My new Don White irons made through the Boyd Blade and Ferrule Co **New pics 12/26**

[84425]

Very nice. Sole stamps refer to hickory clubs? (MI: mid iron, SM: spade mashie, MN: mashie niblick,NI: niblick)

[FairwayFred]

Very nice. Sole stamps refer to hickory clubs? (MI: mid iron, SM: spade mashie, MN: mashie niblick,NI: niblick)

 

Exactly. Well done.

[masamitsu]

Wow, those are stunning!

[84425]

Very nice. Sole stamps refer to hickory clubs? (MI: mid iron, SM: spade mashie, MN: mashie niblick,NI: niblick)

 

Exactly. Well done.

:-) Have been thinking about what I'd want from a custom set and was thinking about using hickory club indications instead of numbers as well (as i would probably not be following the "normal" 2-sw route, but more freeform (i think i can replace my current 7i, 8i, 9i, 10i and sw by 3 or maybe even just 2 clubs (if i can get a multipurpose grind on my niblick; only use my sw (56*) from the sand, so if i could get a grind that enables me to hit my 51* niblick from the sand, i would not need a sand wedge at all). Going to test my M85 10 iron with double service grind to find that out..

[FairwayFred]

Ari,

 

Would love to hear your thoughts on what irons you have played and loved

 

I've always been a blade guy for the most part. I grew up mostly playing Titleist Tour Model custom blades.

 

I then had the unbelievable priveledge of going to Albany GA and working directly with Don White on a set of custom MacGregors and played a set of hand made custom PMBs for a while. Also had a combo set of CBS and 67 Muscles but the PMBs were the ones I gamed.

 

Then I got a set of Tour Stage MR23 US Spec CBs from Joe Kwok and they had a big impact on me from a shape and grind perspective. I still believe this is the best set of players CBs ever made. Other than having a touch of offset these are near perfect looking. Don had a set of MR23s in front of him when he ground the shape of these new irons.

 

 

I played the MR23s until we started making full sets of Scratch irons. I played a custom set of Scratch blades with no offset, shaped like the MR23s for most of 2004 until 2015. Made my first hole in one in 2004 during my first round with the first ever set of Scratch irons with the first shot I ever hit with the 5 iron.

 

Since Scratch I've embraced my inner HO, I've had Cobra Bio Cell Pro Combos, Cobra Fly Z Pro MBs, Srixon 745s, Titleist TMBs, PXG 0311Ts, then I got a set of Mizuno MP5s that I absolutely loved and then a custom Yoro Dept set of MP5s that were even better. I have played those MP5s most of the year. Last month or so I've also been messing around with a set of Crazy SBi 02.

 

I think the MP5 has one of the best and most playable muscle designs ever made. These irons are a combination of that muscle with a head shape that fits my eye perfectly. It's basically a raw handmade MP5 with a zero offset MR23 shape at address. I also love the fact that these are made entirely by hand including the muscle there is just so much craftsmanship that goes into these its staggering.

[3_Jack_Par]

These irons gave me a funny feeling that I can't quite describe.

Yeah, in my pants

[FairwayFred]

**ON COURSE UPDATE**

 

 

Just got back from these clubs debut golf trip. Played 199 holes in a little under 3 days of golf so they got a good workout.

 

I can't say enough good things about these clubs. I love the lengths, the yardage gaps are perfect. I have never hit more perfect solid long irons than I did on this trip. I lipped out twice for a hole in one and bounced one off the flagstick.

 

Performance is fantastic. The muscle weighting makes the clubs noticeably more forgiving than a standard blade. They have a nice low COG and give me a great ball flight. The grind is perfect. Thin shots (my more common mishit) still produces a shot that gets up in the air and carries close to normal distance. Ball flight is very straight and I was able to move them both right and left when wanted and knock them down into the wind without any issue.

 

Craftsmanship wise these clubs are just stunningly perfect. Don did an amazing job with the shapes (using the MR23 as a guide to the toe shape) and more importantly the hosel to leading edge transition is perfect and dead straight. The fact that he ground the muscles by hand makes it even more impressive. This is set is truly a functional work of art.

 

All in all BB&F Co has a very happy customer in me.

[scratchswinger]

I'm more jealous of the amount of golf that you played then I am the irons. What the hell is the MR23? Lol

[craz-e]

Lipped out twice for a hole in one!!!

[scratchswinger]

Lipped out for twice for a hole in one!!!

 

He pushed one and tugged another, what's the big deal?

[Pure745]

Holy smokes Ari!!! These are amazing! Is this Patrick's company?

[Awesomeguy887]

Beautiful. Leaves me wishing I had more money and more game. Nice sticks!

[scratchswinger]

Beautiful. Leaves me wishing I had more money and more game. Nice sticks!

 

You just need the money, "game" is irrelevant. Just have fun and enjoy urself and your company.

[herbygolf21]

Ari, we need to pair up and create some new blades for the market. Let's Make Scratch Great Again!

[toophewbirdies]

Ari, we need to pair up and create some new blades for the market. Let's Make Scratch Great Again!

 

I believe Patrick Boyd beat you to it.............;)

[dan360]

Wow. I like em.

 

Full circle as the story goes lol

 

http://www.golfopinions.com/forums/topic/707-my-tour-stage-mr23-story-starring-the-legendary-joe-kwok-long/

[LionGolfer]

Ari,

 

Would love to hear your thoughts on what irons you have played and loved

 

I've always been a blade guy for the most part. I grew up mostly playing Titleist Tour Model custom blades.

 

I then had the unbelievable priveledge of going to Albany GA and working directly with Don White on a set of custom MacGregors and played a set of hand made custom PMBs for a while. Also had a combo set of CBS and 67 Muscles but the PMBs were the ones I gamed.

 

Then I got a set of Tour Stage MR23 US Spec CBs from Joe Kwok and they had a big impact on me from a shape and grind perspective. I still believe this is the best set of players CBs ever made. Other than having a touch of offset these are near perfect looking. Don had a set of MR23s in front of him when he ground the shape of these new irons.

 

 

I played the MR23s until we started making full sets of Scratch irons. I played a custom set of Scratch blades with no offset, shaped like the MR23s for most of 2004 until 2015. Made my first hole in one in 2004 during my first round with the first ever set of Scratch irons with the first shot I ever hit with the 5 iron.

 

Since Scratch I've embraced my inner HO, I've had Cobra Bio Cell Pro Combos, Cobra Fly Z Pro MBs, Srixon 745s, Titleist TMBs, PXG 0311Ts, then I got a set of Mizuno MP5s that I absolutely loved and then a custom Yoro Dept set of MP5s that were even better. I have played those MP5s most of the year. Last month or so I've also been messing around with a set of Crazy SBi 02.

 

I think the MP5 has one of the best and most playable muscle designs ever made. These irons are a combination of that muscle with a head shape that fits my eye perfectly. It's basically a raw handmade MP5 with a zero offset MR23 shape at address. I also love the fact that these are made entirely by hand including the muscle there is just so much craftsmanship that goes into these its staggering.

 

Fully agree on the TS MR23. That is the perfect players CB. I still have a set in the spare bag.

[BCULAW]

Awesome set, Ari! Glad to hear they play as good as they look. Can we get some pictures of the finished product (or did I miss them)?

[PixlPutterman]

Where was this "best course in the world"? 199 holes in 3 days, how is that possible?

[FairwayFred]

Where was this "best course in the world"? 199 holes in 3 days, how is that possible?

 

Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska. I've been all over and imo its the best golf course and best golf experience in the world. It has the best golf course, the best steak and the best people in the world working there. I feel very priveledged to get to visit whenever I have gone there.

 

We arrived at 3pm on day 1 and played 36 holes before dark.

 

Day 2 I played 72 holes.

 

Day 3 I played 73 holes.

 

Day 4 I walked 18 holes in about an hour and fifty five minutes before our departure at 10 am.

 

So I played 199 holes in less than 3 full golf days. Had I been there 3 full days I would have had 5-6 more hours of golf time and would have certainly gotten more holes in.

[Pure745]

Where was this "best course in the world"? 199 holes in 3 days, how is that possible?

 

Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska. I've been all over and imo its the best golf course and best golf experience in the world. It has the best golf course, the best steak and the best people in the world working there. I feel very priveledged to get to visit whenever I have gone there.

 

We arrived at 3pm on day 1 and played 36 holes before dark.

 

Day 2 I played 72 holes.

 

Day 3 I played 73 holes.

 

Day 4 I walked 18 holes in about an hour and fifty five minutes before our departure at 10 am.

 

So I played 199 holes in less than 3 full golf days. Had I been there 3 full days I would have had 5-6 more hours of golf time and would have certainly gotten more holes in.

 

That is crazy.

[FairwayFred]

Where was this "best course in the world"? 199 holes in 3 days, how is that possible?

 

Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska. I've been all over and imo its the best golf course and best golf experience in the world. It has the best golf course, the best steak and the best people in the world working there. I feel very priveledged to get to visit whenever I have gone there.

 

We arrived at 3pm on day 1 and played 36 holes before dark.

 

Day 2 I played 72 holes.

 

Day 3 I played 73 holes.

 

Day 4 I walked 18 holes in about an hour and fifty five minutes before our departure at 10 am.

 

So I played 199 holes in less than 3 full golf days. Had I been there 3 full days I would have had 5-6 more hours of golf time and would have certainly gotten more holes in.

 

That is crazy.

 

I walked 72 of the 199 holes also.

[Pure745]

Where was this "best course in the world"? 199 holes in 3 days, how is that possible?

 

Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska. I've been all over and imo its the best golf course and best golf experience in the world. It has the best golf course, the best steak and the best people in the world working there. I feel very priveledged to get to visit whenever I have gone there.

 

We arrived at 3pm on day 1 and played 36 holes before dark.

 

Day 2 I played 72 holes.

 

Day 3 I played 73 holes.

 

Day 4 I walked 18 holes in about an hour and fifty five minutes before our departure at 10 am.

 

So I played 199 holes in less than 3 full golf days. Had I been there 3 full days I would have had 5-6 more hours of golf time and would have certainly gotten more holes in.

 

That is crazy.

 

I walked 72 of the 199 holes also.

 

Ari - WRX's most interesting man

 

-played 199 holes in 3 days, walked 72

-two lipped out hole in ones

-one bounced off pin, not confirmed if said pin is still in tact

-his WRX signature has 15 drivers - no other clubs

-since Scratch has at least 7 documents sets, probably more before unbelievably epic BB&F Don Whites

-he visited the virgin islands, after he left they are just islands.

 

:tongue: :drinks:

[rex235]

Fred-

 

Am glad you enjoyed yourself at Sand HIlls, in the middle of nowhere USA, near Mullen, NE-

 

Haven't got to that Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw creation yet.

 

and..

 

Don White and Patrick Boyd are still working together...

 

 

 

 

PS... RIP Sandy Tatum.

[PeanutsDaddy]

Regret to say that they would probably have to bury me with my clubs if I attempted your feat Ari.

 

Sounds like a good time all around .

[scratchswinger]

Don White is always on call with the cyborg Bluetooth ear.

[FairwayFred]

Where was this "best course in the world"? 199 holes in 3 days, how is that possible?

 

Sand Hills Golf Club in Nebraska. I've been all over and imo its the best golf course and best golf experience in the world. It has the best golf course, the best steak and the best people in the world working there. I feel very priveledged to get to visit whenever I have gone there.

 

We arrived at 3pm on day 1 and played 36 holes before dark.

 

Day 2 I played 72 holes.

 

Day 3 I played 73 holes.

 

Day 4 I walked 18 holes in about an hour and fifty five minutes before our departure at 10 am.

 

So I played 199 holes in less than 3 full golf days. Had I been there 3 full days I would have had 5-6 more hours of golf time and would have certainly gotten more holes in.

 

That is crazy.

 

I walked 72 of the 199 holes also.

 

Ari - WRX's most interesting man

 

-played 199 holes in 3 days, walked 72

-two lipped out hole in ones

-one bounced off pin, not confirmed if said pin is still in tact

-his WRX signature has 15 drivers - no other clubs

-since Scratch has at least 7 documents sets, probably more before unbelievably epic BB&F Don Whites

-he visited the virgin islands, after he left they are just islands.

 

:tongue: :drinks:

 

Haha :)

I don't always play golf, but when I do I prefer hand made blades........

 

199 in 3 days is solid work but not completely out of the ordinary when on a golf trip.

 

My 2 biggest days I'd say were walking 145 holes in one day a few years ago and playing 90 holes in the snow (with Mr. Boyd) after driving 15 hours with the forecast calling for 60* when we left.

[phi482]

I can only imagine the look on a caddie's face when you hand him that bag. WTF is a 'MM' iron!

 

Amazing set of sticks. I really need to get down to Sweeten's Cove. I have family in Chattanooga and dated a girl from S Pittsburg in college. Beautiful part of the country.

[84425]

The build on these is going to be very unique. I patterned this set after the set that Bobby Jones used to win the grand slam in 1930. The lengths are done in same length pairs with 5/8" between each 2 club pair and 1/4 inch between the 6/5 iron length and the 4 iron.

 

52/58 - 36

P/9 - 36 5/8

8/7 - 37 1/4

6/5 - 37 7/8

4i - 38 1/8

 

I've always been intrigued with this idea after reading about Bobby's Slam winning set made by Tom Stewart. Nice to be able to make it a reality. Big thanks to BB&F Co.

 

Ari, now that you have played a couple of holes with these clubs, how do you feel about the paired shafts? Intrigued to hear your thoughts on that.

 

It is great seeing that a lot of the people that have their clubs custom made by DW go further than just a custom head (based on an old MacGregor design), but apart from that follow the 'normal' setup of what is generally considdered a 'set'. I saw Patrick had a couple of sets made with 5* degree loft increments, saw a set with 6* loft increments for sugar loaf social club. You with your "unusual" shafts. Lovely!

[OrangeCrush]

Ari,

 

My back hurts just thinking of playing 72 holes in a day never mind doing it back to back days! Just curious if you played better in the latter rounds, what were your scores?