UK Classic Club Thread - John Letters, Ben Sayers, Slazenger, Dunlop, George Nicoll, Swilken, Petron

[elwhippy]

When I first started in 1978 Ryder were the most popular clubs at my local course. Every hcp level played them. The MK2 was a huge seller and the Graduate model was excellent. As a junior I had a Ryder ladies 4 wood which was very easy to hit. Our club's longest hitter used a blonde Ryder persimmon with an early Graffalloy shaft. Despite being off scratch he was used the B51XD balls....

[Jiggered]

When I first started in 1978 Ryder were the most popular clubs at my local course. Every hcp level played them. The MK2 was a huge seller and the Graduate model was excellent. As a junior I had a Ryder ladies 4 wood which was very easy to hit. Our club's longest hitter used a blonde Ryder persimmon with an early Graffalloy shaft. Despite being off scratch he was used the B51XD balls....

 

I've been building up a little database of UK clubs and this is what I've got for Ryder so far, not in date order:

Was the MK2 a second generation of any of the below or was it a model in it's own right?

17.4

17.4 Mk II

Graduate

MWD

Plus Executive

PM.1 (Mark III)

Pro Classic

Ryder Blade

Syncron

Ultima

Vance Powerber

Z-30

Z-40

[fluffy265]

Have any of you gents run into these Christy O'conners before... https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1431054634.

 

J

[mahonie]

Have any of you gents run into these Christy O'conners before... https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1431054634.

 

J

 

Very first club I had was a Christy O’Connor 8-iron in 1982 but it was not the same design as these.

[nolixul]

Have any of you gents run into these Christy O'conners before... https://www.trademe....x?id=1431054634.

 

J

 

Yes. I have a set that comes out each year for a game around St Patrick's Day.

[stixman]

My eyesight is pretty poor, I can't see who made them. Was it a UK maker?

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

When I first started in 1978 Ryder were the most popular clubs at my local course. Every hcp level played them. The MK2 was a huge seller and the Graduate model was excellent. As a junior I had a Ryder ladies 4 wood which was very easy to hit. Our club's longest hitter used a blonde Ryder persimmon with an early Graffalloy shaft. Despite being off scratch he was used the B51XD balls....

 

I've been building up a little database of UK clubs and this is what I've got for Ryder so far, not in date order:

Was the MK2 a second generation of any of the below or was it a model in it's own right?

17.4

17.4 Mk II

Graduate

MWD

Plus Executive

PM.1 (Mark III)

Pro Classic

Ryder Blade

Syncron

Ultima

Vance Powerber

Z-30

Z-40

 

I don't know if this is any help, but my brother bought MKIII (laminated woods and heel-toe weighted irons) around 1987. May have been 1988, but I doubt it was earlier.

The set is still lying around somewhere, but missing the 8i, which he lost. I'm pretty sure the irons are cast, and I never liked them very much. The woods look ok, though.

[fluffy265]

My eyesight is pretty poor, I can't see who made them. Was it a UK maker?

 

Looks like Craighton to me.

 

J

[elwhippy]

Craighton stuff was utter rubbish. Very poor quality.

[Jiggered]

Surprised at that, I thought that John Letters went across to design for them after he left John Letters & Co.

[Jiggered]

When I first started in 1978 Ryder were the most popular clubs at my local course. Every hcp level played them. The MK2 was a huge seller and the Graduate model was excellent. As a junior I had a Ryder ladies 4 wood which was very easy to hit. Our club's longest hitter used a blonde Ryder persimmon with an early Graffalloy shaft. Despite being off scratch he was used the B51XD balls....

 

I've been building up a little database of UK clubs and this is what I've got for Ryder so far, not in date order:

Was the MK2 a second generation of any of the below or was it a model in it's own right?

17.4

17.4 Mk II

Graduate

MWD

Plus Executive

PM.1 (Mark III)

Pro Classic

Ryder Blade

Syncron

Ultima

Vance Powerber

Z-30

Z-40

 

I don't know if this is any help, but my brother bought MKIII (laminated woods and heel-toe weighted irons) around 1987. May have been 1988, but I doubt it was earlier.

The set is still lying around somewhere, but missing the 8i, which he lost. I'm pretty sure the irons are cast, and I never liked them very much. The woods look ok, though.

 

Thanks, dates noted, were these the 17.4 heel toe weighted?

[fluffy265]

Craighton is not s brand that I’ve run into before, but as usual the diamond backs caught my eye...

 

J

[nolixul]

Craighton stuff was utter rubbish. Very poor quality.

 

Indeed, mostly so. Crappy laminated woods et al. The diamondbacks are just a bit of fun though. The usual forged rustless etc. Strange thing though (and this is what got my attention) is that the head weights are spot on the progression I like, running up to one of the heaviest (naturally heavy) sand wedges I have ever wielded. Darned thing ploughs through just about anything with ease. Modern sandwedges are just too light to comfortably do the same.

 

My set had no offset but for the 7 iron, which I was able to (double) bend to my liking back to zero offset. So I'm pretty sure that they had previously been tweaked. The clubs set up fine now and play well, although I could see the turf interaction of the flat soles being an issue for some. Swapped out the stock dynalites for some old green band rockets. Penetrating ball flight. Impact feels great and solid. My Irish buddies love the annual appearance of the clubs for their Paddy's Day bash.

 

The musclebacks aren't as diamond-like as the Mac designs (or the Dunlop Thompson), but have a bit more diamond to them than the Louisville Slugger Levelume irons. (https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images3/1/0311/15/louisville-slugger-levelume-irons-hb_1_0e2b7515a6665cd7264dc16c9116abe5.jpg). The CoC Craigtons are for sure of dubious heritage, don't look particularly refined or pretty, and are hardly a classic collectible, but they put a smile on a few faces and have won a fair few bets. They have their time and place!

[oldschoolrocker]

Hope those "Crown Sterlings" live up to their billing. Pulled the trigger on the 3-9 set on eBay. Also, picked up my favorite "playing" persimmons, Powerbilt Citations in a 1,3,5. I know how they perform, so I bought this set to keep in my backup bag at Yeamans.

[oldschoolrocker]

So, have a question now, wheels turning, have the day off, contractor just left, house almost ready to start reconstructing, just purchased a set of the aforementioned Crown Sterlings. Rooted through the garage and found the shafts and grips I want to put on them.

Anyone know if Macgregor Tourney Taper shafts will fit the Sterlings in a straight swap, without any manipulation? I am not familiar with the Slazenger Master shafts.

Randy, from across the pond.

[golfmj228]

OSR I'm remembering the Crown Sterlings as taking a taper tip shaft but that was a lot of years ago (1996ish) so I don't 100% trust this old memory!

[skajaquada77]

Another question about shafts, I just received the shipment with the set of Slazenger Supremo Seve Ballesteros, 2 and a half freaking weeks from the UK to US but well worth it. The shafts are not in good shape, clubheads are good. Shafts are True Temper Dynamic Gold R300. Looking for a lighter shaft that will fit and go well the set. Suggestions?

[fluffy265]

Here's another goodie ... Dunlop Peter Thomson flatbacks, Delafit hosels too...https://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/golf/other/auction-1434516471.htm. Can anybody identify the shafts?? Thankfully they are not in the same city as me!

 

J

[DM70]

The Dunlop Peter Thomson Mark Five set was on sale 66-67 (also used Delafit), Mark Six ought to be a couple of years later.

 

[birly-shirly]

Another question about shafts, I just received the shipment with the set of Slazenger Supremo Seve Ballesteros, 2 and a half freaking weeks from the UK to US but well worth it. The shafts are not in good shape, clubheads are good. Shafts are True Temper Dynamic Gold R300. Looking for a lighter shaft that will fit and go well the set. Suggestions?

 

I'd think it depends on why you want something lighter. I'm comfortable with that weight of shaft, but like old school lengths which tends to keep the swing weight from getting out of control. 37" 5 iron and clubs never feel hard to swing. YMMV if you really need longer lengths to get a decent fit.

[stixman]

So, back to the UK and more junk from my accumulation of golfing detritus.

Here are a couple of examples of early and influential clubs made in the mid 1930s by The St Andrew Golf Company of Glasgow and Dunfermline. They became an outlet for Wilson goods pre WW2. The 'Double Balanced' Denny Shute is a version of the Willie Ogg , Oggmented design acquired by Wilson slightly later.

 

You don't see many Gene Sarazen Pitching Irons over here, there must have been a primordial arrangement in place with Wilson. The Wilson version is probably common in the US, but a STAG version, I don't know. Anybody??

 

 

 

 

[Jiggered]

Just had these delivered, Slazenger Ambassador, another ebay win.

Laminated woods but that's how it is with most UK woods.

 

There are a few oddities to the set:

• The back of the irons has a different script to the other Ambassadors I've seen, which were block capital with an additional small insignia.
  
• The wedge is obviously from a different set and looks cast but it still features the Ambassador insignia.
  
• The hosels have knurling on only three of the irons.
  

That aside they're a nice looking set and came complete with a budget Slazenger bag.

 

 

 

 

The wedge showing completely different head.

 

 

 

Laminated woods.

 

 

 

The whole set, without those little extras that I always like to find in an old bag, which in this set included; a set of 3 Titleist wooly head covers, an Onyx square headed driver, a Donnay Pro One putter and a few balls including a Uniroyal Jack Nicklaus and a Titleist Pro V1 Balata?

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Nice Slazengers, Jiggered.

I love the wedginess of the pitching wedges in the older sets.

[birly-shirly]

So, back to the UK and more junk from my accumulation of golfing detritus.

Here are a couple of examples of early and influential clubs made in the mid 1930s by The St Andrew Golf Company of Glasgow and Dunfermline. They became an outlet for Wilson goods pre WW2. The 'Double Balanced' Denny Shute is a version of the Willie Ogg , Oggmented design acquired by Wilson slightly later.

 

You don't see many Gene Sarazen Pitching Irons over here, there must have been a primordial arrangement in place with Wilson. The Wilson version is probably common in the US, but a STAG version, I don't know. Anybody??

 

 

Nice. What do you think makes that a Pitching Iron rather than a Sand Iron. Do you know the loft and/or bounce angles?

[stixman]

So, back to the UK and more junk from my accumulation of golfing detritus.

Here are a couple of examples of early and influential clubs made in the mid 1930s by The St Andrew Golf Company of Glasgow and Dunfermline. They became an outlet for Wilson goods pre WW2. The 'Double Balanced' Denny Shute is a version of the Willie Ogg , Oggmented design acquired by Wilson slightly later.

 

You don't see many Gene Sarazen Pitching Irons over here, there must have been a primordial arrangement in place with Wilson. The Wilson version is probably common in the US, but a STAG version, I don't know. Anybody??

 

 

Nice. What do you think makes that a Pitching Iron rather than a Sand Iron. Do you know the loft and/or bounce angles?

 

That is a good question.

The back of the club has Pitching Iron in script, which you can just see. The shape would do credit to a Wilson Sand Iron of a much later vintage.

It's vital statistics are ;

Loft 60 degrees, bounce about 6 degrees and quite shockingly, the Swing Weight is B9

Compare that with the Wilson Sand Iron I showed on a parallel topic.The loft is also 60 degrees, bounce maybe 12 degrees and a sensible E5 swing weight.

 

 

If I were to use the Pitching Iron in a retro event I would be loading it with lead tape and consider using it as a general purpose wedge, especially if the bunker sand was at all dense or hard packed.Apart from Swing weight, it's very usable.

[shotmark]

Petron was founded by Peter Shanks in 1973. Previously UK Sales Director for Wilson Sporting Goods during the late 60s and early 70s, he grew the business to be the 2nd bggest UK producer by the 1980s. He employed 25 PGA Pros and 100 other staff and specialised in made to measure golf clubs at a very early stage in that market.

I played my best golf in the early 80s using custom fitted TPX Pure Blade irons and TPX Pittsburg Percies (1st generation) 8 degree driver and the irons were great, I still have the 1 iron, a true butter knife which frightens the living daylights out of my home Pro. Their fittting is still my standard set-up.

Their reputation was tarnished by some pretty iffy game improvement clubs like the Impala, although they seemed popular.

They aren't going to appreciate or find collector value, but if you like them, buy them, play them and tell us about your experences.

 

Often wondered where the name Petron came from. I understand now why he used this rather than his surname.

[elwhippy]

Love the irons. Sand Iron looks very Staffish. Never seen a set of these in my 39 years of playing.

[pallap]

Petron was founded by Peter Shanks in 1973. Previously UK Sales Director for Wilson Sporting Goods during the late 60s and early 70s, he grew the business to be the 2nd bggest UK producer by the 1980s. He employed 25 PGA Pros and 100 other staff and specialised in made to measure golf clubs at a very early stage in that market.

I played my best golf in the early 80s using custom fitted TPX Pure Blade irons and TPX Pittsburg Percies (1st generation) 8 degree driver and the irons were great, I still have the 1 iron, a true butter knife which frightens the living daylights out of my home Pro. Their fittting is still my standard set-up.

Their reputation was tarnished by some pretty iffy game improvement clubs like the Impala, although they seemed popular.

They aren't going to appreciate or find collector value, but if you like them, buy them, play them and tell us about your experences.

 

Often wondered where the name Petron came from. I understand now why he used this rather than his surname.

 

 

recently I've bought a bunch of unfinished and half-finished wooden clubheads

 

 

 

they came from a company - and I cite the seller:

 

" they were called Baron Golf based in East Kilbride Scotland the company was owned by two directors

Ron Goodchild was the main man that's why Ron features in the company name. He also joined up with

a Peter Shanks and formed a golf company called Petron. Me and my brother bought the company

when we where manufacturing golf clubs back in the 90s"

 

so the first part of Petron is PETer Shanks and the second part is RON Goodchild

 

now I wonder who the BA in BAron is ... and does someone know Baron Golf?

[stixman]

Petron was founded by Peter Shanks in 1973. Previously UK Sales Director for Wilson Sporting Goods during the late 60s and early 70s, he grew the business to be the 2nd bggest UK producer by the 1980s. He employed 25 PGA Pros and 100 other staff and specialised in made to measure golf clubs at a very early stage in that market.

I played my best golf in the early 80s using custom fitted TPX Pure Blade irons and TPX Pittsburg Percies (1st generation) 8 degree driver and the irons were great, I still have the 1 iron, a true butter knife which frightens the living daylights out of my home Pro. Their fittting is still my standard set-up.

Their reputation was tarnished by some pretty iffy game improvement clubs like the Impala, although they seemed popular.

They aren't going to appreciate or find collector value, but if you like them, buy them, play them and tell us about your experences.

 

Often wondered where the name Petron came from. I understand now why he used this rather than his surname.

 

 

recently I've bought a bunch of unfinished and half-finished wooden clubheads

 

 

 

they came from a company - and I cite the seller:

 

" they were called Baron Golf based in East Kilbride Scotland the company was owned by two directors

Ron Goodchild was the main man that's why Ron features in the company name. He also joined up with

a Peter Shanks and formed a golf company called Petron. Me and my brother bought the company

when we where manufacturing golf clubs back in the 90s"

 

so the first part of Petron is PETer Shanks and the second part is RON Goodchild

 

now I wonder who the BA in BAron is ... and does someone know Baron Golf?

 

Someone exotic called Barracus, as in B A Barracus? I joke, of course. Good post, pallap

[Langlands]

Petron was founded by Peter Shanks in 1973. Previously UK Sales Director for Wilson Sporting Goods during the late 60s and early 70s, he grew the business to be the 2nd bggest UK producer by the 1980s. He employed 25 PGA Pros and 100 other staff and specialised in made to measure golf clubs at a very early stage in that market.

I played my best golf in the early 80s using custom fitted TPX Pure Blade irons and TPX Pittsburg Percies (1st generation) 8 degree driver and the irons were great, I still have the 1 iron, a true butter knife which frightens the living daylights out of my home Pro. Their fittting is still my standard set-up.

Their reputation was tarnished by some pretty iffy game improvement clubs like the Impala, although they seemed popular.

They aren't going to appreciate or find collector value, but if you like them, buy them, play them and tell us about your experences.

 

Often wondered where the name Petron came from. I understand now why he used this rather than his surname.

 

 

recently I've bought a bunch of unfinished and half-finished wooden clubheads

 

 

 

they came from a company - and I cite the seller:

 

" they were called Baron Golf based in East Kilbride Scotland the company was owned by two directors

Ron Goodchild was the main man that's why Ron features in the company name. He also joined up with

a Peter Shanks and formed a golf company called Petron. Me and my brother bought the company

when we where manufacturing golf clubs back in the 90s"

 

so the first part of Petron is PETer Shanks and the second part is RON Goodchild

 

now I wonder who the BA in BAron is ... and does someone know Baron Golf?

 

Someone exotic called Barracus, as in B A Barracus? I joke, of course. Good post, pallap

 

I pity the fool.