What is the history of golf clubs?
History of Golf Clubs 1 Early Clubs. For hundreds of years, golf clubs were made out of wood, and it was not until late last century that the wooden shaft was replaced by other materials. 2 Woods. The shafts of the early clubs were made out of local European woods like ash or hazel. ... 3 Irons. ... 4 Shafts. ... 5 Today. ...
When did golf balls become made of wood?
According to the Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation website, golf balls were also made of wood until the 17th or early 18th century. In Scotland, the type of wood used to make clubs changed with two American imports: hickory for club shafts in 1826 and persimmon for club heads in 1900.
What wood are old golf clubs made out of?
Bulgers - like today's woods as they have a bulbous head. The shafts of the early clubs were made out of local European woods like ash or hazel. Club heads were made from tough wood such as beech, holly, pear and apple.
When were golf shafts invented?
By the early 1890's, hickory was the primary wood used in golf shafts. In the 1890's club designers were experimenting with other materials such as steel tubes and solid steel rods. A Scottish blacksmith, Thomas Horsburgh made the first steel shaft in 1893.
When did golf clubs stop using wood?
In the mid-20th century, both the USGA and the R&A ruled that golf clubs with steel shafts could be used in tournaments. While steel was used for club shafts, wooden heads were the norm for drivers and fairway woods until the 1970s.
When did golf clubs change from wood to metal?
The R&A finally legalized the use of steel shafted clubs after the Prince of Wales used them on the Old Course at St Andrews in 1929. The steel shaft provided for greater accuracy and durability.
Do they still make wooden golf clubs?
Persimmon Golf produce some of the finest wooden golf clubs, maintaining a tradition for the many thousands of Persimmon fans who demand the experience and pleasure of playing with modern high-performance persimmon clubs.
When did wood golf clubs come out?
The “wood” in golf clubs began to change when golf club makers began importing wood from America. In 1826 hickory wood for golf club shafts and 1900 persimmon for club heads came to Scotland. Hickory shafts soon became the most popular choice of wood for all golf club shafts because of the wood's durability.
How old are wooden clubs?
Believe it or not, hickory golf clubs are not that rare. Literally, millions of golf clubs were made from the late 1800's until early 1930's. (That is 40 years of hickory golf club production) In the mid/late 30's, hickory shafted clubs halted production due to the new technology – steel shafted clubs.
What are wooden golf clubs called?
There were clubs called mashies and niblicks (and mashie-niblicks); cleeks and jiggers; baffies and spoons, among others. Today, we call such clubs "antique golf clubs" or "historical golf clubs," or obsolete or archaic clubs. Perhaps the better name, though, would be "pre-modern clubs."
Are old golf clubs worth any money?
According to GolfWeek, the most valuable antique golf clubs can sell for as much as $80,000 at auction. However, it's not at all common to see this type of value. Most individual clubs sell for between $15 and $100 at auction or in resale shops.
When did they stop making hickory shaft golf clubs?
1935With the arrival and eventual legalization (1929) of steel shafts, the demand for hickory's started to diminish, by 1935 the production of hickory clubs had stopped.
Do they still make hickory golf clubs?
There are three modern makers of hickory clubs whose products are approved for play by the Society of Hickory Golfers: Louisville Golf (www.louisvillegolf.com) Tad Moore (www.tadmoore.com) St.
When did golf clubs get metal shafts?
Golfers and club designers experimented with steel shafts as early as the 1890s, but didn't fully embrace the new technology until the mid-1920s. The advancement changed the golf swing and eventually ushered in graphite shafts.
What is a 1 wood golf club?
A wood is a hollow-bodied large headed golf club. It's customary to use your woods when you are 175 yards or more away from the green. The driver (also called the 1 wood) has the lowest loft of any golf club. Loft is the angle of the club face that controls trajectory and affects distance.
What are golf club heads made of?
Most wooden golf club heads are made from persimmon wood which was considered the highest-quality golf club heads for those clubs referred to as "woods". Persimmon woods are still made, but in far lower numbers than in past. The wood shafts are made of hickory for it's strong and yet elastic flex and feel, and they are generally tapered ...
What are golf shafts made of?
The wood shafts are made of hickory for it's strong and yet elastic flex and feel, and they are generally tapered to be a smaller diameter at the head and larger at the grip. The handle end of the shafts are larger so that you could apply one layer of friction tape and a user desired leather grip to create a standard grip for use by most golfer.
What are the grips on a golf club?
The grips are usually real leather strips, cut and wrapped around the handle end of the club. These grips are held on with two sided friction tape, tacks and waxed linen thread that is used to transition to the wood, just as on the irons.
What is the wood shaft test?
The Wooden Shaft Test - Whether or not the shaft is made of wood is a primary indicator of age. Steel-shafted golf clubs were introduced in the 1920's about the same time that some club makers started using the current numbering system to identify different clubs instead of the old creative names. Some of these clubs had metal shafts ...
What are putters made of?
What Age Characteristics To Look For On The Putter. Putters are mostly found with a blade style head. They are usually made of forged steel and have a great feel when struck properly in the sweet spot.
What are iron heads made of?
On the irons you will notice that the iron heads are made of forged steel, with an old look and feel. Like the woods, the iron heads may be stamped with the name of the maker or the professional’s name and the golf course he was associated with. The iron heads will also be stamped with one of the old colorful names that are common ...
When did golf clubs have grooves?
The grooved marking of faces on antique iron clubs was not introduced until the first few years of the 20th century. While this will not rank as an exact method of dating an old golf club, a smooth face would certainly indicate that it is a club that dates prior to 1905. The Metal Club Head - Simple test.
What clubs do hickory golfers use?
"Hickory golf," where golfers use hickory-shafted clubs, is popular with many golfers. Ralph Livingston III recommends on his website, HickoryGolf.com, that hickory golfers assemble the following clubs: brassie, mid-iron, mashie, mashie niblick, niblick and putter. Some companies make modern clubs that have persimmon wood heads, and some companies sell and make clubs with wood shafts, wood heads, or both.
What wood was used in Scotland?
American Influence. In Scotland, the type of wood used to make clubs changed with two American imports: hickory for club shafts in 1826 and persimmon for club heads in 1900. According to the Antique Golf Club website, woodworkers in Scotland started using American-imported hickory instead of ash to make hand tools, ...
What wood was used to make golf clubs?
Beech and ash were commonly used to make golf clubs in the game's early days. Starting as early as the 15th century, golfers carved their own clubs. Several considerations -- including imported woods and the evolution of the golf ball -- influenced what types of wood were used to make club heads and shafts. Wooden antique golf clubs are popular ...
How many woods are in a long nose golf club?
A set of these early "Troon Clubs" -- also known as "long noses" -- consisted of six woods and two irons. According to the Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation website, golf balls were also made of wood until the 17th or early 18th century.
Where did Samantha Prust get her degree?
Samantha Prust earned a BA in English from Minnesota State University and an MFA in creative writing from Colorado State University. She has more than 15 years of experience as a professional editor and writer in book, magazine, academic and online publishing.
What wood was used in the early 1800s?
The shafts of the early clubs were made out of local European woods like Ash. The introduction of golf into America in the early 1800s lead to hickory wood being used in the shafts, which was found to be far more durable than other woods. Hickory became the standard material for golf club shafts until steel shafts were introduced in about 1925 in ...
What are the different names for golf clubs?
For a long time different clubs were known by a variety of names, such as: Longnoses - for driving. Bulgers - like today's woods as they have a bulbous head. Fairway clubs (or grassed drivers) - for medium range shots. Spoons - for short range shots . Niblicks - like a wedge. Cleek - for putting.
What woods were used for golf clubs?
The shafts of the early clubs were made out of local European woods like ash or hazel. Club heads were made from tough wood such as beech, holly, pear and apple. The heads of the wooden clubs were long and thin, resulting in them being known as "long-nose woods".
What are wood and iron made of?
They are also made using advanced materials such as titanium, graphite and zirconia.
What were golf clubs made of?
Early Clubs. For hundreds of years, golf clubs were made out of wood, and it was not until late last century that the wooden shaft was replaced by other materials. Players initially carved their own clubs and balls from wood, though they soon turned to skilled craftsmen to produce competitive equipment.
When did golf clubs change to grooves?
One of the most important changes was the move in around 1908 from smooth faces on the irons to the grooves that are used today. The grooves enabled more backspin on a ball, resulting in more distance.
When were iron clubs invented?
The early iron clubs, made by blacksmiths until about the 1870s, were quite crudely made, making them heavy to wield and difficult to control. The advent of drop forging technique in the late 1800s resulted in lighter and better made clubs that could be mass produced in factories. The early 1900 was a period of experimental golf club designs, ...
Why are drivers so expensive?
Of course, modern drivers are rather expensive due to the materials and engineering required to bring them to life , but most golfers are glad to pay the price if it means they can outdrive their playing partners on a regular basis.
When did Callaway start making titanium drivers?
By the time Callaway launched its first titanium driver, the Great Big Bertha, in 1995, the U.S. market was ready—purchasing over 250,000 drivers in just 12 months. Major makers quickly followed suit and ushered in an era of titanium drivers in America dominated by big-name U.S. golf brands. In 1995, Grand Golf’s GRAND TAG titanium driver also made ...
What happens if you miss the ball out toward the heel?
That meant that golfers were left with a small sweet spot. If you missed the ball out toward the toe or in toward the heel, you would lose a lot of distance.
When was the first titanium head made?
AND THEN THE PARTY STARTED. Though the first titanium head was released in 1990 , it wasn't until 1996--when Callaway and TaylorMade started to develop their answers, and their new clubs would take off in popularity.
Why is it better to play golf with a metal head?
Swinging a hollow metal-headed head meant the overall weight of the club could be lower, which would instantly increase swing speed . Secondly. this allowed the heads to be made bigger because of the weight savings.
Where is Grand Golf made?
Although designed exclusively for the Japanese and Asian markets, it was engineered and manufactured in the U.S. using state-of-the-art aerospace technology and precision titanium foundries.
What wood was used for golf shafts in the 17th century?
The golf shafts in the 17th and 18th centuries were not yet made of hickory, but rather from ash and hazel or whatever hardwood was available locally including wood from trees such as danga wood, ironheart, purpleheart, greenheart, bloomahoo and bulletwood. The US used other woods from what was being used in Great Britain, ...
Why are Spalding clubs painted tan?
The clubs had steel shafts which were painted tan to give the impression of hickory. This practice was also done by other. manufacturers to help influence golfers to make the transition from hickory to steel. Spalding's steel shaft, painted to look like hickory.
What is a whistler shaft?
Nicknamed the "Whistler", Lard's shaft was made from a solid steel bar that was bored out and milled to form 6 sides. To reduce its weight, it was drilled with hundreds of small holes.
Why is the Allan Lard golf shaft called a whistling shaft?
To reduce its weight, it was drilled with hundreds of small holes. The perforations helped enhance club head speed and reduced torque significantly. When swung, these holes caused a whistling sound, hence the "Whistler" nickname. But like the other steel shafts, they never caught on. Allan Lard's perforated steel shaft.
What wood was used for the club heads?
The US used other woods from what was being used in Great Britain, including ash and lancewood. Club heads were made from tough woods such as beech, holly, apple and pear. These were connected to the shaft using a splint and then bound using leather straps.
What is Spalding's shaft?
Spalding's steel shaft, painted to look like hickory. It was not until some advances were made in the raw steel material and new manufacturing processes were developed, enabling the production of a stepped-down shaft, that steel started showing signs of becoming a clear favorite.
When did steel shafts become legal?
In 1924, the USGA finally legalized steel shafts, although the R&A continued to ban them until the Prince of Wales used a set at St. Andrews in 1929 which helped force a rule change. In 1924, the first steel shafts were allowed in the US Open, They were allowed in putters only. The winner, Cyril Walker, used one.
What is Wilson staff?
Wilson Staff is the popular golf division of Wilson Sporting Goods. The decades-old company specializes in golfing equipment and has been producing top-of-the-line golf clubs since 1914. Wilson is known as one of the premier golfing brands for both professionals and amateurs and has sponsored some of the top players on the PGA Tour and ...
When did Wilson Staff start making golf clubs?
Open win, a need for a major golfing brand was inherent in the U.S. market. This need was filled by Wilson Staff and their golf clubs, and inspired by the assembly line techniques of Henry Ford. The company first began making golf clubs as the Thomas E. Wilson Sporting Co.
When did Wilson irons come out?
In 1933 , Wilson introduced the Wilson Ogg-mented irons. These new irons revolutionized clubs in the United States, moving the weight of the club away from the heel and to the ball-striking sweet spot of the head.
Who invented golf clubs?
This need was filled by Wilson Staff and their golf clubs, and inspired by the assembly line techniques of Henry Ford. The company first began making golf clubs as the Thomas E. Wilson Sporting Co.
Where is Matthew Fortuna?
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others.
When did the Staff Tour Blade come out?
1980's and 1990's. The company would remain the number one club throughout the 1980's, introducing the Staff Tour Blade in 1985 . This club would be introduced alongside the Staff persimmon woods, which featured aluminum face inserts, and would go on to be the top woods in the sport.
Who invented the sand wedge?
Introduction of the Sand Wedge. Also in 1933, Gene Sarazen began experimenting for Wilson with a club that would move through sand bunkers smoothly. He welded a piece of metal to the sole of the club, giving it a weighted bottom that would bounce off the sand or ground.
What irons do golfers use?
Most of the players would only have one iron, initially a spur nose heavy iron and in later times a track iron. (see photo above right) these irons very only used in situations where playing with a wood was impossible. In the late 18th and 19th centuries makers of golf clubs started to mark their name onto clubs.
What was the first hand forged iron made of?
Hand forged irons were made of steel and were vulnerable to rusting, round 1920 manufactures started using stainless steel. With the arrival and eventual legalization (1929) of steel shafts, the demand for hickory’s started to diminish, by 1935 the production of hickory clubs had stopped. In the past clubs had names instead of numbers.
When did golf clubs have smooth faces?
The faces of clubs remained smooth until 1905 and these clubs are today the most prized by collectors. After 1905 manufacturers start punching dots on iron faces to create more backspin, and after 1910 dots were often replaced by lines/ grooves (see Photo).
When did the shape of woods change?
In round about 1890 the shape of woods started to change tot hat of what we now think of as modern woods, this club was called the bulger and the head was usually attached to shaft with a modern socket joint instead of the old scare joint.
When was golf banned in Scotland?
Golf was so popular in Scotland in 1457 that the king found it necessary to ban it. No clubs exist today from this period, but they probably were to similar to the oldest known clubs that date from 1600.
Who owned the Troon clubs?
6 long nose woods and 2 spur nose irons and were very probably owned by King James the 6th of Scotland. The clubs from the 17th and 18th century were not signed by the makers, but the names of several makers can be found in royal archives. The earliest club makers were probably bow and ...
