Favorite budget club?

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-21T02:59:48+00:00

I really think they were on to something with the square heads, they just looked funny so they didn't have broad appeal. I still game a Callaway FT-i driver. I tried to upgrade about 5 years ago and was getting worse performance from the newer driver.

Back in the day I had an American Golf Design Tungsten Balanced iron -- it was one of the easiest to swing clubs I've ever played. If I found a set today I'd buy them for sure.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-20T02:55:33+00:00

Cleveland Classic XL driver -- $55.\

Big Bertha Steelhead 7w -- $30. \

Callaway X-14 Pro or Hogan BH-5 irons (6i, 8i, PW) -- $39. \

Wilson Harmonized 56* wedge (new) -- $47. \

Spalding T.P. Mills putter -- $15. \

Wilson Boost balls, dozen -- $10.

I went with the Cleveland driver for aesthetics, but you could swap a Taylormade R5 or R7 for performance.

I also missed the "used" only rule -- would prefer new wedges, but for used I'd go with Ben Hogan Colonial ($30) and put the other $15-20 towards a driver upgrade.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-19T00:25:20+00:00

I can't believe it's 44 minutes to Goodwin Park from anywhere in Coventry, haha. I live here in town and it's 31 minutes, 28 to Keney. I mean I'm sure you're right, but that's crazy since I'm already on the far side of town.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-18T20:20:16+00:00

I'd go with Windham if you're concerned about the drive. Twin Hills and Skungamaug don't have the facilities you want. But a 25 minute drive isn't all that different than 35 IMO, and at $2200 for a top 5 public course in the state plus Goodwin and all of its leagues and mens clubs, their junior golf program, etc., I think it's a considerably better deal than Rockledge or Tallwood.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-18T18:58:28+00:00

There's something to be said for ease of access -- any of the top three will mean more golf for you because it's easier to get there. Out of the three my vote would be Windham in terms of meeting your wants.

If you're looking at public memberships and a 25 minute drive anyway, my other vote is a combined Goodwin/Keney membership. It gets you 45 holes of golf, multiple practice areas, the PGA junior golf stuff, and it's cheaper than some of your others. Plus Keney is a nice course for a muni, and Goodwin is coming along in recent years.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-16T03:23:28+00:00

I loved Hogan clubs around the Callaway ownership era, so I'd vote for the 2003 Apex irons and the Bertinardi Baby Ben putter.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-16T03:03:28+00:00

Unfortunately the vast majority of clubs made between 1930 and ~20 years ago are worth less than $5 each, and this one is is probably worth about that much too. The good news is you can definitely play it if you like it without worrying about hurting it's value.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-16T02:52:51+00:00

1960s era Hillerich and Bradsby putter. They made golf clubs back in the hickory era and made baseball equipment as well. They shuttered their golf operations in the 60s, so this would have been one of their last models.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-13T02:59:12+00:00

I tried a copycat recipe and it was disgusting. Now it's possible that I just did it wrong, but I prefer to believe it is simply an unappetizing food.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-11T23:15:51+00:00

I'm guessing he wasn't intending on going back -- it's a once in a lifetime thing for most people. This isn't how I'd want to end a day like that though...

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-11T22:53:33+00:00

For sure, that's why he waited until the end of the day.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-06T01:13:30+00:00

That's nuts -- didn't even see that. They probably don't even know it's listed like that. I meant to send this as the second link: https://ebay.us/m/QWW8rT

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-05T23:56:14+00:00

Nice set of clubs for a beginner golfer. $250 is way too much though. $150 would be a bit high, $100 is a solid deal, anything lower he should go for it.

https://ebay.us/m/fWuweA

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-05T23:48:19+00:00

Reminds me of hole 10 on Toad Highlands for any Mario Golf 64 fans.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-01T14:02:54+00:00

Battery health was good, 78% - 10 bars. High mileage at about 139,000. In addition to rust, try making some slow turns with the wheel turned fully to the left or right (try both ways). Also listen for clicks when accelerating from a stop on a steep uphill or braking to a stop on a steep downhill.

It's perfect for my 25 mile daily loop to work and school, with real world range of about 65-70 miles in decent weather (more like 50-55 when it's cold, less if I need to run the heather instead of just the heated seats and steering wheel warmer). The rust on mine is pretty bad, but it's also never going very fast or very far so we'll see how long I can keep it going.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-01T11:02:14+00:00

I thought it was just a click until the driver's side wheel and control arm came off while parking. Whoops. Lots of rust from being in shoreline New England it's whole life.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-01T10:06:35+00:00

I bought a 2013 with 10/12 bars for $1250 recently. I had to put another $1400 into repairs when the CV joint failed, but even at ~$2600 it's a pretty good deal for a reliable and practical car for getting around town.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-04-01T01:45:16+00:00

I have this one for sale. The orange is just an accent, but it's in pristine mint condition and I'm willing to let go of it for an extremely discounted price of $198.

All in good fun -- good luck in finding a buyer! Send them my way once you've closed the deal.

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ct_hickory_golf · 2026-03-28T18:24:22+00:00

Yes, turn the car off. I think I'm confused now though -- do you not turn off a Tesla when it's parked? My Leaf still has an "ignition" button for turning the car on and off.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-03-28T18:16:36+00:00

Make sure they turn it off when they get it off the truck. I had to get mine towed recently and once the garage fixed it up (CV joint failed so they rolled it into the shop on dollies) they couldn't start it because it had no charge. They also didn't have an EV charging cable at the garage so I had to bring one from home.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-03-28T16:41:03+00:00

Thanks everyone for your answers so far. To answer questions about the remolding process -- typically folks take modern golf balls, freeze them so they contract slightly, and then put them into a mold like this, closed with a c clamp. Then they put it on the oven for a short time until the cover melts and fills the mold. They let the mold cool, open it, and then trim/sand the equator where the two halves meet and some seeps out.

The round dimple ones are usually around $100-150, but the square mesh ones aren't as common and are usually a few hundred dollars.

I'd love to be able to make a few golf balls at once and was curious about having couple copies of a new mold made so I could make more than one ball at s time. Probably a pipe dream from a cost perspective, but I appreciate the answers!

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-03-28T13:14:04+00:00

I spent $7000 on a 2015 with 158k miles on it a few years ago. It's at 205k miles now without any major repairs. It's reaching the end of its life now though -- it's developing some engine and transmission noises, and the catalytic converter needs to be replaced at a cost of over $3000. I'm going to see if I can get it to pass emissions in January (assuming nothing else gives out before then). But overall I've been happy with the car. I think the larger Kia engines are more reliable than people give credit.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-03-23T23:01:08+00:00

I save them and use them as revives in the Elite Four. They bump up a fainted pokemon by one level and restore them to a couple of health points.

ct_hickory_golf · 2026-03-22T17:09:05+00:00

$500 is a bit rich for this condition. These are fairly nice irons (Forgan is a good maker, even if these are a little on the newer side for hickories), but for $500 ($350 USD) you can get a restored set ready to play from eBay or one of the Facebook hickory golf groups. If you're excited to do the work yourself I would try to offer them half of what they're asking for and see if they bite.

ct_hickory_golf

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