No new acquistions...?

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

I bought some more Wilsons recently. I really like their wedges and short irons. They are, I think, reissues of the 1969 bullet backs, but I don't know exactly when they were released. Late Eighties? Early Nineties? They look pretty, and the shafts are slightly longer than standard here, so that's a good fit for me (big reason why I bid on them, actually).

[NRJyzr]

The Wilson Staff reissues were in the 90s.  I'm remembering early 90s, but it's been a while since I sifted thru the Wilson pages in my Maltby Club ID Guide.

 

[Fellaheen51]

Maltby ‘sez:  Staff 69 Blade ‘93 - ‘97.  😀

 

Nice irons Catchy. “Slightly” longer shafts works for me in justifying an acquisition. 

[Stephen8802]

Let's keep the Wilson love rolling...I added to my collection today with some '60-'61s. I've been looking for a set since I sold my other two sets in the spring, one because it was too nice to play and one because it wasn't nice enough. Today I picked up a Goldilocks set at a great price and I'm thrilled with them. The bad news, only 2-9; the good news, I already had the wedge from a thrift find last year and today's haul are in really great shape...plenty of life left in these. They came with some Silver Scot 693's, which I'll probably sell in the spring to recoup my cost and get the irons down to $0. Added bonus, they came in a Jones bag. I played my high school and college golf with Jones bags and I've been jonesing for another so I can be completely retro.

 

And, because life is beautiful, I picked up a cool Jimmy Demaret 4 wood and a Louisville Golf Personal Model 3 wood, $2 each. The LG is a bit small for my tastes, but the Demaret is a really cool shape and neat insert. I'll put that on the list to refinish next summer and get it back on the grass.

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2020 by Stephen8802

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

7 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

Maltby ‘sez:  Staff 69 Blade ‘93 - ‘97.  😀

 

Nice irons Catchy. “Slightly” longer shafts works for me in justifying an acquisition. 

 

I laughed, but in the short irons, even 1/2" makes a big difference for me. Some of the sets here from that time feature PW with 35" shafts, which is too short for me to hit comfortably.

Now, I've been trying to hold off buying any new sets until I sell off the ones I have that I'm not especially fond of, but when I saw these advertised with a 38" shaft in the 5i, and a low starting price, I decided to jump on them. The wife was, of course, delighted😨

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

 @Stephen8802 Nice pick up. Real vintage Wilsons here usually are often priced over $300 even for sets in rough condition, which is a bit much me me for what will just be a hobby set. Even the reissue sets sometimes have $400+ price tags. I got mine for just under $80 including postage. 

 

To keep on the Wilson theme, a few months ago, I posted a set of custom Wilson irons that I got for an excellent price. Well, I finally checked their specs the other day. I think whoever had them before me didn't use the 4i and 5i at all, because they were really flat (58*), whereas the 6i-PW were all pretty upright. 61* for the 6i, if IIRC.

Anyhow, I bent the lies to what I like, and tweaked the lofts. I wanted to start with the PW at 50*, and it was already spot on, then I went down in 4* increments. Only one iron, the 7i need adjusting more than a degree or so. I have to say, these were the softest irons I've ever bent, softer even than my Mizunos. The first time I bent one, I changed the loft by three degrees without hardly any effort. I was only aiming for a degree! These are the irons I'm talking about.

 

[Fellaheen51]

9 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

I laughed, but in the short irons, even 1/2" makes a big difference for me. Some of the sets here from that time feature PW with 35" shafts, which is too short for me to hit comfortably.

Now, I've been trying to hold off buying any new sets until I sell off the ones I have that I'm not especially fond of, but when I saw these advertised with a 38" shaft in the 5i, and a low starting price, I decided to jump on them. The wife was, of course, delighted😨

 

Understand completely the need to set iron lengths to preference.  I'm taller with shortish arms (38.5" WTF).  First order of business with keeper new, old irons, stick extensions in them.  Play off a 36.5" PW.  I struggle attempting to hit irons that are too short.  Feel like I'm reaching for the ball, bending over at address more than preferred.  Perhaps all in my head, but when testing classic irons in "as acquired" condition, sure seem to top a lot of balls.  Just that I got a chuckle with you mentioning +.5" being a rationale for acquisition.  NTM, being "pretty".  Both valid IMHO.  As for my Mrs., got enough golf stuff stashed in the basement, she doesn't know what comes and goes.  As long as the pile doesn't get larger.  And doesn't see the delivery of long boxes.  

Edited November 12, 2020 by Fellaheen51

[scomac2002]

Quote

 As for my Mrs., got enough golf stuff stashed in the basement, she doesn't know what comes and goes.  As long as the pile doesn't get larger.  And doesn't see the delivery of long boxes. 

 

I don't even try to hide it anymore.  She knows I have a problem.  I think that she was impressed when I told her that I sell off a few periodically to help fund new purchases as a new long box arrived yesterday afternoon. 😏

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

1 hour ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

Understand completely the need to set iron lengths to preference.  I'm taller with shortish arms (38.5" WTF).  First order of business with keeper new, old irons, stick extensions in them.  Play off a 36.5" PW.  I struggle attempting to hit irons that are too short.  Feel like I'm reaching for the ball, bending over at address more than preferred.  Perhaps all in my head, but when testing classic irons in "as acquired" condition, sure seem to top a lot of balls.  Just that I got a chuckle with you mentioning +.5" being a rationale for acquisition.  NTM, being "pretty".  Both valid IMHO.  As for my Mrs., got enough golf stuff stashed in the basement, she doesn't know what comes and goes.  As long as the pile doesn't get larger.  And doesn't see the delivery of long boxes.  

 

36.5" PW? Wow! I really want to build a set one of these days with a PW starting at 36", then go in 3/8" increments. I like longer than standard short irons, but fairly normal long irons. 

The other problem with having too many sets is that it's hard work making them all up to one's desired specs!

[Fellaheen51]

1 hour ago, scomac2002 said:

 

I don't even try to hide it anymore.  She knows I have a problem.  I think that she was impressed when I told her that I sell off a few periodically to help fund new purchases as a new long box arrived yesterday afternoon. 😏

 

Ha!  She really doesn't care, not like I'm spending $1k+ on new irons or something crazy.  Its become mostly a self funding endeavor.  Buy to sell to buy something else.   I don't hide (learned my lesson on that years ago), will mention in passing that a box of something is coming.  However, do make a showy display when a box leaves.  Just so she knows.  Keep her supplied with golf balls and other "as needed" stuff like new grips periodically as well.  Bought her a new bag this summer.  Happy wife thing.  

[Fellaheen51]

1 hour ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

36.5" PW? Wow! I really want to build a set one of these days with a PW starting at 36", then go in 3/8" increments. I like longer than standard short irons, but fairly normal long irons. 

The other problem with having too many sets is that it's hard work making them all up to one's desired specs!

 

With the "standard" length of a PW at 35.5", only +1".  Not all that excessive , and where I've been lengthwise forever. Seems to work fine, comfortable at setup and through the swing, no point in deviating.  

 

Yeah, give the 3/8" a try.  Did it with my '99 Apex's, starting at the 9 iron.  DIY MOI matching as it was touted.  Can say I noticed a difference.  I only play down to a 6 iron. If one plays down to say a 3 or 4 iron, the reduced incremental length makes those long irons more "swingable".  Just have to adjust swing weights accordingly if that's important to you.

 

The full monty of club tinkering is reserved only for those that have a high probability of sticking around for awhile.  Otherwise, not worth my time or investment to fool with them if they are not going to be played.  Even then, they may fall prey to the 2-year rule and get liquidated.  Just the way it is sometimes.  To many implements, not enough time.

[Foozle]

14 minutes ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

Ha!  She really doesn't care, not like I'm spending $1k+ on new irons or something crazy.  Its become mostly a self funding endeavor.  Buy to sell to buy something else.   I don't hide (learned my lesson on that years ago), will mention in passing that a box of something is coming.  However, do make a showy display when a box leaves.  Just so she knows.  Keep her supplied with golf balls and other "as needed" stuff like new grips periodically as well.  Bought her a new bag this summer.  Happy wife thing.  

You guys have discovered life's great secret - how to keep your wife happy whilst indulging in your golf obsession! Not an easy thing to do!

When I began collecting vintage I told my long suffering other half that i would only spend the equivalent of a new set of clubs on building my collection. She accepted that and thinks I am still working within that budget. Fortunately she has never heard of PXG! 

Other than a sighed  "not more clubs" when boxes arrive, she doesn't complain and my conscience is clear!

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

32 minutes ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

With the "standard" length of a PW at 35.5", only +1".  Not all that excessive , and where I've been lengthwise forever. Seems to work fine, comfortable at setup and through the swing, no point in deviating.  

 

Yeah, give the 3/8" a try.  Did it with my '99 Apex's, starting at the 9 iron.  DIY MOI matching as it was touted.  Can say I noticed a difference.  I only play down to a 6 iron. If one plays down to say a 3 or 4 iron, the reduced incremental length makes those long irons more "swingable".  Just have to adjust swing weights accordingly if that's important to you.

 

The full monty of club tinkering is reserved only for those that have a high probability of sticking around for awhile.  Otherwise, not worth my time or investment to fool with them if they are not going to be played.  Even then, they may fall prey to the 2-year rule and get liquidated.  Just the way it is sometimes.  To many implements, not enough time.

 

Very interesting. I started playing as a teenager, and I wasn't very big so standard length clubs were more than enough for me. Then I grew suddenly, and around the time I finished school, I noticed I was gripping the club with the butt pretty much completely in the palm of my left hand. I got used use to that, so even with longer clubs, I like to feel the butt in the palm of my hand. That last part that could be horribly misquoted, but I'm not going to change it.

I'm trying to get used now to leaving a little bit of the butt end of the club sticking out off my grip, but old habits are hard to break. So, even if I have a club that is longer than standard, I still grip it with the butt in my palm. Well, to be honest, I did until about a year ago, when I made a conscious effort not to do that, and that's when I really started to pay more attention to shaft length.

 

As for the 3/8" difference, I'm only expecting to be really be an advantage over 1/2" increments in the 4i and 5i (I don't usually carry a 3i except when I'm playing persimmon golf, and only then I only carry one as a back-up putter...). But that's good enough for me to want to try it.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

32 minutes ago, Foozle said:

You guys have discovered life's great secret - how to keep your wife happy whilst indulging in your golf obsession! Not an easy thing to do!

When I began collecting vintage I told my long suffering other half that i would only spend the equivalent of a new set of clubs on building my collection. She accepted that and thinks I am still working within that budget. Fortunately she has never heard of PXG! 

Other than a sighed  "not more clubs" when boxes arrive, she doesn't complain and my conscience is clear!

 

My wife has told me to get rid of 200 clubs. I told her I don't have that many.

 

I do.

 

Comfortably.

[Fellaheen51]

44 minutes ago, Foozle said:

You guys have discovered life's great secret - how to keep your wife happy whilst indulging in your golf obsession! Not an easy thing to do!

When I began collecting vintage I told my long suffering other half that i would only spend the equivalent of a new set of clubs on building my collection. She accepted that and thinks I am still working within that budget. Fortunately she has never heard of PXG! 

Other than a sighed  "not more clubs" when boxes arrive, she doesn't complain and my conscience is clear!

 

When the Mrs. starts chirping about the size of the "accumulation", I show her pictures of the Niles Hoard (for those that remember).  And tell her things could be exponentially worse.  

[Fellaheen51]

24 minutes ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

Very interesting. I started playing as a teenager, and I wasn't very big so standard length clubs were more than enough for me. Then I grew suddenly, and around the time I finished school, I noticed I was gripping the club with the butt pretty much completely in the palm of my left hand. I got used use to that, so even with longer clubs, I like to feel the butt in the palm of my hand. That last part that could be horribly misquoted, but I'm not going to change it.

I'm trying to get used now to leaving a little bit of the butt end of the club sticking out off my grip, but old habits are hard to break. So, even if I have a club that is longer than standard, I still grip it with the butt in my palm. Well, to be honest, I did until about a year ago, when I made a conscious effort not to do that, and that's when I really started to pay more attention to shaft length.

 

As for the 3/8" difference, I'm only expecting to be really be an advantage over 1/2" increments in the 4i and 5i (I don't usually carry a 3i except when I'm playing persimmon golf, and only then I only carry one as a back-up putter...). But that's good enough for me to want to try it.

 

Multiple metrics come into play determining suitable and preferable playing lengths.  Beyond the simplistic height and WTF measurements.  As it all depends, as evidenced by your comnents.  With the typical irons you acquire apparently being shorter, it affords one the opportunity to experiment with lengths and increments by using extensions.  If things don't work out as planned, pull them and easily reset back to square one.  Some may have issue using them, I do not.  Their use is a matter of routine as I've mentioned.  Once installed, and the club regripped, forget they're even there.  Bumps the SW up ~ 6  points, but accustomed to that as well.  

[scomac2002]

48 minutes ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

When the Mrs. starts chirping about the size of the "accumulation", I show her pictures of the Niles Hoard (for those that remember).  And tell her things could be exponentially worse.  

 

OMG!  The  Niles Hoard.  I had forgotten about that.  Wasn't that Ironmaster Bob's project?  That was just insane! 🤪

[NRJyzr]

4 minutes ago, scomac2002 said:

 

OMG!  The  Niles Hoard.  I had forgotten about that.  Wasn't that Ironmaster Bob's project?  That was just insane! 🤪

 

He's now posting pics from it on the Persimmon Golf Society group on bookface.  🙂

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

1 hour ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

When the Mrs. starts chirping about the size of the "accumulation", I show her pictures of the Niles Hoard (for those that remember).  And tell her things could be exponentially worse.  

I showed her pictures of that. She reached for the kitchen knife and uttered quite specific threats. That was when I pretended I no longer understood Japanese: 

"I am not from your country. In my country of in-ger-land, many golf clubs is good thing! Sign of virility! Yes!"

 

The humour did not translate.

 

Anyway, I enjoyed my stay in hospital.

[Fellaheen51]

Ha.  Yeah, Uncle Bob.  With all the platform gymnastics occurring around here, needed to "find a new place where the kids are hip".  Someone mentioned the FB Groups, and I've been scurrying about in several since.  There was a discussion of large club finds, and Uncle Bob weighed in that he once bought 10,000.  Thought wait a minute, this sounds familiar.  Dropped a Hoard reference and sure enough.  

 

All the pictures accompanying the epic hoard thread were lost.  The story loses much of its impact absent the photos.  Kinda prodded him into posting some of them, which he did.  Mic drop.  Don't think any of the participants over there knew the story or the magnitude.  Save for Big Stu and obviously NRJ.  

 

Classic WRX lit up as that was unfolding years ago. Great fun.  

[BIG STU]

Well I may be slowly catching up to old Uncle Bob. My fellow club hoe Bear stopped by Monday gave me 10 sets of irons yes 10 sets. He ain't quit hoeing he just ran out of room and wants to hoe more. All sets really decent except a messed up set of 99 /00 Hogan Apex Plus irons with screwed up lofts. Nope I am correcting them and plan on hitting them some. The one set that may work really well for me in my current physical state is a set of 2014 TM TP CBs with steelfiber 90 shafts. Stay tuned for more

[BIG STU]

23 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

Ha.  Yeah, Uncle Bob.  With all the platform gymnastics occurring around here, needed to "find a new place where the kids are hip".  Someone mentioned the FB Groups, and I've been scurrying about in several since.  There was a discussion of large club finds, and Uncle Bob weighed in that he once bought 10,000.  Thought wait a minute, this sounds familiar.  Dropped a Hoard reference and sure enough.  

 

All the pictures accompanying the epic hoard thread were lost.  The story loses much of its impact absent the photos.  Kinda prodded him into posting some of them, which he did.  Mic drop.  Don't think any of the participants over there knew the story or the magnitude.  Save for Big Stu and obviously NRJ.  

 

Classic WRX lit up as that was unfolding years ago. Great fun.  

Yep I explained it to those guys the Niles Hoard was a WRX legend.  I think Timmy V is approaching it too Did you see the load in that Denali? Of course he is selling it for his late friend's wife. Oh BTW love the Beach Boys reference. 

[BIG STU]

On 11/12/2020 at 10:58 AM, Fellaheen51 said:

 

When the Mrs. starts chirping about the size of the "accumulation", I show her pictures of the Niles Hoard (for those that remember).  And tell her things could be exponentially worse.  

Like I said on PGS Uncle Bob has saved many a marriage

 

[deejaid]

I found a couple of very fine, almost NOS, all-original sets of classic irons recently.  
 

The first set is circa 1958-62 Petersen stainless irons.  The grips are in mint condition, Pro Fit  shaft bands are perfect, and slight head chatter is probably just from storage as these look to have not been played.    
 

The second is a beautiful set of near mint Golfcraft PTR Staff irons also with original grips and Pro Fit shafts.   The grips are a little more hardened but still usable.   The chrome and ferrules on the old Golfcrafts is incredible.

 

These are not really players for me as I need longer irons so I’ll be moving these on to someone else, but they are definitely beautiful to look at in my shop in the meantime!

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2020 by deejaid

[Bigarch]

Those are outstanding.  Always loved those old Golfcraft irons.  They all set up so nice and had that big square toe on them.  Beautiful!

[Jiggered]

Great finds deejaid, a couple of beautiful looking sets from lesser known makers, what's not to like. 🙂

[cold_war_era_golfer]

@deejaid Those golf crafts are incredible looking.  They remind me Wilson Staffs!

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Last week I grabbed these 1966 Wilson Staffs.  They were in much better shape than I thought.  These pictures are before I cleaned them.  The grips are hard but I used them anyway at our local par 3 and shot a 1 over par.  Probably not much of a big deal to you long time golfers but that's 29 to a guy who was shooting 45s this spring.

[deejaid]

2 hours ago, coldwareragolfer said:

Last week I grabbed these 1966 Wilson Staffs.  They were in much better shape than I thought.  These pictures are before I cleaned them.  The grips are hard but I used them anyway at our local par 3 and shot a 1 over par.  Probably not much of a big deal to you long time golfers but that's 29 to a guy who was shooting 45s this spring.

 

That is such a great looking blade with those two frosted lines on the back.   Awesome!

[deejaid]

11 hours ago, Bigarch said:

Those are outstanding.  Always loved those old Golfcraft irons.  They all set up so nice and had that big square toe on them.  Beautiful!

They do set up very nice.  The seller said the grips would need replaced so I bought them with the idea of new grips and some shaft extensions in mind.  Once I received them I just couldn’t bring myself to trash the original grips, they have a little life left in them.