CROQUET STYLE PUTTING
The concept of putting with the player’s feet straddling the line of flight of the ball on the putting green (CROQUET PUTTING) began in the 1890’s. This article is restricted to examples contained in the BC Golf Museum collection. The article spotlights a recent a donation to the Museum – THE DUDE croquet style putter.
MUNRO “Pendulum Putter” for Croquet Style Putting.
James Munro received his patent for his croquet-style putter on July 4th, 1896. Although Munro was granted the first registered patent for such a style putter he was not the first to construct putters for the croquet style putting that became popular in the 1890’s. See THE CLUBMAKERS ART by Jeff Ellis pages 210 – 213 for other examples of croquet putters.
In his patent description for his unique putter, Munro provides the advantages his new putter gives to the golfer.
According to Munro conventional putting method where the player stood on one side of the line of flight was flawed. “ The club head leaves the line of the putt whenever it is drawn back to make the stroke, thus making it uncertain it will return to the exact line and not pulled or heeled. In another style the player endeavours to draw the putter head back along the line of flight. This endeavour involves a complex motion ofthe wrists, elbows and shoulders which introduces uncertainty into the stroke.”
With his pendulum putter Munro argued;” The motion of the putter when properly played is consequently as near as possible like that of an ordinary pendulum.” The motion is like a pendulum where the putter head strikes the ball that is positioned between the legs.
When the Royal & Ancient banned centre shafted putters in 1910 manufacturers began producing a different pendulum putter. In the picture notice how the hosel of the putter has been deliberately produced perpendicular to the sole of the putter. This putter could also be used with the ball between the legs. The player could also use this putter by standing the feet pointing towards the hole and on one side of the line of flight. Like Munro the manufacturer felt the player had a better chance of striking the ball on the putting line by facing the hole.
In the 1950’s a resurgence of croquet style putters emerged. Notice the examples from the BC Golf Museum collection.
In the Pacific Northwest Bob Duden introduced his unique style croquet putter in 1960. The local Vancouver Sun described Duden’s British Columbia Open victory in glowing terms. “ It was the unattached golfer with the strange putter who Saturday toured the Marine Drive golf course in 33-34 67. Utilizing his unique style Duden shot 68-69-64 in the early rounds. But as unconventional and ugly as it may look it is a deadly shot in the hand of a master. Duden on putted 28 greens during the four days.”
During his professional career that spanned forty years Bob Duden won 50 professional titles. This included eight Oregon Open titles. From his home in Portland Duden manufactured his unique putter he called the “THE DUDE” At local tournaments he sold his creation from his trunk. He believed the unique bend in the shaft created topspin on the ball as the ball was struck. During his croquet putting days on the PGA he won once and finished second on three occasions. The USGA outlawed the croquet putting style in 1968. Undeterred Duden adapted to the sidesaddle stance.
Sam Snead perfected the croquet putting style to overcome his putting woes.
After Duden’s win The Golfcraft Manufacturing Company in Vancouver signed a licensing agreement with Duden to manufacture their own “Kro-Kay” mallet putter.
In 1962 following Duden’s lead, Al “Tiger” Feldman patented his own croquet putter. Using his long straight centre shafted putter Feldman placed second in the 1962 US Senior Open. At the 1963 BC Open the Tiger defeated Stan Leonard in a play-off to win. This marked the third time in four years the winning player used a croquet putter to win. Stan Leonard commented that he should give up conventional putters for the new croquet putters.