Sam Snead's Clubs

[tembolo1284]

anyone know what he played with in his prime?

Just wanted to know if anyone knew what Sam played with in his prime...and if they have any pics of the clubs themselves!

[Mainlinegolfer]

Probably Wilson:

[i]"The legendary Sam Snead joins the Wilson Advisory Staff at the age of 25. Snead went on to win five tournaments that year and Slammin’ Sammy was born, winning a record 81 PGA Tour events in his illustrious career, including 3 PGA Championships, 3 Masters and an Open Championship. Sam remained with Wilson as an Honorary Staff member with a lifetime contract. Many believe he was the greatest golfer ever."[/i]

[XYB34A]

I know he played with Laminates for his 3,4,5 woods as a lot of pro's did.
Woods break, I was never so glad to see TaylorMade [u]tiny[/u] headed metal clubs hit the market in the mid 1980's. I broke many drivers, and fairway woods, and some you could get repaired and them be stronger. Others would crack thru from front to back, and u trash canned them.

I remember reading in Golf, or Golf Digest when I had a subscription to them both in the 1980's, that he played Driver, 3 and 4 woods, 1 thru 9 and a sand wedge, along with a putter during his prime. From mid 1930's to 1950's.

Remember folks, you didnt see a pitching wedge come with sets very often to some time in the late 1950's or the 1960's.

And the loft of said pitching wedge was the same as or more so than a modern day gap wedge. A 9 iron was lofted about the same or weaker than the modern day pitching wedge.

[tembolo1284]

thanks for that sir! yes, my loft specs are old fashioned as well.

So was it Wilson blue ridge or something like that he used?

[dlygrisse]

[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300118019' post='3054081']
thanks for that sir! yes, my loft specs are old fashioned as well.

So was it Wilson blue ridge or something like that he used?
[/quote]


[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-PHOTOGRAPH-LEGENDARY-GOLFER-SAM-SNEAD-1949-/260708242863?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3cb36c15af"]http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-PHOTOGRAPH-LEGENDARY-GOLFER-SAM-SNEAD-1949-/260708242863?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3cb36c15af[/url]

[tembolo1284]

[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1300118221' post='3054090']
[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300118019' post='3054081']
thanks for that sir! yes, my loft specs are old fashioned as well.

So was it Wilson blue ridge or something like that he used?
[/quote]


[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-PHOTOGRAPH-LEGENDARY-GOLFER-SAM-SNEAD-1949-/260708242863?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3cb36c15af"]http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item3cb36c15af[/url]
[/quote]


Cool link, thanks!

[farmer]

I saw him play a tourney in 1973 and he was carrying a ratty looking, beat up set of Wilson Staff irons that had a fairly crude leading edge grind. His driver was supposedly an old Izett that had been given to him and anonymous Staff woods. I was expecting something exotic, but they were just clubs. I watched him on the range for about an hour, and whatever he hit, his caddie caught on one bounce while basically standing still. Maybe, just maybe, there is something to the Indian vs arrow theory.

[tembolo1284]

especially with the clubs he used back in the day. He's the man!

[Ironmaster Oddities]

[quote name='farmer' timestamp='1300119133' post='3054119']
I saw him play a tourney in 1973 and he was carrying a ratty looking, beat up set of Wilson Staff irons that had a fairly crude leading edge grind. His driver was supposedly an old Izett that had been given to him and anonymous Staff woods. I was expecting something exotic, but they were just clubs. I watched him on the range for about an hour, and whatever he hit, his caddie caught on one bounce while basically standing still. Maybe, just maybe, there is something to the Indian vs arrow theory.
[/quote]

Amen. Or should I say "How, Kemosabe"!

[Ironmaster Oddities]

[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300118634' post='3054100']
[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1300118221' post='3054090']
[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300118019' post='3054081']
thanks for that sir! yes, my loft specs are old fashioned as well.

So was it Wilson blue ridge or something like that he used?
[/quote]


[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-PHOTOGRAPH-LEGENDARY-GOLFER-SAM-SNEAD-1949-/260708242863?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3cb36c15af"]http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item3cb36c15af[/url]
[/quote]


Cool link, thanks!
[/quote]
Sam didn't play Blue Ridge clubs. He just got pretty wealthy by endorsing them for Wilson. At one time they were the largest-selling golf clubs in the game. And Old Sam got a couple of bucks on every set sold, which ultimately added up to more money than he made on the tour. Just an ignorant hillbilly from West Virginia, huh?
We should be so dumb.

[tembolo1284]

Can't argue with that!

[Arafel]

[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1300126727' post='3054434']
[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300118634' post='3054100']
[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1300118221' post='3054090']
[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300118019' post='3054081']
thanks for that sir! yes, my loft specs are old fashioned as well.

So was it Wilson blue ridge or something like that he used?
[/quote]


[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-PHOTOGRAPH-LEGENDARY-GOLFER-SAM-SNEAD-1949-/260708242863?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3cb36c15af"]http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item3cb36c15af[/url]
[/quote]


Cool link, thanks!
[/quote]
Sam didn't play Blue Ridge clubs. He just got pretty wealthy by endorsing them for Wilson. At one time they were the largest-selling golf clubs in the game. And Old Sam got a couple of bucks on every set sold, which ultimately added up to more money than he made on the tour. Just an ignorant hillbilly from West Virginia, huh?
We should be so dumb.
[/quote]

I'm guessing you already know this but Sam was from Virginia and not exactly a hillbilly.

[Shallowface]

[quote name='justaman5' timestamp='1300116024' post='3054002']
I know he played with Laminates for his 3,4,5 woods as a lot of pro's did.
Woods break, I was never so glad to see TaylorMade [u]tiny[/u] headed metal clubs hit the market in the mid 1980's. I broke many drivers, and fairway woods, and some you could get repaired and them be stronger. Others would crack thru from front to back, and u trash canned them.

I remember reading in Golf, or Golf Digest when I had a subscription to them both in the 1980's, that he played Driver, 3 and 4 woods, 1 thru 9 and a sand wedge, along with a putter during his prime. From mid 1930's to 1950's.

Remember folks, you didnt see a pitching wedge come with sets very often to some time in the late 1950's or the 1960's.

And the loft of said pitching wedge was the same as or more so than a modern day gap wedge. A 9 iron was lofted about the same or weaker than the modern day pitching wedge.
[/quote]

I saw Sam play in a Senior Tour event in the mid 1980s. At that time he had a set of Wilson Staff irons that were like the 1973 model except without the weight port.

You're certainly right about the laminated fairways. The one I saw was like the Wilson 1200 Gear Effect laminated wood they were selling at the time, the one with the three weights pressed into the back of the club on the toe side. While the retail model was black with a red insert, Sam's was brown with a black screwless insert, and even had a Sam Snead decal on top, just like a store line club!

Sam was about 72 at the time, and he was still really good. If he hadn't lost his putting, there's no doubt in my mind he would have won on the regular tour in his 60s and probably multiple times. He came pretty close a couple of times as it was.

[Ironmaster Oddities]

[quote name='JASONR5' timestamp='1300127351' post='3054467']
[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1300126727' post='3054434']
[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300118634' post='3054100']
[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1300118221' post='3054090']
[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300118019' post='3054081']
thanks for that sir! yes, my loft specs are old fashioned as well.

So was it Wilson blue ridge or something like that he used?
[/quote]


[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-PHOTOGRAPH-LEGENDARY-GOLFER-SAM-SNEAD-1949-/260708242863?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item3cb36c15af"]http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item3cb36c15af[/url]
[/quote]


Cool link, thanks!
[/quote]
Sam didn't play Blue Ridge clubs. He just got pretty wealthy by endorsing them for Wilson. At one time they were the largest-selling golf clubs in the game. And Old Sam got a couple of bucks on every set sold, which ultimately added up to more money than he made on the tour. Just an ignorant hillbilly from West Virginia, huh?
We should be so dumb.
[/quote]

I'm guessing you already know this but Sam was from Virginia and not exactly a hillbilly.
[/quote]
My bad. I stand corrected. Bob

[Arafel]

[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1300134149' post='3054851']

My bad. I stand corrected. Bob
[/quote]

I assumed you were using the Ben Hogan line. Ben always liked to say Snead was from WV because he thought it made Sam sound like a hillbilly.

[dlygrisse]

[quote name='JASONR5' timestamp='1300137386' post='3055009']
[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1300134149' post='3054851']
My bad. I stand corrected. Bob
[/quote]

I assumed you were using the Ben Hogan line. Ben always liked to say Snead was from WV because he thought it made Sam sound like a hillbilly.
[/quote]


He lived most of his life in WV didn't he?, he was the head Professional emeritus at the Greenbriar in WV for many years.

Sam really played the hillbilly thing up quite well, kind of a modern day John Daly, but not as mentally unstable, that schtick put a lot of $$$ in those tin cans in his back yard.

[AltusBeliever]

He used an Izett driver for years is my memory.

[GatorNate11]

[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1300138874' post='3055087']
[quote name='JASONR5' timestamp='1300137386' post='3055009']
[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1300134149' post='3054851']
My bad. I stand corrected. Bob
[/quote]

I assumed you were using the Ben Hogan line. Ben always liked to say Snead was from WV because he thought it made Sam sound like a hillbilly.
[/quote]


He lived most of his life in WV didn't he?, he was the head Professional emeritus at the Greenbriar in WV for many years.

Sam really played the hillbilly thing up quite well, kind of a modern day John Daly, but not as mentally unstable, that schtick put a lot of $$$ in those tin cans in his back yard.
[/quote]

He spent quite a bit of time here yes. He played the course literally less than 2 mins from me once, totally destroyed it. And not everyone from West Virginia are hillbillies lol

[tembolo1284]

anyone have pics of a model that he gamed in competition?

Irons or woods?

[Staffer]

[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300192052' post='3056808']
anyone have pics of a model that he gamed in competition?

Irons or woods?
[/quote]

[color=#1C2837][size=2]The "Wilson Staff irons that were like the 1973 model except without the weight port"?[/size][/color]
[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]
[/color][/size]
[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]Could they have looked something like this: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/452945-latest-acquisitions/[/color][/size]
[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]
[/color][/size]
[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]?[/color][/size]

[Ironmaster Oddities]

[quote name='JASONR5' timestamp='1300137386' post='3055009']
[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1300134149' post='3054851']

My bad. I stand corrected. Bob
[/quote]

I assumed you were using the Ben Hogan line. Ben always liked to say Snead was from WV because he thought it made Sam sound like a hillbilly.
[/quote]
Just your basic "ignorant good-ole boy", of which only about 25% was fact. The rest was pretty good marketing.
Like the time someone told him they saw his picture in a New York newspaper: His response was " how can that be? I ain't ever been to New York."

[Shallowface]

[quote name='Staffer' timestamp='1300216562' post='3057836']
[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300192052' post='3056808']
anyone have pics of a model that he gamed in competition?

Irons or woods?
[/quote]

[color=#1C2837][size=2]The "Wilson Staff irons that were like the 1973 model except without the weight port"?[/size][/color]
[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]
[/color][/size]
[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]Could they have looked something like this: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/452945-latest-acquisitions/[/color][/size]
[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]
[/color][/size]
[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]?[/color][/size]
[/quote]

Yes, absolutely! I also saw a very similar set in the bag of Tom Kite when he was on the Wilson Staff back in the 80s.

[Guia]

I was given a set of woods by Ray Hogan (a cousins of Ben) that were supposed to have been played by Sam, they were Wilson laminated 1 - 4. I have since sold them I can't remember if they were Stra-block or not.

[TheLastDon]

[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1300138874' post='3055087']
[quote name='JASONR5' timestamp='1300137386' post='3055009']
[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1300134149' post='3054851']
My bad. I stand corrected. Bob
[/quote]

I assumed you were using the Ben Hogan line. Ben always liked to say Snead was from WV because he thought it made Sam sound like a hillbilly.
[/quote]


He lived most of his life in WV didn't he?, he was the head Professional emeritus at the Greenbriar in WV for many years.

Sam really played the hillbilly thing up quite well, kind of a modern day John Daly, but not as mentally unstable, that schtick put a lot of $$$ in those tin cans in his back yard.
[/quote]

He's "famous" for his time as head pro at the Greenbriar, but was actually born and raised near Hot Springs, Virginia. It's only a handful of miles from the WV/VA border, and there is a really nice resort there as well. Nowadays, it's only about a 1/2 hour from each other (with the modern interstate system). At the time it probably a good hour to hour and a half drive with the mountain roads as there were.

With Sam's accent, it wasn't difficult to play up the hillbilly angle. He certainly was no genius, and wasn't very educated, but he more than made up for it in terms of common sense and a good sense of people's character. He played up the "Aw, shucks" until he was able to get a read on the person, then handled it as required. Factors that are relatively common for those raised in very rural areas, alot of common sense, wariness of those "outsiders", and very little formal education. His outgoing, showman personality was and still is a rarity not to mention his tremendous physical talent.

[dlygrisse]

[quote name='TheLastDon' timestamp='1300244312' post='3059355']
[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1300138874' post='3055087']
[quote name='JASONR5' timestamp='1300137386' post='3055009']
[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1300134149' post='3054851']
My bad. I stand corrected. Bob
[/quote]

I assumed you were using the Ben Hogan line. Ben always liked to say Snead was from WV because he thought it made Sam sound like a hillbilly.
[/quote]


He lived most of his life in WV didn't he?, he was the head Professional emeritus at the Greenbriar in WV for many years.

Sam really played the hillbilly thing up quite well, kind of a modern day John Daly, but not as mentally unstable, that schtick put a lot of $$$ in those tin cans in his back yard.
[/quote]

He's "famous" for his time as head pro at the Greenbriar, but was actually born and raised near Hot Springs, Virginia. It's only a handful of miles from the WV/VA border, and there is a really nice resort there as well. Nowadays, it's only about a 1/2 hour from each other (with the modern interstate system). At the time it probably a good hour to hour and a half drive with the mountain roads as there were.

With Sam's accent, it wasn't difficult to play up the hillbilly angle. He certainly was no genius, and wasn't very educated, but he more than made up for it in terms of common sense and a good sense of people's character. He played up the "Aw, shucks" until he was able to get a read on the person, then handled it as required. Factors that are relatively common for those raised in very rural areas, alot of common sense, wariness of those "outsiders", and very little formal education. His outgoing, showman personality was and still is a rarity not to mention his tremendous physical talent.
[/quote]

yep, I think that pretty much sums him up. BTW my wife's family is from WV, I have been there many times, beautiful place, nice people. They like to make fun of themselves as hillbillies, and maybe some of them are, but that doesn't mean they are stupid.

[GatorNate11]

[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1300246624' post='3059495']
[quote name='TheLastDon' timestamp='1300244312' post='3059355']
[quote name='dlygrisse' timestamp='1300138874' post='3055087']
[quote name='JASONR5' timestamp='1300137386' post='3055009']
[quote name='Ironmaster Oddities' timestamp='1300134149' post='3054851']
My bad. I stand corrected. Bob
[/quote]

I assumed you were using the Ben Hogan line. Ben always liked to say Snead was from WV because he thought it made Sam sound like a hillbilly.
[/quote]


He lived most of his life in WV didn't he?, he was the head Professional emeritus at the Greenbriar in WV for many years.

Sam really played the hillbilly thing up quite well, kind of a modern day John Daly, but not as mentally unstable, that schtick put a lot of $$$ in those tin cans in his back yard.
[/quote]

He's "famous" for his time as head pro at the Greenbriar, but was actually born and raised near Hot Springs, Virginia. It's only a handful of miles from the WV/VA border, and there is a really nice resort there as well. Nowadays, it's only about a 1/2 hour from each other (with the modern interstate system). At the time it probably a good hour to hour and a half drive with the mountain roads as there were.

With Sam's accent, it wasn't difficult to play up the hillbilly angle. He certainly was no genius, and wasn't very educated, but he more than made up for it in terms of common sense and a good sense of people's character. He played up the "Aw, shucks" until he was able to get a read on the person, then handled it as required. Factors that are relatively common for those raised in very rural areas, alot of common sense, wariness of those "outsiders", and very little formal education. His outgoing, showman personality was and still is a rarity not to mention his tremendous physical talent.
[/quote]

yep, I think that pretty much sums him up. BTW my wife's family is from WV, I have been there many times, beautiful place, nice people. They like to make fun of themselves as hillbillies, and maybe some of them are, but that doesn't mean they are stupid.
[/quote]

Thank you lol

[tembolo1284]

Yap, doesn't mean he was stupid...but he technically would fit the definition in the dictionary.

[url="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hillbilly"]http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hillbilly[/url]

He was from a town of 400 people and definitely in a remote area...although it was back in the 30s...so keep that in mind.

And he took that image all the way to the bank.

Reading his bio now and he said that he didn't really have cans of cash dug in the ground in his backyard, but he didn't mind people thinking that he really was that tight with money.

Good stuff. Book is called The Education of a Golfer: Playing secrets and rollicking memoirs of a great champion.

The man is just hysterical.

Need more chaps like him.

[TheLastDon]

[quote name='tembolo1284' timestamp='1300279553' post='3060142']
Yap, doesn't mean he was stupid...but he technically would fit the definition in the dictionary.

[url="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hillbilly"]http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hillbilly[/url]

He was from a town of 400 people and definitely in a remote area...although it was back in the 30s...so keep that in mind.

And he took that image all the way to the bank.

[/quote]

Remote is right, there are a few more than 400 there now but not more than a couple thousand (meaning 2 or 3 max with tourists). My grandmother lives in WV about 20 minutes from White Sulpher Springs (Greenbriar) and I have driven by and through Hot Springs VA several times. My family is originally from the SE part of WV so I familiar with quite a bit of the area. Even with the interstate system nowadays, it is still very remote and even the "big cities" would only be considered "quaint" by those that have spent any time in the big coastal cities (NY, Philly, Boston, LA, SF, etc.). It truly is a hole different world, and I for one prefer "quaint".

[tembolo1284]

Can't argue that. Fellow was one of a kind.

[spilbellman]

Snead's driver was a George Izett. George Sr. told me the story back in the early 70's. Wilson milled their sole plate onto it, and afyter many years, it cracked or broke, and couldn't be fixed. George said he thought Snead was gonna cry right there in his shop. Izett mad ea number of exact copies but Snead was never satisfied. George never got a dime for any of the clubs.

Everytime I saw him his clubs were Wilson Staff custom grinds, with the grooves on the 6 iron through the wedges as big as he could get them. Looked like a corn field before the corn grew.

The Lump