Rounds with a Vintage Bag

[mbwannab]

On 2/13/2023 at 4:53 PM, cold_war_era_golfer said:

Chicagoland golf in February!  

 

I joined two other golfers in their late 50s today.  We talked about clubs before teeing off when one of them told me he only buys "used" gear.  I saw graphite and oversized "wood" heads so I had a bit of a snicker when I pointed to my "used" clubs.  I told him I've been seriously(whatever that means) golfing since 2020 and sort of have a self imposed rule of blades & persimmons.  He said, "you NEED to buy a modern driver."  He was VERY nice and I think his intentions were coming from a good place.

 

His first tee shot with the driver went soaring out of bounds and his second found the fairway.  

My first shot with my new to me Wilson 4300 3w found the fairway about 3 yards behind his second shot.  This continued for a majority of the round.

 

I have noticed a lot of amateur golfers overswing those modern drivers.   Maybe the enlarged sweet spot makes miss hits less likely but when they do miss it's usually WAY off.  

 

This has become my "winter set" I have a few sets of these '61-62 TF Synchro Dyneds and these appear to be in the worst shape.  I hear cold ground is bad for clubs but the lofts don't seem to be messed up after this morning.  Also included was a similar vintage Spalding storeline pitching wedger and a Bullseye HB5.

 

I know a lot of you use metal woods in the winter but I thought this 1965 Wilson laminate 3w would hold up and if not it's nothing too special.

 

Problem is I really enjoyed hitting this 3w today!

That’s a pretty cool bag stand 😁. Is that a classic item or a modern with a classic twist? Im fairly new to classic golf but I ’ve never seen that before.

[cold_war_era_golfer]

3 hours ago, mbwannab said:

That’s a pretty cool bag stand 😁. Is that a classic item or a modern with a classic twist? Im fairly new to classic golf but I ’ve never seen that before.

It’s made by a company called Bubba Whips.  It works great with the Jones bag.  

[MrFlipper]

Also commonly known as trestle sticks...

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Had some decent weather the other day, so I decided to take some persimmons out for the first time this year.

I settled on my favourites, a Mizuno Blondie driver, Mizuno Original Blondie 3w, and a Mizuno Pro 5w. The driver is, I think, an MS-801 that's been refinished, and I think the 3w and 5w date from about the same time.

 

Irons were Wilson Bulletbacks, which I assume are 1985 reissues as they are in sparkling condition and have DGS300 shafts.

To go with the irons, I added a JP Custom Grind SW (mid Eighties?) and a Wilson Tom Kite lob wedge (1985?). With that setup, the putter had to be an 8802.

 

With a Titleist surlyn wound ball in play, this was very much an Eighties bag. I really should have blow-dried my hair to complete the look. Well, if I had any hair to speak of...

 

It was cold and cloudy when we started...

 

But it brightened up a little...

 

The 17th, or the 8th as we played it, is a short par-4 guarded mostly by water. I was hitting the driver really well, so I decided to go for it. Cleared the trouble, but just missed the green left (the red arrow is where I landed), and rolled down the slope, leaving a tricky pitch over a bunker with water long and I could only just see the top of the flagstick. I hit a beauty, which apparently just missed going in for an eagle. I managed to miss the 3-footer for birdie...

 

A few more pictures. Difficult 3rd hole (our 12th that day) from the tee. OB left and penalty areas up the right. Hit an OK drive, poor second and didn't get up and down for par.

 

The JP wedge and Blondie 3w:

 

The JP wedge was great; it's heavy (490 grams so just over a pound) and has a swing weight in the "E" range, but that helps get the ball out of sand. I went in two bunkers, neither particularly deep, but left short little bunker shots. I stuck the first to 1-foot for a gimme, and the second to 2-foot for an easy par.

 

The 8802 is not my favourite putter. It's good for long range lag putts, but I don't make much with it. Then again, the same could be said for every putter I use. What could be the common denominator here. Hmmm......

 

40-39 for a 7-over 79. Pretty pleased with that.

[ezgoer]

Bag looks awesome. Wedge looks pretty special, I love the leading edge. Course looks fun, all the undulations bet you get some funky/challenging stances. 8802’s scare me and Iron Masters terrify me. 

[BIG STU]

4 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

Had some decent weather the other day, so I decided to take some persimmons out for the first time this year.

I settled on my favourites, a Mizuno Blondie driver, Mizuno Original Blondie 3w, and a Mizuno Pro 5w. The driver is, I think, an MS-801 that's been refinished, and I think the 3w and 5w date from about the same time.

 

Irons were Wilson Bulletbacks, which I assume are 1985 reissues as they are in sparkling condition and have DGS300 shafts.

To go with the irons, I added a JP Custom Grind SW (mid Eighties?) and a Wilson Tom Kite lob wedge (1985?). With that setup, the putter had to be an 8802.

 

With a Titleist surlyn wound ball in play, this was very much an Eighties bag. I really should have blow-dried my hair to complete the look. Well, if I had any hair to speak of...

 

It was cold and cloudy when we started...

 

But it brightened up a little...

 

The 17th, or the 8th as we played it, is a short par-4 guarded mostly by water. I was hitting the driver really well, so I decided to go for it. Cleared the trouble, but just missed the green left (the red arrow is where I landed), and rolled down the slope, leaving a tricky pitch over a bunker with water long and I could only just see the top of the flagstick. I hit a beauty, which apparently just missed going in for an eagle. I managed to miss the 3-footer for birdie...

 

A few more pictures. Difficult 3rd hole (our 12th that day) from the tee. OB left and penalty areas up the right. Hit an OK drive, poor second and didn't get up and down for par.

 

The JP wedge and Blondie 3w:

 

The JP wedge was great; it's heavy (490 grams so just over a pound) and has a swing weight in the "E" range, but that helps get the ball out of sand. I went in two bunkers, neither particularly deep, but left short little bunker shots. I stuck the first to 1-foot for a gimme, and the second to 2-foot for an easy par.

 

The 8802 is not my favourite putter. It's good for long range lag putts, but I don't make much with it. Then again, the same could be said for every putter I use. What could be the common denominator here. Hmmm......

 

40-39 for a 7-over 79. Pretty pleased with that.

You have known me on here long enough to know I am sorta a wedge and putter ho. I have a certain affection for Wilson JP wedges and have several. Out of all the putters I own I do not own a Wilson 8802 even though I do have a Cleveland designed by and a Little David 8802. Now at one time I was pretty hot ( about 20 years ago) with that Cleveland Designed by so I do keep it around. Now Ironmasters I have like 15 of them in various vintage and models. I have one IM-5 now that I am thinking about it I have had 50 years now and was hot with it in High School then I switched to a Anser. I am also fond of some TP Mills Spaldings and the #3 is in the vintage bag  now. 

[BIG STU]

2 hours ago, ezgoer said:

Bag looks awesome. Wedge looks pretty special, I love the leading edge. Course looks fun, all the undulations bet you get some funky/challenging stances. 8802’s scare me and Iron Masters terrify me. 

I like the looks of Ironmasters and will admit I do not putt as well with them as I do my rusty Scotty but it is part of my fun to putt with any of my vintage putters. I was on the putting green the other day messing with my before mentioned Mills #3. One of my fellow members asked WTH? I told him I was messing around having fun. He was perplexed because I did not have the Scotty which has a reputation around this end of the beach. If he would have looked closer in the vintage Sun Mountain Sunday bag beside the green he would have seen my Jupiter Slugger and my 54 Precisions

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

58 minutes ago, BIG STU said:

You have known me on here long enough to know I am sorta a wedge and putter ho. I have a certain affection for Wilson JP wedges and have several. Out of all the putters I own I do not own a Wilson 8802 even though I do have a Cleveland designed by and a Little David 8802. Now at one time I was pretty hot ( about 20 years ago) with that Cleveland Designed by so I do keep it around. Now Ironmasters I have like 15 of them in various vintage and models. I have one IM-5 now that I am thinking about it I have had 50 years now and was hot with it in High School then I switched to a Anser. I am also fond of some TP Mills Spaldings and the #3 is in the vintage bag  now. 

 

Yep, and I can see why you like the JP wedges. I look for old Wilson wedges on the local auction sites, but they're often either pricey or too short for me. 

 

That Tom Kite wedge is actually a little on the short side. It's 35" on a good day, more like 34.75", and while it's fun to play, it's hard to get fully comfortable with it.

 

Now I prefer the slightly boxier shape of the Ironmasters, but I'm not great with that putter either (the closest I've got to a real Ironmaster is a Mac Muirfield putter, and a recently acquired Mizuno Pro 9002.

 

The TP #3 is one I need to try. I like the look of the neck on it.

Edited February 19, 2023 by No_Catchy_Nickname

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

3 hours ago, ezgoer said:

Bag looks awesome. Wedge looks pretty special, I love the leading edge. Course looks fun, all the undulations bet you get some funky/challenging stances. 8802’s scare me and Iron Masters terrify me. 

 

The leading edge was really good off the tight fairways (grass is dormant, so very tight). And all the weight down low helps get the club through the turf and the ball in the air.

[BIG STU]

2 hours ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

Yep, and I can see why you like the JP wedges. I look for old Wilson wedges on the local auction sites, but they're often either pricey or too short for me. 

 

That Tom Kite wedge is actually a little on the short side. It's 35" on a good day, more like 34.75", and while it's fun to play, it's hard to get fully comfortable with it.

 

Now I prefer the slightly boxier shape of the Ironmasters, but I'm not great with that putter either (the closest I've got to a real Ironmaster is a Mac Muirfield putter, and a recently acquired Mizuno Pro 9002.

 

The TP #3 is one I need to try. I like the look of the neck on it.

Yep the TP #3 I love the overall look on it and how it frames the ball and like most vintage Mills putters it has a great feel to it

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

3 hours ago, BIG STU said:

You have known me on here long enough to know I am sorta a wedge and putter ho. I have a certain affection for Wilson JP wedges and have several. Out of all the putters I own I do not own a Wilson 8802 even though I do have a Cleveland designed by and a Little David 8802. Now at one time I was pretty hot ( about 20 years ago) with that Cleveland Designed by so I do keep it around. Now Ironmasters I have like 15 of them in various vintage and models. I have one IM-5 now that I am thinking about it I have had 50 years now and was hot with it in High School then I switched to a Anser. I am also fond of some TP Mills Spaldings and the #3 is in the vintage bag  now. 

 

I've just remembered something I've been meaning to ask you for a while about the JP Wedges.

 

A few months ago, I saw a listing on a Japanese site for a JP wedge, and the JP lettering was different from the one on the picture I posted earlier. Kind of more block-like. The seller said this was a sign that it was a tour-issue wedge.

 

Do you know anything about this? Any help would be useful. Mind you, at the price he was offering, I wasn't going to buy...

[Hickory4ever]

I have a fondness for Wilson Staff as they were my first set of brand new clubs that I ever had. I have other classic brands in my stable, but prefer my old Staffs or Dynapower Turfriders as my main players.

 

I have managed to find several good Wilson SW’s and find they play pretty well. I managed a trade yesterday that got me two more, a nice S-20 and R-90. Also found a nice Accuform SW for a little Canadian content.

 

The weather looks good today, so more February golf in the Great White North. I am going to play with a unique set that I recently acquired, a set of forged CB from Kahler. They are known for making guitar parts, it should be interesting. They feel pretty good.

[ezgoer]

13 hours ago, BIG STU said:

I like the looks of Ironmasters and will admit I do not putt as well with them as I do my rusty Scotty but it is part of my fun to putt with any of my vintage putters. I was on the putting green the other day messing with my before mentioned Mills #3. One of my fellow members asked WTH? I told him I was messing around having fun. He was perplexed because I did not have the Scotty which has a reputation around this end of the beach. If he would have looked closer in the vintage Sun Mountain Sunday bag beside the green he would have seen my Jupiter Slugger and my 54 Precisions

To get over my fears of Iron Masters i just made a purchase. 
1. Condition is pretty damn good and then some.

2. Price for 3 is cheaper than many are asking for 1 in crappier condition. 
3. Then I noticed sellers name and thought what the heck close enough. 

Edited February 19, 2023 by ezgoer

[Brewski_golfs]

Finally made it out for the first round of the season today, and decided to keep it really simple with no expectations.  Ended up only taking 6 clubs, none of which I had ever used on the course previously.   The Burke 2 wood was in rough shape when I acquired it, completely rebuilt it last summer including reshafting with a DG S200.  I hit a few at the range after the rebuild and really liked the way it felt.  The staff tour blades are from a partial set I have been trying to sell on EBay for a while. I was basically giving them away but could not get a single bidder, so decided to just keep them and use them as short set.  I didn’t have a wedge with the set,  but I have a 89 staff PW that needed a home so I threw it in to make a 4-6-8-PW set.  Not a huge bullseye fan but I do have a couple flange models I really like, it just felt like the right match for this simple setup.  
 

Round was fantastic.  Burke was rock solid off the tee, only hooked one drive, the rest were right down the middle, including one 2nd shot off the fairway.  Staff’s were pretty much excellent as expected, and the bullseye was solid, didn’t sink anything long but no 3 putts either.   Chipping was my downfall, but thats mostly my fault as I haven’t practiced chips in a few months.  Walked off the course with a 40, which is a little better than average for me. Highlight was a 75% PW from 80 yards on the 9th that landed 1 foot from the cup for birdie.   I foresee a lot of 10 clubs or fewer rounds in my future.  

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

2 hours ago, ezgoer said:

To get over my fears of Iron Masters i just made a purchase. 
1. Condition is pretty damn good and then some.

2. Price for 3 is cheaper than many are asking for 1 in crappier condition. 
3. Then I noticed sellers name and thought what the heck close enough. 

 

Love the long ferrule on the one on the left😍

[Hickory4ever]

 

Todays round was with an interesting set I picked up and mentioned in my earlier post. The weather was a high of around 7*C (low 40’s F) but very high winds. These forged CC played reasonably well. The rest of the cast was an Otey Crisman putter, Wilson R-20 SW, Wilson Ultradyne III Driver, 15* Ginty Steamer, and a no name 4 wood.

 

The course was busy because there are so few open in the Great White North in February.

Edited February 20, 2023 by Hickory4ever

[cold_war_era_golfer]

4 hours ago, ezgoer said:

To get over my fears of Iron Masters i just made a purchase. 
1. Condition is pretty damn good and then some.

2. Price for 3 is cheaper than many are asking for 1 in crappier condition. 
3. Then I noticed sellers name and thought what the heck close enough. 

I wish I knew you were looking I just liquidated my entire Iron Master collection.   I could never figure how to putt with one.  

[cold_war_era_golfer]

1 hour ago, Brewski_golfs said:

Finally made it out for the first round of the season today, and decided to keep it really simple with no expectations.  Ended up only taking 6 clubs, none of which I had ever used on the course previously.   The Burke 2 wood was in rough shape when I acquired it, completely rebuilt it last summer including reshafting with a DG S200.  I hit a few at the range after the rebuild and really liked the way it felt.  The staff tour blades are from a partial set I have been trying to sell on EBay for a while. I was basically giving them away but could not get a single bidder, so decided to just keep them and use them as short set.  I didn’t have a wedge with the set,  but I have a 89 staff PW that needed a home so I threw it in to make a 4-6-8-PW set.  Not a huge bullseye fan but I do have a couple flange models I really like, it just felt like the right match for this simple setup.  
 

Round was fantastic.  Burke was rock solid off the tee, only hooked one drive, the rest were right down the middle, including one 2nd shot off the fairway.  Staff’s were pretty much excellent as expected, and the bullseye was solid, didn’t sink anything long but no 3 putts either.   Chipping was my downfall, but thats mostly my fault as I haven’t practiced chips in a few months.  Walked off the course with a 40, which is a little better than average for me. Highlight was a 75% PW from 80 yards on the 9th that landed 1 foot from the cup for birdie.   I foresee a lot of 10 clubs or fewer rounds in my future.  

Wow!  This looks like a setup I would take out.  Magnificent!

[Hickory4ever]

The weather cooperated for one more day so three of us played today. It was a sunny day with relatively light winds and a high around 40*F for my American friends.

 

I played my 76’ Wilson Staff irons with Walter Hagen woods and an old battered Otey Crisman putter. I played a decent game for February in Canada. I love those blades.

 

We were not alone with over 100 players teeing it up.

Edited February 20, 2023 by Hickory4ever

[SnowbirdTom]

Set up the Sunday bag with selected Wilson K-28 clubs.  D/3W/4-PW/putter and carried for 9 holes.  Single strap bag was kinda out of balance because I had a 32 oz water bottle at the base.  Got several comments about walk/carry.  Shot ok, not great.  Kept ‘em all inside the fairway boundaries and putted decent.  Net +6 balls.  

[Jiggered]

Last day in the bag before rotation for the Craigton Royal Gold irons.

Paired with Harold Bird & Son laminated 1, 3 and 5 woods and a Spalding Cash-In putter.

 

Poor start hooking my drive not very far into the rough down the left, chopped at it with a 6 iron but it stayed in the rough left and couldn't find it so nil points on the first.
Birdied the next though and went on to play holes 2 to 9 in level par for 21 points.

Right on handicap on the back nine for 43 strokes and 18 points for 39 total.

 

 

[SnowbirdTom]

Today started auspiciously.  Bagged up the turf-riders with the JP persimmons and the Tour Special II putter for 18 before taking a shift as starter.  Took a sleeve of balatas off the shelf too.
 

First hole from 5814 yard senior tees - drive/5I to the left edge of green.  Putting for eagle.  Eek!  Missed it just left and got my bird.  Whole day went well.  Shot 80 with 67 net.  I’m ecstatic.

 

Excellent lunch in clubhouse, then off to the tee shack.

 

[NRJyzr]

35 minutes ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Today started auspiciously.  Bagged up the turf-riders with the JP persimmons and the Tour Special II putter for 18 before taking a shift as starter.  Took a sleeve of balatas off the shelf too.
 

First hole from 5814 yard senior tees - drive/5I to the left edge of green.  Putting for eagle.  Eek!  Missed it just left and got my bird.  Whole day went well.  Shot 80 with 67 net.  I’m ecstatic.

 

Excellent lunch in clubhouse, then off to the tee shack.

 

 

 

 

Tots!  🙂

 

[cold_war_era_golfer]

56 minutes ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Today started auspiciously.  Bagged up the turf-riders with the JP persimmons and the Tour Special II putter for 18 before taking a shift as starter.  Took a sleeve of balatas off the shelf too.
 

First hole from 5814 yard senior tees - drive/5I to the left edge of green.  Putting for eagle.  Eek!  Missed it just left and got my bird.  Whole day went well.  Shot 80 with 67 net.  I’m ecstatic.

 

Excellent lunch in clubhouse, then off to the tee shack.

 

Your recent posts have been making me want to dig my Turfriders out.   Or eat a BLT for lunch.

[SnowbirdTom]

2 hours ago, cold_war_era_golfer said:

Your recent posts have been making me want to dig my Turfriders out.   Or eat a BLT for lunch.

Do both.  
 

Got a new to me Sunday bag on the way with the backpack strap setup.  First round is with the ‘57 Top Flites.  Gonna try a half set of fun.

Edited February 23, 2023 by SnowbirdTom

[Hickory4ever]

53 minutes ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Do both.  
 

Got a new to me Sunday bag on the way with the backpack strap setup.  First round is with the ‘57 Top Flites.  Gonna try a half set of fun.

I will do both at some point.

[@_the_crook]

4 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Today started auspiciously.  Bagged up the turf-riders with the JP persimmons and the Tour Special II putter for 18 before taking a shift as starter.  Took a sleeve of balatas off the shelf too.
 

First hole from 5814 yard senior tees - drive/5I to the left edge of green.  Putting for eagle.  Eek!  Missed it just left and got my bird.  Whole day went well.  Shot 80 with 67 net.  I’m ecstatic.

 

Excellent lunch in clubhouse, then off to the tee shack.

 

 

BLT and Tater Tots?

yummy

[@_the_crook]

@SnowbirdTom

reminded me of a group trip we took to Indiana.

breakfast buffet had a big pan of nice crispy bacon next to the toaster.

I hogged out and made maybe three/four porky sammiches to put in the bag as we were going out for 36 holes.

what a day.

'lunch at the turn? - no thanks, got mine.'

😄

[SnowbirdTom]

@_the_crook

cold_war_era_golfer

 

I’ll be in Michigan all summer. How’s about we get a tee time and play some vintage golf out your way?

[@_the_crook]

1 hour ago, SnowbirdTom said:

I’ll be in Michigan all summer.

what area?