VIP Limited

Hillsider · December 29, 2014

Could someone please fill me in on the MacGregor VIP Limited irons? How they fit into the VIP lineup and the years they were made. Also, mine are marked “by MacGregor”, but I have also seen “by Nicklaus”. Were they the same clubs made for different markets or different eras?

I have always played Wilson and have never really paid much attention to MacGregors. Just picked up a set of the Limited flat soles (3-10) and have to say that they are great clubs.

Thanks

BIG STU · December 29, 2014

Can you post pictures?

HoganApexBlades · December 29, 2014

Early '70s forged blades...nice nostalgic clubs.

rex235 · December 30, 2014

According to the MacGregor Catalog-

1967-1968 VIP "By Nicklaus" irons with muscleback sole, and Copper Crowns frame the scoring lines. They were called limited edition irons
Actually these "Gold Crowns" are due to the influence of the parent company, Brunswick, over the MacGregor design.
1969 VIP "By Nicklaus" irons with mb sole, but with <Arrows> framing the scoring lines.
1969 was also the first year of the MacGregor MT Split Level soles, and Aluminum shafts.
1970-The first year of the MacGregor VIP By Nicklaus irons with Split Level soles.

1971- The VIP Limited "by MacGregor" model irons with the Split/Level sole, and back to the diamond frames for the scoring lines.

In my conversation with Don White at Scratch Golf in October 2012, he confirmed grinding the VIP Limited irons when he first worked for MacGregor in the early '70s.

No, I have not seen a LH model of these VIP Limited irons, but Ironmaster Oddities does have a LH MacGregor VIP "By Nicklaus" Sand Iron.

Hillsider · December 30, 2014

Thanks for the quick reply. I only picked these up a couple of weeks ago and man are they sweet. Like I said, I've always been a Wilson guy and didn't really know what to expect, but now wish I had found 'em about 25 years ago when I maybe could have done them proper justice.

scruffynick · February 16, 2015

[quote name='Hillsider' timestamp='1419981638' post='10662327']
Thanks for the quick reply. I only picked these up a couple of weeks ago and man are they sweet. Like I said, I've always been a Wilson guy and didn't really know what to expect, but now wish I had found 'em about 25 years ago when I maybe could have done them proper justice.
[/quote]
There's a sweet full set on eBay here in the UK right now.....thinking of a bid. They look beautiful

SteveNZ · February 16, 2015

[quote name='scruffynick' timestamp='1424114080' post='10964775']

There's a sweet full set on eBay here in the UK right now.....thinking of a bid. They look beautiful
[/quote]

Assuming I'm looking at the right ones, those look an awful lot like Hogan Precisions/Slazenger Hogan Swingweight Pluses, don't they?

Blade Junkie · February 16, 2015

[quote name='SteveNZ' timestamp='1424121108' post='10965593']
[quote name='scruffynick' timestamp='1424114080' post='10964775']
There's a sweet full set on eBay here in the UK right now.....thinking of a bid. They look beautiful
[/quote]

Assuming I'm looking at the right ones, those look an awful lot like Hogan Precisions/Slazenger Hogan Swingweight Pluses, don't they?
[/quote]

Yes I thought the same - I think we are all on the same page lol

Texsport · February 16, 2015

[quote name='rex235' timestamp='1419921757' post='10659153']
According to the MacGregor Catalog-

1967-1968 VIP "By Nicklaus" irons with muscleback sole, and Copper Crowns frame the scoring lines. They were called limited edition irons
Actually these "Gold Crowns" are due to the influence of the parent company, Brunswick, over the MacGregor design.
1969 VIP "By Nicklaus" irons with mb sole, but with <Arrows> framing the scoring lines.
1969 was also the first year of the MacGregor MT Split Level soles, and Aluminum shafts.
1970-The first year of the MacGregor VIP By Nicklaus irons with Split Level soles.

1971- The VIP Limited "by MacGregor" model irons with the Split/Level sole, and back to the diamond frames for the scoring lines.

In my conversation with Don White at Scratch Golf in October 2012, he confirmed grinding the VIP Limited irons when he first worked for MacGregor in the early '70s.

No, I have not seen a LH model of these VIP Limited irons, but Ironmaster Oddities does have a LH MacGregor VIP "By Nicklaus" Sand Iron.
[/quote]

My set of '67-'68 VIP by Nicklaus had brown ferules and straight taper shafts.

Texsport

Hillsider · February 19, 2015

I'm still trying to figure out why the some of the exact same clubs, to my eye at least, are marked "By MacGregor" (my clubs) and some are marked "By Nicklaus". Any ideas?

oldschoolrocker · February 19, 2015

Branding...I worked in the shoe business when I was in school and I remember the salesman bringing samples around of the same shoes with different brands. Just like any other industry you pay for R &D and advertising. For U.S. consumers the same products can be had under house names for cheaper prices. At least that is my take. I am sure the stalwarts in the industry that are members here can give you a much more accurate answer.

rex235 · February 19, 2015

[quote name='Hillsider' timestamp='1424375326' post='10986477']
I'm still trying to figure out why the some of the exact same clubs, to my eye at least, are marked "By MacGregor" (my clubs) and some are marked "By Nicklaus". Any ideas?
[/quote]

Hillsider-

Do you have photos of yours?

As Charley Penna has commented- there are different stamps for different club models-

Everything about "By Nicklaus" stampings was Limited Edition.
There are at least two different "by Nicklaus" stamps, the original VIP crown irons, and the "By Nicklaus" stampings in the later VIP irons are different.

Both were "Limited Edition" stamps, where the "By MacGregor" was for the MT Tourney series.
There were VIP Limited model grind irons with the "By MacGregor" stamp, where the woods were stamped "By Nicklaus" above the soleplate.
The "Jack Nicklaus" signature 271 models have a stamp all their own for the Driver, 11 iron, Sand iron, and putter.

Texsport-

Are your VIP "by Nicklaus" iron faces framed with crown stamps?

Hillsider · February 21, 2015

Don't have the ability to post pics, but here is a link that shows my irons:

[url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/MACGREGOR-VIP-LIMITED-EIGHT-8-IRON-TOURNEY-TAPER-SHAFT-NEW-WINN-WRAP-GRIP-35-75-/271744902237"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/MACGREGOR-VIP-LIMITED-EIGHT-8-IRON-TOURNEY-TAPER-SHAFT-NEW-WINN-WRAP-GRIP-35-75-/271744902237[/url]

Thanks for taking the time to help me out.