Rounds with a Vintage Bag

[Wilsonian]

On 7/12/2025 at 6:58 AM, SnowbirdTom said:

Up early, out of the house before sunrise and teed off at daybreak.  Obviously, had the course to myself to reacquaint my game with vintage 1963 Wilson K-28 laminates and irons, original Ping Anser putter too.  That was fun.  Forgot how much joy can be had with the simple things. Doesn't hurt to play mostly decent either.  

Love those K-28's!

[SnowbirdTom]

Another round with the Wilsons for league play. Shot another 41 with one birdie and one DB (tee ball OB). So much fun just not caring about score and having fun.  Probably low score for the league today.  😉 It's gonna be a good summer of vintage play to complement the tournaments scheduled with modern clubs.

 

Next week has the Mizuno persimmons and MS-801s with the same Ping Anser putter in the mix.

 

[Maine Golfer]

1 hour ago, SnowbirdTom said:

So much fun just not caring about score and having fun.  

 

 

If it comes it comes.... a low score. We all have bad holes and I refuse to not try on the next one. 

[SnowbirdTom]

45 minutes ago, Maine Golfer said:

If it comes it comes.... a low score. We all have bad holes and I refuse to not try on the next one. 

 

Yup, that's how my low record came about. Looked at running score on 16, then promptly made two bogies on 17/18 to shoot 71, one under. /facepalm

 

Today was just playing the ball and holing it out, write down score and keep going.  Not a care in the world.

Edited July 14 by SnowbirdTom

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

On 7/10/2025 at 9:38 AM, Maine Golfer said:

I started a new job in 2019 (that I left for another last year), I made friends right away and Steve asked me if I played golf! I talked about how I played golf back in High School and was excited about Tiger again after seeing Masters Sunday. I didn't follow through buying clubs until early 2022 and can remember how bad my back hurt my first indoor session that year, over the top and pure pain! Anyway I got back at into more spring outdoors and become totally obsessed and as you know got into the classic clubs hard. Was really nice the stars aligned and the place I moved into was close to a chill and affordable public course in Freeport, ive made some other great friends via running into nice folks after work rounds.   

 

My first ace on a full sized course tonight and my first time seeing Steve this year. This was the 2nd time playing The Meadows and we just played the front 9, I had it my head a few holes I could do better on from last trip a #2 I had a fade in mine. 132 (to the front) slightly down hole in the hole with my Gooseneck 7. I saw it go in, thought i was dreaming and someone a hole in front saying HELL YEAH was awesome.  Ive repeated myself on this point many times but I adore the ball flight on Goosenecks and I can hit them high or low on command lately. I don't want a 7 that goes well over 150++ low spin, I want 80s lofts all the way!

 

I shot 46 and did my typical double and triple holes, who cares lol. Life is good, you stand over the ball , you picture the windows and sometimes it works out wonderfully.  I do the P1 sign just like retired F1 star Sebastian Vettel!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice one!

[ezgoer]

(Halfsie Heaven)

 

Since others have recently been I put together this half set for a round. 

 

76 BH Apex irons 3-9 odds + Equilizer

BH fifty three wedge 

MacGregor BH 2 wood

76 BH Apex speedslot 5 wood 

PING PAL putter

 

Early morning first off playing bye myself. Mowing schedule and league play had to play the front 9 twice. Played 27 holes cuz scored 2 ball’s on 2nd loop. Odd on that 2nd ball lots of shots turned disastrous. 3 shots worse with that ball. Usually 2nd ones are better but not yesterday. Shot 25 over par total for 27 holes so pretty anonymous golf at best. I get a fair amount of pars but my doubles out of nowhere problem might be the thing I can count on the most consistently unfortunately. 
 

I did have some excellent 115-135 yard approach shots with the E & 9. Usually after being out of position previously. Club of the round was the 3 iron. Greened a 179 yard uphill landing par 3 twice and greened two 180+ yards approach shots out of light rough. Just was hoping for green side vicinity on those. I really believe these Apex’s to play much friendlier than they look. They are definitely on the smaller size even for old blades. If one was a Hogan only guy I could completely understand. 
 

Missed two legit birdie opportunities inside of 7 feet but had some very good long distance putts. Think only one 3 putt. 
 

Not very a good day with the woods. I’ve actually been swinging persimmons with confidence lately but not today. Lot of bulge and roll on this 2 wood. When the swing is working it curves where you want it to go. When it’s not it curves into the oh no places. This 2wood has had a lot of work done on it. Im really great full somebody saved it from the scrap heap and put some money into the repair and TT DG S300 shaft. With the Wilson Duo ball I was playing it’s an extremely soft feeling persimmon. Hit the Apex 5 wood good off the ground but usually low running shots. Now that I think about it I may have been swinging every club with a trapping style iron swing today hmmm. 

Edited July 15 by ezgoer

[Maine Golfer]

2 hours ago, ezgoer said:

Not very a good day with the woods. I’ve actually been swinging persimmons with confidence lately but not today. Lot of bulge and roll on this 2 wood. When the swing is working it curves where you want it to go. When it’s not it curves into the oh no places. 

I moved away from a 3 hybrid I got along with my first year back, to long irons because i would let the roll and bulge get into my head hard. I'd miss and not understand it and over think it, I prefer that flat long iron feel. 

 

My home course is building an indoor driving range and hopefully expanding to 18 in the coming years, LL bean money and such has flown in. We are in a temp routing that is really fun but only has 2 driver holes. I can't enter in any handicap system also. As a result I'm gonna try to use "real woods" every round for the rest of the season there. Really been getting on with the 5 Ping Zing wood, goes about the same distance as my modern 7

 

 

[Choclab]

9 hours ago, ezgoer said:

 

 

Since others have recently been I put together this half set for a round. 

 

76 BH Apex irons 3-9 odds + Equilizer

BH fifty three wedge 

MacGregor BH 2 wood

 

 

Wow, that Mac BH 2 wood is stunning!  Someone did a good job on it.   Doesn't hurt that about that color stain and the bone insert on top is my favorite combo.

[ezgoer]

1 hour ago, Choclab said:

 

Wow, that Mac BH 2 wood is stunning!  Someone did a good job on it.   Doesn't hurt that about that color stain and the bone insert on top is my favorite combo.

Thanks, I’ve posted it a few times. As you can see it had some serious face issues before repairs. Really shows what can be done. The EOM insert looks better than the original in my opinion. No stamping left on the wood sole of the club if there ever was any. Lot of sole plate sanded down also. This does seem to have more bulge and roll than any other 2 wood I have. Unsure if that was cuz Hogan preferred that or if it is a product of the extensive face repair? 
 

Don’t know for sure but I’d bet good money that Stan at the former Golf Club Hospital in MPLS is responsible for the work. He retired about a year ago so we lost a great one. Sure he did his fair share saving clubs we all appreciate.

Edited July 16 by ezgoer

[bcstones]

1 hour ago, ezgoer said:

Don’t know for sure but I’d bet good money that Stan at the former Golf Club Hospital in MPLS is responsible for the work. He retired about a year ago so we lost a great one. Sure he did his fair share saving clubs we all appreciate.

I sure wish I'd known about his expertise earlier....He did a fantastic job on some Hogan Precision woods & a MacGregor Beh Hogan driver....I've asked David Bass over on the papa/gee/sierra site to restore a couple of Golfcraft Lloyd Mangrum woods & a MacGregor Will Sime Bap driver

[Wilsonian]

It was cool, overcast, and slightly misty when I teed off at #10 at Hawthorne Hills this morning. I honestly woke up thinking it was Monday and didn't realize it was Thursday until the 4th hole on the Front nine.

 

Took a few new clubs today: a Wilson Pathfinder Brassie with coated shaft, a Hickory Jigger, and a Hickory Putter with a loose head ( I found out on the first green. ) Also carried my pyratone 4 & 7 to round out the set.

 

The Brassie proved to be serviceable. Had a couple of good shots with the jigger. The putter will be repaired.

 

I absolutely love playing in this mornings type of weather. Donned the flat cap in honor of The Open.

 

Positives: love the 4 iron and 7. Very nice clubs for me. Drove it farther on a couple of holes, which was nice. Had 3 one putts. Good approach shots too. Happy with tee to green part of my game. 

 

It all boils down to chipping and putting for me. Missed 4 pars and one birdie because of it. Something to work on.

 

Anyway, nice to be out on a cool morning. Taking the vintage 5 club set to Edgewater tomorrow morning to see how I do there. Friday, right?

Edited July 17 by Wilsonian

[Wilsonian]

Today's round at Edgewater went well. Took a new to me Wilson Billy Casper 4 wood, the Rough Iron, 4, 7, Wilson Ryder Cup 8, and Wilson Gene Sarazen 5 star putter. Used a Wilson Elite 50 ball. The weather was nice, sunny and about 72 with a light breeze. Played with JM, who is just getting back into the game after retiring at 70. He walks and carries Ping Zings.

 

It seemed slow, but we finished in 2 hours. Had a lot of fun. Rough start but we finished strong. Chipping was much better today, and consequently so was putting. 

 

I'm starting to get the strategy difference when playing with the old clubs now. Lower, more run out, less spin. It's a fun way to play. Playing the 5 or 6 club set is pretty fun too. I'm trying to talk JM into carrying half a set next time. We'll see.

 

Edgewater is your average public golf course with a restaurant & bar attached. Should play a lot easier that it does. Still we always have fun when we play there.

 

Next round I'll be mixing it up a bit and adding a new hickory jigger and new Wilson Capital 8 iron to the bag.

 

I'm leaving the leather grips intact but wrapping them with a rubber grip wrapping tape from Japan. See pic below.

 

 

[Wilsonian]

Today's sunrise nine was back at Edgewater in Grafton. Had a very pedestrian round, except for one hole. The Par 3 5th hole. 146 yds. Selected an easy 4 iron and hit it to within 10 ft of the hole. Always nice to be out early. The weather was about 65 degrees and overcast. It's been humid here and was this morning. 

Pics of the bag and course below. 

 

After my nine, I checked out River Island Park Golf Course in Grafton. Three free golf holes. Kind of like your back yard when it needs to be mowed. Full of goose droppings. A good idea poorly executed. But it's free.

 

Tomorrow's round will be back at Hawthorne Hills and I'll be taking a couple of hickories and some new woods. 

 

[Maine Golfer]

Self scramble (2 balls) 5 hole loop at sunset, finally under 80 and not nasty.  I shot +2 ha ha ha, I did lip out 2 par putts!

 

Nicklaus Super-Eye-O-Matic (pretty sure 88 issues) 2 and 4 and they have 50 gram counter weights in the handle. They are FIRE when you strike them well.

 

1969 Wilson Staff SW,  9, 8, 6. Need to do some  reshaft work over some bent ones to fill this out more. I got them +0.5 with wedges the same length, enough for me not feel bent funny on the shortest club in the game.  Hitting the 8 iron tonight it reinforced that I can draw the ball more easier the closer I am to the ball. 

 

1965? Wilson Staff PW, its awesome at address I really like it.  @Stephen8802 got it to me like 2 years ago If i recall. 

 

80s Spalding Tour Edition 2 Iron. I've had the shorter irons setup and like them, decided to get the 2 going over the 1 lol. 

 

Ping N-Echo. Finally played this , had it setup for 3 years I think. Its pretty cool , easy for me to pull as i've been playing center shafted all year. I like long putts being able to feel it swing and you close it back to square (maybe lol).

 

 

 

 

lead tape never hurt anything! The Goosenecks I own don't need it, thats about it. 

 

 

Best looking Wilson Staff irons of all time

 

 

 

 

I hit it some the other afternoon at my parents and just one set off tee shots tonight. Ive hit it good twice! Cuts like a knife and doesn't feel alright if you don't strike it lol

 

 

Temporary routing has this awesome 90 degree hole, old 9th tee to the old 1st green. Aim between the trees to gap or tonight I powered the 6 over the tree with a light branch strike that didn't hurt ether ball. 

 

 

 

 

Shanked the SW the first time and put it close the 2nd time. 

 

 

 

 

The new 8 is another 90 degree to our old practice green. Very (British) Open vibes with the burned off grass, I hit a couple shots 10 yard short off the green a few holes and got on easy.

 

 

125 par 3 to close. I pitched this one very close to the cup.

 

 

[Yacho]

Shout out to @NRJyzr for some classic Ram equipment here.

 

Hit 77 yesterday, irons-only from the whites (5950yd, par 71) with the 1980 Golden Ram Tour Grinds 3-P. Ram Tom Watson Scoring System TW 850, 860, and Ben Hogan Fifty-Three for wedges. 

 

 

The irons swing at D8 so my arms hurt now, but felt great like they always do. Even on a couple of thin shots that showed up, they didn't sting nearly as bad as most of my other vintage sets (my Mac Muirfields or Staff "line-overs" taking the prize for sheer pain from the bottom grooves).

 

Always a great time taking out the classics. Playing with old clubs will never get old.