Persimmon country club in gresham oregon golf courses. So, in the end, its been refreshing to see persimmon golf alive and kicking in the bay area. I struck the persimmon driver perfectly, and in that instant, i was completely hooked. Louisville golf purchased by texan jeremy wright the.
A beautifully conditioned championship course, an awardwinning pga staff and stateofthegame practice. Persimmon woods golf club course profile course database. They generally have a large head and a long shaft for maximum club speed. Americas hickory trees get the shaft when robert forgan exports them to scotland to make golf clubs. Woods are longdistance clubs, meant to drive the ball a great distance down the fairway towards the hole. Before that time, shafts were made of hickory, all iron heads were forged steel and woods were handcarved from a single piece of persimmon. Courses near persimmon woods course description we are located conveniently near i64hwy 40, less than 10 minutes from chesterfield valley and only 20 minutes from i270. Elmore passed away a few years ago and now the company is run by his brother mike. Persimmon cc was sold in 2018 and the new owner is making improvements. Nov 03, 2014 several years ago, when i was first instructed in persimmon, i picked up a louisville golf classic fifties series persimmon 3 and 5 wood.
Not sure, but i couldnt find a thread addressing vintage 40s,50s,60s, 70s macgregor clubs. On june 1, 1939, nelson agreed to a handshake deal and grabbed a new set of macgregors off the rack in armours pro shop. The titleist pro v1 golf ball is, quite simply, the most successful piece of golf equipment in the history of the game. They still make and sell persimmon woods, wood putters too. My vision for the future of persimmon hills golf course is to provide a fun and friendly public golf course for the people of northwest tennessee and western kentucky and a valuable asset for the growth of our community. Complete history of golf equipment the evolution of technology. These hand made persimmon woods are the same type of golf club that were used from the early 1900s until the mid 1980s. Persimmon country club gresham 2020 all you need to. The titleist success story began one sunday in 1930, when phil young, a dedicated amateur golfer and owner of a precision molded rubber company, missed a wellstroked putt in a match with his friend, who was head of the x. Under the guidance of herbert warren wind, dean of american sportswriters, the classics of golf library was created to preserve and make available the works of the leading authors of early and modern golf literature. Anyway elmore wrote a short book about the history of persimmon woods. A history of hogan irons persimmon golf today ben hogan 1974 director iron set play collectors 1280771. Several considerations including imported woods and the evolution of the golf ball influenced what types of wood were used to make club heads and shafts.
Aug 15, 2005 i used to buy and sell classic clubs, like some of the persimmon drivers from the 1930s to the 1970s favored by many pros. Elmore was a fascinating character and i think you might enjoy the book. The american persimmon grows in almost every forest habitat of the united states, and the hard wood of the trees is valued by mountain wood carvers for its decorative grain. Breedon, the persimmon hill golf course opened in 1963. Elmore worked for hillerich and bradsby powerbilt golf clubs and louisville slugger bats making persimmon woods in the 60s. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a club head. If you are interested send me a pm and i will see if i can get you a copy. The last significant year was 1997 when 11 players used wooden drivers in 43 events.
According to history of golf clubs, in 1902 handforged metal club heads with groovefaced surfaces were becoming available with great demand. Common persimmon sends down a deep taproot, which makes it a good species for erosion control but makes it difficult to transplant. Historically woods were made from persimmon wood although some. In the 1980s, such companies as hogan, wilson, spalding, tommy armour, and ram purchased their work. This vintage club was made in robert simpsons shop in carnoustie. The titleist brand started with a vision and an xray. Vintage 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s macgregor clubs clubs, grips. The 18hole persimmon hill course at the persimmon hill golf club facility in saluda, south carolina features 6,925 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The value of antique golf clubs depends on supply and demand, just like all antique. The primary choice for golf club heads had been american hickory, but were now being made with wood species such as beech and american persimmon. Wooden antique golf clubs are popular among collectors, and some golfers even compete in hickories, tournaments played with hickoryshafted clubs.
They decided to place t hei r major emphasis on the retail market, not only because it was growing faster, but. Powerbilt citation genuine persimmon driver 1 wood. We do sell clubs made from persimmon, but it is more of a novelty and nostalgia item now, nash said. For preservation of these beautiful instruments, i hope to take you through this stepbystep restoration process. The course was in great shape after a tough winter. In 1979, taylormade golf introduced the first wood made of steel. Even from the forward tees i wasnt able to reach any par 5.
Persimmon wood is hard and heavy and has been used to produce gunstocks, shoe lasts, planes, chisel handles, screws, mallets, wedges for splitting tree trunks, the shafts of carriages, the heads of golf clubs, engravings, cogs for saw mills and shuttle blocks for cotton looms. Wally younce manages the course as the general manager. Driver golf clubs persimmon wood head for sale ebay. Shown below are a few sample antique golf clubs found within the history of golf clubs and a brief summary of each. These new club heads offered an increased amount of backspin, compared to wooden club heads. By 1929, this figure grew to 5,856, of which 78% were private country blubs and 90% of the golfers were male. Designed by gene mason, the persimmon golf course opened in 1994. Compared with the persimmon drivers and blade irons of old, there is now a real opportunity to get clubs that are completely dialed in for. Genuine original persimmon woods custom made for every golfer. The sad story of macgregors demise mygolfspy forum golf. Welcome to persimmon woods simply the best, most affordable private golf club in the st. The history of macgregor 1829 1979 persimmon golf today. The sad story of macgregors demise general equipment. Pictures of us can be found on facebook group the persimmon golf society the rain was horrific and a break was had after the 11th for lunch and consideration.
Mason is responsible for a variety of nationally recognized golf courses in the northwest, most notably the new awbrey glen golf club in bend, and glaze meadows at black butte ranch. The word persimmon itself is derived from putchamin, pasiminan, or pessamin, from powhatan, an algonquian language of the eastern united states, meaning a dry fruit. The truth is, golf clubs and equipment werent always so advanced. By 1927, the retail golf market exceeded the pro shop for the first time and macgregor was forced to make a decision that was later to haunt them.
If you are new to the game of golf, chances are you had never heard of a niblick or a persimmon wood. Complete history of golf equipment the evolution of. Persimmon is a fun challenging course over hilly terrain with fast greens. A brief history of the golf club popular mechanics.
Manufacturers have hired top engineering talent and invested massively in research and development in an effort to win over consumers. We strive to provide a well maintained property balanced with economically and environmentally sustainable practices. There are a number of books on golf history, see below, but many of these. Starting as early as the 15th century, golfers carved their own clubs. The hardness and shock resistance make it ideal for textile shuttles and heads for driver golf clubs. Phgc is a public, 18 hole golf course serving northwest tennessee and western kentucky. Wooden antique golf clubs are popular among collectors, and some golfers even. The novel design makes it easier for golfers to hit the ball straight.
Golf was likely invented by 15thcentury scottish shepherds, who entertained themselves by hitting anything. A 1984 book by elmore just, called the persimmon story, details the companys efforts to produce fine persimmon headed golf clubs. Golf equipment has changed dramatically over the past several decades. Persimmonheaded clubs quickly become garagecluttering relics. We do sell clubs made from persimmon, but it is more of a. This exclusive collection of sixtynine books is available for those who cherish the history and game of golf. Persimmon wood clubs custom golf clubs condor golf. Open, but the last fulltime player to do so was bob estes. Clubheads now come in different shapes, sizes and even colors. Ive heard there is a book catalog out there showing the clubs thru the years hoping someone can help me out. The wood is also in high demand for the manufacture of golf clubs prized for the durability and bounce projectability of golf balls coming in contact with the golf club wood. A golf club is a club used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Golf club news newspapers books scholar jstor october 2016 learn how and when to remove this template message. I acquired a set of macgregor m75 tourney irons and mt tourney woods that have ltwa stamped on the bottoms.
From persimmon woods to adjustable drivers, we cover the transformation of golf. Persimmon macgregor vip rh golf clubs wood set driver 3 4 w new mint tour grips buy it now only. Condor golf sells top quality, affordable custom golf clubs. Callaway rocks the golf world when it introduces the big bertha stainlesssteelheaded driver. Lets remember that the swing speed set for the old overall distance standard test, established in 1976, was 109 miles per. Historically woods were made from persimmon wood although some manufacturersnotably pingdeveloped laminated woods. Open, but the last fulltime player to do so was bob estes 2001 wgcaccenture match play in. Since its introduction, the pro v1 has been the overwhelming ball of choice on the worldwide professional tours and has been equally successful in the marketplace, offering unmatched distance and short game performance. The abundance of choices and options we have is somewhat of a newer phenomenon. While steel was used for club shafts, wooden heads were the norm for drivers. The tree diospyros kaki is the most widely cultivated species of persimmon. Like a fine piece of sculpture, persimmons detailed excellence is brought forth through the creative stewardship of top designer gene bunny mason. According to the antique golf club website, woodworkers in scotland started using americanimported hickory instead of ash to make hand tools, and that influenced golf club makers to use the. Persimmon woods is a fullservice club offering fine and casual dining, professionally managed locker facilities for men and women, a new fleet of clubcar golf carts, oncourse food and drink, state of the art practice.
The 18hole persimmon course at the persimmon country club facility in gresham, oregon features 6,678 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The fruit, bark and wood of the common persimmon diospyros virginiana l. In scotland, the type of wood used to make clubs changed with two american imports. Members of two nearby east end golf clubs now under the same ownership will soon be able to play either course for the same price.
Wooden clubs in a variety of shaft lengths and face lofts were used for most shots. Calcs last use coincides with persimmons twilight on the pga tour. Shown below are a few sample antique golf clubs found within the history of golf clubs and a brief summary of each playclub driver. Mac ogrady was the last player to use persimmon in a tour event ben hogan driver, 2004 b. The wood of common persimmon is hard, smooth, and even textured. This is dedicated to all those who admire the elegance, history and performance characteristics of fine wood golf clubs from the games classical period. To find clubs with significant value, you need to look back, definitely before world war ii and probably before 1930, the year steel shafts and matched sets became common in golf club manufacturing. More than 100 steps go into manufacturing these clubs. Dissatisfied with the quality of equipment that was manufactured at the time, he was determined to make the best golf clubs in the world by using the most exacting tolerances modern machinery would allow. This is a sample of a fine persimmon wood driver with a hickory shaft and a sheepskin grip. We are located conveniently near i64hwy 40, less than 10 minutes from chesterfield valley and only 20 minutes from i270.
Persimmon woods is a fullservice club offering fine and casual dining, professionally managed locker facilities for men and women, a new fleet of clubcar golf carts, oncourse food and drink, state of the art practice facility, and a fullservice golf shop staffed by five fulltime pga professionals available to help members appreciate the. Hogan, snead, palmer, nicklaus, and watson to name a few, have use this shape to amass countless victories. Vintage powerbilt produced the citation line of persimmon woods from 1959 until 1991, and the company continued to make small quantities of them for touring pros after that time. Then in 1982, i walked into a guys office and saw these amazing clubs. Persimmon hills is a tree lined golf course in the gentle hills of northwest tennessee. Ben hogan, one of the greatest golfers in the history of the sport, brought the same focus he had on the course to his ben hogan golf company 3. At the peak of its production in the 1970s, it made 2 million persimmon woods annually, most of them citation models. Jul 12, 2011 i happen to belong to a course that was built by elmore just the founder of louisville golf. Persimmon country club gresham 2020 all you need to know. Persimmon ridge owner adds polo fields golf course course. Harder persimmon wood is used for the club heads until drop forging allows for mass. Persimmon woods golf club, a fully private golf club, is located less than 10 minutes from chesterfield valley and convenient for golfers throughout metropolitan st. We did go back out and complete the round being eager to enjoy the collective experience of playing persimmon. When we say vintage golf clubs, we arent talking about the titleist blades used by tiger woods for the tiger slam in 2000 and 2001, which were allegedly posted for sale on ebay in 2010.
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