Set of PING 69 Ballnamic Irons with Original Bent Shafts - 2 Iron-PW - Rare

Bidding

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/9/2023

Set of PING 69 Ballnamic Irons with Original Bent Shafts - 2 Iron-PW - Rare

Exceedingly both scarce and early in Karsten Solheim's PING manufacturing timeline is this incredible set of PING 69 Ballnamic irons with nonconforming original bent shafts! Speaking at length as a well respected clubmaker himself, industry expert Bobby Grace detailed this set's features and low production run in his publication 'Guide to Collecting Rare Ping Golf Clubs.' One out of only 100 sets of these made - this is unquestionably deserving of the finest PING and club collections.

"Ping 69 irons were produced in 1961; they were Karsten's first attempt at a TOUR quality set of clubs. He was obviously way ahead of his time, even then. He thought of creating the first cavity back irons with hand milling machine. The original 69 Ballnamic ironns were milled with 2 cavities in the back of the blade. Stamped in the sole 'PING 69 BALLNAMIC' and painted white in the cavity. Karsten was certainly on the right track, purchasing his iron heads from Golf Craft and possibly from Fernquest & Johnson. Golf Craft, at the time, were making some of the finest forged irons available on the market. Still today (2000), Golf Crafts are recognized as some od the most beautiful of all the grinds ever made. Karsten's goal was to lighten the swing-weight with these cavity back milled clubs. Karsten designed a severe bend in the shaft, of all these early irons, at the end of the grip, near the collar directly below the golfers hands. The USGA eventually ruled the bend in the shaft nonconforming to the rules. Karsten, at that point had to offer to replace the shafts of those sets already purchased. Therefore it is very rare to find any near mint sets (such as the one in this lot) which still have their original shafts with the bend." Grace goes on to speak on the scarcity, "According to Karsten Mfg. Corp. they made a total of 100 sets of each 69 model." 35" - 39 1/2"

The Golf Auction is proud to present our 2023 April Auction. This is a large eclectic group of memorabilia representing all areas of the golf collecting world, so please utilize the categories column to help navigate you towards your preferred collectibles. Bids must be placed before 10pm ET, Sunday, April 9th in order to participate in extended bidding

AUCTION CLOSING RULES:

Place your bids NOW. The auction will close beginning at 10:00pm EDT Sunday, April 9th. When placing your INITIAL bid in the auction, you must agree to the terms BEFORE confirming your bid. Each lot has its own 30 minute countdown clock during extended bidding. The clock will extend 30-minutes from the time of the most recently placed bid for that lot. If no bids are placed on that lot during a 30-minute period, the lot will close. Place your bids now!

1. Place your initial bids BEFORE 10pm ET in order to bid on the item in extended bidding
2. During extended bidding, you may bid only on items you PREVIOUSLY placed a bid on.
3. Lots with only ONE or NO BIDS will close at 10pm ET

Extended bidding starts at 10pm ET, and each lot will begin closing with its own 30-minute countdown timer. Lots without a bid placed during extended bidding will close at 10:30pm ET. We recommend you place your maximum bid(s) prior to that time. Thank you

Please Note: TGA will charge the Bidder/Buyer of the Item(s) a commission (Buyer’s Premium) of nineteen and one-half percent (19.5%) on the successful and final bid price of each of the Item(s) or lot(s) won. No discounts apply. No returns. TGA is not responsible for customs, duties, brokerage and/or similar charges on items shipped internationally. Placement of a bid in this auction constitutes acceptance of all of the terms and conditions in this auction. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.