I've been on the forums a almost a year now, and have spent far and away the most time here. I've gotten to meet one of you, and have soaked up plenty of knowledge along the way. So here is my question to you all:

Suppose you have been given access to a vault of old clubs and forging dies. Of aged persimmon blocks and duplicating lathes. The powers that be in the universe are going to allow you to build a set of 14 clubs. Any model or manufacturer before the year 2000, to be delivered to you in plastic brand new.

What clubs would you pick, and why? You may already have them, or you may have always wanted them, they may have been from your youth, it doesn't matter.

I'll post my own set a little while on, because I need to sort it out in a few spots. The idea for the question comes from they hypothetical: "What if callaway opened the entire spalding registration system for a day, so you could have any registered spalding club made for you" and I expanded it to all clubs.

So tell me, whats in the bag?

(and if theres another thread on this I'm sorry)

Well, if we're talking about clubs that Id like to own, I'd probably have some model of the MO9 LFF in the driver spot, not sure about fairway woods (3 & 5), original VIP irons 3-PW, a '57 or '58 Wilson Dynapower SW, and an original Wilson 8802 putter. That leaves me one more spot in the bag for another club so I'd choose another driver: a Dave Wood driver. Either a Texan or All-Japan.

But if we're talking about clubs I have played and *know* I can hit, then I'd go:

Driver: the Mizuno persimmon I had as a junior. That very same club. Don't remember the model but it was the Mizuno Pro lineup, IIRC.

3W & 5W: Honma Tour Model persimmons with Titanium Carbon M46 shaft. Strictly speaking, I've never hit the 3 or 5, but I have the 4w and like it.

Irons (3-SW): think I'll go with my FG-J8s, which appear to be identical to FG-17s. Only other choice is Mac Muirfield 20ths 3-SW, and the RAM Tom Watson custom grind SW.

Putter: TaylorMade TPA XVIII. It's my regular putter.

I might slip in a TaylorMade Tour Preferred TD 2i, which I had when I was younger.

Really I have almost anything I want--- If I went back to my Spalding days it would be my 72 set of custom Elite 333s---- They were stolen along with the Corvette they were in around 78 or so. The Izette driver that was with them was pretty good but no better than the 3 or so I have now. My blonde Power Bilt driver that cracked after 10 years or so well I thought there would never be another until by chance I found one similar on the pile at work. I hit is as well as I did my old one. The one club I could never replicate was an old R-90 Sw that I wore slap out. Trust me I tried a lot of R-90s but none were like that one. I gave my last one to Randy when he was up here. I never ever throw any thing away so I still have my old JPs and 588s from back in the day. I also have my 3 old putters from back in the day. Yep I have been a club ho for 45 years and seriously thought something was wrong with me until I discovered this place. As far as super rare stuff like LFF drivers etc that ain't my cup of tea I am going to play my stuff even the sentimental pieces

> @No_Catchy_Nickname said:

> Well, if we're talking about clubs that Id like to own, I'd probably have some model of the MO9 LFF in the driver spot, not sure about fairway woods (3 & 5), original VIP irons 3-PW, a '57 or '58 Wilson Dynapower SW, and an original Wilson 8802 putter. That leaves me one more spot in the bag for another club so I'd choose another driver: a Dave Wood driver. Either a Texan or All-Japan.

>

> But if we're talking about clubs I have played and *know* I can hit, then I'd go:

> Driver: the Mizuno persimmon I had as a junior. That very same club. Don't remember the model but it was the Mizuno Pro lineup, IIRC.

> 3W & 5W: Honma Tour Model persimmons with Titanium Carbon M46 shaft. Strictly speaking, I've never hit the 3 or 5, but I have the 4w and like it.

> Irons (3-SW): think I'll go with my FG-J8s, which appear to be identical to FG-17s. Only other choice is Mac Muirfield 20ths 3-SW, and the RAM Tom Watson custom grind SW.

> Putter: TaylorMade TPA XVIII. It's my regular putter.

> I might slip in a TaylorMade Tour Preferred TD 2i, which I had when I was younger.

The point was any club you wanted to own for any reason, just that it would be given in new condition. That's my thing when I look for these old things, I can't afford the stuff in immaculate condition, so I imagine I would get if I could. You are right that it is difficult to decide whether I would want the perfect set of something rare and spectacular, or just an upgraded version of my own clubs. For example, I know I like and can play the 99 Apex, so I could say those, but the '50's Precision's would be spectacular to have brand new. That's the reason I haven't been able to list my own choices yet.

> @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> > @No_Catchy_Nickname said:

> > Well, if we're talking about clubs that Id like to own, I'd probably have some model of the MO9 LFF in the driver spot, not sure about fairway woods (3 & 5), original VIP irons 3-PW, a '57 or '58 Wilson Dynapower SW, and an original Wilson 8802 putter. That leaves me one more spot in the bag for another club so I'd choose another driver: a Dave Wood driver. Either a Texan or All-Japan.

> >

> > But if we're talking about clubs I have played and *know* I can hit, then I'd go:

> > Driver: the Mizuno persimmon I had as a junior. That very same club. Don't remember the model but it was the Mizuno Pro lineup, IIRC.

> > 3W & 5W: Honma Tour Model persimmons with Titanium Carbon M46 shaft. Strictly speaking, I've never hit the 3 or 5, but I have the 4w and like it.

> > Irons (3-SW): think I'll go with my FG-J8s, which appear to be identical to FG-17s. Only other choice is Mac Muirfield 20ths 3-SW, and the RAM Tom Watson custom grind SW.

> > Putter: TaylorMade TPA XVIII. It's my regular putter.

> > I might slip in a TaylorMade Tour Preferred TD 2i, which I had when I was younger.

>

> The point was any club you wanted to own for any reason, just that it would be given in new condition. That's my thing when I look for these old things, I can't afford the stuff in immaculate condition, so I imagine I would get if I could. You are right that it is difficult to decide whether I would want the perfect set of something rare and spectacular, or just an upgraded version of my own clubs. For example, I know I like and can play the 99 Apex, so I could say those, but the '50's Precision's would be spectacular to have brand new. That's the reason I haven't been able to list my own choices yet.

>

>

>

Oh, I understood the point of your question, it's just that when I started thinking about it, I realised that above all I wanted clubs that I knew I could hit! The first choices are ones I'd really like to get hold of, the second set is one I *know* I can play. I've bought clubs in the past that I've long wanted to own, then been disappointed when they didn't work out for me. Best example is a Ping B60 BeCu putter that I have wanted for years. When I finally got one, I found I hit everything left with it. So my ultimate set would have be something that I know I could play.

That said, for irons sets I would love to try/own if I had unlimited funds and space, there are so many choices in addition to the 67 'VIPs I mentioned...Hogan Precisions, Redlines, '73 Apexes, Wilson Button backs, Wilson Tour Blades, FG-17s (to compare with my FG-J8s), Mizuno TN-87s, Mizuno TP-9s (bizarrely hard to find here; may have a very different name in Japan), PowerBilt Citations, Mac FC4000s, Mac MT W85 Colokroms, Wood Bros forged blades....

But those VIPs would look sweet in the bag.

> @No_Catchy_Nickname said:

> > @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> > > @No_Catchy_Nickname said:

> > > Well, if we're talking about clubs that Id like to own, I'd probably have some model of the MO9 LFF in the driver spot, not sure about fairway woods (3 & 5), original VIP irons 3-PW, a '57 or '58 Wilson Dynapower SW, and an original Wilson 8802 putter. That leaves me one more spot in the bag for another club so I'd choose another driver: a Dave Wood driver. Either a Texan or All-Japan.

> > >

> > > But if we're talking about clubs I have played and *know* I can hit, then I'd go:

> > > Driver: the Mizuno persimmon I had as a junior. That very same club. Don't remember the model but it was the Mizuno Pro lineup, IIRC.

> > > 3W & 5W: Honma Tour Model persimmons with Titanium Carbon M46 shaft. Strictly speaking, I've never hit the 3 or 5, but I have the 4w and like it.

> > > Irons (3-SW): think I'll go with my FG-J8s, which appear to be identical to FG-17s. Only other choice is Mac Muirfield 20ths 3-SW, and the RAM Tom Watson custom grind SW.

> > > Putter: TaylorMade TPA XVIII. It's my regular putter.

> > > I might slip in a TaylorMade Tour Preferred TD 2i, which I had when I was younger.

> >

> > The point was any club you wanted to own for any reason, just that it would be given in new condition. That's my thing when I look for these old things, I can't afford the stuff in immaculate condition, so I imagine I would get if I could. You are right that it is difficult to decide whether I would want the perfect set of something rare and spectacular, or just an upgraded version of my own clubs. For example, I know I like and can play the 99 Apex, so I could say those, but the '50's Precision's would be spectacular to have brand new. That's the reason I haven't been able to list my own choices yet.

> >

> >

> >

>

> Oh, I understood the point of your question, it's just that when I started thinking about it, I realised that above all I wanted clubs that I knew I could hit! The first choices are ones I'd really like to get hold of, the second set is one I *know* I can play. I've bought clubs in the past that I've long wanted to own, then been disappointed when they didn't work out for me. Best example is a Ping B60 BeCu putter that I have wanted for years. When I finally got one, I found I hit everything left with it. So my ultimate set would have be something that I know I could play.

>

> That said, for irons sets I would love to try/own if I had unlimited funds and space, there are so many choices in addition to the 67 'VIPs I mentioned...Hogan Precisions, Redlines, '73 Apexes, Wilson Button backs, Wilson Tour Blades, FG-17s (to compare with my FG-J8s), Mizuno TN-87s, Mizuno TP-9s (bizarrely hard to find here; may have a very different name in Japan), PowerBilt Citations, Mac FC4000s, Mac MT W85 Colokroms, Wood Bros forged blades....

> But those VIPs would look sweet in the bag.

LOL Catchy VIPs look good in any bag---- Yeah I know I am biased but you know just saying

It might not seem like it on the surface, but this is actually a tough question. I'll try give a coherent answer. :)

Irons would be, shockingly, a set of Golden Rams. I'd probably go for TW276's as the basis, but I'd like a bit of a custom grind added, killing that leading edge a bit. 2-PW, with the lofts at 18* to 50* in even gaps. For backup, I'll take a set of Muirfield 20ths, same lofts.

Wedges... I have a Ram TW855 that I like quite a bit. I've had it for a fairly long time, it hits a lot of buttons for me. I'll take a few of those, because backups, and add a TW 860 with a similar grind applied. I've come to prefer a bit more bounce than is on the TW860 I have.

Driver and 3w... I'm going a slightly different direction. I'd like a Louisville Smart Driver, loft TBD. For 3w, I think I might go with something along the lines of the fairways Louisville Golf produced for a short time as a companion to their Smart Driver 2, probably at 16* loft.

That leaves putter. Time has shown that I putt better with heel/toe weighted stick, like an Anser, Mizuno TP Mills, TPA XVIII, etc., regardless of how much I like the 8802/8813. I guess I'll take one of each, with something slightly lighter than modern weights, but heavier than was produced in Ye Olde Days, and let them fight it out. LOL

Yes, that might do.

I have the below-listed set and still play it a couple times per year in vintage tournaments.

Driver: Titleist 975D 8*

Fairways: Taylormade 300 3 & 5 WD

Irons: Hogan Apex Radial 3-9

Wedges: Cleveland 588 50, 54, 58

Putter: Scotty Cameron Sante Fe TEi3

To me part of the fun of playing old clubs is the search for the ones that work with your game. You can’t just go get fit and have a set made and delivered to your door, it takes more work. I also like to think about where the 60 year old club I’m holding has been over the years. Has it played The Old Course? Augusta? A brand new set doesn’t have the vibe of an original.

I’d have to say my bag right now is getting close to my ultimate. 1963 Wilson Staff persimmon 1-4 woods, 1960 Macgregor FC4000 irons, 1957 Wilson Triple Duty Wedge, and a 1960’s Fernquest and Johnson Tony Lema putter. If I was to leave on a year long golfing trip of a lifetime tomorrow I’d be very happy to take this bag.

1959 Hogan Sunburst Sabers 2-E, Mac M43 Driver, Mac 693T 2 wood, Mac 945 3 wood. Have not figured out my putter yet. Currently using 1950's Mac Gerry Glynn blade putter, but looking for an early 50's Mac M4 putter in good condition.

For me it would be that beautiful Dunlap Limited edition numbered Seve Ballesteros set that I see pop up on ebay now and again. 1,3,and 5 woods and 1iron-SW. I would most certainly own that kit if they had made it in left handed.

I'd also love to own a Wood Bro's Texan.

I'm with Stu on the if you own it, play it mentality. These clubs aren't paintings. They are meant to strike golf balls.