Golf Gear Oddities

photo credit: splashypants     In the 1930s, Walter Hagen's golf set consisted of  twenty irons and  four woods.   The irons were in  half-steps from one to nine (one – one and a half etc).   This occurred well before the 14 club rule.   Hagen's bag weighed  40 lbs!

In the early days of golf, a five  iron was called a “Mashie.”   The term was derived from the French word  masse, which is used today to describe the backspin put on a billiard ball.  

In a 1950s tour event, at the treacherous, wind-beaten, 110-yard 7th hole at Pebble Beach G0lf Links, Sam Snead teed off with his putter (rather than a nine-iron).   He purposely  bounced his ball down the hill and into a front bunker.   Snead made par.