The Ryder Cup
Walter Hagen
Concave Smooth Face Sand 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 the offered club is in
exceptional condition.