Obsolete List

Case Studies

The winters in Greenville, Wis., are rough, but the summers can't be much better for Jack Anderson. A fellow resident of the Badger State needs to badger Anderson into getting new equipment. "My clubs were stolen 15 years ago," he says. "Since then I've used a set I bought for $50 at a yard sale." He likely overpaid. Anderson's bag (right) consists of laminated Wilson 1200 woods and a set of Titleist Pro 100 irons that he says "have seen better days." One reason could be that they were introduced in 1976! Anderson says he has been asked by friends to join a golf league, but he's reluctant because of his clubs. We can see why. -- Mike Johnson

Congratulations to Robert Jackson of South Portland, Maine, for recently graduating law school. Robert, your willingness to take on student loans shows you are not unmindful of your future. So why not bring the same attitude to your game and invest in new gear? Your PGA Ryder Cup II set from 1986, replete with persimmon woods and sharp-toe blades in the 2-iron through pitching wedge (right), are scary to look at. Although it's poignant that you choose to protect your aged irons with covers, keep those for your next set. You say you get "odd looks" at the driving range when people hear you hit balls. That means it's time. -- Max Adler

Despite replacing his 2-iron with a hybrid last year, Andrew Han of Burlingame, Calif., might be beyond hope. When you use irons two years older than you are (Han was born in 1978; his Lynx Liberty Bell irons, left, are from 1976) you have a long way to go. Perhaps worse, after losing his 8-iron last year, he actually found a Liberty Bell 8-iron to replace it. Han says he has tried his brother's TaylorMade rac irons. "Every shot feels like butter," he says, "but that's no fun because there's no effort." He says he won't retire his Lynx clubs until he breaks 80. "Maybe this will be the final year for these steel-shafted warriors," he says confidently. We doubt it. -- Stina Sternberg

Jeff White recently retired after 34 years as an elementary school phys-ed teacher in North Dighton, Mass. He knows his 1980s-era clubs hurt his game, but "he doesn't part with old things," says his son-in-law, Matt Doherty. No kidding. White's Toney Penna persimmon driver is nothing compared to his Dynacraft 5-wood, which is shorter than five of his irons. The set has Delta Golf 4- and 6-irons, Spalding Executive 5- and 7-irons and a Louisville Golf 9-iron and sand wedge (right). To fill the gaps, he uses a Ben Hogan 8-iron and Arnold Palmer pitching wedge. What do you expect from a man who drove the same Subaru station wagon for two decades? -- Mike Johnson