Heritage of Penfold Golf
How THE PENFOLD BRAND made its name.
♥ Penfold Golf's illustrious heritage dates back to 1884, with the birth of Albert Ernest Penfold. Like the Prince of Wales (after whom he was named) young Penfold was destined for notoriety...
His sporting passions were cultivated from an early age; Albert was a keen enthusiast for a variety of games. However, it was at golf that he particularly excelled; his love affair for the game of golf would continue throughout his life.
Master Penfold's early working years were spent as an apprentice at ‘The Silvertown’ where he developed a passion for design and production. Under the watchful eye of eminent scientist Dr Rollo Appleyard, he took a prominent role in research and development. This mainly included inspecting and refining imported materials for the company’s many products, including tyres and erasers.
Having originally been The Rubber & Gutter Percha Company, it's little surprise that golf balls were soon a key feature of production. Young Albert was at the forefront of this. Indeed, in 1911 he was put in charge of golf ball development and was quickly putting his own unique touch to the designs. He firstly created a pattern of parallel ridges circling the ball and then, in 1912 he got a patent on his “Mesh” pattern and also on a “Lattice” design. Importantly, although he assigned the ‘mesh’ pattern to his employers, he retained the rights to his ‘lattice’ design. This would prove integral to the birth of the Penfold brand.
♣ Golf Ball Developments
By the end of 1919, Albert had left ‘Silvertown’ to join Dunlop and designed their famous “Maxfli” ball which helped them to become one of the leaders in golf ball manufacturers. With an already bourgeoning reputation, he decided the time was right to form his company and so in 1927 he left Dunlop to set-up Golf Ball Developments Ltd.
Despite also redesigning the North British Rubber Co’s plant near Edinburgh at the same time, of more pressing concern was the expansion of his own plant in Bromford Lane, Birmingham UK, which demand more of his time and attention.
♣ A secret new design
The start of the 1930s saw Penfold really make its name as a brand. In 1930 A E Penfold brought out a “Latticed” Ball bearing his own name. It was an instant success at home and in America; achieving unprecedented success in becoming the third ball to gain top sales in the US. In fact, with it carrying a 25% premium over all other golf balls, the Penfold was the first golf ball to be sold exclusively to, and through, golfing professionals.
Penfold’s ongoing success was reflected in the growing number of Penfold Golf Tournaments it began to sponsor, with local professionals and players competing at Copt. Heath and Stoke Poges. However, Penfold’s development was suddenly halted in 1941 when Albert was drowned off the Irish coast in the torpedoed Siamese Prince, on return from a war mission in America.
Yet the infrastructure set in place by Albert Edward Penfold meant the company, under the leadership of his son, continued to go from strength to strength.
♥ Golf Balls in their millions
The Bromford Lane factory continued to produce golf balls in their millions, while the 1970s and 80s saw a whole host of golf superstars endorse the Penfold brand. It was the chosen ball of Seve Ballesteros when he won the 1979 British Open at Lytham.
Having changed hands a number of times, in 1983 a management buy-out saved the company from obscurity in the hands of the receiver. The new team concentrated efforts away from diversification and back to what Penfold did best: making golf balls.
♦ Penfold Golf's Ace and Commando Golf Balls took on cheap American imports and beat off the competition! In true 80's style, a "Lady Golfer" ball was launched in vivid pink.
The 1980s bore witness to some rather lurid design styles, including a range of Christmas Packs - a trio of clashing colours. (Not forgetting the quartet of pretty pastel shades for lady golfers.)
It all seems a bit "Little Britain" nowadays, but let's not forget - this was the decade of the Lady Di collar and Duran Duran.
Happily, 2008 saw a return to the classic styling of the 1960s with The Penfold Heart.