Wilson Staff Turfrider

[Arnsybill]

Hi. I saw a set of these on my local Kijiji... They are considered a find from a classic club perspective. I'm familiar with later generation Staffs... like the button backs... 

 

I'm tempted to buy them. Maybe try them at a par 3 course... They are in decent looking shape.

 

What are your thoughts on these?

 

Thanks, 

[Foozle]

1 hour ago, Arnsybill said:

Hi. I saw a set of these on my local Kijiji... They are considered a find from a classic club perspective. I'm familiar with later generation Staffs... like the button backs... 

 

I'm tempted to buy them. Maybe try them at a par 3 course... They are in decent looking shape.

 

What are your thoughts on these?

 

Thanks, 

Providing the seller is not being too ambitious with his asking price - as some are want to be with recognised collectable sets, I would buy and try them.

Many here will eulogise about these but the best and only way to know is to experience them for yourself.

I doubt very much that you will be disappointed but, if you are, there will be an orderly queue of folks on this forum willing to relieve you of your burden!😁 Nothing to loose. 

Let us know how you get on.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

Just now, Foozle said:

Providing the seller is not being too ambitious with his asking price - as some are want to be with recognised collectable sets, I would buy and try them.

Many here will eulogise about these but the best and only way to know is to experience them for yourself.

I doubt very much that you will be disappointed but, if you are, there will be an orderly queue of folks on this forum willing to relieve you of your burden!😁 Nothing to loose. 

Let us know how you get on.

Folks like me, for example.

I have a set, and my quest to thin my herd which include other Dynapowers, these still remain in my collection and will remain so. They, along with my Spalding Tour Editions, will be the last classic players in my ownership.

They are that good.

[Arnsybill]

^^^^^ Thanks for the feedback. I should go at least have a look at them... If they're in good shape... I should grab them. 

 

Cheers,

[Stephen8802]

I have all the Staff iron sets from 1956 to 1991. The Turfriders are cool and classic irons, among my favorites, and always fun to play with.

 

They will likely be a little shorter than what you are used to, and the grips will likely need some work, but all golfers would have a better life if they owned a set or two of classic staffs and played with them every now and then.

[Arnsybill]

Yes. Agreed. With fall here in Toronto... I like forward to thinning a 2 iron and feeling the vibrations on cold (old) hands 🙂

 

 

[Stephen8802]

I fully endorse hitting most classic irons, but my 2 irons never leave the garage. 3 iron is long enough for me.

[northplatteriver]

Would be relatively easy to unload them if you decide they do not fit your taste.  Depending on the model, Turfriders are pretty collectible.  The set I had from the 50's that sold on Ebay in less than a week a few years ago for my full asking price and most likely would have sold for double what I was asking.  As long as the outlay is not too much you will certainly get your money back and perhaps even a bit more.  The only caveat I would add to this strategy is that the set would need to be complete.  Finding missing clubs for vintage sets can take some time and rarely if ever do the shafts and grips match the original set.  If the set has 2-9 plus a wedge that match... go for it!  Also if the grips are original leather in good shape they will be a thing of beauty.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

1962-63 Turfriders were my introduction to “vintage golf” (at a par 3) And look what’s happened to me! 
 

I don’t have that set anymore but they are as good as any of the vintage Staff sets and have some serious followers.   Side note Sam Snead helped develop those so that can’t be a bad

If they are 2-9 + pw it’s no brainer grab them. I’d they have the original leather grips even better.

 

Don’t be afraid of the 2i either. 

[Jiggered]

I played a friendly roll-up game today with:

 

1960s Walter Hagen 1, 3 & 4 woods

1962-63 Turfriders, 2 to PW

1980s Wilson DynaPower SW

Wilson 8813 putter

All in a nice red/white Wilson bag.

 

Played okay on the front 9 bar a couple of doubles for 42.  Better on the back 9 for a 39 which included a putt deflected by a small stone that was definitely going in, honest!

 

81 gross, 5 under handicap, I really like this club combination and the Turfriders are a great set of irons, right on my preferred lofts.

[Arnsybill]

Thanks for all the great feedback. 

 

My only hesitation in buying these in that I noticed in the Kijiji picture the iron has a serial number on it... a previous owner must have added it? 

 

I know these are not Pings and were not manufactured that way ... I've not noticed serial numbers on other turf rider pictures I've seen. 

 

I sent the seller a note asking if there's a number "stenciled" on each iron. I'm not handy and I don't know if/how those could be removed without really wrecking the finish, etc.

 

Cheers, 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2022 by Arnsybill

[Foozle]

36 minutes ago, Arnsybill said:

Thanks for all the great feedback. 

 

My only hesitation in buying these in that I noticed in the Kijiji picture the iron has a serial number on it... a previous owner must have added it? 

 

I know these are not Pings and were not manufactured that way ... I've not noticed serial numbers on other turf rider pictures I've seen. 

 

I sent the seller a note asking if there's a number "stenciled" on each iron. I'm not handy and I don't know if/how those could be removed without really wrecking the finish, etc.

 

Cheers, 

 

 

I would doubt that stamp could be removed successfully; too deep. I am also not sure you would want to. It is an odd stamp - could be someone's initials but what do the numbers then stand for? At this age, serial numbers would normally be found on the ferrule but could this be some form of custom order stamp? Wilson aficionados here may know or even be able to decipher. It could just be these are more interesting and special that initially thought?

[Stephen8802]

22 hours ago, Arnsybill said:

...My only hesitation in buying these in that I noticed in the Kijiji picture the iron has a serial number on it... a previous owner must have added it?...

That looks like a custom grind number. Anything custom made by Wilson would have a number stamped into the head and recorded at Wilson for the owner and specifications of the clubs. I have several Dynapower Wedges that were custom and have similar numbers.

 

To each its own, but personally, I think anything from the custom shop is cool. I picked up two custom Macgregor woods this year, a driver and a Penna VIP set and was really thrilled to see the custom serial number.

 

I'd be more worried that the heads are backwards.

Edited October 14, 2022 by Stephen8802

[Arnsybill]

^^^^ Thanks. I never thought of customization. Great take. I'm Canadian. Lots of us are lefties. Comes from hockey, I guess :).

 

Cheers, 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

Those numbers were not put on there by the previous owner.  I have seen many sets of Wilson Dynapowers with similar numbers on the heads usually starting with SD.

 

I had a set of 60-61s with that marking. 
 

I agree with the others saying it’s something custom from Wilson.

 

I have many sets of clubs that have random markings by previous owners. For some reason those don’t bother me.  I think it adds to the clubs character to have the previous owner’s markings.  One reason why I will never remove a previous owners shaft name label. 
 

However, I did sell the SD stamped Dynapowers.  You never know someone’s grind might actually be your preference but I’d rather have as stock as possible. I’d 

 

That said, those Turfriders look minty. What are they asking for them.  If the price is right I would grab them regardless.

Edited October 14, 2022 by cold_war_era_golfer

[Arnsybill]

Hi. A fair price I believe $150. In Canadian dollars so... $110 in US dollars.

 

I'm going to see, buy them later today. 

Edited October 14, 2022 by Arnsybill

[Stephen8802]

Here are my wedges, custom numbers up high to the left of Dynapower on the top club and lower right on the bottom.

 

I hate when people just make stuff up and guess, so I apologize in advance for doing so here. I haven't see lefty Turfriders before, I wonder if that alone was a special order.

[Arnsybill]

Thanks for the takes. I bought them. I might keep or sell... we'll see. 

 

Cheers all..

 

 

[elwhippy]

Stunning wedges. 

[BIG STU]

On 10/12/2022 at 1:12 PM, Arnsybill said:

Yes. Agreed. With fall here in Toronto... I like forward to thinning a 2 iron and feeling the vibrations on cold (old) hands 🙂

 

 

OHHHH The Humanity and the sting and vibration---- Got my teeth rattling just thinking about it

[BIG STU]

On 10/12/2022 at 6:23 PM, Stephen8802 said:

I fully endorse hitting most classic irons, but my 2 irons never leave the garage. 3 iron is long enough for me.

Aw heck playing vintage golf the score is not important to me so I do carry and attempt to hit hit the 2 and 3 irons. Not pretty these days more like a 175 180 waist high cut but fun anyhow

[Hickory4ever]

13 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

Aw heck playing vintage golf the score is not important to me so I do carry and attempt to hit hit the 2 and 3 irons. Not pretty these days more like a 175 180 waist high cut but fun anyhow

I agree with Stu, let the long irons out to play. What could possibly go wrong?

 

Actually, I can still hit the 2 iron reasonably well off a good lie, and like Stu it now goes about 175-180. 
 

On Thursday, I hit the 2 iron at least 3 times and for the most part decently. One of my friends said sarcastically that we failed to get the memo that it was impossible to hit.

[BIG STU]

15 hours ago, Hickory4ever said:

I agree with Stu, let the long irons out to play. What could possibly go wrong?

 

Actually, I can still hit the 2 iron reasonably well off a good lie, and like Stu it now goes about 175-180. 
 

On Thursday, I hit the 2 iron at least 3 times and for the most part decently. One of my friends said sarcastically that we failed to get the memo that it was impossible to hit.

HMMM--- I also failed to get that memo too---- I assume it wrongly stated "that old farts can not hit blade long irons"---- If it did then it assumed wrong in our case

[Foozle]

4 hours ago, BIG STU said:

HMMM--- I also failed to get that memo too---- I assume it wrongly stated "that old farts can not hit blade long irons"---- If it did then it assumed wrong in our case

Stu, you need to read your correspondence better, you definitely got the memo, we all did!

 It was part of the general memo issued to all golfers collectively by the manufacturers several years ago. You know the one that said you can't play blades unless scratch or better and must played cranked GI irons instead? The same one that said because your new set of GI irons had a massive gap between your new PW and SI that you had to buy 3 wedges? It went on to say that no one (* but especially old farts) could play 1 or 2 irons anymore but helpfully they could supply a new fangled thing called a hybrid which does the same job? 

It finished by recommending you put your driver and FW woods on a course of steroids or, better still, they could supply a new model every year that would add about a yard to your overall length.

You definitely did get the memo but I guess, like me, you chose to ignore it! 🤣

[BIG STU]

1 hour ago, Foozle said:

Stu, you need to read your correspondence better, you definitely got the memo, we all did!

 It was part of the general memo issued to all golfers collectively by the manufacturers several years ago. You know the one that said you can't play blades unless scratch or better and must played cranked GI irons instead? The same one that said because your new set of GI irons had a massive gap between your new PW and SI that you had to buy 3 wedges? It went on to say that no one (* but especially old farts) could play 1 or 2 irons anymore but helpfully they could supply a new fangled thing called a hybrid which does the same job? 

It finished by recommending you put your driver and FW woods on a course of steroids or, better still, they could supply a new model every year that would add about a yard to your overall length.

You definitely did get the memo but I guess, like me, you chose to ignore it! 🤣

Right on I guess I did and forgot it because it did not pertain to me

[Hickory4ever]

I had the opportunity yesterday to help in a special celebration at one of the grand historic golf clubs just north of Toronto (Thornhill Golf Club). We (the Golf Historical Society of Canada) had been invited to help in the 100 year anniversary celebration earlier in the year which was a blast. 
 

The event yesterday focused on the 1945 Canadian Open which was hosted at Thornhill. The organizers had done their homework and set the course routing up as close as they could including having information on each hole. We were there on a par 3 to offer historic clubs to try and promote the history. 
 

You Grillers may appreciate the significance of the 1945 Canadian Open. It was the last of eleven consecutive tour wins by Byron Nelson. Most of the participants appreciated the opportunity to try clubs of the early eras. It is nice to see a group that really embraces the history of the game including several that tried early long irons as the hole played uphill into the wind.

 

Today, back to playing my own game in a couple hours. The choice between hickory or classic will be a game time decision.