Golfcraft? Who has the info?

[mrBlimp]

Questioning the lack of available company information

I play with a set of Golfcraft RALPH GULDAHL signature clubs that I inherited from my father (c. pre 1950 or thereabouts). As such I've been looking for information on Golfcraft and the production lines of clubs they produced for some time now.

I've read through "the Vintage Era of Golf Club Collectables Identification and Value Guide", which runs up to about 1939. I've even used a magnifying glass to check the Cleek Marks on every one of the clubs in the group shots and didn't find a single reference to this company.

Other then the posts on this forum the only other reference I have found so far for Golfcraft was one line in GOLFWORKS' "The Golf Club Identification and Price Guide" (I have issue II, supposedly covering the 50's thru the 80's) stating that their facilities were purchased by Achusnet in 1968, (not to long after Achusnet acquired the John Reuter Bulls-Eye Brass putter - which I also own and still use as a practice club in my living room only), who then started to produce clubs under the formerly owned Titeist brand.

If Golfcraft was such a big name in forgings being one of the leaders in forged iron quality making some of the finest forgings in the world at that time (like F&J and Ping) then why haven't I been able to find other documentation on the company?

Does anyone know of any other reference works with any information on Golfcraft?

[rgk5]

Golfcraft made the world's finest forgings in the 1960s. Models included the Continental, El Dorado, the Staff, and various Signature models like yours. I owned three sets at various times with the last set having aluminum shafts back in 1972. Some had steel shafts sheathed in fibreglass to protect against corrosion at seaside venues.

 

I am unable to help with any other data.

[Royalc]

I will try to dig some more info on Golfcraft, My dad along with Stan Leonard and others owned the company just before it went to Achusnet in 1968. None of these people are alive to ask today so it may be tough. I still use the set my dad had made for himself (1966 aprox Stan leonard Precision Built), although I've had them restored and set up for me, shafts grips etc. Your question brought back memories of my dad taking me down there and showing me how they made golf clubs. Hopefully more info to come...


[email="[email protected]"]Email me[/email]

[juliothelatin]

Golfcraft clubs were very popular in the 60's. My first set of pro grade irons were Golfcraft, Lloyd Mangrum model, with fiberglass shafts. I grew up in Brooklyn and Tommy Strafaci, the pro at Dyker Beach played them.He was very short, about 5'5" and played with longer clubs. He felt the fiberglass shafts, remember Shakespeare played by Gary Player, were lighter. I worked as an assistant for Tommy and really loved those irons. I gave them to my Dad whose gone now, and so are the clubs. Great memories.

[juliothelatin]

Just found this ad on ebay

[pcourtney]

I have a set of Ping 69 By KARSTEN, it is said that Karsten bought 100 sets of heads from Golfcraft in 1961 and after numerous prototypes settled on milling two cavities into the back of each head, then used a gold foil type paint to colour in the top cavity, and a very light green in the bottom

[pcourtney]

50 years later Ping introduce the [url="http://www.golfweek.com/news/2010/apr/27/ping-unveil-anser-forged-iron/"]Ping Anser forged irons[/url]

[youraway2]

[quote name='pcourtney' date='27 April 2010 - 12:14 PM' timestamp='1272388466' post='2404150']
I have a set of Ping 69 By KARSTEN, it is said that Karsten bought 100 sets of heads from Golfcraft in 1961 and after numerous prototypes settled on milling two cavities into the back of each head, then used a gold foil type paint to colour in the top cavity, and a very light green in the bottom
[/quote]

Thanks! I've been wanting to see a picture of these. Forged Pings from way back - wow! Thanks again.

[pcourtney]

if you do a search on the forum for Ping 69, Ping 69 Ballnamic, Ping 68 and Ping Anser forged irons, you will see more of these wonderful irons that Karsten made in the sixties