Lot # 5: Ping Scottsdale Putters - The Most Extensive Scottsdale Collection Ever Offered

Category: Golf Clubs

Starting Bid: $20,000.00

Bids: 0 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Inaugural Auction",
which ran from 3/6/2019 12:00 PM to
3/23/2019 8:00 PM



Karsten Solheim is the genius behind the modern day perimeter-weighted and heel/toe weighted golf clubs produced by every clubmaker. It was Karsten Solheim who founded the most innovative golf company in the history of the game. No clubmaker has ever had as many club designs copied by other clubmakers as Karsten Solheim. ATPWP p 375-390

Offered here is the most extensive collection of Scottsdale putters made by Karsten Solheim and his son John that’s ever been offered for sale. Every Scottsdale model sold in the US is included, along with a number of rare variations. These putters were hand-built in the garage of the Solheim home in what is now Paradise Valley, AZ, between mid-1961 and Oct. of 1966. It was not an easy job.

The manganese bronze heads were cast in California. Once the raw castings arrived at Karsten’s Arizona home, each head was hand-ground to smooth the ends, remove the casting lines, and bevel the sharp edges. A chisel-like tool was used to remove any excess material that would sometimes partially fill the slots on the sole during the casting process. The heads would then be tumbled in rock tumblers. Next the heads were heat-treated in an oven. After that, the heads were ready for shafting, which was an involved process as Karsten first installed a ball bearing into the end of each shaft to fix the shaft to the head. Finally, each club was gripped.

During these five years, Karsten worked full time as an engineer for GE, so the work on these putters was done after hours—late into the night and on weekends. During this time, Karsten was also busy milling masters of his new designs.

The Scottsdale-garage-era ended in October of 1966, when Karsten moved his clubmaking operation into a small building in Phoenix.

SOLO IMAGES

PING Trainer: The King of all clubs Ping, this example has its original shaft, original Line-Rite square grip, original “Ping Golf Clubs” black shaft band, original weights, and its original wire attached to the back of the head although the wire has been given a half-twist at its end. Karsten devised the Trainer to show the benefit of heel and toe weighting to anyone who tried the club, including and especially PGA Tour pros. Ping Trainers are “Holy Grail” rare, and this is a beautiful example. ATPWP p 70-75

2-CLUB GROUP

Ping Anser: “Ping Golf Clubs” is marked on the top line in the cavity. Original shaft and Pro Only grip. The shaft has a single PING bend at the base of the grip, so the grip tilts back towards the golfer. Karsten was famous for his shafts that had a bend at the base of the grip. Karsten stopped bending shafts at the grip in mid-1967 due to a change in the USGA Rules. Original “Tuned Ballnamic” shaft band. This is the putter that literally reinvented the putter. ATPWP p 59-64 & chapter 4

Anser X: Original shaft with “Tuned Ballnamic” label. Original black Informer grip. This shaft has Karsten’s double bend at its base (the shaft bends forward where it comes out of the head, and then 4+ inches later it bends again, straight up towards the golfer. PLUS, there is a dramatic two-way bend under the grip, so the grip is tilted in two directions—towards the golfer and away from the hole. An “X” is stamped on the sole. The head has been carefully polished to clean the finish (not make it shiny) just a touch, and beautifully so. Anser X putters were only made when a bad hosel was cast, which almost never happened. With the hosel removed, the Anser head would be tumbled, finished, and then shafted. Absolutely a great club, a true rarity among rarities! ATPWP p 95.

6-CLUB GROUP

1A, 2A, 3A, 3A Cross-out, 4A, 4A Cross-out: The 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A are marked “Scottsdale” but were first made in Redwood City, CA. The 3A Cross-out and 4A Cross-out have lines through the Scottsdale address, as they were sold after Karsten moved to his initial Phoenix building. Five of the six clubs have their original grip. The 3A Cross-out does not. The sole of the Scottsdale 3A appears more copper in color. This is because the manganese bronze is an alloy compromised of copper, manganese, aluminum, and iron. If the foundry used more copper in the mix when casting a batch of putters, those clubs will look more copper. ATPWP p 87-88

3-CLUB GROUP

Three 69BC croquet-style putters: The first is 31 inches in length and the shaft has a large bend below the grip which angles back 28 degrees from vertical. PING’s price/info label is still on the grip. “32 3” is stamped on the sole. The second putter is 32 inches long with a straight shaft. This club has gold paint fill in its “non-cavity” lettering. The third has a straight 41-inch shaft with PING’s price/info label still on the grip. “41.5” is stamped on the sole. All three show little use and have original grips. The USGA ruled croquet-style putting non-conforming in mid-1967, just 3 years after Karsten began offering the 69BC in traditional and croquet versions. Croquet putters were a tiny part of PING’s business. ATPWP p 56, 70, 97-102.

 
3-CLUB GROUP

69BC traditional center-shafted, 69 with alignment dot, and 69 with alignment line: The 69BC was first produced in 1964. This example shows minimal wear and the metal has not darkened. The Ping 69 putter was first made in 1961. Most were made with the alignment line. Only a relative few were made with the alignment dot. Original grips. ATPWP p 63, 69

4-CLUB GROUP

69W (wide), 69T (thin), 69FT (flat top): Introduced in 1962. The 69T in this group has the rarely seen white alignment dot. Most 69Ts have the white alignment line. 69FTL (flat, thin, long): First produced by early 1963. ATPWP p 56. The 69W and 69T have their original grip. The 69FT has a newer “old stock” grip. The 69FTL has a newer PING grip. ATPWP p 56,

4-CLUB GROUP

B69, B68, B67, B66: Introduced in 1964, these putters were more heel/toe weighted than those in the 69 series. The B68 has the two-way shaft bend under the grip. The B66 appears to have a small single bend under the grip, tilting the grip slightly back towards the golfer. Original grips. ATPWP p 63

6-CLUB GROUP

MLT, BLT: Karsten applied for a US design patent for both putters in Nov. of 1964. It was issued in Nov. of 1965.

Cushin, Kushin: Introduced in mid-1965, the Kushin and Cushin were modifications of the MLT and BLD. There are three Kushins in this lot. One standard, one with a Small Z shaft, and another stamped and sold by Slazenger. The BLD in this lot has a PING replacement grip. The shafts in the MLT, Cushin, and Kushin have a double bend at the head and a two-way bend at the grip. ATPWP p 74-75

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