GOLF TREASURES:
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

My Dad just gave my son a Ping putter circa 50's or 60's--not sure when he got it. Before I let my son play with it full-time (and potentially leave it somewhere!) I'd like to know what it's worth. This is a brass headed club. On the bottom are these words: Ping by Marsten US Patent 3,042,405 (some numbers hard to read) To the far left of the patent number is "1A" or "IA". Under that is the address of the manufacturer, P.O. Box 9006, Phoenix, AZ 85029. There's a band a couple of inches under the grip that reads "Heal - Toe Balance". I think this may have once had a model number but it can't be read any more. The top of the grip reads, "Ping Putter", "Golf Pride", "Made in the USA". This club will have value to me even if it wouldn't be worth much on the market because it was my Dad's, but I thought I'd ask! Thanks a lot.
Sara Mellen

Dale Concannon writes:

The classic Acushnet Bulls Eye putter was stamped 'Designed by John Rueter Jr' and was first produced in 1958. Whether the 7-11B putter predates this I am unsure but according to Acushnet (Titliest/Footjoy) in the United States it has no particular value. The same applies to your Walter Hagen Ambassador wood from the 1940's, early 1950's. While there are collectors who collect nothing but Hagen memorabilia, steel-shafted clubs fall a long way short of signed photos, books etc. However, the shaft design sounds quite interesting and I suggest you contact either the British Golf Museum in St. Andrews or the United States Golf Association Museum for further information.