Today's Persimmon

BarneyRubble · January 17, 2012

Sometime ago I sent an email to Nicklaus Golf asking if Mr. Nicklaus teed up with a persimmon wood every now and then. Amazingly someone replied saying that not long ago when they hosted a grand opening event Jack would play the inaugural round and his first tee shot was with a driver that was a replica of the driver he used for most of his majors (I'm assuming it was his 945W). The club had never been hit and would never he hit again. He would sign it and then present it as a keepsake. He then went on to say that it became increasingly difficult, if not impossible to source the persimmon to Jack's club-maker. They are now doing the same thing except they use a titanium driver which is a replica of the driver he uses today.

Do you think he meant today's persimmon is inferior OR is he saying that it's because persimmon head just simply arent being made any longer? I fail to understand why a persimmon block would be inferior to those oil hardened blocks from 50-60 years ago.

BR

majic · January 17, 2012

The man, Jack Wulcotte that built all of Jack's drivers has stopped doing club work. No more persimmon clubs from him. Tad

dlygrisse · January 17, 2012

[quote name='majic' timestamp='1326851338' post='4102487']
The man, Jack Wulcotte that built all of Jack's drivers has stopped doing club work. No more persimmon clubs from him. Tad
[/quote]

They could have the folks at Louisville golf make him a few, they are still one of the last few, if not the only one in business. Didn't they used to make clubs for some of the OEM's like Hogan?

PeterSinIndy · January 23, 2012

Louisville Golf can and does do custom clubheads. They made one for Tiger to play practice rounds, and one for Bob Estes (could there be anyone else named for their "Pro B.E." drivers? In addition, their Classic Fifties persimmon drivers are copies of the MacGregor 693s.

Respectfully,
Peter

teevons · January 23, 2012

Joe Powell is still cranking out some beauties also. I am sure Tad could duplicate the head also. The soleplate would be the tough part , duplicating it that is.

[quote name='PeterSinIndy' timestamp='1327344094' post='4140447']
Louisville Golf can and does do custom clubheads. They made one for Tiger to play practice rounds, and one for Bob Estes (could there be anyone else named for their "Pro B.E." drivers? In addition, their Classic Fifties persimmon drivers are copies of the MacGregor 693s.

Respectfully,
Peter
[/quote]