A tour event played with the old equipment

[disco111]

I stand corrected gentlemen, no problem from this side of the fence. I understand the aspect of players having to adjust to the equipment aspect, just didn't take that into consideration, because I surmised it would only be viewed as a fun offering for charity. I still think it would be interesting to see what would happen. I'm fully aware it will never come to pass, but that doesn't stop me from a what if.............

[Shorty]

No-one getting behind it because no-one is interested.

Why should pros play a silly season event where the only possible outcome is that they can't be seen at their best?

They aren't circus performers. The concept is akin to making right handers play left handed or have them wearing fancy dress costumes.

And, "Mr Palmer" may not want his clubs being used.

The average spectator wants to see golf being played, pure and simple. They can get their heads around concepts like "father and son", but this is a pointless idea.

What company would want to spend millions of dollars sponsoring a wacky event like this? Most companies crap on about the sharing of "core values" and "commitment to excellence", so I doubt that many would be interested in being associated with something retrograde.

For every 1000 TV watching golf fans, I'd be surprised if 50 were seriously interested. TV golf is about players, not equipment. You'll notice that they don't even mention golf brand names in telecasts. Commentators didn't ever mention Rory moving from Titleist to Nike. And that was one of the biggest stories of the year. They talk about "equipment change" and that's it.

The concept is so niche it has zero commercial appeal for TV.

[disco111]

No-one getting behind it because no-one is interested.

Why should pros play a silly season event where the only possible outcome is that they can't be seen at their best?

They aren't circus performers. The concept is akin to making right handers play left handed or have them wearing fancy dress costumes.

And, "Mr Palmer" may not want his clubs being used.

The average spectator wants to see golf being played, pure and simple. They can get their heads around concepts like "father and son", but this is a pointless idea.

What company would want to spend millions of dollars sponsoring a wacky event like this? Most companies crap on about the sharing of "core values" and "commitment to excellence", so I doubt that many would be interested in being associated with something retrograde.

For every 1000 TV watching golf fans, I'd be surprised if 50 were seriously interested. TV golf is about players, not equipment. You'll notice that they don't even mention golf brand names in telecasts. Commentators didn't ever mention Rory moving from Titleist to Nike. And that was one of the biggest stories of the year. They talk about "equipment change" and that's it.

The concept is so niche it has zero commercial appeal for TV.

OK, we'll take you off the ticket mailing list

[JP golf]

No-one getting behind it because no-one is interested.

Why should pros play a silly season event where the only possible outcome is that they can't be seen at their best?

They aren't circus performers. The concept is akin to making right handers play left handed or have them wearing fancy dress costumes.

Mighty grumpy response Shorty - a little on the condescending side.  You might not agree but it's a valid question and isn't a bad conceptual idea to discuss.  I'm not in favor and I voted no - but not because I wouldn't be interested in watching.

I think people wouldn't get behind it because of the unfair comparisons.  Unfortunately, no matter what current pros would be compared to the pros that played with those clubs and that could, and would make them appear inferior to those players (which is inaccurate, but that's how it would be perceived).

Don't forget the OP said a "charity tournament", and I think it would be pretty cool to watch them play opposite of their normal orientation as well.  I think we would all be surprised....  Costumes- ha they wear those now -  nobody said anything about Circus performers either....   Don't talk down like it was a horrible idea and it was a Stupid thought.  The purpose of the OP was to start a conversation.  Honestly, a celebrity Pro-am with the pros playing opposite their orientation  or with old model clubs in an out of season event to raise money for cancer research, Alzheimers, or the Jimmy V foundation or something I think would be fun to watch and would be supported by sponsors.  Now... Do I think it's going to happen - probably not, but it doesn't mean people wouldn't be interested to watch.

[Dave2512]

No for me. Been there, done that. Some of the guys around today were there then. They don' t play any different.

[Shorty]

Don't talk down like it was a horrible idea and it was a Stupid thought.  The purpose of the OP was to start a conversation.  Honestly, a celebrity Pro-am with the pros playing opposite their orientation  or with old model clubs in an out of season event to raise money for cancer research, Alzheimers, or the Jimmy V foundation or something I think would be fun to watch and would be supported by sponsors.  Now... Do I think it's going to happen - probably not, but it doesn't mean people wouldn't be interested to watch.

When the OP said it would be easy to get sponsorship for such an event I disagreed. It's easy to spend someone else's money.

[dbuck]

I voted yes, qualified by the OP's description of a "throwback event" to mean a single limited field, maybe one-time event for a charity or some such. I wouldn't want it required for players to participate etc. I think you would get some participation from a broad spectrum of players, but it would be limited.  As far as public interest, it would be bigger than some might think, but still a niche market as yet. Hickory golf would probably draw more interest than what I call vintage golf-persimmon and steel. Hickory has grown exponentially in the past 5-10 years, across age ranges. Movies like "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and "The Legend of Bagger Vance" did not start the movement, but they didn't hurt it either.

Equipment would be a slight challenge, but no real big deal for a limited one timer. It would be a bit troublesome if it became a regular deal. There is only one manufacturer in the US that I know that makes steel shafted persimmon on a somewhat regular basis-Louisville Golf. There was another, Joe Powell,  but they closed last fall I believe. Both Tad Moore and Louisville Golf make hickory equipment in the US, and a couple more are in Europe.  Balata balls are not necessary; satisfactory results could be achieved with some of the softer modern balls. I would think you would have to move the tees on some par 4's up 10-15%. Back in the day, they played a few courses in the 7000 range, so something in the 6500-7100 range would be doable on many courses.

I love playing vintage stuff, but don't want it too popular, LOL--it would spoil my thrift shopping. I picked up a playable 1-3-5 set of MacGregor Eye-O-Matic persimmon repros, circa 1980's, last week at Goodwill for $15.

[Moppy]

How about we tear up the greens on some course and put in the kind of hay field they used to call a green back in the day?

If four pros want to get together and play an event like the old show, "The Skins Game" or something, it would be interesting, I guess, but this is how these guys make their living. What would be the point of making it a "tour event"? With FedEx points? Cards on the line? Nope no, no.

[Archie Bunker]

Several tour pros (Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler to name two) do play practice rounds using persimmon woods to "sharpen" their ball striking skills. I don't think they would mind leveling the playing field if everyone used the same for an exhibition match. I don't think they would need to "adjust" all that much. However, there wouldn't be any support from the manufacturers, since they wouldn't have any interest in promoting equipment that they don't sell. I would be interested in seeing something like this because today's hype would lead you to believe that today's PGA pros are stronger and more talented than the PGA pros of 30 years ago. Technology is the only reason why the "7 iron" now goes 30 yards further than it did back then.

[disco111]

When the OP said it would be easy to get sponsorship for such an event I disagreed. It's easy to spend someone else's money.

To set the record straight, my words were " If the Tour/PGA got behind it, I don't think it would be that difficult to find backing" That's a far cry from it would be easy to get sponsorship.

[ScouseJohnny]

Wouldn't it be a bit like asking Lewis Hamilton whether he'd like to turn up to a race in Fangio's 1954 Mercedes W196, rather than his current car, as long as all the other F1 drivers were in cars of a similar vintage for that one event? Sure, it would be interesting - but it would be a novelty race, only, in 2015. It wouldn't be viewed as a real F1 race.

I like playing old equipment from time to time (see the various old equipment threads that have popped up here now and then). I really think there is a place for the persimmon/blade/balata game in the same way that hickory golf is now quite entrenched. I've never played with hickory sticks, don't really intend to, but I'd like to go and watch one of their tournaments some time. I was impressed to see how authentic their tournaments are, with some of them restricted to McIntyre replica balls, only: https://www.mcintyregolf.com/replica-golf-balls

Looking around online, it seems that there have been some attempts to create persimmon-era (say 1935-1980s) type tournaments. I think as nostalgia for that era of golf develops, those will take off as a small sector of the game, much as has been the case with hickory golf.

But nostalgia is likely part of the equation - it's an idea for enthusiasts; it doesn't seem purposeful to apply that logic to professional tour players.

But with so much of the persimmon equipment still around and available to be refinished, it wouldn't necessarily be expensive (as is the case with hickory clubs). There's a fellow in NC who refinishes the type of clubs I traded in around the late 1980s, and then bought again for the nostalgic reasons mentioned above a couple of years ago. He does a lovely job, too: http://stores.ebay.com/STEVES-GOLF-SHOP (I'm not connected with him in any way, I just a bought a refinished Powerbilt Citation driver from him once, and thought it was simply wonderful...)