H x W x D (2015.249.4.3 Wood 5): 43 × 4 × 4 1/2 in. (109.2 × 10.2 × 11.4 cm)
Type:
golf clubs (equipment)
sports and athletic equipment
Date:
late 20th century
Description:
A wood golf club from PING, used by Ethel Funches.
The shaft is silver in color and is made out of metal. There is a black rubber grip at the top. The grip has short grey diagonal lines going in both directions all around it. In the center there is a line drawing of an arrow-like shape. There is text going vertically down both sides of the arrow. On the proper right side of the arrow it reads [GRIP RITE] and on the proper left side it reads [SWING RITE]. There is a thin line going around the base of the grip with stars below it. There is also a thin line going around the top of the grip. There are some small tears in different areas.
There is a clear adhesive label with black text on the shaft. There is a thick black line going around the top and a blue line around the bottom of the label. There is a blue line drawing of a male “creature” with a hat and a golf club. It reads [PING] in black letters going across the image. The text on the back of the label reads [KARSTEN / MFG. COPR. / BOX 9990 / PHOENIX, ARIZONA / 85068 / MADE IN U.S.A.]. The label is slightly torn at the bottom. There is a black tapered piece of ribbed rubber around the bottom of the shaft.
The head of the club is made of a dark wood. There are scuffs and scratches in several different areas, and the proper left side has wear and tear from where it hit the ball. The proper left side has a thick red stripe. It also has vertical grooved lines as well as some tan exposed wood. The proper left side is flat, since it is a right-handed golf club.
The underside of the head has scuffs and scratches on it. There is a piece of metal covering most of it. It has four (4) nails securing it to the wood. The metal has a bit of discoloring as well as some dents and scratches. There is black text on the piece of metal. It is indented into it. It reads [24734 / PING EYE 2 / ® {line drawing of a male “creature” with a hat and golf club} {drawing of an eye} T.M. 5 / KARSTEN MFG. CORP. / BOX 9990 PHOENIX, ARIZONA U.S.A. 85068 / U.S. PAT. NO. 3625518].
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Grand Niece Angela Kenion-Wynn in Memory of Ethel P. Funches