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It's a whole new game for MacGregor this season.
The company, based in Albany, Ga., has seen a variety of evolutionary changes over its 110-year history, and has entered another new phase in 2008. There have been changes in ownership and management, along with a whole new lineup of clubs.
Gone from the club portfolio is the MacTec line of the past few years, replaced this season by MacGregor's newly designed MT drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons.
Also gone is master putter designer Bobby Grace, who recently separated from MacGregor. However, the company retains all trademarks and other rights associated with Bobby Grace putters, and the technologically advanced Face-Off DCT putters continue to be sold.
"It's been a transitional period on many levels," said Reid Gorman, president of MacGregor Golf North America.
Last fall, MacGregor completed a recapitalization process that included adding golf pro/entrepreneur Greg Norman as part of the ownership.
"Greg knows the potential of this company and, with his help and added resources, we're looking to recapture a lot of MacGregor's former success," said Gorman.
Product cost and designs have been among MacGregor's more recent hindrances that management is looking to address.
"Our product, the last three to four years, was designed in Japan and was very successful, in Japan. We need to have the right product for the U.S. market."
At this point, that means MacGregor's MT series of clubs, which emulate tour-inspired shapes, a new color scheme and, along with clubs for advanced players, "are more relevant to the mid to high handicap player," said Gorman.
In test sessions conducted among a variety of players assembled by CBSSports.com, MacGregor's 2008 lineup received mixed reviews. The most positive feedback was afforded the MT hybrids and the game-improvement iron sets. The price structure was deemed very appealing across the board, with the drivers carrying a suggested list price of $299.99 and the iron sets ranging $599.99 to $799.99 in list prices.
"Our primary objective with the MT product line is to reestablish confidence in MacGregor Golf and to once again become the club choice for players at every skill level," said Gorman.
Here's a selected look at the latest from MacGregor Golf.
Drivers
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| One of MacGregor's newly designed MT drivers. (Provided to CBSSports.com) |
The regular MT driver provides a square look at address, but is weighted for a neutral to draw bias. The Offset version is designed to help players who tend to hit the ball to the right to square the face at impact.
The driver, and many of the MacGregor clubs, boast Cup Face 360-degree technology, which means there are no welds on the face. This should translate to a greater and more consistent rebound effect across a wider range of the face. Notably, the driver has been engineered to have a very crisp and solid sound, in contrast to the piercing loudness of the MacTec clubs.
With an Aldila DVS shaft, suggested retail price for the driver is $299.99. With optional Mitsubishi Bassara or Aldila VS Proto custom shafts, the list price is $349.99.
Fairway woods, hybrids
Our testers rated the MY hybrid lineup as very solid, easy to set up at address and very workable, in addition to an ease in getting the ball airborne.
The hybrids are offered in lofts of 17, 20, 23, 26 and 29 degrees.
The face progression and setup are similar to the fairway woods, as is the soleplate, but the hybrids have a slightly taller face. Offered individually and as part of combo sets with irons, list price for the hybrids with graphite shafts is $149.99 each.
The MT fairway woods should produce a medium spin rate and, with an internal weighting system, a neutral to slight draw bias.
With stainless steel heads, the fairway woods offer lofts of 13, 15, 16.5 and 18 degrees. List price is $179.99 each.
Irons
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| There are five models of irons, including the MT Mid. (Provided to CBSSports.com) |
The Pro-M irons are competitive forged musclebacks for the most advanced players; the Pro-C irons, aimed at better amateurs, are forged but with a precision milled rear cavity offering greater forgiveness. The three MT iron sets are all cavity backs, with the MT set recommended for low to mid handicap players, the MT Mid irons for a wider range of players and the MT OS irons for mid to higher handicap golfers.
Both the MT and MT Mid irons were rated "satisfactory" by our CBSSports.com testers, and particularly praised for their looks, solid feel at impact and trajectory achieved.
The MT OS series is packaged as a combo set with two hybrids (4, 5) and six irons (6-GW).
List prices per set range $599.99 to $799.99 depending on model and shaft.
New MacGregor club specs
MT 460 driver -- 460cc in lofts of 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 degrees, plus Offset model in 11.5, 13.5 degrees; Cup Face 350-degree technology means no welds on face for wider sweet zone, more consistency; 15-3-3 beta ti face with variable thickness for enhanced spring-like effect, 6-4 titanium body; tour-inspired pear shaped head, medium face depth, square look at address, internally weighted for neutral to draw bias; weight triangulation in sole; Aldila DVS graphite shaft in R, S, X flexes; Golf Pride grip; list price $299.99 (optional with either Mitsubishi Bassara or Aldila VS Proto shaft, $349.99).
MT fairway woods -- Nos. 3+, 3, 4, 5 in lofts of 13, 15, 16.5, 18 degrees, respectively; also offered in Offset version; 17-4 stainless steel head; spin rate is medium with minimal face progression, neutral look at address; internal weighting for neutral to slight draw bias; single rail-like sole design to reduce turf drag; MacGregor MT graphite shaft in R, S flexes; Golf Pride grips; list price $179.99
MY hybrids -- Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in lofts of 17, 20, 23, 26, 29 degrees; Cup Face technology; slightly deeper faces than fairway woods; MacGregor MT graphite shaft; Golf Pride grip; also in women's and senior men versions; list price $149.99
Pro-M irons -- Nos. 3-PW; for the better player seeking tour-inspired forged iron (no left-handed); 1025 soft carbon steel head, satin chrome finish; classic muscleback, compact profile, flatter sole; True Temper Dynamic Gold or Nippon NS Pro 1150 steel shaft in S flex; list price $799.99 per set
Pro-C irons -- Nos. 3-PW; forged, precision milled cavity back for better players seeking tour performance with some forgiveness (no left-handed); wedge shaped cavity muscle; True Temper Dynamic Gold or Nippon NS Pro 1150 steel shaft in S flex; list price $799.99 per set
MT irons -- Nos. 3-PW, plus 50-degree gap wedge; for low to mid handicap golfers with aggressive swings (no left-handed); forged deep, open cavitybacks with perimeter weighting; clubheads with Cup Face 360-degree technology; classic blade profile, slightly greater offset and slightly wider sole; Nippon NS Pro 950 steel shaft in R, S flexes; Golf Pride grip; list price $799.99 per set (3-PW)
MT Mid irons -- Nos. 4-GW (no left-handed); for the everyday player across the widest range of handicap level; 17-4 stainless steel head; slightly shallower profile, medium offset, wide sole; deep undercut cavity; lower, deeper center of gravity for higher launch angle; Cup Face technology; slightly triangular muscle in center of cavity back for enhanced power; 95-gram Microstep steel shaft or graphite shaft in R, S flexes; Golf Pride grip; list price $599.99 with steel shaft, $799.99 with graphite
MT OS irons -- Combo set with 4, 5 hybrid, 6-GW irons (right-handed and left-handed); for mid to high handicap player (also in women's and senior men's versions); 17-4 stainless steel head with undercut cavityback; wider sole, thicker topline, deep center of gravity; Cup Face technology; Microstep lightweek steel or graphite shafts in R, S flexes; Golf Pride grip; list price $699.99 with steel shaft, $799.99 with graphite