Describe your first set of clubs, year purchased and price you paid.

[GoletaGolfer]

My first purchase of clubs was in 1980. I was 19 years old and a buddy sold me a set of Wilson Staff irons 3-9 and D,3,4 woods and a putter.

Bag and pull cart were included also.

Did not realize for years that Wilson blades were the worst beginner's clubs I could buy, and the regular shafted woods were way to whippy for a strong 19 year old.

PW and sand wedge probably would have come in handy! 🙂

 Eighty bucks.

[basTide]

My first set of clubs were a U.S. Golf kids set for around 100 when I was about 6 or 7 years old in 2008ish although I didn’t buy them. Didn’t start seriously playing golf until February of last year which was my dads 3rd attempt to get me into the sport and it worked. It was a starter set of strata clubs for around 300 and I just turned 18. Looking back I’ve come a long way since then.

[TomRUtah]

In 1988 I bought a new, complete set of MacGregor Golden Bear clubs from K-Mart.  The set included 3i-PW, driver, 3, and 5 woods.  Cost was $189.  I ordered the matching sand wedge from my home course pro shop.  I think it was around $45-$50.  Also bought a new Ping Anser 3 putter at the pro shop for $45.  It's the set I learned on and played up until 2005 when I quit playing.  I still have it.  The (metal) woods are horrible, but the irons are pretty good.  

[lvgolfer962]

Back in 1995 I asked for a set of golf clubs for Christmas(never played). I really had my heart set on the shopko specials with graphite shafts.  
 

I ended up with a set of king cobra oversize with steel shafts(1,3,5 wood and 3-pw and a staff bag). I was so disappointed because I had never heard of them and thought they were a cheaper brand.  
 

The first day back from Christmas break, and I’m telling my buddies about these cheap knock offs I got. 🤦‍♂️
I was soon informed that I was the luckiest guy and had some top notch clubs on my hand. Thanks grandma and grandpa!

 

Took the  game a bit more seriously from that point on. 

Edited March 26, 2021 by lvgolfer962

[FirstFlight]

I was loaned a set of Northwestern blades to begin playing in 1990. I snapped the 8i shaft at the ferrule after 2 months. So, the owner takes his Northwesterns back, and says, let's go see Leon Pounders and get you your own irons.

 

I've seen a few photos of the Niles hoard...folks...the Pounders hoard easily matched it and likely could have beat it! Anyway, Mr. Pounders(RIP), fit me to my FirstFlights in 1990 for $40.

 

These 2i-PW FX-101's, are in my bag now, and have always found their way back in the bag for 30 years.

 

[the bishop]

1975.  Got a set of Spalding Johnny Pott signature irons at a garage sale, w/bag and included woods and putter that I don't remember.  $25.  I was 12 yrs old and that set included the 2i.  If you can imagine what a 12yo trying to hit an adult length 2i looks like - well that's what it looked like.  

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by the bishop

[jomatty]

The first full set I got was a set of Wilson cavity back clubs.  I believe they were 1200 let’s but not sure.  My dad cut them down and I played them until I outgrew them.  The first set I bought was a set of ping zings in around 1993.  I mowed a lot of lawns for them.  I have very fond memories of those clubs and could probably play those ugly dudes now without it effecting my handicap that much.  I know they were red dot, because my dad liked his clubs flat, and my swing was similar, but I have no idea on shaft other than that they were stiff.  Last Christmas I was trying to find them in my dads basement but my stepmom said they sold them at a yard sale 🙄 

[14max]

I bought my first set in 1996 almost a year before Eldrick won his first major.  It was a Square Two box set of some sort that I found at the local golf shop.  The owner recommended them because I was just getting started and, at that time, only had a passing interest.  I frequented that shop all the time and almost a year later I traded those in and bought some PING ISIs...

[NJPhil]

The first set of clubs I ever played were 1978 Wilson Staff Tour Blades, given to my dad by a friend.  Started playing them in 1985 when I was 10 years old.  I played those for 6 years until I made my HS golf team and my parents bought me a set of TA 845s, which I still have in my garage.  I wish I had hung onto the Wilsons. 

[martinbns]

I was about 10 when I got my first set, a 7 piece set of Campbell blades + Driver and 3w all womens.  I was tall and skinny so my Dad decided that's what I needed.  Added the remains of a set of Wilson irons and a SW a year later then a Sam Snead blonde 5W that stayed in my bag until I eventually replaced it with a metal 5W when I was about 30 in the early 90's.

[Christen_The_Sloop]

Ping Eye 2+s 3-Lw from one of the shop staff I always looked up to when I was a junior golfer only to find out he had a major drug problem throughout his life and that would make sense given the fact that another shop staff who was kind of a ***** told me the LW was actually his. It was becu and I loved it for the week I had it. Paid 300 for the set in 1995. Beat the ever living daylights out of them, got to scratch at 16 a year after buying them. I had a Titleist PT driver and a Golfcraft persimmon 3 followed by a Hogan Radial 3-wood. Think that one was a laminate,, but I've never ever hit a club so straight. Used a bullseye, cut down with a shaft filled with sand. Won a tournament and got a Ping Zing 2 which I subsequently traded for an anser3 at the BC Junior at Predator Ridge in Vernon BC. Loved that putter. Beat the hell out of it too.

 

Got a set of ISI BECU for graduation and sold the set of pings with a broken 6 iron and a few other bent shafts for the same price I got them for a couple years later. The ISIs lasted a few years before they were stolen.

Edited March 26, 2021 by Christen_The_Sloop

[tsecor]

my first set was given to me by my dad.....1980.......back then there were a lot of "technology" being introduced, but everything was a blade and thats how i learned to play....blades all day.....my dad played a bag full of "Hybrids" all the way through a 7 wood I believe......and he had what was called a "low profile" 5 iron, which was basically half the height of a normal 5 iron....it was a great club. 

 

Its funny to see all the hybrids making a big comeback and other "new tech" which is really just a rebot of ald clubs fron 40 years ago....we really are not that advanced in the industry as club makers are handcuffed by the governing bodies. 

 

but to stay on subject, i was handed a set of wilson staff blades that were 7 years old.....the grips were slicker than oil too!!!

[mogc60]

My first set was Daiwa Monodyne blades 2-SW s300 shafts. I had Hogan Speedslot persimmons from my grandpa, Driver, 2w, 4w. The first set I purchased was Daiwa Advisor 2-sw with x100. I think it was in 1992 and they were used for around $140 if I remember correctly. Both were just incredible blades. Still two of the best sets I ever had. 

Edited March 26, 2021 by mogc60

[wrm2120]

A box-set of Northwesterns. I learned the game on them. I want to say 10/11 years old, so late 90s. 

 

Were they crap? Absolutely. But I loved and cherished them. I also had a cheap Dunlop putter, and I remember taking white out and putting the Scotty Cameron Te3 dots all over the back because Tiger used one at the Masters. 

[JimmyC59]

My parents bought me my first set of irons in 1970-72. Not sure

Macgregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown.

2-9, I think they were $100.

I used hand me down woods until about 1981, when my Dad bought me a 1-3-5 set of Pinseeker Bombshell metal woods.

In 1983 I bought a set of Palmer Standard blades 1-SW.

Still have them.

I play Maltby Forged TEs now.

[MtlJeff]

20 minutes ago, wrm2120 said:

A box-set of Northwesterns. I learned the game on them. I want to say 10/11 years old, so late 90s. 

 

Were they crap? Absolutely. But I loved and cherished them. I also had a cheap Dunlop putter, and I remember taking white out and putting the Scotty Cameron Te3 dots all over the back because Tiger used one at the Masters. 

 

Same here, box set of Northwesterns maybe in like 2002 or so

 

My first "real" set was Tommy Armour 845s a couple years later

[miamistomp]

 Spalding Frank Stranahan half set- had a Wilson dual wedge and Gene Sarazen blade putter got me on JV team

  Would borrow my Dad's Gary Player Shakespeare set for varsity ( 1969)

 

 In college bought used Hogan irons and  Hagen Stratabloc woods-

[Chadwickog]

Had a junior set of the Taylormade Burners with the bubble shafts.  Didn't buy them..

First full set was my dad's hand-me-downs when I was tall enough after he bought a new set of Callaways

Ever since then just been piecing my sets together through random purchases/builds, first newer set of irons I bought were TM Rocketbladez Tour used for like $325

[cardoustie]

1980. Wilson Johnny Miller irons, brass weight on back.  Cast set.  Got them used from a newspaper ad 3-PW but missing a 6 iron.  Went to Sears and they gave me a free one from the store and then somehow managed to order me another replacement one as well in error

 

I was 13 and was literally hooked for life after a hockey buddy dragged me out for 9 holes.  Changed my life.

 

When I was 16, playing off a 4 cap and in junior tournaments, my Dad got me some Staff tour blades and laminated woods

 

When I was 19 I graduated to the very new at the time TMade tour preferred TP blades, with the hollow 1, 2, 3 and 4 irons and played those right thru 1992 for university golf.  That 2 iron was my moneymaker.  Tight par 4’s, reaching par 5’s in two, long par 3’s.  It was 210 club back in the day.

[memphishorn]

The first set I bought was in 1972 with high school graduation money. Went to Bert Dargie’s in Memphis a bought a set MacGregor MT Tourney split sole irons and laminated woods. As I recall the whole set was $169.

[nitram]

It was a set of '72 Hogan Apex in 1979. I "bought" them used from my uncle by washing his car and mowing his yard all  summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school.

[Socrates]

Likely around 1976 and it was a  Wilson Sam Snead Blue Ridge 7 pc set.  Leather Reminder grips.  Cost was $75 with a bag.

[TwistedSister]

My first set was in 1967-8  My Mom bought them at garage sale. they were OLD Haig Ultras with steel shaft that had Brown wood grain tape on the shaft to make them look like wood.  I think all total they were like $25.  Thanx Mom!

Edited March 26, 2021 by dhacker56

[Hawkeye77]

I was 12 - 5'5" maybe 100 pounds.  Standard men's clubs too long for me so I "fit" myself, lol, and ordered a set of Ram Kathy Cornelius clubs (D, 3w, 5w, 3, 5, 7, 9) out of an Austad's catalog and sent in an order form/check by mail.  No idea what they cost, but I had a set!

 

Xmas three years later my dad got me my first "full" set of men's clubs (I think he figured the powder blue woods needed to go and I was heading towards 6' tall and beyond and going through pants and shoes like crazy for another 2  years after that, haha) - and of course to make them perfect they all had Jack Nicklaus' name on them!  

 

 

[cardoustie]

I think my Dad paid $40 for the irons, a driver and a 5 wood

 

Got a ridiculously ugly brown Cooper golf bag from the old retail catalog outfit called Consumers Distributing

 

I played for 2 years without a sand wedge and used some old Ray Cook mallet my Dad’s buddy gave me 

 

 

1 hour ago, cardoustie said:

1980. Wilson Johnny Miller irons, brass weight on back.  Cast set.  Got them used from a newspaper ad 3-PW but missing a 6 iron.  Went to Sears and they gave me a free one from the store and then somehow managed to order me another replacement one as well in error

 

I was 13 and was literally hooked for life after a hockey buddy dragged me out for 9 holes.  Changed my life.

 

When I was 16, playing off a 4 cap and in junior tournaments, my Dad got me some Staff tour blades and laminated woods

 

When I was 19 I graduated to the very new at the time TMade tour preferred TP blades, with the hollow 1, 2, 3 and 4 irons and played those right thru 1992 for university golf.  That 2 iron was my moneymaker.  Tight par 4’s, reaching par 5’s in two, long par 3’s.  It was 210 club back in the day.

 

[Soloman1]

When I was just a wee lad, Old Tom gave me a spoon, a mashie, a niblick and a jigger putter for just a couple of schillings.

[cgasucks]

For me it was probably a 5-PW set of Fazer irons in 2000 for $80 CDN.  I was so new into golf at that time when people told me that my clubs were Ping Eye 2 clones, I didn't even know what an Eye 2 was and never heard of Ping.

Edited March 26, 2021 by cgasucks

[jwhite86]

I started with a hand-me-down set of blades... They're probably still in my parents basement.

 

The first set I purchased was a set of Adams Tight Lies irons... purchased from a Golfsmith catalog.  I saved up and I bought them because they came with a free 3 wood.  Followed it up with a Odyssey White Hot #1 and a Taylor Made 360 driver.  I still have the irons today

[driveandputtmachine]

I had the obligatory women's clubs as a youngster, then a set of Ping Eye 2 knock-offs.  After my Freshman year in High School, my dad made me a deal that if I finished in the top 15, made all A's, and contributed 100.00 from my chore money we would go out and get a new set of irons.  In 1991 it was a set of Tommy Armour 845's, and I believe they were 449.00.  They had branded tour step shafts, I believe.   I got a s2h2 three wood and a Big Bertha driver that year as well, both had a Brunswick Rifle 7.0 shaft in them later.  I got them from the first semester and chore money as well.  They were re-shafted with the Bruswick's in 1993 I believe.  I still have the s2h2 three wood.  I played it through 2000.  

 

I played those 845's all that summer until the end of the summer before my Senior year.  I had won a set on Zing's that I hated, and traded them to a kid at my club for Maxfli VHL's and some cash from his dad.  I played the Maxfli's my Senior year won the NCHSAA tourney, and played in the NC am finals and made it to the US am with those irons.  Set a couple of course records, one that will stand forever as that course closed.  I played them even after in college the Mizuno rep came in and fitted me for a set of MP-14's. 

 

I still have the 845's and the VHL's both.  My step son is playing the 845's now(he just turned 15).  No one plays the VHL's.  LOL

Edited March 26, 2021 by driveandputtmachine

[Llefty]

My first set in 1985 was Ping Karsten III 3-PW, $250, used, from Golf Discount in St. Louis.

I added an Eye 2 Sw, TM Burner 9.5* driver and 15* 3 wood.

Not sure how much those cost.

 

I still have the Ping Anser putter that I bought new for $85 to complete the set.

 

There wasn't much available for lefties in those days.