Long drive guys hitting hickory and persimmon

[kaboboom]

[LeoLeo99]

Golf was fun back then.

 

I've never hit a hickory shaft but surprised they could hit a hickory shafted driver that far.

[majic]

I don’t know why they didn’t hit it farther. Sean Fister about 10 years ago hit one of my Hickory shafted persimmon driver a measured 353 yards

[baloo]

I thought they would hit them further TBH. I would have been competitive in the persimmon long drive challenge.

[OrangeGravy]

Looks like they struggled with finding the middle a bit with the small head!

[mocokid]

Just read a bio of Bobby Jones by OB Keeler, and in major competitions, US AM and Open, 450 par 4s and 550+ par 5s were not uncommon in the hickory era. Though Keeler is a Jones hagiographer, he writes about 250+ yard drives by Jones, in various anecdotes throughout the book. I was very impressed.

[xgolfx]

I think Bobby Jones hit the 18th hole at Riviera in two. I’m not positive, but I believe I saw it on film. I can’t remember if it was with steel or hickory

 

CHARLEY PENNA

[hollabachgt]

I don't know why they didn't hit it farther. Sean Fister about 10 years ago hit one of my Hickory shafted persimmon driver a measured 353 yards

 

I agree Tad, I was surprized the number of 260-280 yard drives they hit. I'm not sure how much tv editing apply here.

 

Odds are they players didn't spend enough time with the clubs and didn't adapt to between their modern long drive clubs and the change in weight and feel of the wood headed drivers.

[NRJyzr]

I don't know why they didn't hit it farther. Sean Fister about 10 years ago hit one of my Hickory shafted persimmon driver a measured 353 yards

 

I agree Tad, I was surprized the number of 260-280 yard drives they hit. I'm not sure how much tv editing apply here.

 

Odds are they players didn't spend enough time with the clubs and didn't adapt to between their modern long drive clubs and the change in weight and feel of the wood headed drivers.

 

 

To me, it looked like they went in cold, based on the results. The numbers posted are pretty pedestrian, really

[Ironmaster Oddities]

Just read a bio of Bobby Jones by OB Keeler, and in major competitions, US AM and Open, 450 par 4s and 550+ par 5s were not uncommon in the hickory era. Though Keeler is a Jones hagiographer, he writes about 250+ yard drives by Jones, in various anecdotes throughout the book. I was very impressed.

distances can be deceiving, depending on course conditions. Keep in mind that hardly any courses were watered. regardless, many of the early players could hit it. I seem to remember reading an article about the US Open played in the 1920's. the 17th hole was a shortish 300-320 uphill par four.( I think it was Oakmont or Marion) There were some players who were attempting to drive it on the green and one of them flew it into a greenside bunker.

[xgolfx]

The money clip that Jack. Nicklaus carries daily is the prize for winning a driving contest at the PGA CH@MPIONSHIP. Prior to the tournament, a driving contest was conducted. I think the winner received $100 and the money clip. I do not recall the exact distance he hit it, but my guess is 341 yards in 1963 or 1964.

CHARLEY PENNA

[rex235]

Charley-

 

Didn't Amateur Bill Campbell get a money clip for winning a Long Drive Contest at the Masters, beating fellow West Virginian and mentor Sam Snead by a yard?

 

...and Campbell used Snead's Backup Driver?

 

To my understanding, Campbell kept that money clip for the rest of his life.

[hollabachgt]

Just read a bio of Bobby Jones by OB Keeler, and in major competitions, US AM and Open, 450 par 4s and 550+ par 5s were not uncommon in the hickory era. Though Keeler is a Jones hagiographer, he writes about 250+ yard drives by Jones, in various anecdotes throughout the book. I was very impressed.

distances can be deceiving, depending on course conditions. Keep in mind that hardly any courses were watered. regardless, many of the early players could hit it. I seem to remember reading an article about the US Open played in the 1920's. the 17th hole was a shortish 300-320 uphill par four.( I think it was Oakmont or Marion) There were some players who were attempting to drive it on the green and one of them flew it into a greenside bunker.

 

From the December 1909 edtion of the American Golfer, while discussing the old course at St. Andrews:

 

"The tenth hole is about the weakest on the course. Generally it pays a man to drive short at it, as there is danger ahead unless a perfect line is kept. However, in a round of the Amateur Championship in 1907, Mr. Guy Campbell, one of the best of the young Scottish school, reached the green (312 yards) with his tee shot, though the turf was heavy with rain. Mr. Campbell ought to have won that match if he had had nerve enough, but he hadn't."

[freddiec]

Real swings from 1982 , Freddie, Fuzzy, Payne and a few more during the long drive comp.

 

[cardoustie]

I recall an old Jones video where he was hitting laser 3 or 4 woods from the fairway - or maybe 2 woods - onto the 18th green at Riviera from 230 to 240 yards.

 

He was an unbelievable ballstriker

[OrangeGravy]

Real swings from 1982 , Freddie, Fuzzy, Payne and a few more during the long drive comp.

 

 

I love that old footage. They really shaved that grid low. It's hard to beat that old impact sound. Too bad the new stuff can't replicate that.

[oldschoolrocker]

They weren’t leaving much, if, anything in the bag with some of those swings. Enjoyed the footage.

[mocokid]

I can't what clubs they were using, can anyone, grainy footage. ??