Thrift Store Jackpot

[bogieboy]

On 1/26/2025 at 2:18 PM, @_the_crook said:

Whassup with GW ?

Rack had the individual irons priced at $6.99.

I didn't need those Cally Steelheads anyway.

Pricing here in NY can be completely hit or miss, bought my near mint Epon af 703 for $25 for 5-aw, but theres currently a callaway razr fit with stock shaft and more sky marks and dents in the crown than an old driving range loaner club, and its priced at $40.... 

[Joe85]

On 1/28/2025 at 10:58 AM, bogieboy said:

Pricing here in NY can be completely hit or miss, bought my near mint Epon af 703 for $25 for 5-aw, but theres currently a callaway razr fit with stock shaft and more sky marks and dents in the crown than an old driving range loaner club, and its priced at $40.... 

I see Firesole drivers listed for $25 some times up here. 😆 And other completely insanely overpriced stuff most of us wouldn't give to our kids. 

[bogieboy]

6 hours ago, Joe85 said:

I see Firesole drivers listed for $25 some times up here. 😆 And other completely insanely overpriced stuff most of us wouldn't give to our kids. 

While that is true, where i live there are deals to be had....LOL some of my favorite deals that i of course snagged, callaway x20 irons, 5-pw, graphite shafts, $1.99 a club, these came out of the bag for the callaway X series N415 6-aw, 4.99 a club, those then got replaced by 2019 X-hot 5-9i, which got replaced by the near mint Epon af 703 that came with an odessey white hot #4 for a $25 set... other honorable mentions, vokey 48° oilcan sm4 in near new condition, $1.99 and still in my bag, OG vokey oilcan 52° pretty good condition, $1.99, near new cleveland reg 588 tour zip groove 52°, $7.99 iirc? Callaway mack daddy 2 56° oilcan/raw finish, for somewhere around $10?  Taylormade r9 3 and 5 wood, 2 different locations about 3 months apart,  $1.99 each. 

 

Somehow between ebay, fb marketplace, and local thrift shops i have been able set up a bag with a fairly current driver (GBB epic from ebay, $18 head only in need of some help,mounted to a matrix ozik 7x3 white tie that was in a $16 thrifted driver...  but i also have a $30 paradym head on the way that needs some...restructuring LOL gonna try and fix a cracked sole plate) taylormade adjustable hosel woods, forged japanese irons, and vokey, cleveland, and callaway wedges for under $150, including the price of the maxfli u series 4.0 cart bag (that was somewhere around $8...) not to mention the approx 4-5 dozen pro v1, chromesoft, tp5, etc balls at under $5 a dozen.... man its nice to live in a "golf city" LOL 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

On 1/18/2025 at 2:50 PM, EvanH said:

First time thrift shopping for the year and it was a good day.

 

Back in October I scored some Spalding Syncho-Dyned Chi Chi Rodriguez Personal Model irons (3,4,6,8,9,PW,SW) and I was pretty pleased with myself.  

Despite multiple google searches I have never come across any other pictures of these particular irons* 

[* There are lots of pics of Chi Chi Rodriguez irons, just none of seen of the same forging as these]

And beyond what is stamped on them, and that I think they're from the 1960s - I still no nothing about them. 

I even said to someone recently"as best I can tell, these are as rare as rockinghorse s***".

And then this morning I find the same irons - 3 to SW (9 irons, none missing), plus a 2w, 3w and 4w.
$NZD 2 per club (a total of $NZD 24).
[$USD 13.20 / £GBP 13.02]

Are they as rare as I thought? 

Or have I discovered a portal to a Spalding Syncho-Dyned Chi Chi Rodriguez Personal Model parallel universe?

Anyway, some pics....

These are before cleaning. Pretty rough as you can see

and

The woods came with covers too (period, a bit worn but they'll do a job)
The grips are shot (old school black rubber Spalding grips) and due to be replaced.
The shafts are rough.  Rust, etc.

With the exception of the 2w [Tru Temper Pro Fit "S" Flex], all the shaft bands are missing.


The woods say "Chi Chi Rodriguez" [Italic script] and "PERSONAL"[Italic] on top, for alignment.
The 2w and the 3w are persimmon, with sealed whipping.

The 4w is laminate, with non sealed whipping.

On all the woods, the soleplates have only "Spalding" and the wood number stamped on them.

The 2w and 3w have SYNCHRO DYNED on the toe.

The 2w and 3w also say "Hydrosealed" at the back.
Left to right: 2w, 3w and 4w



6i on 6i comparison [before cleaning]

The latest purchase is below and as you can see it is a lot worse for wear.

[The first, incomplete set, were in reasonbly good condition, so they only got the first 3 steps, below]


So then I went to work on them (the irons in particular) with my patented 8 step cleaning process (based on what I had lying around):
[1] Cleaning wipes (like from the supermarket) [This was all the cleaning that the woods got]
[2] Soak in hot soapy water
[3] Scrub each club with a toothbrush and some abrasive household cleaner cream
[4] 320 grit wet and dry sandpaper
[5] 800 grit wet & dry sandpaper
[6] 1200 grit wet & dry sandpaper
[7] Scrub each club with a toothbrush and some abrasive household cleaner cream (again)
[8] Cleaning wipes (again)

The results:

 

and


The same two 6 irons [after cleaning the new purchases]

[Again, the latest purchase is on the bottom]

You cant see it becuase of my hand, but the ferrules on the two sets match.

 

My thrift shop clubs, bag and buggy.
And a nod to Chi Chi.


I'd really appreciate any information on these.

Thanks and best, EH

 

I can't give you any information, but I have noticed some slight differences.

 

If you look carefully, the "R" of Rodriguez is slightly different, the "i" is dotted on the set you first got and not dotted (or a very small dot) on the second set you got, and the "o" in Rodriguez is different.

 

Perhaps you've got two sets of the same heads from different years, or one is, for example, a US market model and one a NZ/Australian market model?

 

 

[EvanH]

Hi @No_Catchy_Nickname, thanks for the reply.

Yes, definitely some very subtle differences between the sets.
I've noticed at least three of different versions of Chi Chi Rodriguez between the two sets.

 

Also, the PERSONAL is a different stamp on the two irons

[The most recently acquired set, at the bottom, has a slightly smaller font].

Since my last post, I think I read somewhere (I can't find it now) that Spalding stopped stamping their irons "SYNCHRO-DYNED" in 1965 or so.
If so, and knowing Chi Chi turned pro in 1960, that dates them from the early - mid 1960s.
[Previously I said I thought they were "1960s"]

But I am still largely in the dark.

And I still have yet to find any images of / information on this particular forging other than that which I (and now, you) have posted.
 

 

 

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

4 hours ago, EvanH said:

Hi @No_Catchy_Nickname, thanks for the reply.

Yes, definitely some very subtle differences between the sets.
I've noticed at least three of different versions of Chi Chi Rodriguez between the two sets.

 

Also, the PERSONAL is a different stamp on the two irons

[The most recently acquired set, at the bottom, has a slightly smaller font].

Since my last post, I think I read somewhere (I can't find it now) that Spalding stopped stamping their irons "SYNCHRO-DYNED" in 1965 or so.
If so, and knowing Chi Chi turned pro in 1960, that dates them from the early - mid 1960s.
[Previously I said I thought they were "1960s"]

But I am still largely in the dark.

And I still have yet to find any images of / information on this particular forging other than that which I (and now, you) have posted.
 

 

 

 

 

I thought the "PERSONAL" standing looked different as well, but I wasn't sure whether it was because one had more paint fill than the other. Now I look at it, the two clearly have different stampings.

 

Nice looking club, anyway.

[Joe85]

15 hours ago, bogieboy said:

While that is true, where i live there are deals to be had....LOL some of my favorite deals that i of course snagged, callaway x20 irons, 5-pw, graphite shafts, $1.99 a club, these came out of the bag for the callaway X series N415 6-aw, 4.99 a club, those then got replaced by 2019 X-hot 5-9i, which got replaced by the near mint Epon af 703 that came with an odessey white hot #4 for a $25 set... other honorable mentions, vokey 48° oilcan sm4 in near new condition, $1.99 and still in my bag, OG vokey oilcan 52° pretty good condition, $1.99, near new cleveland reg 588 tour zip groove 52°, $7.99 iirc? Callaway mack daddy 2 56° oilcan/raw finish, for somewhere around $10?  Taylormade r9 3 and 5 wood, 2 different locations about 3 months apart,  $1.99 each. 

 

Somehow between ebay, fb marketplace, and local thrift shops i have been able set up a bag with a fairly current driver (GBB epic from ebay, $18 head only in need of some help,mounted to a matrix ozik 7x3 white tie that was in a $16 thrifted driver...  but i also have a $30 paradym head on the way that needs some...restructuring LOL gonna try and fix a cracked sole plate) taylormade adjustable hosel woods, forged japanese irons, and vokey, cleveland, and callaway wedges for under $150, including the price of the maxfli u series 4.0 cart bag (that was somewhere around $8...) not to mention the approx 4-5 dozen pro v1, chromesoft, tp5, etc balls at under $5 a dozen.... man its nice to live in a "golf city" LOL 

 

 

I've gotten loads of good stuff through the years, lots of it I posted here. 300 forged set, 1025 VIPs, Mizunos, pings. 

 

But Goodwill has gotten crazier in the last decade. Though I still do check many of them regularly and still occasionally walk out with stuff. 

[bogieboy]

On 1/30/2025 at 12:12 PM, Joe85 said:

 

 

I've gotten loads of good stuff through the years, lots of it I posted here. 300 forged set, 1025 VIPs, Mizunos, pings. 

 

But Goodwill has gotten crazier in the last decade. Though I still do check many of them regularly and still occasionally walk out with stuff. 

Everything i listed was in the last 3 yrs LOL

[Joe85]

5 hours ago, bogieboy said:

Everything i listed was in the last 3 yrs LOL

I've probably been haunting Goodwill's now for clubs for over 20 years now? I've forgotten how much great stuff I've gotten at this point. 

 

 

But the industry has changed a lot in that time (there are so many new clubs being pumped out every yr now) and Goodwill's will be damned if anyone is going to walk out of their stores with deals anymore (with exceptions of course). 

[bcstones]

6 hours ago, Joe85 said:

Goodwill's will be damned if anyone is going to walk out of their stores with deals anymore (with exceptions of course). 

Now come on....Goodwill has to pay for lighting, heating, cooling, upkeep on heads/loos/water closets - and the cost of those keep rising, so GW raises it prices....just like everyother business', being "non-profit" doesn't mean operating in the red all the time

[Joe85]

54 minutes ago, bcstones said:

Now come on....Goodwill has to pay for lighting, heating, cooling, upkeep on heads/loos/water closets - and the cost of those keep rising, so GW raises it prices....just like everyother business', being "non-profit" doesn't mean operating in the red all the time

 

 

I've no problem with that. 

 

But charging $25 for dented Firesole drivers is in-your-face disrespectful. And that is just one instance among many I've observed. 

 

 

I've stopped donating to them though, years ago at this point, and I get loads of stuff to donate, too. It all goes to other thrifts at this point. 

 

If they can afford to put their logo on the Coyotes helmets, they're clearly too big for their britches imo 😜 

[bogieboy]

7 hours ago, Joe85 said:

I've probably been haunting Goodwill's now for clubs for over 20 years now? I've forgotten how much great stuff I've gotten at this point. 

 

 

But the industry has changed a lot in that time (there are so many new clubs being pumped out every yr now) and Goodwill's will be damned if anyone is going to walk out of their stores with deals anymore (with exceptions of course). 

I golfed with an affinity RZR burn box set from sports authority from 06- 13, then got out of golf when i moved away from home.... held onto the clubs til the end of 2021, then gave them away since i hadnt used em in 8 yrs... the very next morning the itch to go golf hit me and i have been thrifting for clubs since that day....LOL infact, been all over about a 75mi radius in my area and about 10 different thrift stores today.... didnt come up with a single good one... closest thing to a deal was a pair of ok condition adams insight fway woods, but goodwill wanted $5 a piece for em... i try not to pay over 2ndswing trade in value for any clubs if i can help it... and those came in a $4.30 in new condition so...  🤣

Edited February 1 by bogieboy

[Joe85]

54 minutes ago, bogieboy said:

I golfed with an affinity RZR burn box set from sports authority from 06- 13, then got out of golf when i moved away from home.... held onto the clubs til the end of 2021, then gave them away since i hadnt used em in 8 yrs... the very next morning the itch to go golf hit me and i have been thrifting for clubs since that day....LOL infact, been all over about a 75mi radius in my area and about 10 different thrift stores today.... didnt come up with a single good one... closest thing to a deal was a pair of ok condition adams insight fway woods, but goodwill wanted $5 a piece for em... i try not to pay over 2ndswing trade in value for any clubs if i can help it... and those came in a $4.30 in new condition so...  🤣

 

 

I think most people here frequent Goodwill's or thrifts precisely because we like the thrill of the good deal. I think I do. I've got a couple 2ndswings, a PGAT superstore and a few other options not far from me if I want to pay top dollar. 

[bogieboy]

1 hour ago, Joe85 said:

 

 

I think most people here frequent Goodwill's or thrifts precisely because we like the thrill of the good deal. I think I do. I've got a couple 2ndswings, a PGAT superstore and a few other options not far from me if I want to pay top dollar. 

All i have near me for retail is Dicks, a few local proshops, and a play it again sports...not that i can afford or need to pay retail...LOL my current hunt is for driver shafts to dial in the new to me epic, and the still in the mail (and in need of repair) paradym.... i couldnt say no to either one of them... epic for $18 with a loose sole plate, some plasibonder fixed that right up, was smashing 260+ drives this morning with it,  and i couldnt pass up a chance at a $38 paradym, guy had it listed for $50 on the bay, shot an offer of 30 just to play with it... i have a pretty extensive knowledge of fiberglassing, carbon is tje same thing just carbon fiber instead of fiberglass fiber... figure a real thin coat of epoxy, and maybe a bit of chopped fiberglass or possibly even carbon... but i think glass would be better due to the translucence when coated with epoxy... and i might have a hell of a club for about $50 invested... 

 

[bcstones]

21 hours ago, Joe85 said:

 

I've no problem with that. 

But charging $25 for dented Firesole drivers is in-your-face disrespectful. And that is just one instance among many I've observed. 

 

 

I understand...however, consider that in the past decades as c GW & other thrift store shoppers find excellent "deals" & then go out and talking bout their find, in essence saying the people pricing didn't know squat about what they had; That kind of talk does get back to the various stores & causes them to raais their prices. 
Anyway, I didn't know what a "Firesole" was & found that most offerings on the bay thingie in total $$$ (including shipping), most doubled that $25. I also found offerings for the driver shaft alone in the $20 range, then add shipping.

btw...I have no idea of who the Coyote's are....and it could be that that team give back $$ & support GW industries, so the logo on their helmets is the Coyote team's support, not necessarily paid for by GW.

[Yacho]

1982 Mac with TT Dynamic Stiff.  Goodwill, $2.49.  Should go well with my '83 Muirfields for a round or two this summer 🙂

 

[Joe85]

Lol

 

[bogieboy]

33 minutes ago, Joe85 said:

Lol

 

Yeah, nope lol! I think they added an extra nine in there somewhere

[weakputt]

I have enjoyed this thread for years. Occasionally I'll post a find. Over the years I have been lucky enough to find some cool Ping stuff from Thrift Stores, yard sales and Play it Agains.

A Charlie Rymer Ping Staff bag when in the late 1990's he used as a PGA Pro. He is best known for his humor while on The Golf Channel and in a TV Show he currently broadcasts down in Myrtle Beach.

A set of serial matching 1i > SW1 Ping Eye 2 BeCu, Zing Blonde set of 1, 3, 5 & 7 woods,

(2) Anser Dale Head Karsten MFG Co. putters and putter Faux Fur Plush head covers. 

Very lucky.

And for those out there that say they can never find anything worth while at Thrift Store, don't visit them enough. Of course most of the visits come up empty, but then all in a sudden you discover a gold mind.

 

[ezgoer]

7 hours ago, weakputt said:

I have enjoyed this thread for years. Occasionally I'll post a find. Over the years I have been lucky enough to find some cool Ping stuff from Thrift Stores, yard sales and Play it Agains.

A Charlie Rymer Ping Staff bag when in the late 1990's he used as a PGA Pro. He is best known for his humor while on The Golf Channel and in a TV Show he currently broadcasts down in Myrtle Beach.

A set of serial matching 1i > SW1 Ping Eye 2 BeCu, Zing Blonde set of 1, 3, 5 & 7 woods,

(2) Anser Dale Head Karsten MFG Co. putters and putter Faux Fur Plush head covers. 

Very lucky.

And for those out there that say they can never find anything worth while at Thrift Store, don't visit them enough. Of course most of the visits come up empty, but then all in a sudden you discover a gold mind.

 

Pardon but FNAwesome!!

Edited February 9 by ezgoer

[Bob Cat]

16 hours ago, weakputt said:

I have enjoyed this thread for years. Occasionally I'll post a find. Over the years I have been lucky enough to find some cool Ping stuff from Thrift Stores, yard sales and Play it Agains.

A Charlie Rymer Ping Staff bag when in the late 1990's he used as a PGA Pro. He is best known for his humor while on The Golf Channel and in a TV Show he currently broadcasts down in Myrtle Beach.

A set of serial matching 1i > SW1 Ping Eye 2 BeCu, Zing Blonde set of 1, 3, 5 & 7 woods,

(2) Anser Dale Head Karsten MFG Co. putters and putter Faux Fur Plush head covers. 

Very lucky.

And for those out there that say they can never find anything worth while at Thrift Store, don't visit them enough. Of course most of the visits come up empty, but then all in a sudden you discover a gold mind.

 

 

Didn't know it was possible nor that it was even a "thing" but you, sir, just won this thread.

[Maine Golfer]

On 1/9/2025 at 12:17 PM, Maine Golfer said:

Trouble Lover!  , from Ebay for a short par 3 set , im working on , all Top Flite branded. Seems like it could be a lighter Sandy Andy, almost. Big sole gives me hope overall. 

 

57 degrees? Im gonna have it setup soon 

[weakputt]

On 2/9/2025 at 9:02 AM, Bob Cat said:

 

Didn't know it was possible nor that it was even a "thing" but you, sir, just won this thread.

Thanks Bob Cat.

Liked the ... "just won this thread." 

Not sure about that. You do realize there are like 128 pages on this thread.

 

[Maine Golfer]

$2 , looks fun 

 

 

   

[Stephen8802]

I love Golfcraft drivers. I have a few and they are great. None with an insert as cool as that, but great clubs.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

5 hours ago, Maine Golfer said:

$2 , looks fun 

 

 

   

Love that insert.

[Boney]

On 1/9/2025 at 9:17 AM, Maine Golfer said:

Trouble Lover!  , from Ebay for a short par 3 set , im working on , all Top Flite branded. Seems like it could be a lighter Sandy Andy, almost. Big sole gives me hope overall.

 

I found one of those a while back! I measured it thusly:
58° loft, 63° lie, E2 swingweight, 521g total weight, 35" length. Very solid club!

[AdamMH]

2 minutes ago, Boney said:

 

I found one of those a while back! I measured it thusly:
58° loft, 63° lie, E2 swingweight, 521g total weight, 35" length. Very solid club!

 

Way cool! I guess I'm adding a new saved search to my fleabay...

[Joe85]

Anyone want some King Snake irons? Only $59.99. they even have TT DG shafts...

 

[weakputt]

2 hours ago, Joe85 said:

Anyone want some King Snake irons? Only $59.99. they even have TT DG shafts...

 

Joe!

Wrong section of this Forum.

Would love to do the same solicitation with a number of my  excess stuff, but that's against the rules.