GOLF TREASURES:
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Dear Dale, I have just recently recieved a Ping Anser putter from my dad who used to own a golf course in Southern Indiana I was told that only 1 was allowed to be bought per store I will describe it the best I can It putter is made from Bronze and there was a sticker on the grip that reads exactly this This Tarnised Ping Putter head is made from heat treated Manganese Bronze. Four time the toughness of Brass. Turns uniform dark color (glare resistant) with few days use. Then it says Ping Golf Clubs by Karsten Manufacturing Corporation 2201 West Desert Cove Phoenix Arizona 85068 Do not Remove until Sold - Made in U.S.A. I found a picture of it http://detnews.com/golf/0004/names/names.htm it looks exactly like this I believe it the darker second one the club is in nearly perfect condition and I would like to know some value and where I could find a website about it..Thanks alot
Zach Guthrie

Dale Concannon writes:

Such is the popularity of golf that enthusiasts have collected items connected with the game - known as 'golfiana' - for many years now. However, despite what you may have heard about thousands of pounds being paid at auction for old clubs, balls, books, balls etc., the reality is only a small percentage of items are worth more than a nominal amount.

That said, there is nothing connected with golf, no matter how remotely, that is not of interest to some enthusiast. Collectibility, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder and what might be looked upon as a real 'find' by one collector can be dismissed as worthless by another. Therefore when judging the financial value of your golfing item/s you have to bare this important fact in mind. What I have done is offer an estimate of its value but to the right collector it might be worth more and to the wrong one less. That is the fun of golfing antiques.

Regarding your golfing item/s: Despite the high values of some modern classic putters, the market for Pings is limited to a handful of makes from the late 1950's and early 1960's, usually stamped either 'Redwood City or 'Scottsdale,' (compared with later models stamped with the company's Phoenix address.) After that come a number of limited edition putters produced by Ping. A good example is the KB1 Anser model made from Beryllium copper in the early 1970's. Not unlike your own putter, only 200 were made and are currently valued around $5000. Unfortunately, the Manganese bronze Anser putter you describe was made in huge numbers despite the clever ploy of selling only one to each store. Produced throughout the eighties and early nineties, it is still worth upwards of $100-$200 depending on its condition, reducing down to $50 without the original grip, or original shaft labels. In the end, most modern putters are only worth what someone is actually willing to pay.