Karsten began producing PING 3A putters in Redwood City, CA by June 10, 1959. PING still
has a letter of that date that requests a 3A, but company records also show
that the 3A was not popular at all when it was introduced. The
remaining records from 1959 show that Karsten received orders for only three
3A's as opposed to 427 orders for the 1A (see And the Putter Went Ping
p 47-49). Though production grew after Karsten moved to
Arizona, the 3A putter still never approached the sales of the 1A.
This Ping Model 3A is marked with the Scottsdale
address on the bottom of the head indicating that the clubhead was made
in the early 1960s by Karsten in the garage of his Arizona home. It has its original 35" shaft and black Golf Pride "Pro Only"
grip. The original price sticker is still on the grip, although it is worn and pretty much unreadable.
The 35" original shaft has Karsten's gooseneck double bend near
the head.