When did the Ram golf ball come out?
In 1968, Ram unveiled the Ram 3D, the first cut-proof Surlyn-covered golf ball. In later years, Ram would continue to be at the vanguard with some of the first forged cavity-back irons, Accubar weighting, frequency shaft fitting and lithium balls. In 1974, the Hansbergers sold Ram to the Colgate-Palmolive Company for $18 million.
When was the first golf ball made?
Although the era of the feathery golf ball may have started in the early 1400's and run until the late 1840's, it is believed that it was in 1618 that a new type of golf ball was created by handcrafting a cowhide sphere stuffed with goose feathers.
How much are Ram golf putters worth?
It is a valuable golf collectible, with original putters valued at more than $25,000 in 2006. In 1968, Ram unveiled the Ram 3D, the first cut-proof Surlyn-covered golf ball. In later years, Ram would continue to be at the vanguard with some of the first forged cavity-back irons, Accubar weighting, frequency shaft fitting and lithium balls.
Why did Ram Golf change its name?
As Sportsman's Golf, the company produced clubs under the brand names of Kroydon and Bristol. It wasn't until 1967 that the company changed its name to Ram Golf, reflecting a strategy that sought a simpler, bolder name to market on golf bags and club heads.
Who made Ram golf balls?
Terry Pocklington's first Ram surlyn-covered ball came out in 1967 and the ball business hasn't been the same. Surlyn is a synthetic cover that is cutproof. Before then balls were made of balata, which cut easily, and were constructed in three pieces with a cover, windings and a core.
Are old golf balls worth anything?
Because of the age and the craftsmanship put into these balls they are among the ones that have the highest price tag of collectible golf balls. These balls are referred to as antique, and goes for sums upwards of +$5000! See example from eBay below.
What is the rarest golf ball?
gutta percha ballsDivers have begun a search in Donegal for what they believe could be some of the world's rarest golf balls. The gutta percha balls once belonged to golfing legend Old Tom Morris, who won the Open four times in the 1860s.
What are the most valuable used golf balls?
Dixon Fire tops the list of most expensive golf balls by quite a margin. These golf balls are extremely pricey at $75 per dozen, which makes each ball over $6 apiece.
How can you tell how old a golf ball is?
Drop Them. One of the simplest ways to check your golf ball's performance is by giving it a good, old-fashioned bounce using any hard surface like a tile floor or countertop. Your goal is to make the ball bounce as high as you can reasonably bounce it without damaging anything in your home.
Do golf balls expire?
You can usually get about 10 years out of an unused golf ball, again, provided that it is stored properly. The best temperature for golf ball storage is around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the number one golf ball on tour?
Titleist likes to remind us that that the Pro V1 is the No 1 ball used by professionals on worldwide golf tours, but that it's a great ball for non-superstars as well. The ball is manufactured to perfectly balance short game control without sacrificing good yardage from the tee.
What do you do with old golf balls?
What Can You Do With Old Golf Balls?Christmas Ornaments. You can make Christmas wonders with your old golf balls. ... Garden Critters. This is another project you can choose to do yourself by using used golf balls at your disposal. ... Vase Filler. ... Table Cloth Weight. ... Massage. ... Tool For Tenderizing Meat.
Can you Soak golf balls in bleach?
Half a cup of bleach with hot water. Soak dirty, stained golf balls in this mixture for about 30 minutes to get your golf balls to shine again. Plus, bleach also sterilizes the balls, which means goodbye algae and fungus.
Do golf balls lose their compression?
Storage. GolfBallTest.org debunks a myth about golf ball storage: "Storing golf balls in the freezer is never recommended and does not preserve their compression and freshness, contrary to some belief," In fact, playing with cold balls will sap your drives of their normal distance.
Can you make money selling used golf balls?
When recovered and cleaned up, these used balls sell for as little as six cents wholesale and up to $1 or more retail. It's a $200 million industry, and a golf ball diver can make $100,000 per year, according to Golf.com.
What are old golf balls made of?
Until the mid-19th century, the featherie was the standard golf ball. It was made of cow or horsehide which was stuffed with feathers; most often goose feather. The leather, in order to be easier to work with, was soaked in water.
Modern Golf Balls
To this day golf ball designs still follow a similar formula to Haskell’s rubber golf ball design. Modern golf balls feature a variety of different designs in terms of construction, core, cover, and dimples.
Conforming Golf Balls
When it comes to golf ball designs manufacturers have free rain in terms of design features, the Rules of Golf do however have set standards that all legal golf balls need to conform to. These standards include that a golf ball cannot be smaller than 1.680 inches in diameter and the weight of the golf ball can’t exceed 1.620 ounces.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that the history of the golf ball is fascinating and it is hard to imagine how difficult it must have been to play with a feathered stuffed leather golf ball.
When was the Brambleberry golf ball invented?
The advent of the rubber core golf ball changed the face of the game of golf as we knew it. This new design was invented in 1898 by Coburn Haskell in association with the BF Goodrich Company.
When did rubber core golf balls replace gutty golf balls?
The more modern rubber core golf ball replaced the gutty in 1899. However, the rubber core golf ball of the day did not meet with immediate success. Golfers complained that while the rubber cored golf balls were longer off of the tee they were far too lively on and around the greens.
What was the most popular design of the Gutta Percha era golf ball?
Golf truly became the sport for the masses. "The Bramble" design, with its minute bulges resembling a Brambleberry, became the most popular design of the Gutta Percha era golf ball.
What is a feathery golf ball?
Basically, the feathery was a leather sack filled with boiled goose feathers, then stitched up and painted.
How were feathery golf balls made?
The feathery golf balls were manufactured while the leather and feathers were still wet, and as the leather shrunk while drying, the feathers expanded to create a hardened, compact ball. The Feathery was then painted and sold, often for more than the price of a golf club.
What is the evolution of the golf ball?
The evolution of the golf ball highlights the major changes in the game of golf and depicts important golf landmarks during the long evolution of the game. The development of the golf club, the golf course, and the rules of the game were affected by the evolution of the golf ball itself. The balance (and debate) between technology ...
What was the first game of golf?
There is no question that the first games of golf, as we know it today, were played using wooden golf balls. Wooden golf balls were the first man made golf balls, and although information is scant, it would be a pretty safe bet to assume that a wooden golf ball had some rather interesting playing characteristics.
Who is the founder of Taylormade?
Founders Club was started by Gary Adams, the same man known for both inventing the original metal wood and as one of the founders of TaylorMade. Founders Club had a pretty stacked tour staff in the early ’90s, which included Lanny Wadkins and Lee Janzen among others and was well known for “The Judge” driver and forged CB irons. Their list of former club builders and engineers is strong, and include the likes of Jeff Sheets and famous wedge designer Bob Vokey.
Why was Walter Hagen sold off?
Eventually, the brand lost its luster, and the Walter Hagen name was sold off to be used to sell entry-level products through big-box retail chains. But the history still lingers, and if you can find a set of Haig Ultras in good shape, you’ll know you’re are holding what was at the time a very premium product.
coastb2
I have a Golden Ram Pro Tour ball and was wondering what is the value if this old ball? It is the only Golden Ram ball I have. It seems it is from 1994 and was taken off the USGA list of conforming golf balls. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125884/index.htm
larrygator
Maybe you might want to use more appropriate internet resources to answer your question.
The Origins
- Ram Golf actually began as Sportman's Golf shortly after World War II when the Hansberger brothers -- Lyle, Al, Bob and Jim -- converted a tool and die that they owned on Chicago's west side. The shop had been making club components for another company, George MacGregor Golf, before MacGregor sold his company to the Hansbergers in 1947. As Sportsman's Golf, the comp…
Cutting-Edge Developments
- Under the Sportsman and Bristol brands, the company contracted with former PGA golfer and legendary putting guru George Low to design the Wizard 600, which Jack Nicklaus used in the prime of his career through the 1960s. It is a valuable golf collectible, with original putters valued at more than $25,000 in 2006. In 1968, Ram unveiled the Ram 3D, the first cut-proof Surlyn-cover…
Sponsorships and Endorsements
- In 1974, the Hansbergers sold Ram to the Colgate-Palmolive Company for $18 million. At that time, Colgate-Palmolive signed 50 pros to the endorsement roster, including Ray Floyd, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Nancy Lopez. When the Hansbergers bought back their company in 1980, dumping all of the endorsement contracts except for Watson's. Through the 1980s and int…
Transactions
- In the 1990s, Ram split its company into the Ram Golf Club Company and Ram Tour Balls. While the manufacturing operations still exist in a Chicago suburb, the club unit was eventually sold to Tommy Armour, with Ram Tour Balls being purchased by TaylorMade. The four Hansbergers retired, while Al's son Gary founded Vulcan Golf in Chicago. The Ram Gol...