1972

[Jgb333]

I've embarked on a new project. I want to attempt to build a set from my birth year 1972.

 

Woods

Irons

Putter

Bag

 

I am open to all suggestions. I want to build a bag with what would be considered the "best" available that year. The clubs could have been manufactured before 1972 just not after.

 

maybe 8802 putter

maybe Wilson button backs

 

any suggestions?

[Prut]

Johnny Miller's WITB from his 1973 US Open might be a good place to start:
[color=#2B3943][size=5]


DRIVER
1961 MacGregor Velocitized Tourney, 10.5°, D9 swingweight,
13.4 ounces, True Temper Dynamic steel shaft, X flex, 43.5”, 270 yards
JOHNNY SAYS: “I had to have everything just right, so I refinished my clubs and refaced them. In ’73, they used persimmon that wasn’t the hard wood. I wanted the heavier blocks that had a real tight grain. I wanted a little bit of movement, which means [wood] from the knotty area of the tree.”

3-WOOD
1945 MacGregor Tommy Armour, 15°, True Temper Dynamic steel shaft, X flex
235-240 yards

4-WOOD
1941 MacGregor Tommy Armour, 19°, True Temper Dynamic steel shaft, X flex
225 yards

IRONS
1945 MacGregor Tommy Armour 915T (2-7) and 1972 MacGregor Tourney Custom (8-PW). All irons have True Temper Dynamic steel shafts, stiff flex, +0.5” shaft length
2-iron: 210 yards
3-iron: 200 yards
4-iron: 185 yards
5-iron: 175 yards
6-iron: 160 yards
7-iron: 150 yards
8-iron: 140 yards
9-iron: 125 yards
PW (10-iron): 115 yard
JOHNNY SAYS: “I cut the irons and reground the bottoms [soles] and the top. You didn’t have much club left, so they had to have a lot of lead tape to bring them up [to proper swingweight numbers]. An extra wrap on the right hand made the grip not so V-shaped.”


SAND WEDGE
1959 Wilson Dyna-Power, 58°, 85 yards, True Temper Dynamic steel shaft, stiff flex

PUTTER
1952 Acushnet Bullseye Old Standard, 36” shaft
JOHNNY SAYS: “No putter ever made feels better than a Bullseye. It’s so soft. The ones before the late ’60s had a heavier brass alloy, which kept them from getting dinged up all over.”

BALL
MacGregor Tourney
JOHNNY SAYS: “In ’73, I switched to the Tourney ball that Jack [Nicklaus] was using. It was a heck of a ball. It was so hard [101 compression] that it wouldn’t spin and back up quite as much as the softer balata balls. When I switched, my scoring definitely improved.”
[/size][/color]

[Prut]

It's the equivalent of a US Open winner today bagging clubs from the late 70s.

[Shallowface]

[quote name='Jgb333' timestamp='1450806837' post='12752100']
I've embarked on a new project. I want to attempt to build a set from my birth year 1972.

Woods
Irons
Putter
Bag

I am open to all suggestions. I want to build a bag with what would be considered the "best" available that year. The clubs could have been manufactured before 1972 just not after.

maybe 8802 putter
maybe Wilson button backs

any suggestions?
[/quote]

I just recently picked up a 2, 4 5 and 6 iron in the button backs. Got them sitting right here.

As far as I am concerned, they are the single most beautiful iron ever made. And functional as well with the wider than average (for that day) sole, thick toe heavy back pad and the weight removed from the hosel. Just outstanding design.

[Shallowface]

[quote name='Prut' timestamp='1450822216' post='12753098']
It's the equivalent of a US Open winner today bagging clubs from the late 70s.
[/quote]

Wouldn't you love to see that? I would.

It could be done with everything but the driver. But I believe a modern driver would be absolutely necessary to be competitive.

[Eidolon]

1972 Hogan Apex irons. 1st Apex year. Best looking & best playing irons I have ever hit. Still playing them everyday!

[HoganApexBlades]

[quote name='Eidolon' timestamp='1450826665' post='12753394']
1972 Hogan Apex irons. 1st Apex year. Best looking & best playing irons I have ever hit. Still playing them everyday!
[/quote]

Agreed! Too bad I've only found a few at thrift stores and not a complete set.

[Jgb333]

I'm sure many of you have seen this video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qnGQqjXm5IM

The 73 apex came out on top.

The button backs are beautiful though

['53 Precision]

"71 Bounce Soles would also fit the description, same head as the '72 Apex's and virtually doubles the available pool of clubs...

[Eidolon]

[quote name='Jgb333' timestamp='1450831177' post='12753700']
I'm sure many of you have seen this video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qnGQqjXm5IM

The 73 apex came out on top.

The button backs are beautiful though
[/quote]

[Eidolon]

Everything on the internet is not true. '72 Apex... Best! Need proof? Just ask me!

[rex235]

[quote name='Shallowface' timestamp='1450822717' post='12753148']
[quote name='Prut' timestamp='1450822216' post='12753098']
It's the equivalent of a US Open winner today bagging clubs from the late 70s.
[/quote]

Wouldn't you love to see that? I would.

It could be done with everything but the driver. But I believe a modern driver would be absolutely necessary to be competitive.
[/quote]

Shallow-

[b][i]The correct shaft in whatever clubs you use are what's necessary to be competitive[/i][/b].

Have already opined with photos on the '71 Wilson Staff "Buttonback"Dynapower irons.
The '71 W/S Dynapower Sand Wedge is a sleeper collectible for the reasons already given. Any Wilson SW from this period is pretty good.

Still, the Ben Hogan Apex irons from this period are more than worthy of mentioning. Tour Wins from both RH and LH players.

You might even want to consider those cousins of the Wilson Staff Dynapowers-
The Walter Hagen Ultradynes (either black or red button forged, before the cast Ultradyne IIs of the mid-70s.

Finally of course, you can look at those MacGregor Custom Irons, but remember the first line.

Have fun. Good Luck.

[Jgb333]

Thanks...I never even considered the red button ultradynes , those are sharp
What about woods?
Ping Anser should be the putter , right?

[oldschoolrocker]

Hard to go wrong with any front-line iron of the day, BUT, what some consider the all-time iconic Wilson, if not the all-time, hands down, bar none, iron set is inside the parameters, well....just saying

[birly-shirly]

I like OSR's logic - especially if you're after a set of blades.

Late '60s VIPs from MacGregor would be awesome.

Ping started their colour coded custom fit irons in 1972. A set of Karstens would be cool in a retro-futuristic kind of way.

[Blade Junkie]

[quote name='Jgb333' timestamp='1450831177' post='12753700']
I'm sure many of you have seen this video:
[url="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qnGQqjXm5IM"]https://m.youtube.co...h?v=qnGQqjXm5IM[/url]

The 73 apex came out on top.

The button backs are beautiful though
[/quote]

Interesting video and one I hadn't seen before !

Shows that the 1963 IPT was probably the most accurate iron, if you dis-regard the single shot short and right that he clearly must have chunked!



For the OP's 1972 bag, I would add another vote for the Wilson 'Buttonback' Dynapowers.

I think for the concept of birth year, you should definitely have clubs that were on general sale in that year

[Jgb333]

On sale that year is the way im headed...

Top iron choices are:

Buttonback
Ultra dyne (front runner for no other reason but the fact they're the least talked about!)
Apex 72

Playability being the most important factor , but aesthetics are also a consideration

Any love for a set of woods?
Putter (this being the most contentious)

['53 Precision]

MacGregor or Hogan persimmons, although the MacGregors should probably be from the mid-60's back to the mid-40's vintage, if you want to have a bag which may have been on tour in '72, as very few of the tour stars would've been using current persimmon woods. That being said, I have several Hogan persimmons from the general time frame of 1972 and they are all very solid clubs. As far as putters go, the Anser you would want to be period correct would be an 020 as this is the last three digits of the ZIP code for The Karsten Mfg. Co. from 1968 - 1973. The 8802 would be a good choice also, just remember the most coveted year for these is 1964 IIRC due to metallurgy of the putter head. Also remember putters were much, much, lighter than they are now so some adjustment may be needed to reach an acceptable feel.

[Jgb333]

'53 precision
thanks for the recommendations on the woods...i know the old macs are very desirable and the 64 8802 as well...i also should mention that i don't want to break the bank either!
the anser can be had for nothing...what fascinates me most about 1972 is the emerging putter technology...do i go with the future (anser) or stay with the proven technology of the day (blade style) ?

[Wriggles]

I have to add the Walter Hagen Haig Ultras. I have two sets, 1969 aluminum shafts, and a 1974 steel shafts. I have the black 4 laminated wood set for both sets. Haigs had more snob appeal than my Wilsons from 1975, but the Wilsons were every bit as good. I'd go with the Original Jones bag and a Bulls Eye putter.

Walter Hagen line included persimmon woods, also. I gave a nephew a 3W from the 1970's. Fine looking club, if I remember correctly.

Top it off with a fuselage 1972 Dodge or Chrysler 2 door hardtop. My Dad bought a Polara back in 1972, Dark Sherwood Green. No emissions stuff, that 318 would fly.

[Jgb333]

I've been looking at those haig ultras from the late sixties...I have heard people say the aluminum shafts are no good

[NRJyzr]

I have to toss in the obligatory Golden Ram reference. 1972 was the first model year of the Golden Ram Tour Grinds. (borrowing image from Ironfinder)

 

Likely not easy to find, however.

 

Aside from that, it's terribly hard to not just say Wilson Staff Buttonbacks. They were probably the top shelf iron at the time.

I'd give a very close third to the Mac VIP by Nicklaus set.

 

But obviously it's Golden Rams. All the way. :)

 

When it comes to woods, I'll defer to others, but MacGregor, MacGregor, and MacGregor are probably the top three.

[Wriggles]

[quote name='Jgb333' timestamp='1450888400' post='12755896']
I've been looking at those haig ultras from the late sixties...I have heard people say the aluminum shafts are no good
[/quote]

I can only say that my aluminum shafted Haigs play very well. I've heard the same that they're no good. I got my set for $9 at a yard sale around 15 years ago. They were pretty dirty, but cleaned up nicely with very little effort. I regripped them also. My set was well used when I bought it, and I've played it regularly since. Last year, I coated the woods with some clear automotive spray, and polished the sole plates. I also polished the irons with chrome polish, and regripped them again. As I said, the clubs are well used, but still look great, no chrome loss or major dings. I've seen no issues with the aluminum shafts, no splitting or breakage.

FWIW, I'd recommend aluminum.

[dlygrisse]

[quote name='Prut' timestamp='1450822216' post='12753098']
It's the equivalent of a US Open winner today bagging clubs from the late 70s.
[/quote]Not really. The tech didn't change that much from the 1940's to the 1970's. In fact most good players thought the woods were of poorer quality in the 1970's.

[pgagreg1]

I like the Toney Penna wood from 1972

[Jgb333]

Kind of jacking my own thread here...but
Is there any fundamental difference between the black and red dot ultradynes ?

[Jgb333]

Would an img putter fit this vintage?

[jonnygrouville]

Nice Johnny Miller post. I have always put an extra wrap under the right hand and wondered why more people don't. Maybe it is because I hook it and choke down on a lot of shots. Don't like getting down the grip and it tapers away and feels like it is in the fingers.

D9! Christ and a hot-tub. That is heavy. If he was grinding these irons too, the trucks full of lead must have been queuing up outside his garage...

[tlhorsh]

[quote name='Jgb333' timestamp='1450904328' post='12756906']Kind of jacking my own thread here...but
Is there any fundamental difference between the black and red dot ultradynes ?[/quote]

Was wondering the same thing. Think we saw the same set on ebay

[Jgb333]

Tlhorsh,
That's too funny...I pulled the trigger on those irons[attachment=3076528:image.jpeg]

There was no real good picture of the faces but. Took a chance anyway
Looks like I just bought the first piece of my 1972 puzzle