Gerald R. Ford was by far the most accomplished athlete of all of the United States Presidents. He was a standout center on the University of Michigan Wolverines football squad that won back-to-back National Championships in 1932 and 1933. The following year he was named team MVP, and the university formally retired his jersey No. 48 in 1994. During the war Ford was an athletic director in the Navy, organizing teams as well as participating himself in numerous sports when there was a lull in the battle. Throughout his political career Ford stayed active, especially on the links where he was reported to have often shot in the 80’s. Wilson Sporting Goods produced this custom-fitted set of 13 clubs and bag specifically for President Gerald Ford in 1975.
The red and white leather bag features a large, full color version of his Presidential Seal on the exterior along with a matching leather ID tag which has not been filled out. The attention to detail in the presentation set is outstanding. All clubs (irons 4 through 9, PW, SW, and woods 1, 3, 4, 6 & 8) engraved with “President Gerald R. Ford” and a playful Republican elephant, while the woods each have leather covers embossed with “JERRY FORD” in gold and labeled "Pat. 184, 240". The club faces all exhibit obvious signed of use, yet remain perfectly playable. The bag shows light use and each zipper pocket has its own lock and key for safekeeping.
This is the third set of President Ford golf clubs we have listed at auction, but what really sets this one apart is its lovely the Presidential Seal golf bag and personalized wood covers. The exceptionally well-preserved set comes complete with its original donation receipt from the Bill Demarest Golf Classic auction (sometime in the 1980's) indicating the donor as "HONORABLE GERALD FORD" with a winning bid of $4,000.