Did I just stumble upon a Tour Issue putter?!?!?!

[jblough99]

So Ive wanted to try a milled anser style putter with either no alignment aids at all or just a top flange line/dot. Also was looking for something made of carbon steel. Not really any options off the rack even going back several years and wasnt willing to spend the money for a custom/boutique for what amounts to an experiment. So I started researching and came across the Odyssey Protype Black Ops PT10 and PT12. These ticked all the boxes, anser style, carbon steel, top flange line. So started searching for Protype Black Ops putters and came across a mint PT12.

 

This particular one was different in a few ways from all the pictures I had seen of these putters, which raises the "Tour Issue" question.

The first and most obvious difference is no alignment aids at all, which is actually what I was hoping to find. To my knowledge the retail offerings all had some kind of alignment aid, either topline or flange line.

Secondly is the finish. This particular one is not a dark black finish like all the pics Ive seen, but looks more like a "torched stainless" finish. Also the Black Ops logo on the sole is very faint. I did magnet test the putter head and its very magnetic so that leads me to believe it is a carbon head and not a torched stainless head. Again to my knowledge this finish was not offered retail.

Third is the black stepless shaft. I know this couldve been easily changed at any point but still different than retail.

Finally the seller listed the putter as having a "Tour grip". I have no idea on this as I dont know what Odyssey offers retail, especially when this model was originally released.

The putter swing weights out to about D9, which at 35" should give a 340-345 gram head, which I believe is normal for this model.

There also is no serial number or any kind of identification other than what can be seen in the pics.

 

Any info/insight you guys might have would be appreciated. Regardless the putter feels amazing!!! Soft but very responsive. Really liking the look of no alignment aids as well. To bad it probably wont roll a ball on grass for atleast 5 months :(

 

 

[j.a.]

This is a very nice putter! I remember the Protype Series from a few years ago, there were a couple in a nearby Pro Shop but price was high, close to SC and at that time I couldn’t afford it. Sorry, I cannot help saying if this is a tour putter or not but definitely it is a gem imho

[gsrjc]

Never seen that putter before. Looks very nice.

[cardoustie]

Nice

With a flow neck ... amazing

[GeorgeHWB]

People and OEM's have different definitions as to what "tour" means so I can't answer that question. But I can say that the putter you have was not released as a production/retail putter--not with those characteristics. The most conclusive evidence is the lack of a sight line.

 

Also, the grip appears to be a standard DFX paddle grip. That was originally a retail grip (on the DFX line) but in later years it was only made available on tour putters. Kind of like how the Scotty Cameron Studio Design grip or Baby T has very limited availability these days despite being retail grips at one time.

[Cptwiggly]

I think I was bidding against you on eBay for this one. For my curiosity, how does it feel?

[ethan380]

Thats pretty cool.

[jblough99]

> @Cptwiggly said:

> I think I was bidding against you on eBay for this one. For my curiosity, how does it feel?

 

One of the best feeling milled putters I have ever rolled. Softer than any stainless milled putter I have ever tried, not clicky at all, but not mushy insert soft either, just right, soft but responsive.

[MattUtah]

Tour issue or not, the clean lack of sight lines makes that thing an amazing find. The Protypes are some of the best ever Odysseys too.

[_Hawk3y3_]

I found something similar a few weeks back...Protype #3 with no lines, new in plastic. Got it for a steal as well. Finding naked putters in RH is not an easy task without going the custom route. In LH, forget about it. My intention is to have a sight dot milled on the top line, but I am now relegated to indoor putting until April, most likely. Plenty of time to roll it as is and see if I prefer the look without a dot.

 

[nitram]

Good find on a tour putter. Hope you roll it well.

[OleVirginia]

> @cardoustie said:

> Nice

> With a flow neck ... amazing

 

This is a plumber's neck.

 

TBM

[orangeology]

it seems so-called 'butane' finish, it could be in the tour issue (or at least a non-OTR). hard to tell if it's really a tour issue, tho. the only way in Odyssey realm is the 'tour band' aka numbered sticker on the shaft—which might most likely be removed some times, in an effort to 'hide' whom it was actually assigned to—as it could be a violation of the contract to just 'sell' one off the bay.

 

however, the 'real' tour issue—not like the high-end Tour Mice Scotty Cameron CT sold in the gallery—could/should be made coming up with the players specific i.e) weight, sighting aids, balance point, L/L etc etc. it's not like they put a different finish and call it a tour issue putter (unless that was the player's specific request lol). and it's obviously not like made of Valarian steel forged with Dracarys Spell.

 

all in all, you have a unique putter. when it rolls good and you feel proud cuz you have a unique one. why not?

 

when it comes to the matter of that: can you sell it at higher clams cuz it's a tour issue? i'd doubt for next 2 reasons: 1. no way to prove it, nor Odyssey will confirm it for ya 2. tour issue Odyssey putters are not highly sought after like others. the highest hype that i've seen recently was the White Hot Pro #3, the model that P Reed used for a while. then they made a very similar OTR version due to its popularity. i've seen like 600 bucks Odyssey tour issue putters on ebay, trust me, never seen they were 'sold' at asked price.

 

nice catch—pending on how much you've paid, tho! always like the clean looking putters.

 

*Protype (not Pro"to"type its dubbed) P10 model was readily available in butane finish as tour issue (including tours like state college tour). never seen a P12. i might be wrong tho.

 

*did a li'l digging and found a japanese auction site has a similar one: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n369080579n (same model with "black ops" on the sole—that yours also has a bit of trace. black finish with flange site line)

one interesting say on the site, tho, (translating for ya: Protype P10 Black OPS was not for sale, only avail for tour pros with no serial number on the head. and P12 Black OPS is not even released yet). you seem to have a pretty rare one, enjoy!

 

 

[jblough99]

> @orangeology said:

> it seems so-called 'butane' finish, it could be in the tour issue (or at least a non-OTR). hard to tell if it's really a tour issue, tho. the only way in Odyssey realm is the 'tour band' aka numbered sticker on the shaft—which might most likely be removed some times, in an effort to 'hide' whom it was actually assigned to—as it could be a violation of the contract to just 'sell' one off the bay.

>

> however, the 'real' tour issue—not like the high-end Tour Mice Scotty Cameron CT sold in the gallery—could/should be made coming up with the players specific i.e) weight, sighting aids, balance point, L/L etc etc. it's not like they put a different finish and call it a tour issue putter (unless that was the player's specific request lol). and it's obviously not like made of Valarian steel forged with Dracarys Spell.

>

> all in all, you have a unique putter. when it rolls good and you feel proud cuz you have a unique one. why not?

>

> when it comes to the matter of that: can you sell it at higher clams cuz it's a tour issue? i'd doubt for next 2 reasons: 1. no way to prove it, nor Odyssey will confirm it for ya 2. tour issue Odyssey putters are not highly sought after like others. the highest hype that i've seen recently was the White Hot Pro #3, the model that P Reed used for a while. then they made a very similar OTR version due to its popularity. i've seen like 600 bucks Odyssey tour issue putters on ebay, trust me, never seen they were 'sold' at asked price.

>

> nice catch—pending on how much you've paid, tho! always like the clean looking putters.

>

> *Protype (not Pro"to"type its dubbed) P10 model was readily available in butane finish as tour issue (including tours like state college tour). never seen a P12. i might be wrong tho.

>

> *did a li'l digging and found a japanese auction site has a similar one: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n369080579n (same model with "black ops" on the sole—that yours also has a bit of trace. black finish with flange site line)

> one interesting say on the site, tho, (translating for ya: Protype P10 Black OPS was not for sale, only avail for tour pros with no serial number on the head. and P12 Black OPS is not even released yet). you seem to have a pretty rare one, enjoy!

>

>

 

Thanks for the research! I’m not at all worried about resale value tour vs not, I doubt I will sell it just because of how unique it is. I may reach out to the seller and see what info they may have on it’s origins.

[jblough99]

Just heard back from the seller. It is indeed an Odyssey Tour Issued Butane Finish PT12. Seller picked it up about a year ago while living in California. He told me what he paid for it which in his words was a deal. I feel kind of guilty considering what I won the auction for.

[strength115]

Nice find, hope it works for you. Hate that you have to wait so long to use it. Enjoy

[semarlor]

I was curious, so I looked up what you won it for....holy hell, you got a killer deal! I've paid that much for beat up old putters and you got a beauty! Well done.

[tercoidegw]

must be Tour Issue because mine is similar (with sigth line) and came from Emiliano Grillo's garage, with his initials engraved in the bottom

[akap4surf]

I can't add if it is or not, but I do have to say that grip on the putter is my favorite odyssey and feels so good! Beautiful putter! Enjoy!