Putting isn’t one of those athletic skills that require use of fast-twitch muscles, but putter enthusiasts need to warm up their reflexes if they hope to score the latest collector’s item from Ping.
The PLD Anser Patent 55 in stainless steel – the second of four fully machined collector’s models being offered as part of a year-long celebration acknowledging the 55th anniversary of the Anser putter patent – is available exclusively through pingpld.com beginning Monday, June 13, at 2 p.m. EDT. Only 55 of the precision-milled, handcrafted putters will be available via the website for $790 (limit one per customer).
Those 55 will sell out faster than a Cameron Champ swing.
“Since introducing the PLD Limited program in March with the aluminum bronze PLD Anser Patent 55, there’s been a lot of excitement and interest from fans and collectors,” said John A. Solheim, the executive chairman of Ping. “The first version sold out in less than three minutes, so we’re encouraging those interested to be ready promptly when we make them available on Monday.”
Ping’s original Anser patent – granted to Karsten Solheim on March 21, 1967 – was a game-changer in putter design. More than 700 Anser victories are represented in Ping’s Gold Putter Vault, including the 1969 Masters won by George Archer, the first of 20 major championships for Ping’s most iconic design.
The Anser – with the “w” in the word answer excluded at the suggestion of Solheim’s wife, Louise, so it would fit on the back of the putter – launched Ping on a new trajectory and led the company to move from the family garage in Scottsdale, Arizona, to its current headquarters site on 50 acres north of Phoenix to keep production in line with demand. When its patent expired, its influence could be seen on the designs of competitive putters.
“We think it’s important to remind the golf industry and some of the younger golfers that the familiar putter design they see with other brands’ name on it was created by Karsten in his garage in the mid-1960s,” said John A. Solheim, the youngest son of Karsten and Louise. “I was fortunate to be at his side building the first Ansers, and continued to do so for many years. It was among Karsten’s many contributions to the game that eventually earned him induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame, the only manufacturer to be so honored.”
There will be two more serialized releases later this year, so keep these reflexes at the ready. The next PLD Anser Patent 55 will be machined from copper and will launch on September 26. The final PLD Anser Patent 55 – gold plated and milled from stainless steel – will be available on December 12.