GOLF TREASURES:
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

I have a Ping putter that my father won in a golf tournament in the 60's. The description on the back of the blade is as follows: PING GOLF CLUBS BY KARSTEN BOX 1345 SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ OTHER PAT. PEND MADE IN USA. On the left weighted side it says: BALL- NAMIC On the right weighted side it says: PING BLD The grip is the original black Pro Only grip with a flat front. On the flat front it says "PRO ONLY" and has a graphic of a man putting. On the butt of the grip it says: Golf Pride Tradition Action Made In USA Is there any value to this club? Thanks for your help.
Paul miller

Dale Concannon writes:

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.) While not universally popular models with most Ping collectors, the Ballnamic range with its basic heel/shaft fitting were designed to offer improved direction control and a more dynamic ball strike off the putter face. While the BLD model is a clumsy looking club compared to the sleek lines of the classic Ping Anser, it is still worth upwards of $500-$1000 depending on its condition, reducing down to $300 without the original grip, or original shaft labels. Made in the mid-1960s, a collector expects a few minor dinks on the head but remember, anything excessive like aiming lines cut into the head can reduce its worth quite considerably.