Goldfinger
We pay homage to Bond's creator, the ace author and avid golfer, Ian Fleming...
Last year not only saw the Penfold Heart™ finally back after 25 years, but it was the centenary of Bond's creator, Ian Fleming.
The genius behind the Bond novels, Ian Fleming, was born in 1908. In the mood for celebrating the Ian Fleming Centenary Penfold Golf brought back the golf ball played by 007 in his match against arch enemy, Auric Goldfinger.
Goldfinger Movie turns Penfold Heart into a Star
Fleming's novel Goldfinger was made into the third Bond movie in 1964. With a young Sean Connery in the title role for the third time, the movie was a huge hit - not only for the young Connery, but for the film's most unlikely non-speaking star - a Penfold Heart™ Golf Ball.
A tense round of golf with villain Goldfinger, sees James Bond defeat the gold-crazed killer using a Penfold Heart golf ball. Goldfinger tries to fool 007 by switching balls, but 007 wins the match, confirming his preferred golf ball as the winning ball with the line: "Mine's the Penfold Heart!"
It was while filming Goldfinger, that Connery also became a fan of golf. Such was the Bond film's popularity that Penfold's Bromford factory saw orders for their golf ball with the red heart logo soar. By the late 1960s and early 1970s the Penfold Heart was the uber-cool golf ball of choice.
Yet the Penfold Heart started life with no dramatic aspirations. As part of a set of four balls carrying aces from each of the four playing card suites, the red heart golf ball formed part of Penfold's Ace collection.
Fleming might easily have elected his famous character to play with a Penfold Club, Spade or Diamond. Somehow, the Penfold Heart™ suits James Bond's character - he is, after all, an agent inclined to romances.
Bond's creator ardent golfer
Ian Fleming, an ardent golfer himself, was Captain-elect at The Royal St. George's Club in Sandwich, Kent at the time of his death in 1964. The Royal St. Mark's golf course within his novel Goldfinger is a thinly-disguised description of The Royal St. George's, whilst Fleming's references to the golfing pro in his novel, Albert Blacking, are clearly based upon the pro Albert Whiting known to Fleming at Sandwich.
When The Royal St.George's asked Penfold Golf to remake the famous red heart golf ball for a charity match in the summer of 2008, the Penfold team was happy to oblige. "For the first time in 25 years, the Penfold Heart has gone back into production. How apt that its first re-appearance is at Royal St. George's," explained William Baird, CEO of Penfold Golf.
007 Golf Balls premiered
Special permission to use the 007 logo on the charity match golf balls was given. So, on 25th June, 21 teams of players using the world's only 007 golf balls, competed to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. With coverage from the BBC and great interest from Bond fans worldwide, the 007 Penfold Heart™ teed off at Ian Fleming's former golf club. Suffice to say, none were left as "lost balls!"
Fleming's novel Goldfinger
First editions of Goldfinger reach high prices, but beware of fake first imprints!