If you could have one of Fred's Wood Brothers Texan drivers, which would it be?

[RobotDoctor]

I take dibs on the Bernhard Langer prototype, followed by the Jeff Sluman custom.

 

Anyone else? ;)

 

 

:D :D :D

[Bella Woods]

RobotDoctor:

Bella likes the Texan of freddiec's clubs the most, but my favorite of the pictures
he has posted is the Australian (the Steve Elkington club) with the old fashioned
red insert/colors etc.

[astamm8]

I'll take the all black Spain one for Seve... No they're all great, but I think I like the Langer one.

[freddiec]

Robot,
I'd like to have the Texan "tour demo" (B.Langer) refinished sometime by John. Nothing crazy, just a fresh coat of poly and red paint in the score lines. It could also use a new grip, its got a victory thats probably been on it for about 20 years, but maybe that should stay. :-). Nicest grain I've ever seen on a driver too. Its pretty Badd A$@. The only Texan to have Dave Wood signiture.

[RobotDoctor]

Man, that is one Bad A$$ driver. Absolutely beautiful!!!

[persimmonpal]

Thats a great block Fred!

[golfguy31]

I'm sure this isn't the forum, but anyone who's got some of these great clubs and trying to find them a new home, pm me, would love to give them or anything like them a whirl. Sorry for the off topic post.

[persimmonpal]

ran across some cool Wood Brothers photos.. enjoy!
Fred- I cant help but wonder if Langer is swinging your Texan..
Enjoy!
[attachment=672002:post-53-12603211736112.jpg]
[attachment=672001:post-53-12603208681766.jpg]
[attachment=672000:post-53-12580450901095.jpg]

[Troon pro]

Too cool nice pics

[mat562]

I've got a fairly unremarkable (comparatively speaking) Texan, but given first choice I'll have the one that was cobbled together for Greg Norman following the demise of his M43. I'm a big Norman fan and it would be like manna from heaven to own one of his clubs that's actually been used in anger.

Failing that, the dark-finished Spanish-themed one that was made for Seve would be nice. I like a dark stain (a black-finished Joe Powell TP [i]a la [/i]the old bats of both Seve and Sandy Lyle is in my stash) and I'm a big fan of titanium shafts.

While I'm on, I'll take next week's winning lottery numbers, the blueprints for a cold fusion reactor, a cure for cancer and a workable peace process for Palestine too.

[freddiec]

John,
Thanks for posting those series of pics. Thats a great one of Dave Wood on the Roof in Texas sorting some nice oil hardened blocks. The Texan Langer is using in that pic I'm pretty sure was the custom one that was made, not the Tour demo he used prior. Think the pic was taken around the same time he won the Masters.

Matt, I'd like to find out more about the Texan that Norman used. I know he used on very briefly before going to the King Cobra.

[mat562]

Fred, I'm not too sure about the exact specs of that club. I know it was a driver he tried out and played for a while in the aftermath of his breaking the M43 that he played for the latter half of the 80s which, apparently, [i]also[/i] came via Dave Wood.

I know Norman dabbled with metal woods in the mid '80s, along with every man and his dog trying out a Taylor Made metal, and that he played a Bridgestone J's driver for a time - both before and after cracking his faithful MacGregor - that he received as a gift from Jumbo Ozaki (presumably [i]before [/i]that locker room spat of theirs) a bit later on. He obviously found it hard, at least initially, to move away from persimmon entirely, though, as I remember him having a knock with that M43-esque Texan in, I think, autumn '92 or so, some time after seriously dabbling with metal heads. I also remember him pegging it up with an Ultramid driver in the 1991 World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth a couple of months after Daly's win at Crooked Stick with a couple of the things in play. Norman didn't look 'right' with one of those drivers at all.

I've no idea on the specs of the Texan, but from what I remember, as a Norman Anorak, his M43 was the recipient of some fettling by Wood after he took a shine to it but before he put it into play. The club was reportedly a solid lump of persimmon, with no lead infill (as demonstrated by a sole plate-removing Dave Wood by all accounts), had around 8 degrees of loft, slightly reduced face progression, sat a couple of degrees open and was 43 3/4" long with a heavily-tipped (something like two inches) Dynamic Gold X400. That, unfortunately, is the only driver of Norman's I've ever really managed to find out any information about. The pre-internet days were a bit of a pain for obsessive golf equipment-related trivia collecting.

As you say, he eventually settled on a metal Deep Face Cobra driver with which he went on to do very well; including bagging a second Claret Jug with the club. Nice drivers (I've still got my old one that I played quite decent golf with for several seasons) but not as nice to look at, nor to hear struck, as a wooden 'un.

[freddiec]

Matt,
Thats right. Dave Wood, Founder of Wood Bros definitely customized a M43 for Greg. The one he used to win the British Open. As I recall the story which Dave told me he had an old M43 in his shop one day while he had Greg there trying to sell him on a Wood Bros block when Greg noticed the old Mac, he liked it so much he wanted Dave to re work the face to his personal specs, refinish it ect. I have a really neat PDF that shows the club in the shop, with and without the sole plate. I'll dig it up tomorrow and post it. Dave also did similiar work for Ben Crenshaw and his beloved M85.

[freddiec]

Here is Greg Norman's M43 being refinished at the Wood Bros Shop. The thing looks awesome, you can see the perfect grain on this one. The one thing I did notice was the bore thru is slightly more drilled away from the heel than most, which was most likely done when the club was originally made.

[mat562]

Fred

Fascinating photos, particularly given that they're ones which I haven't seen before. Many thanks for posting them. It's certainly a beautiful piece of timber and a tip top job in every regard by Wood. Interesting observation about the bosel bore too.

Again, thanks for the photos. In my mind's eye I'm back behind the tee and hearing the crack and fizz of Norman's drive, with that very club, down Royal Troon's 18th hole in the '89 Open Championship playoff. One day it'll miss that bunker, I swear...

[persimmonpal]

Hey Fred~
All the talk I have heard about Normans M43 was that it was a solid block, with no weight..
Hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but if you look closely, you can clearly see where there was a lead back weight poured.. Its kinda hard to see, but definitely there.. HHMMMM....

[freddiec]

John,
I noticed that as well this morning before I posted that. I think the only claim that was made about Greg's M43 was there was no weight under the sole plate. The Wood Bros drivers were really the ones that were said to be completely one solid block. Sidenote: I think RobotDr's M43 that passed thru your hands has no weight on the back and I'm willing to bet same under the plate. Probably every bit as superior to Greg's minus the customization.

[RobotDoctor]

[quote name='freddiec' timestamp='1287540698' post='2750556']
John,
I noticed that as well this morning before I posted that. I think the only claim that was made about Greg's M43 was there was no weight under the sole plate. The Wood Bros drivers were really the ones that were said to be completely one solid block. Sidenote: I think RobotDr's M43 that passed thru your hands has no weight on the back and I'm willing to bet same under the plate. Probably every bit as superior to Greg's minus the customization.
[/quote]

The M43T that I have that John worked on does had a lead port in the back of the head but is solid under the plate. Greg Norman's driver looks like the lead port was filled in with wood.

Speaking of that driver, I still have not gotten to play since June so I have not gamed this driver yet. I am hoping very soon!

[freddiec]

RobotDr,
I meant the other one. The pristine one. Billy Billy Billy..

[RobotDoctor]

[quote name='freddiec' timestamp='1287541143' post='2750571']
RobotDr,
I meant the other one. The pristine one. Billy Billy Billy..
[/quote]

OIC. Yes, Billy Billy Billy. No lead as far as I can tell in the "[i]Billy Baroo[/i]," and absolutely solid and long! Of course I have not removed the sole plate (nor would I ever) but I would bet this is a solid piece of persimmon. I wonder what Norman would say if he saw that one?

[freddiec]

Sam,
What you have there is probably one of the best ice breaker, conversation pieces you could have if you ever met Greg Norman. I'm willing to bet it would put the biggest smile on his face and he would put out his hand and ask you. "you got a ball?" He'd of course would probably want to hit the thing. Norman was one of my all time favorites. My twin bro was obsessed with the guy back in the day and idolized him, who didn't?? When Greg won the match play championship in Scottsdale at Grey Hawk in like I think it was the mid 90s my brother got a chance to talk with him alone for a minute in the clubhouse, it was the thrill of a lifetime he said. He had just emerged from the locker room from a fresh shower and a beer in his hand. A true Legand. :-)

[RobotDoctor]

Yea, I would let Greg Norman hit it, no question about it.

[LeopardGolf]

I want a blonde Texan

[rgolf06]

And I thought I was a Persimmon Guy !!!

YOU GUYS ROCK !!!

[drewspin]

Looking forward to the Persimmongiving Holiday outing, Fred!

Christine and friends are packed.

[freddiec]

Me too Andrew. Drewspin , my Brother and I are going to play Triggs ( A fantastic Ross Course) this weekend. A little persimmon outing day and probably older blades. I'm looking fwd. to it and glad the weather is looking great.

[rileyj]

[quote name='freddiec' timestamp='1322141809' post='3846077']
Me too Andrew. Drewspin , my Brother and I are going to play Triggs ( A fantastic Ross Course) this weekend. A little persimmon outing day and probably older blades. I'm looking fwd. to it and glad the weather is looking great.
[/quote]

Have fun and take some pictures and video!