If you have been on this forum for any period of time, you have seen mention of The Grandaddy. The greatest amateur event ever created. The 2024 edition is coming and we have The Captain in @jlew and a group of forum members, but there are still spots left and you could be one of them after this contest.
It is an all expenses paid trip of a lifetime.
What’s Included
Airfare
Hotels
Club Fitting at ECPC
Full Bag of Callaway Equipment
Tour Callaway HQ
Meet R&D
Play Golf with Callaway
Play at One of the Finest Courses You Will Ever Step Foot On…THE HIDEAWAY
In a Nutshell, Everything You Could Imagine
And so much more
This contest is called “The Birth” because we are feeling a bit nostalgic today.
The Contest
Your job will be to tell us about the first Callaway golf club you ever purchased. Why did you buy it? How did it perform? What replaced it? You have 50 words or less to accomplish the task. Don’t tell us what you think we want to hear, tell us about your journey.
Qualifying
You must be a 2024 or 2025 Albatross Club Member to enter. The club is open to anybody and helps benefit a wonderful charity. Not a member and want more details? Click here to find out what the AC is all about.
How to Enter
This one involves one step and not skimming : )
1. Tell us about your Callaway Birth : )
The first Callaway golf club you ever purchased. Why did you buy it? How did it perform? What replaced it?
You only have a certain amount of words. Make them count. Then sit back and see if you get your ticket punched to the Grandaddy of em All! This one may be judged. Read the entire post.
Good luck everybody. This contest will remain open until end of day Saturday the 12th.







Just for fun, not an entry.
My first Callaway were the x16 pro series irons. I bought them because I loved the look. They had a great feel and accurate and made me feel like a player. They hooked me on liking smaller player style irons. I replaced them with x tours.
A Odyssey Metal X 2 putter. I bought it because I wanted a good putter. It was a very solid performer for many years and was replaced by a Toulon Chicago, but made its way back in the bag 3 weeks ago and it has been on fire again.
2012, returned to golf after 25 years. Needing driver, I answered a Craigslist ad for a Cleveland Launcher. Guy also had a Big Bertha Steelhead III 7 wood in his trunk. It. Was. Money! I stupidly replaced it with a Wilson Fybrid. I now stick with Callaway woods.
[QUOTE=”Steve2100, post: 12654765, member: 57217″]
The first Callaway club I bought was a B21 driver from [USER=14378]@Tywithay[/USER] , paired with a Callaway RCH shaft from [USER=50607]@Thrillbilly Jim[/USER]. It transformed my game. Although I switched to a Srixon ZX5, I recently returned to the B21, helping me lower my handicap from 18 to 15!
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Knew you weren’t an 18.
Entry –
[B][I]Bought a used Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver since I heard good things about the brand. The driver looked great, good performance and sound, and it got me back into the game after a 25 year absence. Rogue driver replaced it. Been playing all Callaway clubs ever since.[/I][/B]
Little Weds morning bump.
[IMG alt=”Wednesday Morning GIF”]https://media1.giphy.com/media/27HBKlIO2WpoY/200.gif[/IMG]
Get those entries in!!
Entry:
Although it was not my true birth** with Callaway my first purchase was the Epic Speed driver because of THP reviews. I ended up not agreeing with the shaft so I pretty quickly upgraded to a fitted Rogue Pro which I loved. I’ve only Callaway metals since then.
**Actual birth happened in 1996 when my stepdad came home and handed me his almost new War Bird driver that the shaft had split near the hosel on the range. He had replaced it before his round that day and no longer needed it so I was left to get it fixed. A few weeks later thanks to Callaway’s great warranty I had my replacement driver which I used until my clubs were stolen in 2004. Thanks to that driver I also ended up getting the 5 wood which was replaced when I added an additional wedge.
Oh man, the memories. The first Callaway club I ever bought was the Hawkeye driver. It was the best performing driver and I bought it because a friend had one. It was truly the best driver until I stupidly sold it for a Cleveland Launcher.
[I]Official Entry:[/I]
In my infancy with Callaway.
I did a testing in March 2023 after not getting along with my previous 3W.
Result: Paradym Triple Diamond. I have no plans to replace it soon. It’s my favorite club with its versatility off the tee and in fairways. Accurate distance equals lower scores.
First callaway purchase was the S2H2 irons. When they came out I hit them like a rocket! Then surgeries came and i lost the distance. Flipped to X18 irons and loved those. I still have those s2h2 irons in my basement. Great first irons from callaway!
An X460 driver I bought for $20 off of [USER=22002]@JDax[/USER]. I bought it because the driver I had was from a box set. It did the job at the time and when I joined Gaylord Springs it came with a driver fitting and was fit into a TaylorMade R11.
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[QUOTE=”e1iterate, post: 12656097, member: 21958″]
An X460 driver I bought for $20 off of [USER=22002]@JDax[/USER]. I bought it because the driver I had was from a box set. It did the job at the time and when I joined Gaylord Springs it came with a driver fitting and was fit into a TaylorMade R11.
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It’s a classic…
Ooooo great contest! My first club I purchased myself was the 2014 Big Bertha Alpha. It was my first club with a weight that could be changed and I started out not loving it because I could not get it off the ground more than 15 feet. As I practiced It got better but never really loved that club. On the other hand my first ever Callaway club were the X tour wedges that were spin cheat codes! I absolutely loved those wedges.
My first Callaway club was a 5-wood. It was the only reliable club in my bag. Every time I hit it, the ball soared and landed softly. It was my father’s club first and meant even more than any other golf club.
First callaway club I bought was the AI smoke mini driver. Bought it because I can’t control where I hit my driver. My 3 wood isn’t reliable either. It performs exceptionally. I hit it consistently straighter than my normal driver. It replaced my 3 wood.
I can’t read
[QUOTE=”JB, post: 12653853, member: 3″]
1. Tell us about your Callaway Birth : )
The first Callaway golf club you ever purchased. Why did you buy it? How did it perform? What replaced it?
[/QUOTE]
A Mavrik Max 7-iron replaced a Taylormade Burner because the club head flew into woods on Hole 7 of Oak Trail. The Mavrik had similar specs. Callaway Pre-Owned was clutch. Performed great. Amazing when flushed, very forgiving mishits. Replaced by Holiday Cheer Cobra LTDx because it met a similar fate….
X16 steelhead 2 iron, my first Callaway club. I never liked hitting a 5 wood and it filled the spot between my 3 wood and 3 iron. It performed great off the tee, it had a hot face! It was replaced with a Cleveland tour action 588 52 degree wedge.
I love this contest so I’ll play along for fun
I broke my Callaway cherry with the Great Big Bertha Warbird. It looked so different than everything else with the bore through hosel. I loved that thing, unfortunately I let a friend use it and it ended up down range somewhere. Eventually replaced by the TM Burner Bubble
[QUOTE=”jdtox, post: 12656508, member: 5944″]
I love this contest so I’ll play along for fun
I broke my Callaway cherry with the Great Big Bertha Warbird. It looked so different than everything else with the bore through hosel. I loved that thing, unfortunately I let a friend use it and it ended up down range somewhere. Eventually replaced by the TM Burner Bubble
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Not gonna lie I word counted you to see if you followed the rules or if Dictator’s did what they wanted. I’m impressed…
[QUOTE=”jlew, post: 12656768, member: 40346″]
Not gonna lie I word counted you to see if you followed the rules or if Dictator’s did what they wanted. I’m impressed…
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Great contest and I’ll play along for fun. Not an official entry.
I bought my first Callaway club ever, the Paradym 6h, last year. I’d followed The Grandaddy for the first time in 2022 and heard great things about the new hybrids. It was only replaced because of the MC commitments
We’ve got some great entries in here. Let’s keep them coming. Can’t wait to see who joins us.
First club was an Odyssey White Hot. Knew nothing about putters other than Odyssey was at the top. Rolled it well and had many great putts that I still remember. A Bettinardi replaced it, but that was short lived. Ended up gaming a Tri Hot 5K for a while after.
Love the amount of entries on this one!!
My first “real” club, a Callaway FT-3 Fusion driver. My uncle got one, I followed suit. Didn’t hurt that they were throwing in a FREE 3w to go with it. As a 25 hdcp I pounded that thing. Finally replaced years later with a TM R11s.
Big Bertha 2002 Irons. I bought them because I liked the way they looked, they had a 10 iron, and it was the first set of “real” irons I ever bought. I got my first hole in one with them, but don’t remember much else! Nike Slingshots replaced them.
OG Rogue driver. Bought it based on THP popularity of Callaway products and it has proven to be a great purchase. One of the easiest clubs to hit I’ve ever had. It’s been 3 years in the bag and nothing has replaced it.
Some really good entries so far.
Some great
[QUOTE=”outlawx, post: 12658056, member: 74252″]
Some really good entries so far.
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Some great posts! Some testaments to longevity and effectiveness of some like the Rogue driver
I’m out of this one, the Flight would kill my Back.
Still…
My 1st Callaway Club was just a few months ago, never owned one prior. I have tried many of my friends but did not care for low Ball flight…Until.
Hackers was kind enough to send me a 17? UW to test against my Cobra 3W that was giving problems. 2 Rounds and 3W gone and UW in. I now also have a 21? that kicked my original Blondie Ping Zing 5W kicking and screaming out of the Bag. Next year the Opus line will be replacing my Vokeys, Shhh, they don’t know yet.
Callaway is really killing it this year.
Well Done boys
S2H2 3 fairway with the bore through shaft was my first Callaway club. I thought it was the coolest club you could have in your bag. Definitely not easy to hit, but I did my best to make it work. Fond memories of that one and the time period.
Not an entry as I’m on the DL with the rotator cuff surgery but wanted to chime in.
1995-I bought the Great Big Bertha after watching Buddy Marucci battle Tiger Woods in the US AM. Always rooted for the mid-ams and after seeing him put the club in play I picked one up-with the Laker shaft. Still have it even though it is about the size of my 5 wood now.
Entry:
9* XR pro driver was my first Callaway purchase. Matte finish and the smaller footprint was what caught my eye. It was replaced by the 816 dbd Oban purple combo. Loved that combo, still to this day wish I would have kept it. Gravity core set high toe…absolute bomber!
[QUOTE=”Junkyard, post: 12657500, member: 12544″]
OG Rogue driver. Bought it based on THP popularity of Callaway products and it has proven to be a great purchase. One of the easiest clubs to hit I’ve ever had. It’s been 3 years in the bag and nothing has replaced it.
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I bought that same driver in 2018 based on the THP review thread (how i found THP), may be my favorite driver I’ve ever owned
Callaway Big Bertha 9* w/ Sandvik Titanium stiff flex shaft. Assitant pro had one I hit it and was hooked. Combination was long and accurate. Shaft got bent somehow, upgraded to GBB. You never forget your first I will always love that club.
[QUOTE=”e1iterate, post: 12656097, member: 21958″]
An X460 driver I bought for $20 off of [USER=22002]@JDax[/USER]. I bought it because the driver I had was from a box set. It did the job at the time and when I joined Gaylord Springs it came with a driver fitting and was fit into a TaylorMade R11.
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I had an X460 tour that i absolutely loved. It came with a 26.2 shaft or something can’t remember who made it. I remember they talked about the sole being cambered like that so you could sit it without rocking. Man tech seemed so much simpler back then (Get off my lawn people!)
My First Callaway club was a Big Bertha 454 —it was the first “real” OEM driver i ever bought. Still remember it!!! Good times
Not an official entry—my work schedule is too unpredictable that time of year—but good luck to all and look forward to skimming the live thread.
I “bought” a Callaway X460 driver when I got a credit card offer that included $800 to spend at Callaway after spending $2400 on the card. No fitting, just guessed at loft and shaft and I used it for years (hitting bombs) before replacing it with a HiBore XL.
I did yardwork as a kid to earn enough for a Big Bertha War Bird. Got one off a used rack and was over the moon. Still saddened to this day that a friend cut our time short by putting a dent in the crown at a junior clinic.
[QUOTE=”BuckNasty, post: 12658287, member: 48132″]
I bought that same driver in 2018 based on the THP review thread (how i found THP), may be my favorite driver I’ve ever owned
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I bought another driver last year thinking I needed something new. After maybe 10 rounds I went back to the Rogue
More
[QUOTE=”Muchmore, post: 12658498, member: 56094″]
More
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much more
[QUOTE=”Jeff Spicoli, post: 12658517, member: 10545″]
much more
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Sure, I’ll go back
[QUOTE=”Muchmore, post: 12658528, member: 56094″]
Sure, I’ll go back
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I support this.
[QUOTE=”Jeff Spicoli, post: 12658529, member: 10545″]
I support this.
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I would need to enter lol
[QUOTE=”Muchmore, post: 12658537, member: 56094″]
I would need to enter lol
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[QUOTE=”jlew, post: 12658542, member: 40346″]
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You don’t need me. I’m 0-5. You are trying to win!
In 2006 I bought an Odyssey Tri-Ball SRT putter, this massive putter helped me become a great putter. I loved the way it lined up behind the ball. A few years later, I felt I was ready for a blade and purchased a Scotty Cameron Newport from a buddy.
I think this goes back to 2015…. Up to that point I didn’t own a Callaway club. I was struggling with my FW and bought a used BB Alpha 815 5W. Since then I’ve become a Callaway homer but nothing newer has replaced the club to date.
My first was the Rogue ST Max LS driver. I’d never gamed a Callaway club and needed to give one a try since I was looking for a lower spinning driver. I bought it this spring from CPO and it performed exactly as advertised – it’s still in my bag!