2013 Fall Golf Antiques and Collectibles Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/27/2013
Never in production, with no dots, no diamonds on face with back weight. It is a great testament to your game if you own a set of these clubs. The opportunity to take this status to a whole new level is offered in this lot of two personal prototype clubs originating from Toney Penna, head of club design during this period at MacGregor. Carrying the club designations of 3 and 4 irons they have red/white/blue trim rings and tourney lite shaft bands. Model # OS 6898Y (Order Special). The design work on these clubs was quite extensive as MacGregor struggled to get the weighting correct on these clubs which would later be recognized for their perfect balance. With square toe grinds it becomes apparent that this back weight was never used in production. The most interesting aspect of these prototypes however, is their lack of dots or diamonds on the face.
In this auction we have many pieces of Toney Penna's prized design work which were highly sought after by amateur and professional players alike. Toney refered to many of these clubs as "Reference Clubs". The most perfect rendering of a model, these were used to compare a production club to its ideal. Toney frequently made prototypes, experiments , some were mass produced, some were left on the workbench. Many of his masterpieces were too costly or difficult to make , to be considered for mass production. One example is drivers with intricate face inserts, while beautiful, too many clubs would be rejected because the heads were easily ruined. These clubs are the best of the best, cream of the crop. Toney Penna handcrafted original pieces of art, many ONE of a kind.
This item comes from the Penna Family Collection. This highly successful and respected professional golfing family offers golf mementoes from the careers of brothers Toney Penna and Charley Penna, and Tommy Armour whom Toney and Charley worked under for many years as pros at Boca Raton in Florida and various courses in the Chicago area. Toney was a consistent top 20 money winner on the PGA Tour in the 1930's and 40's while his brother Charley competed in 20 U.S. Open and PGA Championships. We have it all from their storied careers in golf both on and off the course, including everything from contestant’s pins, to used sets of clubs, and prototypes for Penna's famous clubs. Toney is an icon when it comes to club making in the 20th Century, first with the MacGregor Golf Company as their chief of design and then later with his own brand of Penna clubs. Many of the designs of club heads used today were first developed by the genius of Toney. We introduce you to this extraordinary collection by offering various lots from the family’s collection in this special offering. This is an opportunity to acquire golf history, possibly for the last time.
In order to bid in extended bidding you must place a bid on the lot before 9pm on auction closing day.[23]
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