The Legendary Callaway Great Big Bertha Tungsten Titanium Irons of 1997

[BlackandGold]

NOSTALGIA: To buy or not to buy?  That IS the Question...

I grew up playing golf.  By age 8 I was pretty much an addict.  At the course, rain or shine, every single day after school in the spring and all summer long.  I would often play with older guys, me being the 4th in a foursome as I often went early (dawn ) and by myself.  The course was in walking distance so I could manage it by myself.  Like a lot of beginners and especially juniors, I had junk clubs.  Wilson Junior 1200s to be exact.  No lessons of any kind just a golf book by Ben Hogan and a lot of hard work and discipline on the range.  I was becoming a good junior golfer by age 11. I could break 85 consistently at my home course (and 90 else where).  Once in a while you would get a group of guys that had brand new equipment.  Personalized Staff bags.  Cigars.  Decked out with Ashworth gear and making wagers with one another for me was a lot of money. 

In 1997/1998 a lot of the clubs I saw in their bags were Callaway.  The Drivers.  The Irons.  Ping putters.  I think a lot of guys grab the best gear thinking that status is important and the perceived "better" clubs would equate to "better" scores or they would feel "better" about shooting 100.  I started seeing more and more of these $2,000+ sets of irons: the fabled Callaway Great Big Bertha Tungsten Titanium Irons.  If I was really fortunate, my golf skills and attitude would endear me enough to the rest of the group that they would let me hit a couple balls during/after the round after I showed interest in their equipment.  I was hitting my knockoff driver (The Rogue) about 185 yards at the time.  Take out the "Great Big Bertha" and BOOM 210 yards!  My 7 iron was carrying about 125 yards... with the tungsten titanium it was MUCH longer.  Maybe it was the design/technology.  Maybe it was purely psychological.  Maybe it was luck or all of the above.  Whatever it was, I knew immediately that with these magical clubs in my bag I could take my game to the next level. 

Sadly, I never could afford the price tag... until now.  These clubs hold a special place in my heart.  These guys were reluctant to play with the skinny 11 year old kid with crap equipment... I didn't fit the mold of a "good" golfer.  They asked the starter if they could play with some one else because I would "slow them down."  They assumed I was a hacker.  And then I proved them wrong.  I beat the pants off these guys and although it made me happy to see them eat their words, I didn't show it.  I was breaking 85 and they were breaking 100... barely.  Seeing that they underestimated me and then befriend me over the course of 18 holes was special.  It taught me a lot about people, perception, life, and reality. 

***Would you purchase a set of clubs for nostalgia alone?  Would these clubs stack up against Callaway X 20 tour irons (what I have in the bag now)???  Have you ever had a similar experience on the course with new equipment?  What is your favorite iron set of the 90s? 2000s?  What were your first set of clubs?***

[iacas]

I'm not big on nostalgia. That said they probably don't cost much if you can find them.

[jamo]

Sure, why not. I've got a set of the old Nike Forged Blades heads that Tiger used to play in the 2000s (the same model, not his actual clubs, obviously). They're still sitting in a box because I haven't put shafts in them (I suppose I'll have to go with Tiger's True Temper Dynamic Golds in X-stiff just to keep consistent). They were like $100 on Ebay. Even if I never play them, I just like the idea of having them around.

[dbuck]

As Erik said, if you want to indulge yourself it probably won't cost much. For the most part, high dollar clubs of the past are pennies on the dollar. A few PINGS still bring a little money. Beware the nostalgia bug, though if it bites hard, you may be a candidate for a "Hoarders" episode.

I play around with older clubs, but most of mine are actually used.  I do have a pristine set of MacGregor VIP remakes from about 92, and a decent set of Mac persimmon from the same era, all in a genuine leather black bag. I have less than $75 in the whole kit.