Best Golf Item

[Josh Parker]

Do you have a favorite golf item?

It can be anything golf related and something you don't ever see leaving your possession.

Share a quick story and photo. 

[EasyPutter]

My best item is my Stan Thompson Ginty Trouble Club for what it is and the story behind the club.

 

(From http://wordshack.com/reading_areas/essay/e_StanThompson.shtml)

Stanley Charles Thompson was born in Kansas in 1911 to William (a railroad machinist) and Emma (a German immigrant) . His family subsequently moved to Kansas City, Missouri where an errant golf ball hit his bicycle while he was riding one day. In anger, he took the golfer's ball home with him. When he told his mother what had transpired, she said that the honest thing to do was to return the ball. When Stan went to the pro shop at the golf course, the pro was very impressed with his honesty and offered him a job cleaning up the clubhouse and around the course. This was Stan's introduction to golf.

Stan later began working for Kenneth Smith Golf Company. His original job was skiving and preparing leather for grips. He learned every process of golf club making and learned Kenneth Smiths methods of "fitting" clubs to the individual golfer as well. One of his early inventions came during this time when he bought a candy scale and created with it the first "swing-weight" scale.

In 1937 Stan moved to the Los Angeles area where he established his golf company in Beverly Hills. Here he made his original "Tailored" persimmon woods and created "Tailored" irons and an endless array of putters, from adjustable "Mel Smith" models to beautiful persimmon mallets with brass sole plates(similar to Kenneth Smith roll-in putters).

Sometime in the 60's Stan moved his plant to the corner of La Cienega and Fairfax in Culver City This location was probably closer to an apartment complex that he and his wife owned in Playa del Rey. One of Stan's renters, Pat Morris, related the following: I never went to his place of business. I recall that it was open to the public, because he talked about people coming in to have him measure them for clubs. Mrs. Thompson told me she was amused one day when a man came in and asked to be measured for clubs. She told him that she would get Stan to measure him and he replied,"Is he still living?" I guess Stan was already a legend before he came up with the club he is now most famous for…I once asked Stan if he had offers from larger golf club companies to buy him out and he replied that he had offers, but "they were just offering me what I already have".

In 1973 Stan invented and patented the original ginty "trouble" club. As the story goes, he saw Ben Hogan hit a 2 iron out of the deep rough at the U.S. Open onto the green. Stan thought to himself, "The average golfer will never be able to make that shot". Many years later he saw a speed boat passing him and realized the potential of the keel and developed the keel bottom "Ginty" a seven wood head on a four wood shaft). The keel sole plate was made from zinc giving the club a very low center of gravity and the four wood shaft added to club head speed. Three additional patent changes were made in the club to improve and strengthen the head. By the time of Stan's death in 1995, over 2 millions Gintys had been sold.

By the time he celebrated "50 Years in Clubmaking" in 1989, Stan had a nationwide and even international sales force. Through the years he had created persimmon and laminated maple woods, over 13 different types of irons, over 40 different putters, one of the early single-lever swing machines and "stanforizing", a method of curing persimmon which cured the wood faster than oil hardening. He made clubs for anyone who was anyone, including most of the golfing movie stars, governors, even reportedly for Howard Hughes. Those who knew him said he was a gentleman, honest to the penny, stubborn at times, a very "hands on"type of guy (who could always be found in his shop with his work apron on) and a dreamer, but an engineering dreamer. 

 
  

 

Edited October 4 by EasyPutter

[Josh Parker]

That is really cool @EasyPutter

[Bad Golfer]

 

So far this is definitely one of the best golf related items I have and it's cheap. No need to make sure you wet a towel anymore before my round. It cleans out the groves perfectly and washes away any grass or dirt on my club and the I use my dry towel to dry it off.

[PrayingForPar]

I have the ball from my first hole in one in a little display case. That's really the only sentimental piece for me.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

For starters I collect a logo ball from every course I play and also keep a spreadsheet. I have right around 175 ball on display on racks. Each rack holds 32 balls and I made all the racks myself.

Secondly, every time I broke a milestone. I purchased a hat from the course. They are not worn but put away for memories. I have a broke 100, 90, 80, 70 hat. Still waiting on a hole in one hat.

Lastly, I have a book that my wife got me. Golfing Memories of Tom. It's a leather bound photo album style. The plastic sleeve pages a designed to hold score cards, yardage books or photo's. All my  accomplishments, score cards and photos from golf trips over the years are in there.

[Josh Parker]

8 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Lastly, I have a book that my wife got me. Golfing Memories of Tom. It's a leather bound photo album style. The plastic sleeve pages a designed to hold score cards, yardage books or photo's. All my  accomplishments, score cards and photos from golf trips over the years are in there.

This is really cool.  Have any photos of it?  Did she have it made or find it somewhere?

[TJ Hall]

Some awesome items posted here.

My wife got me this headcover when we were still dating…hasn’t left my bag since!

[Tom the Golf Nut]

4 hours ago, Josh Parker said:

This is really cool.  Have any photos of it?  Did she have it made or find it somewhere?

Here are some photos. My wife got this a long time ago, so she didn’t remember where. But she said she saw it in one of those magazines like an LTD type. I just looked for it on line but found something similar. Look at greatgolfmemories.com 

 

[Josh Parker]

1 hour ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Here are some photos. My wife got this a long time ago, so she didn’t remember where. But she said she saw it in one of those magazines like an LTD type. I just looked for it on line but found something similar. Look at greatgolfmemories.com 

 

That is really cool!  

[RetiredBoomer]

On 10/4/2024 at 8:12 AM, EasyPutter said:

My best item is my Stan Thompson Ginty Trouble Club for what it is and the story behind the club.

 

(From http://wordshack.com/reading_areas/essay/e_StanThompson.shtml)

Stanley Charles Thompson was born in Kansas in 1911 to William (a railroad machinist) and Emma (a German immigrant) . His family subsequently moved to Kansas City, Missouri where an errant golf ball hit his bicycle while he was riding one day. In anger, he took the golfer's ball home with him. When he told his mother what had transpired, she said that the honest thing to do was to return the ball. When Stan went to the pro shop at the golf course, the pro was very impressed with his honesty and offered him a job cleaning up the clubhouse and around the course. This was Stan's introduction to golf.

Stan later began working for Kenneth Smith Golf Company. His original job was skiving and preparing leather for grips. He learned every process of golf club making and learned Kenneth Smiths methods of "fitting" clubs to the individual golfer as well. One of his early inventions came during this time when he bought a candy scale and created with it the first "swing-weight" scale.

In 1937 Stan moved to the Los Angeles area where he established his golf company in Beverly Hills. Here he made his original "Tailored" persimmon woods and created "Tailored" irons and an endless array of putters, from adjustable "Mel Smith" models to beautiful persimmon mallets with brass sole plates(similar to Kenneth Smith roll-in putters).

Sometime in the 60's Stan moved his plant to the corner of La Cienega and Fairfax in Culver City This location was probably closer to an apartment complex that he and his wife owned in Playa del Rey. One of Stan's renters, Pat Morris, related the following: I never went to his place of business. I recall that it was open to the public, because he talked about people coming in to have him measure them for clubs. Mrs. Thompson told me she was amused one day when a man came in and asked to be measured for clubs. She told him that she would get Stan to measure him and he replied,"Is he still living?" I guess Stan was already a legend before he came up with the club he is now most famous for…I once asked Stan if he had offers from larger golf club companies to buy him out and he replied that he had offers, but "they were just offering me what I already have".

In 1973 Stan invented and patented the original ginty "trouble" club. As the story goes, he saw Ben Hogan hit a 2 iron out of the deep rough at the U.S. Open onto the green. Stan thought to himself, "The average golfer will never be able to make that shot". Many years later he saw a speed boat passing him and realized the potential of the keel and developed the keel bottom "Ginty" a seven wood head on a four wood shaft). The keel sole plate was made from zinc giving the club a very low center of gravity and the four wood shaft added to club head speed. Three additional patent changes were made in the club to improve and strengthen the head. By the time of Stan's death in 1995, over 2 millions Gintys had been sold.

By the time he celebrated "50 Years in Clubmaking" in 1989, Stan had a nationwide and even international sales force. Through the years he had created persimmon and laminated maple woods, over 13 different types of irons, over 40 different putters, one of the early single-lever swing machines and "stanforizing", a method of curing persimmon which cured the wood faster than oil hardening. He made clubs for anyone who was anyone, including most of the golfing movie stars, governors, even reportedly for Howard Hughes. Those who knew him said he was a gentleman, honest to the penny, stubborn at times, a very "hands on"type of guy (who could always be found in his shop with his work apron on) and a dreamer, but an engineering dreamer. 

 
  

I've got one of those, but it's got a steel shaft.
Awesome tree jumper.
The head is about the size of a modern hybrid head.

I've also got in my collection a 25° Top Flite that also works well and isn't that much younger.
It's got a bigger head, made of titanium instead of stainless,
and has a weird graphite shaft with .400" tip.

I've also got a 24° PowerBilt Weedeater which has a steel frame but a wooden crown insert.
Also a good old club, but again, steel shaft.

What really amazes me, though,
is that a modern Heavenwood launches just as high with a strong 20 or 21º of loft.
I don't know how they do it, but the modern tech is real,

Speaking of the Kenneth Smith shop in Kansas City, they made great golf clubs in the classic style of the time.

 

 

Edited October 5 by RetiredBoomer

[Coulter]

4 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Here are some photos. My wife got this a long time ago, so she didn’t remember where. But she said she saw it in one of those magazines like an LTD type. I just looked for it on line but found something similar. Look at greatgolfmemories.com 

 

That’s awesome!

[Rob Person]

This is a tough one, as I cherish all my golf stuffs!

To pick one favorite feels like I am neglecting the rest!

From the franken-cart v2.0 to a putter I built , and even the smaller items I use often, it's not easy!

I think if I was forced to absolutely choose just one item,  it would be the 1980s Disney ivory divot tool and ball marker my Uncle had in his bag that I found when I inherited it from when he passed. 

Also, the new MGS headcover is at the top of the list st the moment!

Edited October 6 by Rob Person

[Josh Parker]

18 minutes ago, Rob Person said:

This is a tough one, as I cherish all my golf stuffs!

To pick one favorite feels like I am neglecting the rest!

From the franken-cart v2.0 to a putter I built , and even the smaller items I use often, it's not easy!

I think if I was forced to absolutely choose just one item,  it would be the 1980s Disney ivory divot tool and ball marker my Uncle had in his bag that I found when I inherited it from when he passed. 

Also, the new MGS headcover is at the top of the list st the moment!

What would you never get rid of?

[Rob Person]

1 hour ago, Josh Parker said:

What would you never get rid of?

Definitely the divot tool and ball markee

[Old New Golfer]

Seriously thinking on it. Has to be my old Hogan one iron. I spent a lot of time with that thing. Hit some beautiful shots with it. All I had to do was hit it good. I could hit anything else. 
BTW…Titleist still makes a one iron.