Fred Couples Ping Player??

[teevons]

Found a real nice Ping Staff bag today with Fred Couples name inscribed on it, also Palm Beach Polo Club. I know his first wife was big polo fan in fact was one of the reasons that caused them to split and they lived in Florida

Was not aware Freddie played Ping, anyone have some info on it??

Picture is from my trunk,

[forgedforever]

I also do not recall Couples ever being associated with Ping.

 

Way back in the day, so to speak, I recall him playing Lynx Black Cat and Tommy Armour 845s.

[gsea33]

Fred did use Ping putters back in the day. Believe his first win was with one.

[High gentle draw]

Freddie used an Anser for quite awhile including his Masters win.

[SteveNZ]

Don't know about Ping, but he was a Wilson guy way back when. Pretty sure Wilson signed him just before, or just after he won the Players in '84...

 

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/fred-couples-rise-told-former-caddie-linn-growler-strickler

[forgedforever]

There is no doubt Couples has used Ping putters. In my prior post I was referring to irons.

[tuckman]

I remember him playing a set of eye 2's for a short time.

 

He was quoted saying he had no idea what shafts he used. Just that the guys at Ping told him this setup is what he needed.

[oldpalchamp]

I'm pretty sure Fred played Ping before he switched to Tommy Armour. Quite a few Ping guys made the switch to T.A. and played the 845s.

[Socrates]

Found a real nice Ping Staff bag today with Fred Couples name inscribed on it, also Palm Beach Polo Club. I know his first wife was big polo fan in fact was one of the reasons that caused them to split and they lived in Florida

Was not aware Freddie played Ping, anyone have some info on it??

His first wife was bat crap crazy. My info is that he found her table dancing at the British Open shortly after his Masters win and it went badly from there.

 

Fred played Ping for a very short period. Who knows why because he really never missed the sweet spot on any shot.

[teevons]

Thanks for the help kids!!

[rich13]

Here you go.....

 

1988 Open Championship, Royal Lytham & St Annes...........

 

 

[teevons]

beautiful, thanks

[dbleag]

I'm pretty sure Fred played Ping before he switched to Tommy Armour. Quite a few Ping guys made the switch to T.A. and played the 845s.

 

Couples and Love III.

[rex235]

Remember PING having Fred Couples, Davis Love III, and Ernie Els.

 

Noted these 3 gentlemen used PING putters in their Major Championship wins. Couples '92 Masters, Love '97 PGA, Els '94 US Open.

 

Another thing Karsten Solheim was adamant about.

 

The PING staffer MUST use a PING putter.

 

NO EXCEPTIONS!

 

Thanks for the photos.

[scruffynick]

Came to this thread because I've been watching the open from 88 on YouTube......and I saw Freddie using ping eye 2s! I never recall Fred using pings at all....but the YouTube clip is brilliant

[MoaningM]

I followed fred for a few holes at the 1988 Open 1st round, and can remember he had pings in his bag, never forget his approach into 18 it was blowing hard into and he hit a low riser which really ballooned beautifull looking shot which hit the pin and spun back off the front of the green.

[geogolf]

Ping was the 'go to' club for the College players and the newer pros in the early 80's. Especially when the Eye 2 Came out. It was such a radical design. You couldn't miss those huge white bags on tour.

 

Especially when all they had was a players pool. Not Endorsement contracts (Not sure if that's the same today)

 

Rex Caldwell, Mike Nicolette, Bob Gilder, Tons of others. And if they didn't have a Ping bag, MANY had an Eye 2 1 Iron or Sand/Lob wedge in there. :)

[IcemanYVR]

Never knew Freddie played PING. You learn something new every day.

 

And it's not surprising he didn't know what shafts were in his clubs. He seems like the kinda guy that doesn't obsess over his clubs. Just goes out and hits them.

[rex235]

Ping was the 'go to' club for the College players and the newer pros in the early 80's. Especially when the Eye 2 Came out. It was such a radical design. You couldn't miss those huge white bags on tour.

 

Especially when all they had was a players pool. Not Endorsement contracts (Not sure if that's the same today)

 

Rex Caldwell, Mike Nicolette, Bob Gilder, Tons of others. And if they didn't have a Ping bag, MANY had an Eye 2 1 Iron or Sand/Lob wedge in there. :)

 

Geo-

 

As my previous post stated...

 

Everyone on Tour who had a PING bag was under contract, and there were a specific number of PING clubs they had to carry.

 

One unwavering item- Each PING Staffer had to use a PING PUTTER.

 

NO EXCEPTIONS!

 

Don't you remember Ernie Els being on PINGs staff?

 

Couples, Els, and Love all won Majors with PING Ansers.

 

.

[MoaningM]

Davis love used to collect ping ansers as i remember now i believe collects scotty putters

 

[jonnygrouville]

I knew the guy who was the Ping representative on the European tour. Very particular rules for their clubs. He would go nuts if someone reshafted or regripped one. They are made to perform best with matching components and bad play is bad for their reputation, so you could see his point.

 

Have got a bunch of old Pings. A few of their fun mallets and go for the lesser known funky models, think O-blade, My Day, Karsten III, Nellie, things like that.

 

 

[MoaningM]

They were swines to reshaft, the old ball bearing was a nightmare, thankfully they dont do that anymore.

[rex235]

moaning-

 

Yes...it's easier if you let PING do the work...

 

 

 

What are Scotty Camerons going for these days?

[tlhorsh]

Waaaayyyyy to much. I love it when I out out some guy with my $5 bullseye flange.

[super20dan]

if you ask me club contracts have taken some of the fun out of watching golf on tv, no need for a whats in the bag question any more -just expect the latest from whatever name is on the bag

[MoaningM]

moaning-

 

Yes...it's easier if you let PING do the work...

 

 

 

What are Scotty Camerons going for these days?

 

Nice looking dalehead on the left there rex.

[Socrates]

if you ask me club contracts have taken some of the fun out of watching golf on tv, no need for a whats in the bag question any more -just expect the latest from whatever name is on the bag

They can zoom in and show us the smallest illegal roll of a ball, but I'd love to see them zoom in on the clubs in the bag just so we can see if player X is really playing company Z's clubs this week. I know the Darrell Survey tells all, but it would be nice to see it.

[freddiec]

Anybody know if Freddie used a M85 driver in 1992 during his Masters win? I know he was using a Persimmon driver that looked like a M85, or was it a Cleveland RC85?

[rex235]

moaning-

 

Yes...it's easier if you let PING do the work...

 

 

 

What are Scotty Camerons going for these days?

 

Nice looking dalehead on the left there rex.

 

Moaning-

 

Actually have two Dalehead Ansers- the other one is in my bag. Both are 85029s, The stampings inside the cavity are different.

 

The (BeCu?) Anser is different in that it has that special PING TUNED GOLF CLUBS black shaft band....Hmmm.

 

Pictures to follow...

[Puppetmaster]

I also do not recall Couples ever being associated with Ping.

 

Way back in the day, so to speak, I recall him playing Lynx Black Cat and Tommy Armour 845s.

 

He also used Maxfli irons and balls for a bit. I still have a signed Maxfli Revolution balata from him somewhere.