I have been using various iron covers on sets of forged irons. The face and sole shows signs of use but after several years the rest of the clubs look virtually new. Years ago when I carried I hated the clang, clang when I walked. Now I walk with an electric powered cart. As to the slow issue…your driver cover must be replaced, your putter cover must be replaced, you cover your fairways and hybrids. Why not irons?
1 Like
Irons don’t dent. At least, not from that. Smacking them down into the greenish sand that parts of Houston call a driving range, OTOH…
Contrast with my new-to-me 3 Wood that now has a ‘speed dimple’ in its top. I guess woods covers have a use after all…
You must use cast irons. Forged irons definitely get dinged in the bag. That’s where “bag chatter” comes from.
2 Likes
One thing not mentioned yet, that I consider a big plus in using iron covers – they can prevent the relatively heavy, solid iron heads from banging (repeatedly) into your relatively expensive and much more delicate carbon graphite wood shafts. A “ding” on the shaft can potentially cause it to break at that spot…
I did same a year ago.
1 Like
I’ve got a new set of Srixons on order… first new set of irons I’ll ever own… they’ve been delayed, so I’m just waiting at this point.
2 Likes
Exactly my feeling about using the iron covers.
I started using the covers when I bought my first set of Ben Hogan Apex, back then was my two weeks take home pay. I use the cover diligently for transporting, and when riding golf carts on some golf courses which requires cart.
If I walk, A large tour towel serpentine around the irons would do just fine from preventing bag chatter and clinking metal sound. So the covers stayed in the car.
Unfortunately, nothing last forever, since I sent through quite a few sets of the iron covers over the decades. The Face Cover you have is one of the better design.
I rotate the odd, even numbers so they won’t wear out too fast. Never attempted to repair the clip on the face saver. There must be a way to replace the plastic clip with a thin metal piece ?
2 Likes
Hogan Apex were some cat’s ass clubs, weren’t they? I still have my set as a “back up”.
My first set of Apex was bought from Edwin Watts, 1992 1-E + SW. Before that I was just admiring My instructor’s sets ( he gets a new set every 3-4 years when the new ones were out ).
Didn’t get used to the Apex 4 until maybe several years later.
Got a set of used Apex Grind later with Apex 5 shaft.
These sets still see action from time to time.
My issue is , I’ll take a few practice sessions to get back into the grooves, whenever switch back and forth with other sets. I guess the Apex-4 shaft was considered a light weight steel shaft back then.
1 Like
Fwiw, I took Lee’s @lwildernorva advice, went with the ClubGloves. They protect well and are on/off in a flash, even on-course for casual rounds. I’m usually one of the fastest in the group; the CGs certainly haven’t slowed me any. Recommended.
1 Like
I picked up my Apex II set from a local golf shop here in Buffalo area. Circa early 80’s IIRC. The set was 2-E, I already had a Hogan Special SW. I loved the Equalizer; for a wedge, I could pull off a lot of different shots with it.
1 Like
The 91-92 Apex ( 92 model but I purchased it late 91 , Fort Worth, forged, with one redline under the signature ) is the set which I started using the head cover for transporting it and storage after cleaned and dried. Absolutely use the head cover if the golf course requires riding a golf cart. The golf clubs will take a tremendous beating banging around in the back of the cart. I’ll serpentine a large tour towel around the irons when I used a push cart for walking.
The club heads are still in excellent shape except sign for normal use, no excessive bag chattering.
The golf cart rocking motion will also cause excessive wear on the finishing of graphite shaft ( where the shaft contact the dividers or the rim of the bag).
Many don’t use iron covers and it’s just fine since those are their golf club and their property. I like to keep things a little longer for enjoyment and personal preference is to keep things in good order.
Signs of wear from age and usage are fine, just like I don’t mind salt and pepper in the hair and eyebrows.
The Apex5 and the N shafts will come out of hibernation when the temperature is above 70 degrees F, can’t motor it with the aging body well in the colder temperature.
1 Like
Apex Grind from approximately the same time period is my backup to the backup. I actually loaned them to my nephew’s oldest son who took up golf during the pandemic, and partially because he’s been a baseball pitcher throughout junior and high school, hit them like I never could. He’s now gotten a new set of clubs and returned the Apex to me (I told him they were his to keep, but if he ever wanted to get rid of them, they had to come back to me for sentimental reasons).
I play them occasionally, but wow, they do feel heavy compared with modern clubs.
You were generous, even when lending out to a relative.
I had never lend out golf clubs ( unless I meant to dispose of it ), books or women. I don’t even like it when someone suggested to take a look at my golf clubs.
Long ago, one of my friend asked to try my new driver ( Geek DCT ), foolishly, I let him since he could not try it out in local golf shop. One swing, put a sky mark on it.
Polished off most of the ball mark but somehow, it is never the same.
Apex models were never the same since the old man stopped giving direct feedback/inspection after he sold the company. Definitely not the same after he passed on. Many would say differently.
1 Like
They really were the backup to a backup. I actually had a fourth set of the early Hogan cavity back forged CFTs that I gave to a friend from Baltimore who likes to play golf but doesn’t get to as frequently as he would like–work, a wife, and a daughter got in the way. It was painful to see him playing with clubs even older than the CFTs so I gave him that set, not expecting ever to see them return.
It was different with my nephew’s kid. He lives 15 minutes away from me, had gotten hooked into golf, and really wanted my advice. I suggested he try the Grinds before committing to his first set, and he really hit them beautifully.
I agree with your evaluation of the Hogan line and legacy. They were truly his clubs, not just clubs with his name on them. Given the equipment fanatic Hogan was, his input definitely left a mark on the clubs that bore his name–until the sale.
3 Likes
I’m the same, would do all I can for family. Taking the young man ( you as the great uncle) into this game is responsibility, especially he’s looking up to you for guidance.
I did not have a great uncle to walk me through the game when I started. However, all those senior and super-senior golfers I paired up with on the golf course really taught me the etiquette and the meaning of this game. They liked to golf with me because of my youth and the game I had and I respected them for their guidance in golf and life experience.
I could empathies with not enough time for golf. Same thing as work, family and kids all came before golf as it should be, since I could not provide a good living with immersing in the game. Like my instructor commented once, "you’ll never make it to the professional level but, once in awhile someone you golf with with will marble at your game ".
In golf, I’m a wanna be. In life, I played my parts, right on track. Not rich or famous but I have a good family and great kids ( can’t take credit for what they turned out to be ).
I still have the first set of forged cavity back ever, which was made by Ben Hogan ( a break through of forging at the time ). It stayed with me through index 12, then I got ambitious to try the Apex.
Things went to hell after Calloway bought them. They probably picked up some Hogan technology, particularly with Tour Deep golf balls thenran the Hogan brand into the ditch.
1 Like
Yes the golf ball with the deep dimple inserted in the pattern. Plus the brand name which Hogan had meticulously cultivated through the years.
I remembered even a shop could not order a replacement shaft from Hogan factory. Once I had a mishap with a 5 iron, shaft was bent. The proshop had to send it all the way back to the factory to re-shaft. Hogan was the only brand which wanted to make certain that everything is done according to their standard. Not the same after the old man sold the business. First to the AMF (1960’s), which he still maintain in control of the operation. When the AMF bought out by the Minstar and eventually sold to the Cosmo World ( Japan) 1984, 2003 is when Callaway bought out the Hogan brand.
There were several set of Hogan irons forged in Japan when Cosmo World owned the brand.
Many of the golfers I know from that part of the world still loyal to MacGregors at the time, and majority of them thought Ben Hogan irons were too difficult to play by the armatures.
1 Like
I don’t get the hate for iron covers. Some people like to do everything to keep things nice. Just got a new set of irons, maybe I should put some covers on the irons and an old sock on the Rogue to pick up some friendly wagers.
Seriously though, there are things we can do to avoid wear and tear. I wrap the irons in a towel before storing in my car. And, if you can avoid it, don’t store those things in the trunk in extreme temps - I like to hit the range after work but I’ve had several heads fly off due to epoxy heating up.
What else can we do to protect the sticks?
1 Like
My 3W headcover is a pair of nested tube socks…
It’s pathetic, I know.
2 Likes