Made a wager involving classic clubs - help me choose my weapons.

[James the Hogan Fan]

Seeing as the Titleist tour 100 wasn't made (to my knowledge) in 1980, why not cheat and use a Top Flite solid core (which they already had in the 70's) or a Durable Titleist (DT), still wound but with a stronger cover? I take it wound balata is the, ahem, core of the challenge?

 

I found an 80's era top flite and it was only 5-10 yards behind a B330...

[Boney]

> @tnord said:

> don't try to make sense of it in terms of proving who is right or wrong in the argument.....it doesn't. the course is about 6200 from the white tees, par 70, rated at 73 i think from there, 141 slope. i'm about a 0-1 index.

 

Rated 73/141 at 6200 yards?? Are there land mines on the course?

[tnord]

it's a challenging course for sure.

if the DT was available circa 1980 and holds up better after sitting around for 40 years, I'll try and go that direction.

[Boney]

> @tnord said:

> it's a challenging course for sure.

 

Well, the Ocean Course at Kiawah is considered maybe the hardest course in the US, and it's rated at 70.9/132 at 6200 yards. I think you might want to double-check your numbers. Unless you meant 7200 yards?

[Nard_S]

I went through a couple of boxes of Maxfli HT 100 circa 1999 a few years back. They worked just fine being of 17-18 years old. Not true "balata", has a modern cover but they are 3-piece wound.

[tnord]

> @Boney said:

> > @tnord said:

> > it's a challenging course for sure.

>

> Well, the Ocean Course at Kiawah is considered maybe the hardest course in the US, and it's rated at 70.9/132 at 6200 yards. I think you might want to double-check your numbers. Unless you meant 7200 yards?

 

I just double checked. 6119yds, 72.3, 141 par 70. From the back it's 6940, 75.5, 148.

[NRJyzr]

> @Boney said:

> > @tnord said:

> > it's a challenging course for sure.

>

> Well, the Ocean Course at Kiawah is considered maybe the hardest course in the US, and it's rated at 70.9/132 at 6200 yards. I think you might want to double-check your numbers. Unless you meant 7200 yards?

 

Willingers Golf Club in Northfield MN:

Black Tees, 6800 yds, 74.2 / 148

Blue Tees, 6300 yds, 71.9 / 143

White Tees, 5900 yds, 70.2 / 140

[Boney]

Well, thanks for checking that. I've never seen such high ratings on shorter tees. Guess I need to get out more.

[Soloman1]

You'll have no problem shooting under 78 from 6,200 yards. All you need is a round or two with the sticks you'll be using and you'll be fine. I do think you need to renegotiate the ball to use a more modern soft ball. You won't find any balatas that will play as they would have when they were new, so that would not be a fair test. A newer soft ball with persimmon will not go farther than a new balata would have back then. I would be more concerned about finding a putter from that era that you're confident with.

 

 

You're a good player, so I wouldn't be concerned about a more spinny ball. I'm just as accurate off the tee playing persimmon (rarely miss a fairway), so I'm sure you'll be too. I'm 65 years old and hit a persimmon with Chrome Soft about 240 off the tee. Have some 1983 Mizuno irons to go with the persimmon and can shoot even par without much trouble from 6,200 yards. Like always, a good short game and flat stick will win the bet. Good luck!

[Ironmaster Oddities]

some things to remember about vintage equipment:

1. The lofts on the irons are much weaker than today's clubs

2. The persimmon woods will typically launch the ball lower than today's clubs. Irons too, for that matter. Try to find irons that come close to what you now use, btw, I think that Ping Eye Irons (not Eye 2) were first made in the late 70's. They have bounce closer to today's irons.

3. You will probably be 2 clubs shorter as a minimum.

4. The ball is also shorter, before you make adjustments for their age. Check them to see if they remain round. and change balls regularly. Also the ball will curve much more than the newer balls. Easy to work it.

5. You will love the sound of the woods when you stripe a shot with the driver.

6. You will win or lose the bet based on your short game. so don't sweat the small stuff. get some older balata balls and get the feel. Then take 2 clubs more than you think and keep the faith.. Trust the swing and golf your ball. As a 1hcp player, just play your game. It should be fun. Play golf. Don't Work golf.

Uncle Bob

 

[WoodHeads]

So... who won?

[Joe Duffer]

Must have been the other guy...

[WoodHeads]

> @"Joe Duffer" said:

> Must have been the other guy...

 

I get the same feeling.

[NRJyzr]

The OP hasn't been active on WRX since Sept 2. FWIW

[BIG STU]

> @NRJyzr said:

> The OP hasn't been active on WRX since Sept 2. FWIW

 

LOL very factual there my friend

[rex235]

Tnord-

 

The ball is your critical path. Nearly 40 year old thin cover wound balata golf balls-Seriously? Would've amended the terms to allow newer lower compression golf balls.

If not, find a good compression gauge, and a roundness gauge. Better to have them and not need them, than...

Good Luck.

 

 

[rex235]

James-

 

Where did you play in Finland?

[Fellaheen51]

> @rex235 said:

> Tnord-

>

> The ball is your critical path. Nearly 40 year old thin cover wound balata golf balls-Seriously? Would've amended the terms to allow newer lower compression golf balls.

> If not, find a good compression gauge, and a roundness gauge. Better to have them and not need them, than...

> Good Luck.

>

>

 

Good luck indeed. Have an old roundness gauge stashed somewhere . Haven't had the need to utilize it in....forever. Don't happen to have a compression gauge. No matter. Use the highly scientific "drop test". Take one of the new in the box Titleist Tour Balata 90 balls and a modern ball of choice (FG Tour) and equidistant drop them onto the cement garage floor and observe the rebound effect. Serious difference. No doubt which ball I will utilize when playing at golf. Haven't a clue what my ball speed is coming off a persimmon D (quite pedestrian at best). However, not going to have a "mushy" golf ball be a detriment to how far I can hit it. NTM, a ball that can survive a bad strike placed upon it.

 

For the record, as the OP is apparently no longer contributing to the topic.

 

[James the Hogan Fan]

> @rex235 said:

> James-

>

> Where did you play in Finland?

 

Mostly at Tapiola, sometimes Egs or Vuosaari, rare trips outside Helsinki to other courses as well.