Ram Tom Watson Custom Persimmon Woods - looking for information

[HoosBadg]

I have my father's set of Ram persimmon woods from some time in the 80s and I am having trouble finding out any information about these . I have my copy of GolfWorks "The Golf Club Identification and Price Guide III," but I can't find any mention of these. I know that my dad got these in the mid-80s and GCIPG confirms this showing that Ram didn't start selling persimmon woods until the early 80s and were done with persimmon by the end of the decade (along with just about ever other manufacturer). There are several things about these clubs that are quite different from most Ram persimmon woods:

 

1) Unlike the TW800 woods, which these clubs seem to be most similar to, which have "Tom Watson" on the sole plate, the sole plate on my clubs just says "Custom".

2) The crown stamp on the top of the club is "TW Custom". Most Ram woods have either no crown stamp or a decal.

3) Under the "Oil Hardened" stamp on the bottom of the club these are stamped "CLASSIC 75" rather than TW800 or TW805, etc.

4) Shaft is a the tried and true TT Dynamic.

5) No set screw weight port on the backside of the clubs

 

If anyone has some insight they would care to share, I would appreciate the information.

 

[mocokid]

Might be a one time custom item, he won his first major in 1975 (british open in playoff vs jack newton).

[NRJyzr]

Ram produced an iron set, and putter for that matter, with a "TW Custom" or "TW Custom Grind" stamping. I've owned a set of the irons, which were of the Frequency Matched vintage (87-91), but I remember seeing a set from an earlier model of Golden Rams at some point. My guess is these are a smaller run, possibly special order, item that Ram offered. The putters are an 8802 style blade, usually with a leather grip.

 

It makes sense that, if they're producing irons and a putter, they would also produce woods. It also makes sense the 75 stamping references Watson's Carnoustie win, but I don't *know* that for certain.

 

Some Ram woods were marked with Manufactured by Mario. This would be Mario Cesario, who worked with Ram for a time in the early 80s, and was part of Orlimar's operation (not sure in which order). It looks like he was working with them when the TW800/TW801 were initially produced. I've seen a couple Ram persimmons on ebay over the years that were not marked with TW800/TW801/TW802/TW805 that had Mario's name on them.

 

I don't know if this applies also to 1975, but Watson was using a Toney Penna in his 77 win at Turnberry. It's possible these TW Custom drivers were modeled after the Penna woods.

 

The fact that this stick has Dynamic in it suggests it might predated the mid-80s, when Ram started using the Precision shaft in their woods and irons.

 

A few random thoughts in the middle of quarterly reporting. :)

[mocokid]

> @NRJyzr said:

> Ram produced an iron set, and putter for that matter, with a "TW Custom" or "TW Custom Grind" stamping. I've owned a set of the irons, which were of the Frequency Matched vintage (87-91), but I remember seeing a set from an earlier model of Golden Rams at some point. My guess is these are a smaller run, possibly special order, item that Ram offered. The putters are an 8802 style blade, usually with a leather grip.

>

> It makes sense that, if they're producing irons and a putter, they would also produce woods. It also makes sense the 75 stamping references Watson's Carnoustie win, but I don't *know* that for certain.

>

> Some Ram woods were marked with Manufactured by Mario. This would be Mario Cesario, who worked with Ram for a time in the early 80s, and was part of Orlimar's operation (not sure in which order). It looks like he was working with them when the TW800/TW801 were initially produced. I've seen a couple Ram persimmons on ebay over the years that were not marked with TW800/TW801/TW802/TW805 that had Mario's name on them.

>

> I don't know if this applies also to 1975, but Watson was using a Toney Penna in his 77 win at Turnberry. It's possible these TW Custom drivers were modeled after the Penna woods.

>

> The fact that this stick has Dynamic in it suggests it might predated the mid-80s, when Ram started using the Precision shaft in their woods and irons.

>

> A few random thoughts in the middle of quarterly reporting. :)

 

Yes, it does have that Toney Penna look to it!! based on the sole plate photo. That was the Penna that Watson got from Lanny Wadkins.