Wilson OGG-MENTED irons and woods

[northplatteriver]

I recently picked up one of the most interesting sets of clubs I have ever owned.  This is an incredible set of Wilson OGG-MENTED irons and woods.  The set is as complete as it gets including a Wilson Indestructo bag that I am assuming was purchased with the set.  I have seen a few OGG-MENTED irons here and there on the web and on Ebay, but the only set of these I have seen with the copper\bronze medallion inlay on the toe is from a set that was owned by Howard Hughes that sold at auction.  I my opinion there is no question this was a deluxe set.  The irons are all stainless steel.  The woods 1-4 all have same "36 SFTGG" stamping which I am not sure if that is a model or exactly what it is.  The sole plate on the 4 wood is not the same as the 1-3, but does have the same stamping and is also stamped with "430A" model number as the rest are, so it clearly belongs with the set.  I am guessing it may have been an accessory club offered at the time.  The Kaplan book lists the OGG-Mented clubs as having various numbers of clubs in the set.  This set includes the 1-8, a putter, and the "77" and "99" club.  I personally think it belongs in a museum but I thought I would post and see what the forum thought...

[Bella Woods]

northplatteriver:

 

Beautiful set.

 

Mr. Ogg was a very talented man and responsible for a lot of advancements/ideas in the game of golf.

It's awesome that you got the whole set right down to the headcovers. Looks like the clubs in that set

all grew up together in the same time warp..... Doesn't happen very often.....

 

The 4 and 5 woods of the day were almost always generic and were used in the various models produced,

so I am sure it was with the set all along.  

[Bella Woods]

What degree loft is the 1 iron?

[Foozle]

10 hours ago, northplatteriver said:

I recently picked up one of the most interesting sets of clubs I have ever owned.  This is an incredible set of Wilson OGG-MENTED irons and woods.  The set is as complete as it gets including a Wilson Indestructo bag that I am assuming was purchased with the set.  I have seen a few OGG-MENTED irons here and there on the web and on Ebay, but the only set of these I have seen with the copper\bronze medallion inlay on the toe is from a set that was owned by Howard Hughes that sold at auction.  I my opinion there is no question this was a deluxe set.  The irons are all stainless steel.  The woods 1-4 all have same "36 SFTGG" stamping which I am not sure if that is a model or exactly what it is.  The sole plate on the 4 wood is not the same as the 1-3, but does have the same stamping and is also stamped with "430A" model number as the rest are, so it clearly belongs with the set.  I am guessing it may have been an accessory club offered at the time.  The Kaplan book lists the OGG-Mented clubs as having various numbers of clubs in the set.  This set includes the 1-8, a putter, and the "77" and "99" club.  I personally think it belongs in a museum but I thought I would post and see what the forum thought...

What a fabulous set! Miraculous that it has stayed complete and in superb condition over the last 90 years!

Ogg-mented irons were a bit of a grail for me. There was an Ogg-mented 2 iron amongst the ramshackle assortment of clubs I started playing golf with 50 years ago. All the rest are long gone but I still have that 2 iron which I had shortened and used as a "run up" club or, incorrectly, Jigger. It was only in recent years that I recognised it for what it is in terms of a very innovative pioneer club, decades ahead of PXG and others in using weight ports! I resolved to find a set and am very fortunate to now own these Gene Sarazen 1-9

[Maxwell]

Really nice complete set of very good woods and irons. I look for Wilson persimmon woods from the 30's. They are worth looking for. I have a couple of Willie Ogg woods  downstairs. Aluminum sole plate screws in mine. The persimmon wood is very good. That set today would be valuable. NPR.....thanks for sharing. Canada 

[northplatteriver]

Foozle, nice set!  I see they have the "ergonomic" handles that Wilson started adding to grips.  I am not sure when they started this, but I am thinking it was in the late 30's early 40's and carried out even into some iron sets I have seen in the 50's.  I believe my set is pretty early in the OGG-MENTED line.  I have seen some stampted with "patent pending" so I am certain these were post 1933 which the patent refers to.  I would still love to figure out what the "36.SF.TGG" stamps mean.  I have a couple other OGG-MENTED woods stamped "TUCKAHO" that have the same toe weight and sole plates, but the model number on those is 430 B.  They feel like they would be great players.  I copied the parts of the Kaplan catalog that list the different clubs included in sets before I sold it.  I will post it later today.

 

Blair, 

Thank you, I agree.  I was initially considering re-shafting them for hickory since the patent date would allow for this.  I have already asked Rob Ahlschwede for a conclusive ruling from SOHG and he said they could, but I think these have to stay with the irons.  

[northplatteriver]

Bella,

 

From what I can measure on my Harbor Freight plastic protractor, it appears to be about 14 degrees.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

5 hours ago, Foozle said:

What a fabulous set! Miraculous that it has stayed complete and in superb condition over the last 90 years!

Ogg-mented irons were a bit of a grail for me. There was an Ogg-mented 2 iron amongst the ramshackle assortment of clubs I started playing golf with 50 years ago. All the rest are long gone but I still have that 2 iron which I had shortened and used as a "run up" club or, incorrectly, Jigger. It was only in recent years that I recognised it for what it is in terms of a very innovative pioneer club, decades ahead of PXG and others in using weight ports! I resolved to find a set and am very fortunate to now own these Gene Sarazen 1-9

And made under licence by The St Andrew Golf Company, Dunfermline I believe. 2 gems for the price of one!

[Maine Golfer]

Thanks for sharing. Those look amazing 

[elwhippy]

Magnificent find. Those leading edges look evil. 

[ezgoer]

Condition of everything is unbelievable right down to the head covers!!! Very classy looking. 
 

 Pretty sure you’re obligated to dress period appropriate when you play these. 

[Jiggered]

Stunning set and definitely should be kept together with the bag.

 

If a museum would accept them then great but many museums seem more interested in who played a club rather than its place in the development of the golf club.

 

I'm a fan of Ogg-Mented clubs too and have a few odds of this Densmore Shute model by the St Andrew Golf Co. They don't mention the Ogg name but have the lead weighting in the toe.

 

 

A also have a set of these irons, 2 to 8 plus putter. 

They're also by the St Andrew Golf Co and again they don't mention the Ogg-Mented name, although they do use his initials in the "OW Model" name.

(No lead weighting however)

 

 

 

 

[WilliamW.Reed]

I’m a historian of antique wood shafted clubs. I do have some knowledge of the Thos. E. Wilson Co. and Willie Ogg. Someone please contact me at (515) 490-5159. Thank you. 
William W. Reed. Past President of the Golf Heritage Society. Co founder and Executive Director of the Hickory Golf Association. Member of the Society of Golf Historians. Tournament Director for the Society of Hickory Golfers and more…much more. 
515-490-5159. Mobile number. 
thanks again. Bill Reed

 

Honor the Game. 

[DougPendleton]

I am writing about the Willie Ogg Clubs in this post.  I assume that you either no longer own this set of clubs or that I have the identical set including the covers, bag w/same scratches.  Curious to know if you sold it?  If these same clubs were possibly Howard Hughs and so on. 

[northplatteriver]

I never said they were Howard Hughes, I had just mentioned that the only set of that same model I could find were owned by Howard Hughs.  His set were actually stamped with his name.  I recently sold the set to a person who is a member of the Worcester Country Club where Ogg was the head pro back in the 1920's and plans to gift them to them for display.  I think they are headed to a good place. 

 

Here is the link to the Howard Hughs clubs...

 

https://bid.goldenageauctions.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=32543

 

 

[DougPendleton]

I am the guy from Worcester who bought the clubs, LOL. I was doing some research on them when I came across this post.  

[northplatteriver]

Please post a picture of them after you have done the restoration and have them displayed in the clubhouse.   I personally think they are good to go for display in original condition.   I also hope you take the opportunity to actually play them before they go on permanent display... I would love to hear how they felt.

[macy92]

On 1/11/2024 at 7:06 PM, northplatteriver said:

I recently picked up one of the most interesting sets of clubs I have ever owned.  This is an incredible set of Wilson OGG-MENTED irons and woods.  The set is as complete as it gets including a Wilson Indestructo bag that I am assuming was purchased with the set.  I have seen a few OGG-MENTED irons here and there on the web and on Ebay, but the only set of these I have seen with the copper\bronze medallion inlay on the toe is from a set that was owned by Howard Hughes that sold at auction.  I my opinion there is no question this was a deluxe set.  The irons are all stainless steel.  The woods 1-4 all have same "36 SFTGG" stamping which I am not sure if that is a model or exactly what it is.  The sole plate on the 4 wood is not the same as the 1-3, but does have the same stamping and is also stamped with "430A" model number as the rest are, so it clearly belongs with the set.  I am guessing it may have been an accessory club offered at the time.  The Kaplan book lists the OGG-Mented clubs as having various numbers of clubs in the set.  This set includes the 1-8, a putter, and the "77" and "99" club.  I personally think it belongs in a museum but I thought I would post and see what the forum thought...

Willie Ogg is my great uncle! My Papa  (William Ogg-grandfather) would always speak so fondly about his Uncle Willie and how he had made a special gold club. He also shared that there was a plaque at the Worcester Country Club about him and his contribution to the game. He said that when his parents passed the set of Ogg-Mented golf clubs were either sold or taken by one of his siblings. He always regretted not having the opportunity to have then himself. Every time I went out to estate sales and antique shops I would look to see if by chance I would find one to bring home to my Papa. I did a lot of research into them and Willie Ogg to share with him. Sadly, my Papa was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in March 2021 at the age of 84 and died in June 2021. 

I still look for the clubs whenever I have the chance and occasionally Google search it which led me here! It brings me such joy to see the pictures of the complete set and hear others speak of their appreciation for them. My Papa would have loved to have seen this!

[bcstones]

I have some of your Uncle's clubs....oh, you might check @Jiggered 's YouTube channel "Classic Golf Clubs". I know Willie Ogg & his irons are mentioned in a couple of his videos (I don't remember which one)....

Thank you for sharing....

[Jiggered]

On 7/20/2024 at 6:35 PM, bcstones said:

I have some of your Uncle's clubs....oh, you might check @Jiggered 's YouTube channel "Classic Golf Clubs". I know Willie Ogg & his irons are mentioned in a couple of his videos (I don't remember which one)....

Thank you for sharing....

 

Thanks for the reference BC, the video giving more information is this one, at 18 mins 45 seconds, although I'm sure that @macy92 already knows all the information given.

 

 

[northplatteriver]

I am looking for Ogg-Mented woods if anyone has some and is looking for trades.  I have lots of interesting things for trade, mostly hickory, but some other things also.