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Skill Required
Manufacturers spend millions of dollars in contracting players to hopefully play their entire product line. Professional golfers are very particular about their equipment, and in order to perform their best, they must have confidence in what they are playing.
Originally the contracted players were obligated to play the entire line. At one time Ben Hogan was under contract to Macgregor, but refused to play their ball. They told him to play the ball or else. He said he had to play what he had confidence in, so Hagan and Macgregor parted company. The top club line of Macgregor was the Tommy Armour designed iron. Ben Hogan then started the Ben Hogan company and originally patterned the irons after the Armour line.
Today’s high-tech market has so many new innovations that it is difficult for a company to put out the best of everything, so the pros of today may have a major contract with one company but will have other contracts for specialty clubs, such as balls, wedges, putter, etc.
“What’s in the bag?’
When a pro signs a contract with a company his original equipment will be made to his specifications. As his game fluctuates he will constantly be making changes in his clubs. He will change shafts, grips, or alter the lie and lifts of his clubs. Some players, when changing companies will alter their new clubs until they almost copy of the clubs of their previous company.
When a player wins a tournament and has adequate advertising coverage, golfers will flock to buy that product, as if the game came with the equipment. In 1938 I inherited Harry Cooper’s golf bag. Cooper was the PGA leading money winner in 1937, and it was written on the side of the bag. His game did not come with the bag. In 1946 Tommy Armopur received a new set of irons from Macgregor and I was the proud recipient of his old set. He had huge hands and the clubs were not suited for me. Also in 1946 Gene Sarazen had a new drive that he was not happy with, , and I inherited this also. The shaft on this club was so stiff that you could chin yourself on it. After about 9 holes with this club I kept going further and further to the right. Their games did not come with their clubs.
The pros on the tour hit the ball in the proper part of the club practically every time. The average golfer hits it all over the face, and the clubs he purchases are designed to handle off center shots. .
Once I left the area where I received my Armour irons and Sarazen driver, I had to explain how I received them personally. Some believed it, while others did not. The golf bag was another matter--Harry Cooper 1937 was written on the bag. It was my pride and joy until one year, while in the military, I met the most beautiful girl in the world and decided she was the one and only. In order to hasten this relationship I sold the golf bag for enough money to buy her a ring. A year later her beauty seemed to have faded somewhat, so I got the ring back and sold it for another bag -- but it did not have Harry Cooper 1937 on it.