Arnold Palmer is perhaps the most beloved golfer in history. However, the elusiveness of Arnold Palmer tournament-used golf clubs is the subject of much frustration for advanced collectors. Unlike virtually every golfer in history, Arnold Palmer kept nearly every golf club he ever used. Palmer began doing this rather early in his career, and amassed a personal collection of over 10,000 golf clubs! In doing so, Arnold Palmer has created an insatiable demand for his clubs among collectors. Sure, every now and again, Palmer-used clubs from his Senior days may become available at auction, but actual tournament-used golf clubs from the 1960s are virtually unheard of. In this auction, we have the extreme privilege of selling Arnold Palmer's Tournament-used early 1960s irons in this lot, as well as an early 1960s Arnold Palmer putter in lot 57. 

Presented here are Arnold Palmer's circa 1960-61 tournament-used Wilson Staff irons. These irons were personally given by Palmer to former pro golfer (and eventual President of the PGA of America) Joe Black back in 1961. Joe Black wrote about these irons extensively in his book A Few Good Golf Stories, including the exceptional tale of how Arnold Palmer gave them to Black. 

It was Joe Black's belief that Arnold Palmer used these irons throughout 1960 and 1961. During that time period, Palmer won an incredible 14 times including the Masters Tournament, US Open, and Open Championship. 

Arnold Palmer was reunited with these irons (and his friend Joe Black) in 2001 when they were put on display at the Arnold Palmer designed Eagle Ranch Golf Club outside of Vail, CO. At that time, Palmer signed a document identifying the 14 tournaments purportedly won by Arnold Palmer with the clubs. 

For those that have been to Pebble Beach over the past decade, these irons have famously been on display at Golf Links to the Past, which acquired them directly from Joe Black. 

Details: Wilson Dyna-Powered Staff Model "Arnold Palmer" irons (aka "Wilson Staffs"). The official Wilson Staffs made for pros in 1960 have bore through shafts, but Palmer himself detested bore through shafts, so these are custom non-bore through shafts into the clubhead. 2 iron through 9 iron. Lead weight is added in two places on each toe. 

Accompanying Provenance:
Letter of Authenticity and Provenance from PGA President Joe Black
Arnold Palmer Signed 2001 Document listing 1960-1961 Victories with these irons
Joe Black's book A Few Good Golf Stories
Joe Black signed Letter of Authenticity
Certificate of Authenticity from Golf Links to the Past