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Ping is continuing to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ping Anser putter in style by offering a special limited edition version hand ground by its chairman and CEO John A. Solheim.

The limited edition putters are priced at £850 each with Solheim working on the sole just as he did 50 years ago in his family’s garage.

Ping says it has stayed true to the manufacturing process from 1966 and the limited edition Ping Anser model is sand cast with the original tools used by company founder Karsten Solheim and his son Allan. They have also been assembled solely with components made in the USA.

The putters will be distinguished by either a ‘K’ for Karsten’s mould or an ‘A’ for Allan’s mould in the serial number on the neck.

All 1,550 of the commemorative Ping Anser models are finished and assembled at the brand’s HQ in Phoenix. Tungsten heel and toe weights are inserted and precisely milled with other key surfaces in the company’s machine shop.

Each Ping Anser putter will come in a special presentation box with a leather putter cover and a certificate of authenticity signed by John Solheim.

“This has been a fun project,” said Solheim (above). “It brought back a lot of great memories from the days in our garage near Scottsdale.

“The Anser is the most successful putter design ever and its place in history is unquestioned. Who could have imagined 50 years after its invention it would still be the most dominant design on tour? It seems like golfers of all abilities have used an Anser putter at some point.”

The original concept for the Ping Anser putter was sketched on a 78-rpm record sleeve (above) by Ping founder Karsten Solheim in early 1966.

It was patented the next year and now has more than 500 tour titles to its credit, including 19 men’s major championships.

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