Lot # 52: Jack Nicklaus Ping Karsten Co. Dalehead Anser

Category: PING

Starting Bid: $250.00

Bids: 8 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall 2023",
which ran from 11/2/2023 12:00 PM to
11/18/2023 8:00 PM



In 1966, Karsten Solheim introduced the PING Anser putter and it literally revolutionized the world of putters. It took the market by storm and after Karsten's patent on the putter expired, other manufacturers began to produce and sell copies as soon at they could.  In the years since, every major club manufacturer has produced a wide variety of copies. 

This Ping Anser offered here is a 1967 Phoenix 85029 Dalehead model, produced for Slazenger in the UK, endorsed by Jack Nicklaus and marked "Jack Nicklaus / Slazenger" In early 1967, Karsten Solheim entered into an agreement with Mark McCormick, the agent for Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, that allowed Slazenger of England to sell PING putters bearing the endorsement of Nicklaus.  This agreement lasted approximately three years.   ATPWP  p 92-94, 100.  There is what appears to be a bit of white paint in the "SL" of Slazenger.

This head on this 35 1/2" putter is made from the same mold used to produced the initial "K-model" (Karsten's work) Ansers that bore a "Scottsdale" address and had a rocker sole (the A-models [Allens's modification] were  produced at the same time but had a flat sole). When making his first Karsten Co. Ansers, Karsten changed only the mold's address plate, to show that he had renamed his business "Karsten Co. and moved his manufacturing location to Phoenix. Consequently, the back of this head is marked "Karsten Co." with a Phoenix address.  These Karsten Co. duplicates of the Scottsdale Anser—the metal and head shapes are identical—were in high demand and used across the years by many notable PGA Tour players. The first 58 ever shot on a professional golf tour was accomplished by Stephen Jaeger on July 28, 2016, who used—you guessed it—a 1967 Karsten Co. Dalehead Anser. 

In excellent condition, this putter does not show much bag wear and has a nice dark patina. it still has its original black Golf Pride Informer with its grip collar.  The original shaft, which still has a portion of its original Slazenger Ping shaft band, measure 8 1/2" to the first step. "Other Patent Pend" in the bottom of the cavity has been neatly removed.  As a point of reference, PING did not produce any Nicklaus Ansers with the Scottsdale address.  This Nicklaus Karsten Co is the best Nicklaus Anser a collector can acquire.

 

Views: 354