I occasionally see the Bobby Jones Calloway Hickory Sticks for sale and was wondering if anyone knew how these clubs would play when compared to vintage or era clubs from the 30's and earlier. The woods are persimmons and the irons are somewhat modern (70's/80's) cavity backs all with hickory shafts. It looks like these clubs would not be permitted in hickory golfers assoc. tournaments so I'm guessing that means they will play more like modern clubs.
Those are actually steel-shafted clubs. That's why they are allowed in hickory competitions.
The hickory shafts were bored and the steel shaft was inserted in the hole. I seem to recall a story about Dick Helmstetter in which he said he got hired because of his experience as a billiard cue designer--something about application of technology to the golf biz.
But the hickory stick company was actually formed by Richard Parente and Dick De La Cruz, who sold it to Ely Callaway.
K