Balata and Persimmon

[play4him]

I started golf my freshman year of high school in 1973. Wow ! That's a while back. My first set was a Northwestern Chi Chi Rodriquez set from K-Mart. I had two woods, 3,5,7,9 iron and putter. I had to learn how to knock down shots or swing a little harder because of the gap in the clubs. But at the same time I learned how to shoot in the 70's with those clubs by my sophmore year.
I eventually got a Toney Penna persimmon driver. I loved that club. In fact, I hit it for a long time after metal clubs had come out. I still have a number of persimmon drivers that I keep. For me, you couldn't beat the beauty of some of the old persimmon drivers.
As far as the ball I played it seemed like I played whatever I could find. Titleist was the big ball, but I remember playing Wilsons, Club Special, Blue Max, and even the old small Dunlop ball.

[Golf4life]

Started playing golf in 92. Bought a set of Karsten PING ZING blondies 1/3/5 which i still have and yes played with balatas.

[td67mustang]

I, like most of the above had inherrited my farthers permission woods. I have since purchase my own gear. My farther is someone who couldnt through anything away so I now have about 6-8 permission woods. I have a 2 or 3 drivers, a ping 2. A couple of megregors as well. I think I have MG 3, 4, and 5 wood. I also have a Titliest driver that is a dark wood like cherry or mohogoney that is really cool looking. They stay in the basement. I actually have a huge bucket or balls and there are alot of tour porfessionals or balata tours in there. When I go to play practice rounds I reach in there and grab a couple and play whatever i get. I think I have a balata in my bag right now from the last time. Thank dad

[janzaruk]

Played balatas in high school golf, but never carried a persimmon. My dad had them, though, so I've hit em a few times.

[ChiChiIsMe]

I just traded my Persimmon on a Cobra this spring!

[cubfanbob]

My first set of clubs was a Christmas present my sophomore year of high school: 1966. A "Sam Snead Blue Ridge" Driver, 3 Wood, 3-5-7-9-P; still have the irons.

I think mine were the first Snead woods that didn't have screws on the clubface [ever wonder where the phrase "hitting it on the screws" came from?], and the irons have leather wrap "Reminder" grips. Boy, do those clubfaces look tiny today.

So, yes... I recall persimmon and balata very well, and I remember lots of smiley-faced golf balls and switching to Surlyn the earliest chance I got.

"Upgraded" to a complete 1W-3W-5W, 3-PW Blue Ridge set in the summer of 1979... used that set until 2003 when I finally joined the modern era.

[powerfade]

I played once in awhile during the 80's, but not too seriously. I did have a McGregor persimmon driver to go with my Spaulding Executive irons

My first metal woods were a silver TM Burner Driver and a TM Tour Spoon. I used to love that Spoon.