1968 MacGregor VIP Blades

[OsnolaKinnard]

I just snagged a set of 68 Nicklaus VIP's off of eBay.  They are in decent shape, but I really want to get them refinished and rebuilt to my specs.  I figure if I am not very good at golf, I may as well LOOK good at it.

 

I have no intention of re-selling them, so I kind of want to put some custom touches on them.  Here's what I am thinking.

 

I have a set of original Royal Precision Tour Flighted Rifle shafts in 3-PW and intend to use them, soft stepping them once.

 

I want to have the heads refinished, but am considering either a Satin finish or a mirror chrome finish.  I want to change up the paintfill though and have the crowns on the face done in Red, the VIP done in Blue, and the By Nicklaus done in white.

 

I have already reached out to BBFco about ferrules.  I figure since these are my clubs I can make them as I want.

 

For Grips, I'm thinking about Best Grips and seeing if they can do a blue grip with red stitching.

 

The other direction was to use the same shafts but go with OEM Paintfill and use either try to find a set of the 67 Ferrules/remakes, or something custom from BBFco.

 

I have a kidney transplant comin gup on 6/29, so I won't be swinging a club for the next 8-10 weeks...If figure about the time I get healed up these should be coming back from Flanigans and I can assemble them and start using them.

 

Thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

 

 

Edited June 17, 2022 by OsnolaKinnard

[BIG STU]

First off good luck with your transplant----- I am not one of those traditionalists as in restore "properly" I say do them as you want to so you could enjoy them. I think you are going right on shaft choice. If they have those stiff Brunswick shafts IMHO the Rifles will be better for you with your health concerns they are not as boardy and stiff as the Brunswicks plus have a softer tip which will hep you get the ball more airborne. As for finish I would go with the Satin less glare that way and actually I like the Satin look better

Edited June 17, 2022 by BIG STU

[Hickory4ever]

I also wish you luck with your transplant. Like Stu, do what makes you happy in the restoration and enjoy playing them once you are able. Personally, I would go for the satin finish.

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

Agree with both @BIG STU and @Hickory4ever. If you're going to play them and enjoy them, do whatever you feel is necessary. 

I have to say that I am really tempted to get some of those beautiful ferrules from BBFco myself. They look great, and I have a bit of a ferrule fetish.

As for makes changes with classic sets, I've about 5 or 6 sets that I've had reshafted or lengthened to fit me better. I don't feel guilty at all about altering them to fit me.

 

Good luck with the surgery.

[RobotDoctor]

Best of luck with the surgery!

[xgolfx]

Good luck with the surgery and may all your putts roll in!

CHARLEY PENNA

[WilliePPQ]

Another SATIN vote here. Best wishes for your future health and play well!

[BIG STU]

4 hours ago, xgolfx said:

Good luck with the surgery and may all your putts roll in!

CHARLEY PENNA

Glad to see you posting again Mr Penna

[OsnolaKinnard]

My VIPs came in.  Way better shape than I hoped for and the shafts are stepless and say Macgregor Tourney Medium on them.

 

faces are clean only the PW shows wear.  These may just get reshafted and played!

Edited June 19, 2022 by OsnolaKinnard
Spelling

[OsnolaKinnard]

Are the grips wor the saving?  Are these leather or just really hard rubber?

 

 

[tatertot]

Those are rubber ...

 

I would opt for the reshaft and refinish ... don't know why, but feels like MacGregors should always be paintfilled with green/white/gold.

 

And prayers for your surgery.

[Hickory4ever]

10 hours ago, OsnolaKinnard said:

Are the grips wor the saving?  Are these leather or just really hard rubber?

 

 

 I would regripped.

[OsnolaKinnard]

Took the PW, 7, and 5 iron to the range with my RAM FX your grind irons.

 

man these macs are short…both in length and in distance.  The 5 iron is a solid 1.5” shorter than my 39” 5 iron.

 

I love the look at address and the feel at impact.  I can’t wait to restart, re grip, and adjust the lies on them.

[HoganApexBlades]

Are you sure those aren't '67 VIP's???? The by__Nicklaus script looks very large and more common with the '67 VIP's.

[Dan Drake]

10 minutes ago, HoganApexBlades said:

Are you sure those aren't '67 VIP's???? The by__Nicklaus script looks very large and more common with the '67 VIP's.

I love it.  Only on WRX will you get this kind of knowledgeable, honest question. 

 

Seriously, that amazing @HoganApexBlades 

[anser85029]

33 minutes ago, HoganApexBlades said:

Are you sure those aren't '67 VIP's???? The by__Nicklaus script looks very large and more common with the '67 VIP's.

Correct me If my memory has faded, didn't the '67 VIPs have brownish factory ferrules and the '68 VIPs black factory ferrules? 

 

That's the way I remember how to distinguish between the 2 years.

[OsnolaKinnard]

1 hour ago, HoganApexBlades said:

Are you sure those aren't '67 VIP's???? The by__Nicklaus script looks very large and more common with the '67 VIP's.

No I am not sure, but they do not have the long brownish ferrules from the 67.

 

they are black with some white rings and some of those are missing.

[HoganApexBlades]

1 hour ago, anser85029 said:

Correct me If my memory has faded, didn't the '67 VIPs have brownish factory ferrules and the '68 VIPs black factory ferrules? 

 

That's the way I remember how to distinguish between the 2 years.

Yes, the ferrules on the '67 VIP's were caramel brown with large font by__Nicklaus script on the backpad.

 

Maybe someone had them re-shafted and used different ferrules...that would explain the discrepancies...

[OsnolaKinnard]

2 hours ago, HoganApexBlades said:

Are you sure those aren't '67 VIP's???? The by__Nicklaus script looks very large and more common with the '67 VIP's.

No I am not sure, but they do not have the long brownish ferrules from the 67.

 

they are black with some white rings and some of those are missing.

[OsnolaKinnard]

Any MacGregor experts care to compare my irons with the 67’s pictured?

[HoganApexBlades]

1 hour ago, OsnolaKinnard said:

Any MacGregor experts care to compare my irons with the 67’s pictured?

Do the ferrules have serial numbers stamped on them?

If yes, do they start with "OS" or "SO", for Special Order?

I have a broken set of '68 VIP (2, 3, 4, 6 & 8 irons) and the "s" in Nicklaus DOES NOT go past the "I" in "VIP"

Your pictures indicate the "s" is under the "P" in "VIP".

I think you have '67 heads with replacement ferrules on an OEM medium flex shaft and a Tourney rubber grip which were both available in 1967 and 1968.

Edited June 26, 2022 by HoganApexBlades

[OsnolaKinnard]

7 hours ago, HoganApexBlades said:

Do the ferrules have serial numbers stamped on them?

If yes, do they start with "OS" or "SO", for Special Order?

I have a broken set of '68 VIP (2, 3, 4, 6 & 8 irons) and the "s" in Nicklaus DOES NOT go past the "I" in "VIP"

Your pictures indicate the "s" is under the "P" in "VIP".

I think you have '67 heads with replacement ferrules on an OEM medium flex shaft and a Tourney rubber grip which were both available in 1967 and 1968.

Here is a shot of the serial number on the hosel, looks like OS2522R

[OsnolaKinnard]

Here is a shot of a 68 VIP with the small By Nicklaus

 

[HoganApexBlades]

2 hours ago, OsnolaKinnard said:

Here is a shot of the serial number on the hosel, looks like OS2522R

Ok, the "OS" indicates a Special Order, not a factory run set.

[HoganApexBlades]

That is a '68 VIP head with the smaller by__Nicklaus script.

 

Again, I think you have '67 VIP heads with special order ferrules and OEM shafts and grips based on the by__Nicklaus script size in your pictures.

[OsnolaKinnard]

COOL!!!!  I can’t wait to get these refinished, and rebuilt so I can play them.

 

 

[apallotta101]

Anyone know what year these are? I picked them up at a garage sale. 4E71B185-B4D9-407E-841A-D7B874D9DA60.heicBBCD5092-ED9C-4786-9E17-E4D9EC88B474.heicE9863197-3D13-4644-A987-3AD5954BDA2C.heic

IMG_4684.HEIC

Edited July 19, 2022 by apallotta101