Golf Now and Then
...ell, golf clubs did not last long. They where very expensive, thus royalty were the only people who took part in golf. Irons were regarded as trouble clubs. They where used playing out of the rough or off sand, where graceful long-necked woods would simply have broken if used. Irons cost several times more than woods, but lasted much longer. The difference between woods and irons was the head of irons where hammered out of iron, not wood. The face had a curved, dished face, which promoted easy lofting of the ball. Because iron heads were so heavy, they required shafts that where thicker and stiffer than those on woods. (Early Gold Clubs and Balls, 10) Written by Robert Gowland in “Earliest Golf Clubs and Balls”, the earliest golf balls were made of solid boxwood, but feather-stuffed balls of rawhide superseded these. In 1850 a single ball cost between 2s. and 4s. sterling, the equivalent of between 150 and 400 dollars today. A serious match required the golfer’s caddy to carry about half a dozen balls, their cost alone being sufficient explanation for why golf was a game for royalty. (13) The balls where filled with feathers, usually chicken or goose. The gap was stitched and hammered to make it as spherical as possible. The hide shrank, becoming very hard, while the feathers expanded trying to fluff. A good drive went about 160 to 180 yards, about half of a good drive today. A miss hit on a stitched seam might result in a cloud of feathers. (“Technology Takes Over” 24) Today’s woods are not much different than those 300 years ago. All players use a driver to drive the ball off the tee, and woods made for long fairway shots. Technology has created woods and drivers that make golfers drive farther and straighter, while lowering scores. Proclaimed by Steve Aoyama of the golf company, Titleist, “The company has expanded upon the highly successful Titanium Driver. The new Driver contains a larger, thinner face that creates increased ball speed for greater distance. The new designed face provides confidence and added stability for straighter ball flight. It also provides for a more dynamic ball flight.” Aoyama declared “it also provided for more dynamic loft to ensure a proper and higher launch angle, important in achieving long drives.” (Titleist New Driver, 1) As one can see, technology has enhanced golf equipment. Today’s irons have changed greatly from the initial ones. Steve Aoyama add...