Best of British!

[Foozle]

There is something going on here in the UK. Even in Scotland Union flags are flying in abundance. Must check the news to see what the occasion is....

Anyhow, all this flag waving has got me thinking about the best of British so I thought I would pull out some of my UK collection and take a few pictures.

Included are Harry Busson

Peter Broadbent

Paul Gibson

 and Andy Kikidas

Long may they reign!

[hammergolf]

5 minutes ago, Foozle said:

There is something going on here in the UK. Even in Scotland Union flags are flying in abundance. Must check the news to see what the occasion is....

Anyhow, all this flag waving has got me thinking about the best of British so I thought I would pull out some of my UK collection and take a few pictures.

Included are Harry Busson

Peter Broadbent

Paul Gibson

 and Andy Kikidas

Long may they reign!

Very nice!

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

32 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

Very nice!

Any Harold Beck ?

[Jiggered]

That's a mighty fine collection!

 

I didn't realise that Fazer produced persimmon woods, and Paul Gibson no less!

 

And I've not seen Andy Kikidas before either, nice firing pin inserts. 

 

I must admit that I've not really focused on British persimmon, having more of a penchant for irons, but seeing your collection has made me realise what I've been missing!

[bcstones]

1 hour ago, Foozle said:

There is something going on here in the UK. Even in Scotland Union flags are flying in abundance. Must check the news to see what the occasion is....

Anyhow, all this flag waving has got me thinking about the best of British so I thought I would pull out some of my UK collection and take a few pictures.

Included are Harry Busson

Peter Broadbent

Paul Gibson

 and Andy Kikidas

Long may they reign!

lots of flag waving, huh....well, it's Cinco de Mayo here in the States, maybe they're celebrating the 1862 Mexican defeat of the French....could be, eh

[Foozle]

1 hour ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Any Harold Beck ?

Never had the good fortune to find any. On the wish list!

[Foozle]

1 hour ago, Jiggered said:

That's a mighty fine collection!

 

I didn't realise that Fazer produced persimmon woods, and Paul Gibson no less!

 

And I've not seen Andy Kikidas before either, nice firing pin inserts. 

 

I must admit that I've not really focused on British persimmon, having more of a penchant for irons, but seeing your collection has made me realise what I've been missing!

I think Paul Gibson's Fazer is different to Fazer the brand albeit the font is similar, it would seem an unlikely collaboration? 

Andy Kikidas trained under and followed Barry Willet from St George's Hill and onto the Mizuno Tour Bus. I am guessing his club production under his own name was quite short lived. I have the two clubs pictured, one un hit the other looks like it has been hit once....badly!

It was the Peter Broadbents that got me into these. His peak era was circa 1984 through to early '90's which is when I was playing most. Would have loved one of his woods back then but I understand they cost around £250 each. To put that in context, I paid £50 for a MacGregor super eye o magic in either '85 or '86. I am now lucky enough to own Peter Broadbents A1 -not the first club he ever made but the first under his coding system along with several other 'A' clubs. 

I have been lucky enough to add a couple of Harry Busson's recently to the matched set I have owned for sometime now. A bit like buses, none for ages then two come at once!

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

Fazer and Paul Gibson, yes, could be.

Fazer was in Leeds and run by a Moortown member, H Malcolm Illingworth. (I was at Moortown for 20+ years)

 

He would have been a contemporary of Paul's and they would have certainly known each other. Malcolm played scratch league for Moortown, maybe County level. He might well have asked Paul to make him a Fazer persimmon.

 

When Paul started out he was Assistant Pro at Alwoodley GC just next door to Moortown and his first retail shop was close by off Scotthall Road.

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by The Aspidistra in the Hall

[elwhippy]

Broadbent, Gibson and Busson are a match for any US or Japanese woods.

[Jiggered]

6 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Fazer and Paul Gibson, yes, could be.

Fazer was in Leeds and run by a Moortown member, H Malcolm Illingworth. (I was at Moortown for 20+ years)

 

He would have been a contemporary of Paul's and they would have certainly known each other. Malcolm played scratch league for Moortown, maybe County level. He might well have asked Paul to make him a Fazer persimmon.

 

When Paul started out he was Assistant Pro at Alwoodley GC just next door to Moortown and his first retail shop was close by off Scotthall Road.

 

 

You've got me scouring ebay for Fazer logos now!

The newer logo versions are different but some of the earlier ones are very similar.

 

[Foozle]

6 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Fazer and Paul Gibson, yes, could be.

Fazer was in Leeds and run by a Moortown member, H Malcolm Illingworth. (I was at Moortown for 20+ years)

 

He would have been a contemporary of Paul's and they would have certainly known each other. Malcolm played scratch league for Moortown, maybe County level. He might well have asked Paul to make him a Fazer persimmon.

 

When Paul started out he was Assistant Pro at Alwoodley GC just next door to Moortown and his first retail shop was close by off Scotthall Road.

 

Thanks for the insight. I was not thinking of a personal connection between Gibson and Fazer. With this information and @Jiggereddiligent research it seems certain that my Gibson Fazer is a collaboration. 

Thanks to both for your help.

[DoughBack18]

That 1 1/2 wood is too sweet!

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

On 5/6/2023 at 10:43 PM, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

Fazer and Paul Gibson, yes, could be.

Fazer was in Leeds and run by a Moortown member, H Malcolm Illingworth. (I was at Moortown for 20+ years)

 

He would have been a contemporary of Paul's and they would have certainly known each other. Malcolm played scratch league for Moortown, maybe County level. He might well have asked Paul to make him a Fazer persimmon.

 

When Paul started out he was Assistant Pro at Alwoodley GC just next door to Moortown and his first retail shop was close by off Scotthall Road.

 

 

Do you know when was Paul Gibson making persimmons? I played near Leeds as a junior in the mid to late Eighties, but I don't remember hearing anything about a persimmon golf club maker, though Fazer ring a bell.

 

Admittedly, people were starting the transition to metalwoods, which is why there might have been little buzz about handmade persimmons, but I knew one or two wealthy golf fanatics who were heavily into equipment (proto WRXers), and I don't recall hearing anything about Paul Gibson from them.

 

 

 

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

4 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

Do you know when was Paul Gibson making persimmons? I played near Leeds as a junior in the mid to late Eighties, but I don't remember hearing anything about a persimmon golf club maker, though Fazer ring a bell.

 

Admittedly, people were starting the transition to metalwoods, which is why there might have been little buzz about handmade persimmons, but I knew one or two wealthy golf fanatics who were heavily into equipment (proto WRXers), and I don't recall hearing anything about Paul Gibson from them.

 

 

 

I recall him first in 1980 at Alwoodley and off Scotthall Road in 1982. He had American Golf Discount where he ran his operations from mid 80's to late 90's, out by Harry Ramsdens at Menston. Used to have a big stand at the Open every year...great guy.

[Foozle]

7 hours ago, DoughBack18 said:

That 1 1/2 wood is too sweet!

The 1 1/2 is part of a set of 3 with original headcovers.

I have no idea who RW Gilmour is unless "Happy's" initials happen to be RW!🤣

[Foozle]

47 minutes ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

I recall him first in 1980 at Alwoodley and off Scotthall Road in 1982. He had American Golf Discount where he ran his operations from mid 80's to late 90's, out by Harry Ramsdens at Menston. Used to have a big stand at the Open every year...great guy.

From what I have read, he was one of life's big characters and clearly very talented.

He had an impressive client list including Seve, Olazabal, Langer, Woodham, Faldo and Torrence.

My favourite Gibson is "the Beast". Really solid block with great grain and re-bar stiff 45" graphite shaft.

I try and hit it occasionally but really too much club for me. The original customer must have been a "player" but no means, that I am aware of, to track that down. 

Edited May 8, 2023 by Foozle
Add picture

[BIG STU]

24 minutes ago, Foozle said:

From what I have read, he was one of life's big characters and clearly very talented.

He had an impressive client list including Seve, Olazabal, Langer, Woodham, Faldo and Torrence.

My favourite Gibson is "the Beast". Really solid block with great grain and re-bar stiff 45" graphite shaft.

I try and hit it occasionally but really too much club for me. The original customer must have been a "player" but no means, that I am aware of, to track that down. 

Man that is some beautiful grain

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

1 hour ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

I recall him first in 1980 at Alwoodley and off Scotthall Road in 1982. He had American Golf Discount where he ran his operations from mid 80's to late 90's, out by Harry Ramsdens at Menston. Used to have a big stand at the Open every year...great guy.

 

I know the American Golf shop in Menston, in fact as far as I know it's still going, unlike Harry Ramsden's.

 

In fact, I think I bought some irons there in the late Eighties. Aside from pro shops, for buying golf clubs there was American Golf and another golf shop in Bradford (near Little Germany I think) whose name I have forgotten. 

 

[elwhippy]

Harold Beck. Fleetwood? If so a couple of our elder statesmen used their drivers for years. I shall ask if they still have them. 

 

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

13 hours ago, elwhippy said:

Harold Beck. Fleetwood? If so a couple of our elder statesmen used their drivers for years. I shall ask if they still have them. 

 

Also Lytham Green Drive GC. He was assistant to Jack Steer who had his factory where Blackpool Airport is now.