Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Look over the clubs carefully and determine which ones are worth restoring. Antique clubs are often found in garage and estate sales in horrible condition--with rusted and corroded metal parts, broken wooden handles, leather grips torn or missing, or covered with layers of paint or oil. Set aside the best clubs. Clubs with hickory wood shafts have the most potential for restoration and resale.
Clean the clubs carefully with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. Sometimes a cleaning is all that is needed. Many golf collectors feel that old clubs should either not be restored at all, or be restored with a minimum of changes to the original condition. They feel the "patina" of age, including damage, should be undisturbed. When in doubt, consult with a knowledgeable antique dealer or collector.
Sand off the corrosion and rust on the metal parts with the fine abrasive carborundum paper. Take your time on this, removing only small amounts at a time and being careful to not damage the original patina. Lightly wax and polish the metal parts when finished. Replace any missing metal screws with similar ones and remove dents that hurt appearance. Tighten metal parts.
Remove any newer parts that have been placed on the vintage club in earlier restorations and replace them with vintage parts when possible.
Replace parts that have deteriorated so badly there is no other alternative (such as an entire wood shaft). Keep a record of any major restoration for a possible future sale.
Replace the leather grips if necessary, using a leather as close as possible to the original. To re-create the look of the original patina, recolor any leather that has been worn or scuffed.
Reglue any broken wood shafts to their original state, being careful not to let the glue show. Clean the wood shafts and heads, but do not remove the original varnish. After cleaning, wax the wood to restore original glow and depth of color.