Can you help me find the history of the club? Spalding took off with sales and production with Bobby Jones joining the team. Well then so did everyone else. In the early days, golf clubs were hand-forged using a hammer and anvil. Spalding used to own Top Flite before selling the subsidiary to Callaway. That might be because Golfsmith acquired them back in 2003. Scott was a highly respected individual in the golf industry during this period and he had the respect of both his staff and golf professionals 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. No matter what brand of club you pull from your bag, you owe some thanks to one company Spalding. Heres a set of Slotline irons currently for sale on EBay, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330561978331&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT, some years ago-I bought a trial 7 iron thru golg digest-some years later a friend of mine bought a used set at a second hand storeany way I think it was made by simmons or slotline?? The brand was popular until the late 1990s, but Spalding opted for a new direction at the turn of the century and focused on other sports instead of golf. when were spalding executive golf clubs made i just hit a 8 iron in that series last night. What you like is what you like. MGS can never have too much content regarding the man, his company, or his impact on golf. They had a premium Molitor ball at the then scandalous price of $2. When I was first introduced to golf in the mid 70s, spoiling was still a player in the recreational market. Great insight! The Spalding Top-Flite first came out in 1970. All Irons for men were 37. Upgraded my driver from R7 to Razr Hawk, but will never surrender my Slingshots. 2023 Genesis Invitational - Monday #3. Had a set of McGregor Irons called Doctor Rx, they felt good hit in the middle, they reminded me of a Pringle potato chip. Is that so? TaylorMade then entered the bidding but, after 30 rounds, Callaway wound up buying Top-Flite free and clear for $175 million. Spalding Golf Clubs History (Complete Story) - Golf Cart Report I see that a few from my list made it. Its a great story that needs to be told. 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. Placing the hosel behind the face eliminates the occasional `shank, creating forward-face progression. I cannot find any information on this club, maybe they were a golfsmith thing from early 2000s?? ), Undersize Golf Grips Explained (8 Key Facts!). or Best Offer. CA License # A-588676-HAZ / DIR Contractor Registration #1000009744 2 iron sw. Let me know if anyone is interested. I might suggest you also include input from Tom Stites who worked for Hogan in the 1980s before heading up Nikes golf (mis)adventure. higher loft is really your best bet for getting out of these difficult fairway lies, Top 10 Best Cheap Drivers (Updated 2021 Buying Guide), 5 Advantages of A Strong Golf Grip (Everything To Know), What Is An Overrun Golf Ball? when were spalding executive golf clubs made Anyone hear of them? I use them in Central Texas when the fairways are hard and the greens harder (late summer and all winter). Oh I didnt forget about thosethey almost made the list. 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. Right now Ive been with the Execs 2 then 5 SW, Ram 64 wedge, 1 & 3 wood, both hybrids and putter. The Black Dots and Red Dots were equivalent to the Titleist black numerals and red numerals. Dynamiter wedges featured deep grooves, often in unusual shapes, that ultimately prompted the USGA to outlaw them. With long-term debt in the neighborhood of $600 million, KKR found itself in a negative equity situation. I was interested in golf until around 2001 and soon discovered spoiling was on anachronism at that point. When Did Spalding Stop Making Golf Clubs. If you have any you think we should include or have any additional info about the clubs listed feel free to post your comments. President Wide sole. You had to turn those over to see the ugly, but the cone in the bottom was down right wacky! The Sounder irons could be on the list-and are the best irons I ever had (have). 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. By Knowledgable folk say its all in the mind. "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjT3UiJflw60ZD31-6yC4mA", I actually travel with it and use it at the driving range, so I dont have to rent clubs. 2 Iron (21) Spalding EXECUTIVE XE . I owned two sets of Unique ironsstarting in 1976. I know that this is a very late reply but I actually knew the designer of these irons and spent time speaking with him. ENTER NOW! jazzbone, September 4, 2006 in Equipment. Buyers can still find Spalding clubs on some secondary sites. Anybody know anything? why did patrice o'neal leave the office; why do i keep smelling hairspray; giant ride control one auto mode; current fishing report: lake havasu I think all the readers as well as the golfspies would love to learn as much about these past designs as possible. You can post now and register later. The BIG BOYS missed on this one. I had read your original 2018 article about why Hogan still mattered. In one sense, Spalding suffered the same fate irrelevance as did fellow legacy golf brands Wilson Staff and MacGregor. Thanks! The original Strata ball was amazing when it came out spin for days! The 300XXL Driver was so lightawesome clubhead speed ! my 5w distance matches my friends new drivers in distance off tee,,they are amazed. In the mid-80s, Spalding introduced the solid core Tour Edition, and in 1996 it came out with Strata, a true game-changer for Spalding and the first multi-layer solid core ball used on Tour. Amazing how so of the old stuff works better than the hyped up new stuff! " [We] decided that . $89.99. It wasnt very sophisticated back then, and they wanted to add layers of sophistication that they had in their other businesses. 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. Jackie Gleason also owned a set. I had a set of Tiger Sharks(the short irons hit the ball miles).The follow up Great Whites Really a zany=looking set of irons. Thanks for the history lesson and walk down memory lane. Spalding Top-Flite In 1995 Spalding Sporting Goods reorganized its golf club division by forming the Top-Flight golf company as its premium club brand. This stuff is really interesting.. Started Yesterday at 04:29 AM, By Sign In. Still have the XL-4s in the garage. Im a scratch golfer, and to date have found nothing that is better. I gave the set to my nephew, and he loves them. } New entries such as Nike and Adams were turning heads as well. GolfCartReport.com, Golf Undershirts (20 To Try On The Market Today), Do I Need Longer Golf Clubs? my Dad is still pulling new 90s & 2000s Top Flights from the closet to play lol. any info on this garbage?lol. Just bought a set of Nicklaus Linear Dynamics N1 Golf Irons at a thrift shop in Vegas. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. It was first shown at the PGA dealers show at Disney World, Orlando, Florida 1979. Any of you still have a set of these beauties laying around? Irons made during that time are distinguished by an anvil cleek mark. Clare. Their president at the time said this about the newly released irons, Titanic irons are the first long irons even God and you can hit. Now that is a bold statement that should of had you guys flocking to purchase these beauties. Great stuff. 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). I had never seen the Fila irons before now. Promoting both sports and sports equipment, the lineup featured titles such as How To Play Second Base by Hall of Famer Johnny Evers, Boxing: A Guide to the Manly Art of Self Defense, and How to Play Golf by Harry Vardon and James Braid. I have a set of Fila Solerno irons/fairway woods that I havent been able to find anything about on the internet. "height": "342", Your link has been automatically embedded. Those are the reasons they work. 11 golf clubs/sets you owned and what they're worth now - PGA How about the Spalding Exec SE. Kind of reminds one of the Hogan radial but not near as wide on the soul. "datePublished": "2022-05-12", Someone suggested to me they were a prototype club for Johnny Miller, but were never marketed. The nineties saw the release of the Top Flite Tour Ti irons, which were among the last clubs that the long-standing brand would manufacture. Bought the Slotlines new. Different, yes, but they are the only ones where you can really aim at the target! Our mission is #ConsumerFirst. Tommy Armour TI 100 need to be on the list, they were twice the size of any other iron produced ever. I just searched eBay right now and saw a set for $139. Any Spalding clubs that are still in circulation can be regarded as vintage, thats for sure! OK MyGolfSpyers, its time to get creative! It was a low loft club used for poor lies and putting. Thanks for the memories, John Barba. 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,,,. It is my Go To clubmy favorite. Though he is a footnote in the PGA history he was briefly on tour in the 50s. 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. Again THANK YOU FOR THE GOLF LESSON!!!!! I was the Sales Manager of Stan Thompson golf company for several years and worked very close with Stan. 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. Return Policy > WORLDWIDE SHIPPING. Design the future of bad golf! (Cavity back blades???) In 1910 Spalding started making fairway clubs made of aluminum, and heavier lead face putters. I am on my 2nd set.I used to lovem and had friends that bought as they loved the ball flight and were also a great set of chippers. lol..!! And add on Sweet Spot Golf Drivers and the Mac/Burrows Driver. Cleveland VAS was really great Iron. I remembered them from this article. Way ahead of their time in the perimeter weighted genre. I was wondering if anyone had ever tried Slotline Classic Copper golf clubs. Spalding lost $27 million in 2000 and another $20 million in 2001. I still think I deserve to be recognized as the leader in this category and will be appealing your decision. No. Thanks. Players would switch balls during a round as conditions warranted. 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. Executives were my first set as wellI thought they were a great starter set. My first clubs were Spalding top flites. This is because Spalding stopped manufacturing golf clubs in 2002, and most of the clubs available online today are vintage sets. Circa 1985-ish if memory serves. Therefore, the Top Flite clubs produced in the nineties and early naughts are technically Spalding golf clubs. spalding executive irons- does anyone remember these? http://www.geekgolf.com. Spalding EXECUTIVE XE Irons Individual, Single, Replacement Golf Irons I tried to hit it oncenot a good idea! Titleist has been the Ball King for so long, its hard to remember a time when it wasnt. I actually like the looks of those babies! Today its hard to fine a wooden golf club in a bag!!!! In 2001 Spalding launched a $17 million ad campaign for Hogan and Strata. Whats fun is to find one of those old sets, regrip them and beat your friends with them! Youve forgotten the worst offender. Remember all the other clubs, good to read. The 1999 Hogan Apex, forged by Endo Manufacturing in Japan, remains a sought-after collectible, and a very playable blade, to this day. I am the person that brought the first Metalwoods to the market. The 500s have less offset than the 440s. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.You can also visit my Am. Weve done a mini-history on the Hogan Company, with input from a couple of longtime Hogan employees. But Zevo Golf is one of those on this list that was a pioneering. I would appreciate any help you could offer! Seu lugar para proteger o seu capital. But just because it was wacky did not mean it was not a hellova seller. It was fun to have and I actually hit the thing really really well. Hope you all enjoyed a look back at some of the craziest irons ever made. i used to work in a golf shop in ohio and we had the worst set i ever saw. In fact, one of Spaldings most popular models was the Bobby Jones collection, selling two million sets between 1932 and 1973. Did you forget about Zevo Golf? Spalding Irons By Year - Swing Yard The company also announced an alliance with Bob Bettinardi to create a line of high-end Hogan putters. I dont think I paid more than $300 for all four sets combined- Im a Salvation Army searcher. Its on the list! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. It was just crazy how many golf balls we would sell through Wal-Mart in 18-ball pack, adds White Wed get orders on the fax machine for 50,000 18-ball packs, and theyd want them in two weeks.. Unfortunately, Spalding has fallen a long way down the pecking order in terms of their sporting equipment, and it has been a long time since they manufactured a new set of golf clubs. The solid core Strata now had competition from the Titleist ProV1. Wanted them when I was in college but couldnt afford them then. They definitely arent the prettiest of clubs but I did enjoy playing them. He also had a head for business and knew a good opportunity when he saw one. A set of wedges were introduced several years ago claiming to be New and the best thing since sliced bread, but they looked strangely similar to the Golden Touch irons. I just had a guy show me a wedge that is a small diamond shaped club with about a 3/4 hollow core in the back that goes up to the inside of the face of the club. In 1895, Spalding started manufacturing golf balls. 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. Went back 10 years and got the 845s used. These irons actually performed quite well and had many copy cats of it down the road to prove itincluding another iron that made the list at #12 Slotline Lowpro iron and the Titleist Super Slim irons. Those were real whacky.. bent shafts and roughly milled heads. . They were good at it too, in one year selling off companies for more than $7 billion they had bought for only $1 billion. (ENTER TO WIN) Super cool contest we have for you fellow GolfSpies today! 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. Slotline Inertial E-Max irons laying around ? Spalding Executive MV2 bird over ball Irons - Ironfinder All are memory refreshing .. have been in golf clubhead design , manufacturing 25 years , familiar with the designs ! Balata covers. when were spalding executive golf clubs made Spalding introduced the Vardon Flyer, a golf ball that was popularized by Harry Vardon. It made its mark in the 80s through leveraged buyouts buying undervalued or poorly managed companies with other peoples money, improving their bottom lines, and then spinning them off at a profit. Of course, it is the Indian not the arrow to some extent, but he does well. However as a caddy the Spaulding staff bag was a real trunk!! "https://www.linkedin.com/in/swingyard/", It had a good locking mechanism, and was made for poorer people who could not afford a whole set. I may be way off they had a a plain face -but the back was a series of round holes -like a honey comb design does any one remember these what were they called and who made themmy friend died so I cant ask himanyway thanks. Every iron ever made is ugly as hell when you hit it off the hosel. Top Flite is now synonymous with bargain or cheap instead of being the club of choice for the greatest golfers on tour. 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. Just saw a full set of them again today. The Ping Zings were the worst! Well these irons which were designed out in LA by Stan Thompson were made to capitalize on that same concept. You can check it out at http://www.adjustablegolfclub.com. Jeff Sheets - Spalding - Past Designs Spalding Executive Golf Clubs for sale | eBay The Browning 440s took my game from the 150s (Wilson clubs) to the low 70s. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, (your email address will not be published), CONTEST Adams Pro Black Giveaway! 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. Too bad. 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. Great nostalgia with the article. As a golfer of a certain age, these history articles are fascinating! 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. Ive got a crazy iron set that is one telescoping iron with a blade that changes position to vary the loft. Spalding no longer makes golf clubs, and hasnt for some time now. Club-makers traditional method had been to shape metal heads with an anvil and forge. Colin Montgomerie joined the staff, and Spalding had big plans. 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. Spalding led the way with such deep-grooved designs as the "waterfall" and waffle-face irons. The Titleist were a bit longer lasting but I (a poor college student) could afford the Spaulding balls. In 1993 Payne Stewart signed a multi-million-dollar deal to go full Top-Flite, a move that sidetracked Stewarts career. You can still buy Top-Flite and Strata branded balls at DICKS and Golf Galaxy. As weve discussed before, its extremely difficult for legacy brands to remain relevant, especially when new, fresh brands get aggressive. They looked like a full set of hybrids but only lasted a short period of time. Met a friend in Costa Mesa at Mile Square Golf Club back in the early 1970s and he was with Duke Duclos., a friend from their McDonald-Douglas days. and they wonder why they went out of business. They also said this, Because titanium is 40% lighter than steel, yet incredibly strong, the Ray Cook design team was able to create club heads substantially larger than standard oversize irons and add significantly more mass in the heel and toe. Used to play traditional blades with the odd shank. 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. Win a bunch of BogeyPro swag! 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. Of course Drivers and putters are like women. spalding executive irons- does anyone remember these? FIND A SET! MyGolfSpy, Inc. All Rights Reserved. he is a cleveland iron man now, but he still owns the spalding executives. when were spalding executive golf clubs made