Karsten Solheim ’31

With the Depression in full swing, Solheim had to discontinue his studies at University of Washington because he ran out of money. Trained by his father in the family business as a shoemaker, he established a shoe repair shop in Ballard for a number of years before moving to California, where he resumed his engineering studies through a University of California extension course. Karsten graduated and worked for several engineering design firms before beginning a long career with General Electric in 1953. His work took him first to the east coast, then to Palo Alto and finally G.E.’s Phoenix plant.

In 1954, Solheim took up golf and immediately became an enthusiast. However, he was disappointed in his putting game. Applying his engineering skills, he invented a putter with most of its weight on the toe and heel, leaving the middle nearly a shell. The result was a putter that made a “ping” sound when it met the ball. It eventually became known as the Ping Putter.

When Solheim moved to Phoenix, he set up a shop in his garage and began manufacturing his putters. Eventually professionals, such as Jack Nicklaus, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Gary Sander and others, came to him for the Ping.

Solheim’s invention was such a success that he quit G.E. in 1967 and began producing his putters full time. Today the Karsten Manufacturing Company is an enormously successful business that ships golfing equipment all over the world. Though Solheim passed away in February 2000, his invention will live on in history.