Ross Baker Golf

This is a Driver I made 8 years ago

Moving forward 50 years from the ‘Long Nose Era’.. the Start of a ‘Hickory Shafted Driver. The Block, which we call ‘Off Lathe’ is from the 20’s 30’s! Pics show the sole being ‘rebated’ to take the ‘sole plate’ and ‘Rams Horn’ leading edge. Sole plate (which was recycled from another wood) being re shaped and screw holes counter sunk. Face lines cut, shaft fitted, lead back weight poured. Final sanding, head and shaft rubbed with pitch. 2 coats of shellac, the neck whipped with ‘linen thread’ and further coats of shellac. The finished wood will have a leather grip wound on. After about 30 coats of shellac the head will be rubbed back and natural bees wax used to polish the club.

I’ve posted these irons separately before, but I think they are worthy of comparison! The Findlay and Maiden ‘Ace of Hearts’ iron is hickory shafted Circ 1925, the Hartleys ‘King of Clubs’ iron is steel shafted and Circ 1935! The Findlay & Maiden was forged by Himmerman and Kirk, traits are the ‘big X’ and ‘Iron’ in Script. Note on the Hartleys iron the ‘big X’ and niblick in script! I think it’s safe to say that Himmerman had a hand in forging the Hartleys iron 10 years later! Kirk had returned to Scotland around 1930!

What a Great Effort, go Scotty!

Adam Scott will join Jack Nicklaus as the only golfers to play in 100 straight majors, officially qualifying for the U.S. Open Championship 🙌

Min Woo Lee, Ryan Fox and Jason Day have also joined the field 🏆

Good examples of why I think Himmerman and Kirk irons are so collectible! The Findlay and Maiden ‘Ace of Clubs’ is a great novel idea! (Why is it H & K?) The ‘Big X and Iron in Script!’ Hartley’s later went on to name a brand of their clubs ‘King of Clubs!’ (Connection? No doubt!)

The Leviathan was a Melbourne Dept Store that sold golf clubs! What a ‘ripper’ of a Cleek Mark! (Why is it H & K?) The St Andrew’s X!

Please post your Himmerman and Kirk irons, or ones you think could be H & K! There are literally hundreds of different stamps!

With the hickory championships on in Adelaide at the moment, perhaps it’s a good time to drag out some ‘Rufus Stewart’s’ by Himmerman and Kirk! Stewart was pro at Kooyonga for many years! The Mashie Niblick has the name on the face, alas the Niblick doesn’t! Another interesting point (seldom seen) is the ‘Rufus Stewart’ shaft stamp! Aussies weren’t known for their shaft stamps, but this is a particularly good one!(excuse the photography!) The Niblick is actually the same Niblick shown in Ralph Livingstone’s book on Tom Stewart. (No relation)

Wedges with a hint of Valentines Day, introducing Mr & Mrs Flipper! And you can see these and a few hundred others 😂 at ..ATT Golf 497 North Rd Ormond!

Here are some pics of the 3 Long Nose Putters I’ve just completed. They each get about 20 coats of Shellac, rubbing down between coats with extra fine steel wool. To finish them, I give them a final rub down with steel wool, and then polish with natural bees wax. Each putter is stamped with the type of timber used, date made and weight, making all putters individual!

I’ve been spending too much time working on the Long Nose Putters and not enough time updating the progress!

All the lead back weights have been cut back and finished. The rams horn slips have also been been finished.

I’ve sanded, pitched, and started to shellac 2 of the putters. I’ve also done the whipping on those as well.

I’m doing final sanding on the 3rd putter. The next step with it, will be to rub it with pitch and start to shellac. Rubbing pitch onto the heads does a number of things, it brings the grain out and helps to preserve and waterproof the timber, but it also shows up any ‘scratches’ or ‘marks’ on the heads which may have been missed when sanding.

The putter head is very light until the ‘lead’ is added to the back of the club!

The Early long nose Clubmakers said a ‘good putter’ should be ‘well boned’ and ‘leaded!’ (B***d = referring to the Horn Slip) (leaded = referring to the amount of lead!)

Firstly a recess is cut in the back of the head. The recess is approximately 1” deep ‘about half the width’ of the head. ‘Threaded’ holes are drilled in the bottom of the recess to hold the lead in the head. A ‘dam’ of clay is built around the edge of the recess to retain the molten lead when it is poured.
Immediately the lead is poured, it is cooled using a ‘wet rag’ so the lead doesn’t burn the wooden head! The excess lead is then cut back with special pincers, the lead is then ‘tapped / seated’ in place with a hammer, then finished off with a chisel.

RIP Chi Chi, you brought ‘more personality’ to the game than everyone else combined!❤️🏌️‍♂️🏌️‍♂️

We are deeply saddened by the passing of World Golf Hall of Famer Chi Chi Rodriguez at age 88.