "waterfall" and waffle-face irons. Within weeks, Top-Flite filed Chapter 11. Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasnt for some time now. * Note: These irons were designed by Duke Duclos. As a former professional player, Spalding recognized the need of enlisting the assistance of experts to promote both the game and his merchandise. FIND A SET! 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. Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. Jeff Sheets had been Director of R&D for Top-Flite since 1995, and his first club for Hogan became a legend. When he would get ready to play, he would hold the club so that the sole was visible to everyone. I was the Sales Manager of Stan Thompson golf company for several years and worked very close with Stan. * Note: These irons were designed by Karsten Solheimsure most of you knew that though. You should shoot me some pics of your new set. Callaway wound up suing Spalding for using its imagery on Spalding packaging. I tried to hit it oncenot a good idea! I think a list of the craziest irons made should definitely include the Jerry Barber Golden Touch irons made over 40 years ago. This stuff is really interesting.. What can you find out about Wilson x 70 irons. I have a 3-15 wood set that are fun to play with. Get the best deals on Spalding Executive Irons when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. 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. Thanks for the article. Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. I had some Staff FG-17 and my friends dad had the Executives. I have a set of Lynx Parallax irons that were my fathers. By 1970, the ownership group morphed into the Questor Corporation, and Pyramid Rubber was rechristened Evenflo. Established in Caracas in 1929 as a small material transport business, the Cisneros Group had its fingers in everything from soft drinks, ice cream, and beauty products to banking and a burgeoning telecommunications business. Driver to 15 wood. There are a couple different models of this iron. Or maybe it was just wacky that a German car company decided to start selling $1500 golf clubs that sucked. Various . They say you learn from your mistakes. and I firmly believe the demise of Spalding was because a number of CEOs with little or no knowledge of the golf industry were appointed The name was acquired by the folks behind Nitro golf balls and they now have a full line you can buy on RockBottomGolf. "url": "https://swingyard.com/wp-content/uploads/Spalding-Irons-by-Year.jpg" Spalding Golf Clubs: Do Still Make Them & How Much? - Windtree Golf It had a good locking mechanism, and was made for poorer people who could not afford a whole set. You cannot do that with any other club. Current owner FILA Korea Ltd took Acushnet public, and the company has thrived ever since. At the 2003 PGA Show, Hogan introduced the Apex 50 blade commemorating its 50th anniversary, the game improvement CFT irons, and the Carnoustie and Riviera wedges. Theres even premium urethane cover options (Pro V1 and X styles) for ~$15 a dozen. NOW AVAILABLE: GolfWRX G/Fore Hats and Holderness & Bourne Polos! (What Exactly Happened?). Spalding EXECUTIVE XE Irons Individual, Single, Replacement Golf Irons i think special t golf was the only people dumb enuff to handle these. Incidentally, Vulcan (Chicago suburb club makers who made some of the earliest hybrids) made a full set of hybrids 3-SW. You have not lived until you hit good hybrid wedges! My first clubs were Spalding top flites. You might remember the popular Stan Thompson woods with the unique sole design. The early Top-Flites were juast the opposite; you couldnt cut one of them with an axe. . Jim passed away recentlyhe was a great innovator do you remember the Basakwerd Putter As previously mentioned, you can buy Spalding Molitor clubs at Rock Bottom, and theyre a great option for beginner players. With KKR, it was a 180-degree turnaround. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your email address will not be published. Was: C $107.89. Who knows what might have happened if someone else had gained control, Im 75 and recall that my Dad was a Spalding Dot guy. APPLY NOW: Cleveland Frontline Elite Putters! Buyers can still find Spalding clubs on some secondary sites. The chrome My only wacky set now are some Macgregor MT Splitsoles in very gd cond which were bought at a Thrift store. There are so many different sets of irons available nowadays, Im happy with my Execs. MacGregors ownership carousel started in 1978 when it was sold to lumber conglomerate Wickes. You can buy a set in good condition on eBay for around $100. But under Section 363 of Chapter 11, a seller can sell assets without having to negotiate with its creditors. Learn how your comment data is processed. What was wacky about the Bears? Still bagging their wedges. when were spalding executive golf clubs made. Model Summary Color chart indicates best . How about Hogan Magnums and Magnum Plus irons big cavity backs from the 1970s. As a former pro athlete, Spalding saw the value of using professionals to help promote both the game and his products. TaylorMade, by comparison, has been sold twice in the past four years. Brilliant idea? i knew a guy who was a 4 handicap, and he used the spalding executives. Thanks. spalding golf clubs any good. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Golfers may also like: PGX Offset Golf Driver Review: is it any Good? But as you can see could cause some serious digging issues. As a golfer of a certain age, these history articles are fascinating! Thanks for the history lesson and walk down memory lane. I have two sets of Browning 440 Gold clubs (including the driver, 3 and 5 woods), and a set of Browning 500s. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Well done. 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,,. So, while Spalding is nowhere near as prevalent as it once was in the world of golf, you can still pick up a set of Molitor clubs for a very reasonable price online. Much cheaper than renting. KKR wanted Spalding to make money the KKR way. 1968 Spalding developed the first 2-piece performance golf ball, the Spalding Executive. Copyright 2023. He was a pro at having fun when he played golf! Among Jones innovations: the first matched set of steel-shafted irons, the first set of irons with the sweet spot in the center of each club (denoted by a circle of dots on the clubface), and an iron set where the scoring irons were one length, the mid irons were one length, and the long irons were one length. The Top-Flite, Strata, and Hogan brands stayed alive for a while, but Callaway eventually mothballed them all. Just saw a full set of them again today. Shortly thereafter, Spalding signed him as spokesperson, vice president and director of research. Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. No sir, they are in my bag and are still being used after all these years. The solid core Strata now had competition from the Titleist ProV1. The company also announced an alliance with Bob Bettinardi to create a line of high-end Hogan putters. What a lovely trip down memory lane, nostalgia is a wonderful thing. "@type": "ImageObject", And continuity, leadership, and smart decisions matter. Thanks! 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. He could not believe the smoothness of the Driver. Thanks for the history lesson, truly amazing how fast Spalding unraveled. Terrific article as usual Mr. Barra. The 1999 Hogan Apex, forged by Endo Manufacturing in Japan, remains a sought-after collectible, and a very playable blade, to this day. Just terribleand never sold thruas well it shouldnt. 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. Your previous content has been restored. I also have a set of Browning TR600s. I have not 1 but 2 sets of Browning 440 irons. The greatest golfer at the time plays Spalding? Whats more, KKR continued adding to its golf empire, buying Etonic in 1996 and Ben Hogan a year later. Men's Right Handed. What a mess that design was! 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? Yes it has some smoother lines compared to some of the other clubs on the listbut you put that PowerBow as Nike says on any of those other irons and it is a dead ringer for this list of crazies. Balata covers. #PowerToThePlayer. Norman credited the extra spin of the Tour Edition for winning the 1986 British Open. 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. I dont think I paid more than $300 for all four sets combined- Im a Salvation Army searcher. Yes, it did. I will admit to having a hankering for those slick lookin Zevo Lobs tho. ), Undersize Golf Grips Explained (8 Key Facts!). "sameAs": [ They are awesome clubs, very well-weighted, with a great center of gravity for high loft shots. Did you forget about Zevo Golf? Estimated resale value today:. I got balls, well ProV1's anyway. ***GIVEAWAY*** Cleveland CBX ZipCore Wedge! Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Kind of reminds one of the Hogan radial but not near as wide on the soul. Geek Golf any info on this garbage?lol. Spalding had a long history, terrific heritage, and healthy topline sales of over $500 million. It was if I walked into the store from a time machine. Today, Spalding golf clubs still exist, but theyre nowhere near as popular as they once were. Unfortunately, the remaining companys sales still couldnt support the debt. As weve discussed before, its extremely difficult for legacy brands to remain relevant, especially when new, fresh brands get aggressive. Still, the Uniques are the best irons I have ever hit! What about Pax (Paul Goydos promoted them)? I was the person responsible for introducing urethane prepolymers to Dr Shen Shen Wu, Titleist R&D chemist. When my father would shot a 215 yard iron into the hole, his fellow golfers wold ask him what club he used. Dont be ashamed thoughsome of these designs have actually been pioneering for the industry. How about the Spalding Exec SE. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs? (Solution) They are also perfect in a steep slope due to the curved bottom of the club head. 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!! Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Golfers have always known that deep-grooved irons produce better control and spin. I also had a set of Ping Zings too.. My partner had that set of Cleveland VAS and believe it or not we had a partner that bought a used set of Slingers Perception-wise that made Spalding a second-tier, big-box company compared to Titleist. Made from 1989-1994 and originally sold for $680. Ive got other odd clubs, a clear/see thru 5W, 68 & 73 degree wedge (of course, they may not be considered crazy. WITB Albums. Id like to include the Wilson Reflex irons and PGF Slammer series. History of Spalding Golf Clubs | Golflink.com 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. Thanks for doing the digging! and had a driving range there for many years. The Black Dots and Red Dots were equivalent to the Titleist black numerals and red numerals. What about Giant Irons, I remember seeing those on an infomercial a few times. I accidentally broke it in the late 1970s the shaft was installed over a milled section of the hosel! I cant believe to Ping Zing 2s are on the list. 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 also made a set made entirely of woods. Starting in the early 1900s, Spalding started making golf balls before manufacturing clubs. Executives were my first set as wellI thought they were a great starter set. Although the Inertial irons werent so lucky. I saw a set go for well over $300 (I think it went closer to $500, but I just would not swear to it). If so, are they any good? Spalding stopped making clubs in 2002. I take them out every couple of years and play a round with them just for fun. The 500s have less offset than the 440s. They preceded hybrid irons by 20 years or so. Tommy Armours ownership circus eventually turned it into the Sports Authority (and now DICKS) house brand. "headline": "Spalding Irons by Year", 2 Iron Spalding . The Cobra set left handed golf club set is made of premium products. Who Makes Dunlop Golf Clubs? When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs. Typically about 2 of the three would be OK, but if you hit one thin, you just threw it away on the next tee. I saw the Cisneros brothers maybe once in my time there, he says. I still have them and as a matter of fact I still use a copper Zing2 sand wedge 54. KKR was established in 1976 by partners Jerome Kohlberg, Henry Kravis, and George Roberts.