Who plays classic clubs?

[Richard Nixon]

Yes, you market them to me and figure out what you're willing to sell them for.

[dawson2282]

I guess by the years I've seen and read here my set of Wilson X-31s ('83/'84) I purchased about six years ago at a shop in Houston and a PING Echo 2 (1969) qualify as classic...

Actually, I still have a set of MacGregor MT Tourney woods made in 1964 (1,2, 3, and 4) with the keyhole insert face.  They have the original 21 step shaft, which I believe was a shaft Tiger Woods tried to revive a few years ago when experimenting with Nike.  My father gave them to me when he purchased a set of Wilson X-31s in '68 or so.  First woods I had and used until about 1996.

Cleveland 330 Launcher w/Accra T60/M3++++Cleveland 400 Launcher w/Aldila NV
TaylorMade Rescue mids 16*, 19*, 22*
Ping i10 4-UW (4 stay in extra bag)
Cleveland 54* 900 series wedge]
Never Compromise TDP 5.2

[bl8d]

I think the Tiger preferred shaft in question is the "Pro-peller" shaft that came stock in all MT Tourney's of that '60 period. I used them, and in hindsight they were very good, but I didn't appreciate that till much later when I played the DGS and was looking for that same smooth feel.

[Ciotog99]

I play a set of Golden Ram Tour Grinds. They are fantastic IMO

My putter is an old Ping Cushin, it flat out works... for me.

[NRJyzr]

I play a set of Golden Ram Tour Grinds. They are fantastic IMO

You have impeccable taste.

[Ciotog99]

I play a set of Golden Ram Tour Grinds. They are fantastic IMO

You have impeccable taste.

As do you kind sir!   

[HennieBogan]

I play Hogan Apex II's  -


1 iron and 3 - Equalizer

Hogan Speed Slot Driver / 4 and 5 wood - (redoing the 3 wood to switch up depending on the course)

Wedges are Ram Custom Grind Tom Watson Scoring System 50* - 55* - 60*

(if I play a longer course I bring the following woods along)

Precept  Tour Premium 9.5* -w- Grafallowy Prolite Shaft / Taylor Made Tour Preferred Tour Spoon 13* / Taylor Made Raylor 16* (also have 19*)

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I also have a set of -

Macgregor Tourney MT R9MT irons

Macgregor MCX Woods 1 - 3 - 4 - 5

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I use another set at times -

Sam Snead Blue Ridge

3 - 9 irons

Claude Harmon PW

Triple Duty Wilson Wedge

1 - 3 - 4 - 5 Woods

All of them have the AerFlo Shafts with original bands - leather reminder grips with original Wilson Logo endcaps


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Another set I play -


Walter Hagen Haig Ultra - 2 - PW

Driver - 3 - 4  - 5 woods


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I also use this set at time -

Wilson Sam Snead one hundred's

Titliest Acushnet 1 and 4 wood

Wilson Arnold Palmer  Signature 3 wood (Strata Bloc) best 3 wood I have ever hit

Wilson Strata Bloc 5 Wood that looks like a rescue club - very small head - complete brass plate at bottom (great club)

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Another vintage set I play sometimes is -

Macgregor "Flying MT"  Rec 75

3 - 9 iron and 11 iron

original leather grips

circa 1951-52

absolutely beautiful set and in excellent condition - I  am going to stop playing them and display them instead

[HennieBogan]

I forgot to add another set

Tommy Nichols Persimmon Driver - 3 - 4 - 5 woods

2 - PW irons

Tommy Nichols "the impossible" brass putter

Tommy Nichols was winner of the 1964 PGA)

Speed Slot Shafts in all - Stainless Steel Blades

Set was made by H & B

Have a leather bag to go with them

[Awsi Dooger]

I really like to see this discussion on classic equipment!  Always go back to my '66 vintage Haig Ultra irons when the game goes bad.  Played them most of this past year.  Guess that tells you how poorly I played!  These are still the best irons I have ever played and I have used a lot of different sets over the last several years.

Thanks for starting this discussion.

I love reading this thread. I'm a member of other golf sites but they don't have a classic forum like this.

I'm thrilled that I rescued the same set of irons last year, '66 Haig Ultras, on eBay. It felt like stealing at $32.

Agreed, they are the best irons I've ever played. My dad purchased that set for me when I was in junior high in the early '70s. By far my best golf was with that set, as low as 3 handicap. Nice high controlled draw. I haven't approached that level since the Haig Ultras were lost in the mid '80s during a move from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. I bought Hogan blades as a replacement and while great looking I could never work the ball similarly right to left, probably due to high bend point.

I finally can chip again. That's what always baffles me about iron reviews. No one ever mentions chipping. The pitching wedge in the Haig Ultra set is 51 degrees, a modern gap wedge. It's so simple to bump and run from back in my stance, and the rounded look is confidence inspiring.

I've lengthened the clubs to match my 6-4 frame and installed midsized grips. Right now my intention is to play the Haig Ultras forever. Need to find the sand iron. I never had that with my original set, using a Wilson instead.

I had no idea the clubs were '66 models. I remembered what they looked like and sampled eBay until I found them. Then I checked Ironfinder.com to identify the year. I was surprised it was '66 and not early '70s. I guess my dad bought used clubs to save cash, and didn't tell me. 

[Avatar]

Ping Eye 2+'s.

[josefmonster]

These are my  best game clubs:






These are my favourite of many vintage clubs:

[bl8d]

I just put a set of '86 Spalding Tour Editions back into play. IMO these are the best blades made to date by an American company. These were copied by Mizuno as MP11. Miz blades are mostly copies of proven designs including the Hogan Precisions which they released as MP-14 .(yes, I'm not infatuated by Mizzies ,unlike many others)
The Tour Editions are the most accurate blades I've played,easily outscoring my 20thMuirfields and '99 Hogan Apex.

[rp]

I am building a set of mid 70's Apex doing an MOI/TLT setup with them to see how they compare with my more modern sets done to the same specs. I suspect there are areas where they will perform better, forgiveness not being one  .

I have always floated back and forth, but the old blades bring a sense of purity to the game. I can go out early in the morning with a set of classic blades and there is no better feeling.

[MannKrafted]

I agree that the feeling of catching that 2-iron blade, right on the money, early in the morning is unequaled by today's "game improvement" clubs.  However, catching that same 2-iron, just a little thin, at 7 AM in 40* temps.................well, that really can't be equaled, either.... .  My fingers still sting and it has been 24 years since that incident, LOL.
But, no matter the infrequent pain, I am a glutton for punishment and from time to time I always find my way back to a set of sweet forged blades that call out my name.  Just yesterday I heard the cries from a set of Titleist Tour Models, 1991 models.  I was in a local consignment shop and it was a sweet set.  It was 1-iron thru PW and even had the old school Titleist staff bag, the one that was patent leather, black and white.  The price on the irons was a mere $100, but it required some thinking, so here I sit.................thinking.
I may go back and pick them up, but I need them like a hole in the head. 
Just had to chime in and relate a bit.
Thanks guys,
LaMont in AZ

[oldplayer]

I guess there are quite a few traditionalists and blade playing purists out there. It's good to know you're not alone! I have quite a few classic sets and love playing them. It's a lot of fun, the only problem is I have to keep changing to give them all a go. Older forged blades are so pure and they force you to concentrate and really train your swing. Some of the sets I have are as follows:
Wilson FG17
Wilson FG51
Wilson fluid Feel tour blade 1986
MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Muirfield 20th.
Powerbilt Century 1984 anniversary limited edition.
Titleist Tour Model 1985
Maxfli Australian Blades (early 80s I think)
Set of Joe Powell glastrac persimmons 1,3,5. (beautiful and play REALLY well)

I also have some more recent sets of blades that are virtual classics, certainly they will be in the future.
Mizuno MP29
MacGregor VIP 1025m  (currently playing)
and the list could go on......

Probably the best classics I own in my opinion are the Wilson irons, fantastic feel and accuracy. It would be a toss-up between the FG17 and the FG51. If I had to chose I'd take the 51s.

[BigLeftyinAZ]

I only bust these out once in a blue moon

[wenoG]

I love reading this thread. I'm a member of other golf sites but they don't have a classic forum like this.

I'm thrilled that I rescued the same set of irons last year, '66 Haig Ultras, on eBay. It felt like stealing at $32.

Agreed, they are the best irons I've ever played. My dad purchased that set for me when I was in junior high in the early '70s. By far my best golf was with that set, as low as 3 handicap. Nice high controlled draw. I haven't approached that level since the Haig Ultras were lost in the mid '80s during a move from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. I bought Hogan blades as a replacement and while great looking I could never work the ball similarly right to left, probably due to high bend point.

I finally can chip again. That's what always baffles me about iron reviews. No one ever mentions chipping. The pitching wedge in the Haig Ultra set is 51 degrees, a modern gap wedge. It's so simple to bump and run from back in my stance, and the rounded look is confidence inspiring.

I've lengthened the clubs to match my 6-4 frame and installed midsized grips. Right now my intention is to play the Haig Ultras forever. Need to find the sand iron. I never had that with my original set, using a Wilson instead.

I had no idea the clubs were '66 models. I remembered what they looked like and sampled eBay until I found them. Then I checked Ironfinder.com to identify the year. I was surprised it was '66 and not early '70s. I guess my dad bought used clubs to save cash, and didn't tell me. 

any pictures of the  '66 hagens?  I have several sets of Walter Hagens.  My favorites are the Haig-Ultra's from '69.

Wendell

[Rye]

Titleist Tour Model 1985

[RobotDoctor]

If I could, I would put these into play.  I am not sure which one because both are tremendous.   

[Richard Nixon]

If I could, I would put these into play.  I am not sure which one because both are tremendous.  

If you'd like, I can put those into play for you.

[RobotDoctor]

[hitboy]

huh,,recently,I am playing Taylormade Tour Preferred iron set now Nice!!

[Richard Nixon]

huh,,recently,I am playing Taylormade Tour Preferred iron set now Nice!!

I'm relatively certain you're spamming the site.

[RobotDoctor]

huh,,recently,I am playing Taylormade Tour Preferred iron set now Nice!!

And what does this post have anything to do with classic clubs?   

[Richard Nixon]

no,I did not play Titleiest blades one.I ever tried  Titleist Scotty Cameron Detour New Port 2 Putter 
But now I am playing Callaway X-22 Tour Iron Set

Very Nice

Yeah, again, this is spam.