Ben Hogan Apex II

[AceCatKY]

Hey guys, found a set of Ben Hogan Apex II irons for what I believe is a very cheap price. I am going to pick them up tomorrow. I checked around and found these irons were first made in 1979 but don't know a whole lot about them. Anyone have some info or pics of theirs?

 

I am 25 and play modern equipment but have been curious about building a classic set. These irons look beautiful (even more so than my Titleist blades) and of $20 I don't think I can lose money. Would be cool to add some persimmon woods and an old bag and maybe do some "classic matches" with friends.

 

Thanks

[LittleLeftToRight]

Jeez, for $20 you should make a beeline for them before they are gone. The Apex II is one of the best irons [i]ever made[/i]. Not kidding.

[AceCatKY]

Wow. Have done some more reading and got a better grasp of what they are. I am heading over first thing tomorrow to get them along with an assortment of wooden drivers , a putter and a bag all for that price. Apparently someone just cleaning out some old "clutter".

[Blade Junkie]

Well done for having the desire to try vintage clubs at a relatively young age!

You are on a glorious path ...

[birly-shirly]

[quote name='AceCatKY' timestamp='1442800956' post='12341936']
Hey guys, found a set of Ben Hogan Apex II irons for what I believe is a very cheap price. I am going to pick them up tomorrow. I checked around and found these irons were first made in 1979 but don't know a whole lot about them. Anyone have some info or pics of theirs?

I am 25 and play modern equipment but have been curious about building a classic set. These irons look beautiful (even more so than my Titleist blades) and of $20 I don't think I can lose money. Would be cool to add some persimmon woods and an old bag and maybe do some "classic matches" with friends.

Thanks
[/quote]

I'm jealous, and I've already got a set of those. But I'm jealous of you finding and hitting these for the first time. Tremendous clubs and definitely one of my all time favourite irons.

Hopefully yours will have Apex shafts - if the print is worn off, you're looking for red shaft bands. Shaft flex is indicated by a number. 3 is regular, 4 is stiff. If you can't read the shaft bands, the serial number stamped on the ferrule may give you a clue. You can search on here for how to read Hogan serial numbers, but I believe the last 2 digits indicate flex and swingweight, ie. numbers ending "31" indicate reg flex and D1, whereas "42" indicates stiff D2.

For $20, I think you could probably afford to buy even if the shafts aren't a great fit for you. Swapping shafts is complicated slightly by hosel pins, but in my experience these can be punched out with a little care.

Original lofts ran from a 19.5* 2 iron to a 45* 9 iron, then the Equalizer or pitching wedge probably at 50*. Definitely worth getting those soft forgings checked and set. I set my equalizer to 52* and straight 4* gaps from there - no gap wedge thanks.

Unless you've somehow lucked into a set with leather grips, I would have no time at all for preserving original grips. Fresh rubber and set to your specs and those will be an outstanding playing set.

[Blade Junkie]

Apex IIs were actually the first set of vintage irons I bought when I got into this 4 years ago, and I loved them - even won a couple of minor club events with them and persimmons in my bag.

I must get them out again


Set standard specs:

[size=3] [b]LOFT LIE LENGTH[/b]

2 19.5º 57 39
3 23º 58 38.5
4 26.5º 59 38
5 30º 60 37.5
6 33.5º 61 37
7 37º 62 36.5
8 41º 62.5 36
9 45º 63 35.5
E 50º 64.5 35[/size]

[AceCatKY]

Thanks for the info. I am going to go pick them up when the seller gets home. Also getting an old bag, putter and some older persimmon woods and a titanium driver thrown in with the irons. I will post pics of them once I get back

[Danny Young]

Looking forward to seeing some pics , sounds a real good bargain had here.

[AceCatKY]

Okay, I will admit I was pretty astonished when I went to get these cubs today. Seems like a great find, I will need some info identifying if some of these clubs may have a little value, particularly the Ping A blade putter that came with the set.

Here is what i got for $20:

Ben Hogan AMF bag, with matching head covers, umbrella and rain cover
TaylorMade Tour Driver with Aldila shaft
Ben Hogan Series 56 3 wood
Ben Hogan 5 wood
Cobra Baffler "TS"

Ben Hogan Apex II 4-"Equalizer" (all in very good shape.
Spalding "RU"
Wilson R-90 sand iron
Ping A Blade putter with "Pro only" grip

Also came with about 50 older Titleist and Wilson balls I don't recognize such as HP and Durable Titleist.

Let me know what you think. Pics will be in next post

[AceCatKY]

Pics

[Blade Junkie]

An excellent haul - you'll have a lot of fun with those.

I would guess the Spalding "RU" is a Run Up club, for low approaches and chips around the green, probably the same length as a standard putter. Dates from the early 1950s I would say. What colour ferrule is on it ?


Good Wilson sand wedge as well, and good Ping putter.


You did very well indeed for $20 ...

[Fellaheen51]

My man!! For $20, that's an outstanding pickup. You've got a truly classic set of irons in the Apex II's. Another vintage ping putter (85029) to go along with the Anser 2. Sweet Wilson SW as well. Bag and head covers, Oh My. You're well on your way to becoming a classic club junkie. All at the ripe old age of 25. Consider yourself warned.

Please report back to us after you take them out on their maiden voyage. Inquiring minds.....

[AceCatKY]

The story gets pretty surreal now.. I found the man's name who owned these clubs on stickers on some of the clubs.. I google searched his name and found his obituary. Upon reading the obituary I found that his grandson is one of my good friends and a guy i golf with every week. This is so strange! I am going to give them to my buddy if he wants them.

[AceCatKY]

[quote name='Blade Junkie' timestamp='1442853719' post='12344778']
An excellent haul - you'll have a lot of fun with those.

I would guess the Spalding "RU" is a Run Up club, for low approaches and chips around the green, probably the same length as a standard putter. Dates from the early 1950s I would say. What colour ferrule is on it ?


Good Wilson sand wedge as well, and good Ping putter.


You did very well indeed for $20 ...
[/quote]

It has a red band underneath the club head

[HoldenCornfield]

[quote name='AceCatKY' timestamp='1442854159' post='12344806']
The story gets pretty surreal now.. I found the man's name who owned these clubs on stickers on some of the clubs.. I google searched his name and found his obituary. Upon reading the obituary I found that his grandson is one of my good friends and a guy i golf with every week. This is so strange! I am going to give them to my buddy if he wants them.
[/quote]

Nice gesture, good for you!

[AceCatKY]

[quote name='HoldenCornfield' timestamp='1442854340' post='12344822']
[quote name='AceCatKY' timestamp='1442854159' post='12344806']
The story gets pretty surreal now.. I found the man's name who owned these clubs on stickers on some of the clubs.. I google searched his name and found his obituary. Upon reading the obituary I found that his grandson is one of my good friends and a guy i golf with every week. This is so strange! I am going to give them to my buddy if he wants them.
[/quote]

Nice gesture, good for you!
[/quote]

I just called him and told him about my find. He was astonished and thinks his grandmother must've sold them after his grandfather passed away. I will be giving them to if he wants them but he didn't express much interest. I invited him to come get them nonetheless. Very, very strange though

[Fellaheen51]

That would be a magnificent gesture. Good karma comes to those who pay it forward. Well done Ace.

[AceCatKY]

[quote name='Blade Junkie' timestamp='1442853719' post='12344778']
Dates from the early 1950s I would say. What colour ferrule is on it ?
[/quote]

On the RU there is a woodgrain piece below the club head with an orange band below it.

[Fellaheen51]

[quote name='AceCatKY' timestamp='1442854469' post='12344834']
.......I will be giving them to if he wants them but he didn't express much interest. I invited him to come get them nonetheless. Very, very strange though
[/quote]

Your friend, the grandson, is he a WRX'er? That's is to say, does he spend time visiting this website? If so, bring him forth and let his elders reason with him. He may not "think" he wants them today, but there will come time when he wished he would have picked up Grandpa's clubs when the opportunity was present. After all, there is a certain amount of destiny involved here that should not be ignored.

And if for some reason he thinks these clubs are inferior compared to whatever modern clubs he may be utilizing, somehow not worthy......oh boy, there are lessons to be learned around these environs.

Good luck and keep us posted whatever the outcome.

[AceCatKY]

[quote name='Fellaheen51' timestamp='1442857184' post='12345080']
[quote name='AceCatKY' timestamp='1442854469' post='12344834']
.......I will be giving them to if he wants them but he didn't express much interest. I invited him to come get them nonetheless. Very, very strange though
[/quote]

Your friend, the grandson, is he a WRX'er? That's is to say, does he spend time visiting this website? If so, bring him forth and let his elders reason with him. He may not "think" he wants them today, but there will come time when he wished he would have picked up Grandpa's clubs when the opportunity was present. After all, there is a certain amount of destiny involved here that should not be ignored.

And if for some reason he thinks these clubs are inferior compared to whatever modern clubs he may be utilizing, somehow not worthy......oh boy, there are lessons to be learned around these environs.

Good luck and keep us posted whatever the outcome.
[/quote]

He is an avid golfer and close to a scratch player. I met him through some mutual friends when I moved here for law school. We have been playing together ever since. He doesn't post on WRX and doesn't really care for "older clubs". I may just contact his dad and have him take them. I would feel terrible if I didn't give them the opportunity to have them back.

[AceCatKY]

[quote name='Fellaheen51' timestamp='1442857184' post='12345080']
[quote name='AceCatKY' timestamp='1442854469' post='12344834']
.......I will be giving them to if he wants them but he didn't express much interest. I invited him to come get them nonetheless. Very, very strange though
[/quote]

Your friend, the grandson, is he a WRX'er? That's is to say, does he spend time visiting this website? If so, bring him forth and let his elders reason with him. He may not "think" he wants them today, but there will come time when he wished he would have picked up Grandpa's clubs when the opportunity was present. After all, there is a certain amount of destiny involved here that should not be ignored.

And if for some reason he thinks these clubs are inferior compared to whatever modern clubs he may be utilizing, somehow not worthy......oh boy, there are lessons to be learned around these environs.

Good luck and keep us posted whatever the outcome.
[/quote]

Played 18 with my friend today, he told me he didn't have any interest in the clubs and didn't seem to care about them at all. Guess I will hang onto them, hopefully he will come around and take them.

[BIG STU]

First off great finds and my hat is off to you for offering them to your friend. That was quite the haul for your first classic purchase. Several things besides the irons are worth more than the $20 you spent.

[AceCatKY]

[quote name='BIG STU' timestamp='1442875944' post='12346712']
First off great finds and my hat is off to you for offering them to your friend. That was quite the haul for your first classic purchase. Several things besides the irons are worth more than the $20 you spent.
[/quote]

Thanks. I am going to clean them up and take them to the range and see how they hit. Would like to start playing with them some and convince some friends to start doing "classic matches". Most of my friends think the old clubs are pointless but I hope to hit them well and maybe even play some friends with the vintage clubs vs. their normal sets. Should be fun anyhow and for $20 it won't break my law student budget.

[Blade Junkie]

I think a very worthy goal would be to beat all your modern-playing mates with your $20 classic bag. I don't think it will take very long ...

Many of us on here have had scores with vintage kit that are every bit as good as what we can do with modern "technology".

I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on !

[super20dan]

this is how i discovered hogan irons. i was looking f or a old set of blades for a classic set. i had challanged a buddy to a throwback match . piced up a set of 73 apex irons at the flea market . they were rusty but had brand new grips on them. i wondered why some one would spend the money to regrip these old rusty relics. soon had my answer after my test round. wow ! is all i could say.

[AceCatKY]

[quote name='super20dan' timestamp='1443441243' post='12377182']
this is how i discovered hogan irons. i was looking f or a old set of blades for a classic set. i had challanged a buddy to a throwback match . piced up a set of 73 apex irons at the flea market . they were rusty but had brand new grips on them. i wondered why some one would spend the money to regrip these old rusty relics. soon had my answer after my test round. wow ! is all i could say.
[/quote]

Yeah, the great thing about these is they are in good shape. I have around $75 in store credit on my account at the local golf shop so I will likely regrip these soon. Have hit them at range but haven't played with them yet. They are a great in my opinion and I may play them in a two man tournament I am playing in a few weeks. Cool to find older clubs, keeping my eyes peeled for more!

[super20dan]

the equaliser or pitching wedge is the star of the set. one could not ask for a better desighned club-even today. some day i would like to play a set of apex 2 with original apex shafts. my set was reshafted with true temper dynamic gold and a poor job at that. they just dont feel like my other hogan sets

[AceCatKY]

[quote name='super20dan' timestamp='1443490694' post='12381616']
the equaliser or pitching wedge is the star of the set. one could not ask for a better desighned club-even today. some day i would like to play a set of apex 2 with original apex shafts. my set was reshafted with true temper dynamic gold and a poor job at that. they just dont feel like my other hogan sets
[/quote]

Yeah mine have the original apex shafts and I am glad for that.

[ScooterMcTavish]

ACKY, you should learn how to regrip yourself - a handy skill to have if you've been bitten by the vintage bug.

Glad to hear you like your Apex IIs. I really liked the look and swingweight of them, but could not get a good trajectory with the Apex 4 shafts in them. Mine were eventually traded for Radials which were then also sent away.

[Corsair]

I bought a new set of Apex II's at the Gart sports castle in Denver in 1981, took them all over the world, and they now sit in my home office - never going to part with them