Another great Ping Putter—in Mint Condition! Scottsdale 69BC croquet putters used a shaft that was either straight or bent to varying degrees--and this one features a dramatic 30-degree bend! The bend, made by hand, reclined the grip from slight to almost horizontal. Different bending dies, for the various diameters on a single shaft, were used to add more bends which increased the amount the grip reclined. A number from 1-5 was often stamped on the sole to indicate the number of bends the shaft received--and the sole of this putter features a "3."  The number "32" is also stamped on the sole, indicating the 32" length number according to Karsten's method of measuring his croquet putters. This length is measured from the sole straight up along the shaft to its bend, and then on a straight line from the bend to the end of the shaft, on this club the total is 32 inches.  From the butt of the grip to the sole on a straight line, however, is only 31 inches.

These putters were produced for a few years in the mid 1960s, but when the USGA announced in May of 1967 that croquet-style putters would soon be non-conforming to the rules of golf, production stopped—at no great loss to Ping because they did not sell many of these to begin with when compared to their conventional models. Today, however, because of their rarity and non-conforming nature, they are more desirable to collectors than many other 1960s Scottsdale putters.

This mint putter features its original 32" shaft, "Ballnamic" shaft band, and "Golf Pride" grip.  It also has its original PING price sticker on the grip.  The remaining gold coating inside the back cavity is original to this putter. Even New Ping putters do not come any nicer than this!

For more info, see And The Putter Went Ping, p 70.