My first set(s) of Hogans!

[thecadman99]

After keeping my eye out for sometime, yesterday I managed to get my hands on two full sets of Hogan apexes.

I may be wrong about the years, but I thought the third digit was the year of manufacture.

One set is a 79 (I believe)with the 4 legend shaft, and D4 Swingweight. (Great condition)

The other set is a 76 with the 3 apex shaft, D2. They are in decent shape but they have been played a bit more than the others.

Today I've been trying to clean them up and do a little polishing.

Here are some before and after pics of the 79, and a shot of the 76 two iron.

I may play the 76ers, but the 79's are almost too nice to mess up.

I can't wait to give these a hit and see how they compare to my Macgregor's.

[thecadman99]

Just realized these clubs may not be classic enough for this forum, so mods please feel free to move as needed, thank you.

[BIG STU]

They are more than classic enough for this thread trust me. Great find and I will say you did an excellent job of cleaning them up. Those #4 shafts are stiff and too stiff for me but the #3 shafts are right up my alley because they are a softer Regular. Yep we have a plethora of Hogan Gurus on here. I am sorta a Hogan convert on here but I am a Macgregor man at heart. Well I do own 2 sets of Hogan irons and 2 sets of Bastardized Macs in other words Macgregors with Apex shafts----- Yep carry on and post here often---- We appreciate real Hogan clubs made by The real Hogan company before the Spalding days and some of us are even tolerant of the Spalding Hogans

[Joe S]

Very nice! Some of the best ever.

By the way, don't get any big ideas about re-gripping them without a re-gripping tool. Those Legend shafts have an extra wide butt diameter that makes it nearly impossible to get a grip on.

[James the Hogan Fan]

Op, I believe, although somewhat baselessly, that your irons are older than '79 because by that time Hogan had already come out with the Apex II and I don't believe the two were offered simultaneously. Does anyone have the catalog to know for sure?

[thecadman99]

Maybe the second digit in the sn is the year? That would make them a 73 and a 76?

[Fellaheen51]

Heck yeah, old(er) Hogans are the personification of what classic irons are all about. Congrats on your first sets C99 (As in '99 Apex?). The '76's look pristine. Would hazard a guess that there may be more in your future. That the way it works with classic Hogans.

Indeed, appear to be '73 (frosted back) and '76 (shiny back). A reference source that many of us around here use for visually identifying old irons is Ironfinder.com. The site has good pictures and descriptives for assistance. Hogan Single, Individual, Add-on and Replacement Golf Irons | Ironfinder

Don't know why that box popped up, rather than just the link. Must be the new editor recently implemented. Lots of strange things occurring around here lately.

A thread on identifying Hogans by serial number. Do not know if this information was all inclusive across various vintages. But guidance nevertheless.

[TimK1]

Hell yes, love those. Congratulations.

Love the old Hogan anything. I practice all the time with some old Hogan radials

[thecadman99]

First set heads are done. These have some nice chrome. I can't believe how tough the face paint is in comparison to more modern clubs.

[twidener]

The silver, black, red bands are 73's. The black, red, gold are probably 76's. I still have my set of 73's with Apex 4 shafts. The Legend shaft came out in 76 or77. It was a lot of work to change grips on the Legends. I played with set with Legend shafts but went back to the Apex shafted set. Just felt better to me. Both sets are excellent irons, one of Hogans best.

[tanker44]

I approve. Grew up play the Apex II's and they taught me how to hit the face.

[TimK1]

These are sweet!!!

[thecadman99]

Great info thanks ?

[ChronicSlicer]

Your gonna need some sun glasses for those bad boys. Nice job!

[smorg]

Well done. You are on your way to earning Hoganista status.

[BIG STU]

Well this thread sorta inspired me yesterday---- Played 5 holes walking with the 54 Precisions yesterday. Came home and nothing else to do but clean them up with Barkeeper's Friend and they turned out pretty good. Not as good as yours but pretty decent for being 65 years old. Our course closed at 10:00 yesterday I guess due to Thanksgiving but they told me to walk as much as I wanted. So I walked my customary 5 holes. that is about all my ankles can stand anymore. Played my mixed persimmon woods and my Otey hickory shafted putter. Note--- I think one of the reasons they closed early was because they had absolutely no one on the books and the course is scheduled to close for good at the end of December.

[super20dan]

amazing set of 75 or 76 apex. best I have ever seen. I started with a set of beat up rusted 73 apex and now have 14 sets of hogans-lol. to me the stand outs are apex-pc-redline and bh grinds. still need the 99 apex and the Justin Lenard/ hal Sutton model. display those 75 apex and game the 73. like stu I like the apex 3 shaft also

[thecadman99]

Thanks Dan. I've been hitting a bit with the 73. I'd like to try the 99 model for comparison. The 76's are too nice to play for sure.

[nitram]

Your'e gonna love 'em. I know I did. The '76 Hogan Apex 3-E with Apex 4's were the first irons I ever purchased and I still have 'em. I was 14 and saved all summer hauling hay, mowing yards, and riding colts to buy a set. I paid $315 cash. In the box was a letter from Mr. Hogan stating, "I'd purchased the finest irons available." For years I thought it was an original letter but now know everyone that purchased a set got one. Anyway, heck of a find and for God's sake, hit 'em.