Walter Hagen Banned Concave Wedge

This is the infamous Walter Hagen Concave Wedge. This wedge was produced circa 1930 by L.A. Young Co., and is stamped with Young's famous triangle logo and Hagen's name as well. This club was an extreme improvement on other "wedges" of the day. Despite being well known as Walter's club, this wedge may actually be best known for Bobby Jones' use of it during his Grand Slam in 1930. During the 1930 British Open at Hoylake, Bobby Jones found himself in greenside bunker at the Par 5 sixteenth hole needing birdie. Jones pulled out this concave wedge, a club completely foreign to anyone in attendance. Rather than simply pitch out and try to save par, Jones took his Concave Wedge and aimed right at the flagstick - and knocked it stiff. The ball reportedly lipped out and nestled 3 inches from the cup for a tap-in birdie. Even though Jones only used this model club twice during his Grand Slam tournaments in 1930, those two shots are still being discussed today. Use of this revolutionary wedge would soon end, however, as the USGA banned the club on January 7, 1931 at its annual meeting held in New York.

These Hagen Concave Wedges are extremely condition sensitive, and this clubhead has some condition issues. Though the club remains 100% original, with its original shaft and grip intact. In fact, the shaft still has a partial L.A. Young shaft sticker, as well as a full sticker from the golf shop where this club was originally offered for sale.