Customized John Byron Dale Head 9's

[Geo]

For those who don't know, I've got a problem buying putters. I'm not an active collector (and would never throw my name into the ring with all the true putter guys out there. I'm just on one of those quests to find the perfect putter.

 

Well, in this persuit I've been working on a custom putter from Byron Morgon (the Byron half of John Byron, now heading up Byron Design). While discussing my putter, I asked about a putter for my daughter. Rather than making a custom, he gave me a MUCH cheaper option in the Dale Head 9 left over from his John Byron days. These are cast from manganese bronze (much like the older pings) with a milled face and were sold mostly in Japan back in 1993. Byron also did the face stamping on these, and while I don't know the headweights, they are very beefy (cavity is very shallow in the back), and make an awesome putter for kids. The "Abigail" putter is cut to 20" and the "Mika" is at 24" (my daughter's first and middle names). I personally like these putters better than the Cameron Minis--and they doesn't come with that pesky $35,000 price tag either. ;)

 

Enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

And a picture of my daughter earlier this month after blowing out her candles. I love how my wife is always smiling . . . such a happy person.

 

[golfluvzme]

Just curious, did Byron give you any background on where the DH9 came from? It turns out that a player on the Japanese PGA Tour had taken a Scottsdale Anser and cut a section out from the center to shorten the putter up. It made the putter shorter from heel to toe, by a good margin. John and Byron saw this and decided to make a production run of a putter with the same length, but just a little more "cost effective". Can you imagine what a Scottsdale Anser is worth in Japan? They did market them more in Japan, but you see them from time to time here in the states. They made a few of them all milled and they are sweet!

Byron is truly one of the nicest, most accomodating guys in the game, today. He is a class act and I am glad I got the chance to know him.

The putters turned out great!

Thanks for the pics and sorry for the run-on story.

LaMont in AZ

[Geo]

Just curious, did Byron give you any background on where the DH9 came from? It turns out that a player on the Japanese PGA Tour had taken a Scottsdale Anser and cut a section out from the center to shorten the putter up. It made the putter shorter from heel to toe, by a good margin. John and Byron saw this and decided to make a production run of a putter with the same length, but just a little more "cost effective". Can you imagine what a Scottsdale Anser is worth in Japan? They did market them more in Japan, but you see them from time to time here in the states. They made a few of them all milled and they are sweet!

Byron is truly one of the nicest, most accomodating guys in the game, today. He is a class act and I am glad I got the chance to know him.

The putters turned out great!

Thanks for the pics and sorry for the run-on story.

LaMont in AZ

 

Wow, I did not know that--but that is very interesting. Thank you much for the input. While trying to find the price tag on the Newport version (again, 35-friggin-grand! ), I did see that the DH9's were out 5 years before the Camerons. I personally love the shape on these and might have to get my own length'ed version--even if they are righty-only! Thanks again for the background LaMont. ;)

 

beruo

[golfluvzme]

Ya know, the more I read about the whole John Byron/ Cameron situation, the more I wonder. I had heard that the Byron MO-T came out prior to the Coronado, as well. They are very similar blade shapes. The original MO was alot like the Coronado, while the MO-T was like the Justin Leonard model. I know that the MO-T was inspired by a Japanese PGA players request for a plumber's neck on an MO. I rolled one for a couple of years and loved it, absolutely.

The picture is of a MO-T that I had Byron Custom weld a High Beam hosel on in place of the standard length. I have been a ho longer than I thought, this was a long time ago.

If you get a chance to try any of the older stuff, don't pass it up. Not sure how much you will find left-handed, but if you do, jump on it.

Thanks for the input,

LaMont in AZ

[kyle_m1]

the john byron long neck came out befor scotty's too!!!!!

[siennaslammer]

beruo:

thanks for the note & pix. she is cute. my daugther is also 3 & with the same name. i got her one of those snoppy set - she loves it!! wants to go with me almost every day. we only go late afternoon - as to not slow down play. i just let her swing one outside the green & use the putter on the green.

 

are those JB DH9s junior sized? they look like it from the pix.

 

thanks & enjoy.

[Geo]

beruo:

thanks for the note & pix. she is cute. my daugther is also 3 & with the same name. i got her one of those snoppy set - she loves it!! wants to go with me almost every day. we only go late afternoon - as to not slow down play. i just let her swing one outside the green & use the putter on the green.

 

are those JB DH9s junior sized? they look like it from the pix.

 

thanks & enjoy.

 

Thanks slammer. 3 is such a great age for kids, lots of fun. The putter is not necessarily made for kids/juniors, but it is very much a smaller size. LaMont (golfluvzme) gave the explanation in the second post on it's origins, and Byron simply said that "they make great kid putters," not that they were kid putters. I actually think they look really nice, though don't know how much luck I would have with one out on the course (though the feel is very solid). Thanks again for the comments.

 

beruo

[sergizmo]

Good to see Abigail has two great putters to start out with. The weight is largely due to the material, bronze is very heavy. Manganese is a pretty tough material, and should ensure that these putters will stand up to a beating.

 

Now you and your daughter can play some putting games on the practice green. Some kids are great putters, they have no fear and don't over analyze.

 

Have fun putting with your daughter George.

[bennowick]

Bringing this thread to life with a recent purchase of mine. Lamont, do you have any info on this Dale Head 9? @golfluvzme