Inherited 10,000 plus old golf clubs

[Alwayssmile4]

Just inherited a house from my uncles that had 10,000 plus golf clubs, probably just as many golf balls and anything else golf you can imagine.  My grandpa had a golf shop in his home for the better part of 50 years and this is the home I just got. Obviously some of these clubs are simply scrap metal at this point but some I believe could be worth money. I have been around golf my whole life but some of these older clubs have me stumped!  Is there a value guide or what should I be looking for? 

[bcstones]

7 hours ago, Alwayssmile4 said:

Just inherited a house from my uncles that had 10,000 plus golf clubs, probably just as many golf balls and anything else golf you can imagine.  My grandpa had a golf shop in his home for the better part of 50 years and this is the home I just got. Obviously some of these clubs are simply scrap metal at this point but some I believe could be worth money. I have been around golf my whole life but some of these older clubs have me stumped!  Is there a value guide or what should I be looking for? 

first off...since your Grandfather had a golf shop, are there catalogs? Kaplan put together some guides, which were calalogs for MacGregor, Wilson, and H&B/Powerbilt. Maltby's also published a guide, 4th edition came out a year or so back...but it focus' on pro shop only from 1950 - '98. 

And not just clubs, again since there was a golf shop - did he also have the equipment to change loft, lie, to extract etc. 
I don't know value...I'd advise against tossing anything into a pile for the scrap heap...there is probably alot of history in the shop - clubs, bags, balls. I guess I'd start w/some kind of inventory of the clubs....

You've probably already begun....not knowing where you're located, there might be some knowledgeable people in your area or golf museum if a major company is nearby.....

Good luck

[HoosierHacker89]

I'm overwhelmed just thinking about it. 

[kwcsports]

Pics ?

[Stephen8802]

Many classic clubs have some value, but just a few have great value. However, even those with only a little value can be worth saving and bring you back enough money to make it worth your while.

 

There used to be value guides back when there was a large market for classic clubs, but the market is small now, just us old coots who still like to play them. Unfortunately for you, most of us who know the value of classic clubs have the information in our heads from 40-60 years of experience, not from a reference guide. On a club by club basis, you would get an answer quickly here, but it would be tough to find one resource.

 

I like the idea of an inventory mentioned above. Start to put things in categories and educate yourself on the categories. A good start for that would be the Joe Clement book Classic Golf Clubs, which is how I got started back in 1981. I see used copies pop up now and then. That book is a nice cross section of different categories and manufacturers that will allow you to at least guess at what clubs are worth something. It is also good at teaching you how to identify the better clubs. It came with a price guide, but those prices are long in the past. Once you learn a little more, the Kaplan books and Maltby club guide will help you run down when a club was made. 

 

If you were to start way back at the first post on this forum and read them all, or at least all the ones that reference specific clubs, you would learn a lot. When I found this site, I did that just because there are so many interesting threads. Then, if you have your clubs in categories, you will get a good idea of which groups are collectable. For example, once you can tell what a 50s Macgregor wood looks like vs a 60s or 70s, you will know when you have one in your hands and if it is desirable. Or once you know what a classic Dynapower iron looks like you will know what you have and that any classic Dynapower set is likely worth between $35 and $150. Another option is to find someone local who can look through them and tell you what you have. And the third option is to make some friends with people who know classic clubs and send text pics. For many of us, it would only take a few seconds to tell you what you have. With a set of clubs, that's easy. With a small collection, not so bad. With 10,000, well that could be a bit harder.

 

One way or another, you are going to have to learn about classic clubs.

 

 

Edited March 4 by Stephen8802

[Seve0992]

If you care to post some general photos I'm sure we can help you determine what has value and what can be done with the rest.  I'm always interested in older stuff.   There are bound to be some good ones!  Email me at [email protected] 

[FirstFlight]

11 hours ago, Alwayssmile4 said:

I have been around golf my whole life but some of these older clubs have me stumped!  Is there a value guide or what should I be looking for? 

Stumped is good, there must be some unique stuff after many decades.

Help us, help you...

[st1800e]

1 hour ago, Seve0992 said:

If you care to post some general photos

Yes, lots on us would be interested to see the collection.  

[ezgoer]

Great suggestions. I bet it’s intimidating! One thing for sure you’ll find out that just about any golf club Google search links back to a post on this site so you did come to the right place. Lots of people on here with knowledge and genuinely helpful people also. Think we’d all tell you value is very subjective and desire for these clubs only seems to be getting less and less so probably temper any thoughts  of a money winfall. But there can be exceptions. Figure out how to post pictures. Pictures would go a long way here. Back, faces, shaft bands even grips and sole of club if it’s a wood and someone on here will probably recognize what it is an can go from there. Serial numbers on old clubs for the most part only indicate if it was a matching set but are often (not always though) kinda useless to identify cuz all that data is long gone. Good luck! This s a lot of our dreams and nightmares all rolled into one. 

Edited March 4 by ezgoer

[bcstones]

The problem w/pictures is his "unconfirmed" status...admin has to "validate" his status prior to posting pics. I've never known just how long it takes....patience

[st1800e]

2 hours ago, bcstones said:

The problem w/pictures is his "unconfirmed" status...admin has to "validate" his status prior to posting pics. I've never known just how long it takes....patience

10 posts I believe is required.  

[BIG STU]

8 hours ago, Seve0992 said:

If you care to post some general photos I'm sure we can help you determine what has value and what can be done with the rest.  I'm always interested in older stuff.   There are bound to be some good ones!  Email me at [email protected] 

Was that you I bought the FC=4000 Mac wedge from on FB a couple of years back?

[BIG STU]

This reminds me of the famous Niles Hoard from a few years back

[EagleAteBirdie]

To some on here, spending a week sorting through that lot would be more rewarding than a week away golfing!

[bcstones]

13 hours ago, BIG STU said:

This reminds me of the famous Niles Hoard from a few years back

before my time here, I'm thinking....would you share the story?

[Seve0992]

14 hours ago, BIG STU said:

Was that you I bought the FC=4000 Mac wedge from on FB a couple of years back?

I believe it was!

[BIG STU]

52 minutes ago, Seve0992 said:

I believe it was!

That is a good old wedge I still use it some

[BIG STU]

2 hours ago, bcstones said:

before my time here, I'm thinking....would you share the story?

Some of the older members can tell it better than I can. Basically it was a like 2 truckloads of clubs. I think Ironmaster Oddities who we call Uncle Bob bought that

[mocokid]

Gotta catalog the stuff first. Organize and then check on prices demand etc.

[golfunderpar18]

Doubt will ever hear from the original poster again. This happens for too often. My guess is 99.5% of the stuff in there is likely worth next to nothing. Might be a few gems but will likely never know. Lots to donate to Salvation Army or Goodwill. Huge collections like that are a lot of work meaning weeks and weeks of work investigating in cataloging items. Best to use eBay to gauge against similar items that have sold. If you don’t know what you’re looking for though, it’s pretty much a lost cause 

[ezgoer]

Suspect you’re right on original poster. I also suspect people unfamiliar with golf stumble into antique stores and see a barrel of hickory clubs selling for $79 a piece. Every time they then see what they believe are old golf clubs dollar signs go through their heads. 

[BIG STU]

5 hours ago, ezgoer said:

Suspect you’re right on original poster. I also suspect people unfamiliar with golf stumble into antique stores and see a barrel of hickory clubs selling for $79 a piece. Every time they then see what they believe are old golf clubs dollar signs go through their heads. 

And some of these antique stored do not know the difference between real hickory shafted clubs and Pyratone ones. Some it is an honest mistake and some it is not

[NRJyzr]

On 3/4/2024 at 9:02 PM, BIG STU said:

This reminds me of the famous Niles Hoard from a few years back

 

I had the exact same thought.

 

Also, a gent from the old GEA forum did something similar, buying a club hoard.  It was from him that I picked up my first Ram persimmons, that he threw in when I asked about buying some persimmon fairway woods.

 

[BIG STU]

59 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

I had the exact same thought.

 

Also, a gent from the old GEA forum did something similar, buying a club hoard.  It was from him that I picked up my first Ram persimmons, that he threw in when I asked about buying some persimmon fairway woods.

 

Yep I remember that too

[WilliePPQ]

OK, assuming OP is legitimate, I'm willing to rent the U-Haul and organize the physical inventory. If enough of us volunteer for the road trip, we ought to be able to knock out the P.I. in only a day or two. OP only has to give us any Hogam, MacGregor, Wilson, Ping, or Spaldings we come across for our trouble. He's welcome to any Kroydon's or Northwestern's we may leave behind!

[@_the_crook]

@BIG STU can let you know about their value.

He has built a 'collection' out of the scrap piles.

[JetSpeed79]

[elwhippy]

I would end up with tendonitis from the urge to waggle each club and have a few swings. 

[BIG STU]

14 hours ago, @_the_crook said:

@BIG STU can let you know about their value.

He has built a 'collection' out of the scrap piles.

The prices on older clubs has dropped drastically since the pandemic. Basically run of the mill stuff that most of us on here find interesting the prices have dropped. Now some of the rare and super collectable is sorta stuck in gear as far as buyers with disposal able income

My junkpile days are over with since I have retired from the scrapyard. I have not been in a Goodwill for 3 years now. Last club I actually bought was from a member on FB on Forged Club Appreciation. In fact found out earlier on this thread he is also an WRX member too.

I sold off a bunch of stuff recently on a bulk deal. The state is taking the building I have rented for 16 years for another highway project. They also paid me to vacate. I sold like 50 sets and maybe 200 loose clubs. My shop at the house is the next purge. I am only keeping for now 10 sets of irons. Persimmon woods ,putters and wedges I have not decided on yet. I want to clear my shop out some where I can work in it better again.

[@_the_crook]

27 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

The prices on older clubs has dropped drastically since the pandemic. Basically run of the mill stuff that most of us on here find interesting the prices have dropped. Now some of the rare and super collectable is sorta stuck in gear as far as buyers with disposal able income

My junkpile days are over with since I have retired from the scrapyard. I have not been in a Goodwill for 3 years now. Last club I actually bought was from a member on FB on Forged Club Appreciation. In fact found out earlier on this thread he is also an WRX member too.

I sold off a bunch of stuff recently on a bulk deal. The state is taking the building I have rented for 16 years for another highway project. They also paid me to vacate. I sold like 50 sets and maybe 200 loose clubs. My shop at the house is the next purge. I am only keeping for now 10 sets of irons. Persimmon woods ,putters and wedges I have not decided on yet. I want to clear my shop out some where I can work in it better again.

Sounds like an end of an era. So sorry to hear about your having to whittle down the pile. If I were closer, I'd have driven down and let you load me up.

Best Wishes to you.