Mac is back! Golfsmith relaunch Macgregor in fitting style
January 2010

MacGregor has seen some upheavals in recent years, not least the 2007 boardroom coup led by shareholder Greg Norman on the back of a controversial change in design direction by the historic brand. In the subsequent fall out, the Shark himself withdrew from the scene while the UK operation was also a high-profile casualty.

But classic brands bounce back, and following the purchase of the trademarks and the legal rights by Golfsmith International in the United States, MacGregor is returning to the UK market through the established Golfsmith Europe.

“MacGregor has a fantastic reputation for high-quality clubs and we will do a complete range, with special emphasis on the forged playability clubs for the mass market,” explains Doug Poole of Golfsmith Europe who, as wholesalers, will distribute the brand through their established network of premium pro shops and other custom-fit specialists.

left: The Macgregor MT Pro-M muscle back iron - right: The Pro-C cavity back iron

The core range will include the five models of soft steel forged irons that Norman himself was instrumental in designing. As well as the MT Pro-M muscle backs and MT Pro-C cavity backs, the range includes the ultra-forgiving MacGregor MT Cup Face irons that already have been making waves in the US.

“This a classically shaped, soft steel body combined with the hard Cup Face and fairly deep undercut that is proving to be a very successful playability club for golfers of scratch or better, right up to 36 handicap,” says Poole, who also stresses how Golfsmith’s expertise in custom fitting (most notably with Snake Eyes Custom) will give them a head start in the crucial choice of shaft.

“The shaft is probably the key element in custom fitting and we will fitting the very best high-tech shafts in the various products to get the best possible performance,” he confirms. “For the MT Cup Face, for example, many golfers will benefit from a medium-lightweight steel shaft, like the [FST] Femco, a 105g stepless design with a mid-kickpoint that complements the launch characteristics of this particular head.”

As part of the comprehensive relaunch strategy, there are also impressive MacGregor metalwoods, including deep-faced MT Hybrids fitted with Tour Graphite shafts and Lamkin Crossline grips; along with a full range of bags and accessories finished in the original MacGregor green and red colours that had been eclipsed in recent years.

Meanwhile, there is already talk of Golfsmith International developing further MacGregor club ranges down the line, including a new model of the legendary VIP irons after an absence of several decades.

For further information visit www.golfsmitheurope.co.uk