Equipment Review: MacGregor Golf 2008
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

It’s great to see MacGregor Golf making a revival in the North American market. One of the most storied golf equipment manufacturers and boasting a 110-year history, MacGregor has been in on 59 Majors on the PGA Tour.

In fact, as I write this review, one of the company principles, the Shark – Greg Norman – is using MacGregor clubs while battling it out at Royal Birkdale in the Open Championship. It’s not only a testament to the 53-year-old golf legend: it’s also proof of the quality clubs MacGregor offers to players like you and me.

Depending on some of the most advanced technologies available today, MacGregor’s MT drivers, fairway woods, hybrid utility woods, irons, wedges and Bobby Grace Putters are marketed under the MacGregor brand. MacGregor Golf is the parent company of the apparel line, The Greg Norman Collection – official apparel of London Ontario Golf. Built upon a unique combination of performance, luxury and style, the Greg Norman Collection is a leading worldwide marketer of golf-inspired sportswear for men and women.

This month, we review four offerings from MacGregor’s 2008 lineup.

MT 460 Driver

One of the best drivers we’ve tested in 2008, the MT 460 driver is long, straight and encourages confidence at address. Here’s why.

MT 460 drivers, like all of the MT line of golf gear, uses Cup Face 360° technology in a classic, Tour-inspired head with medium face depth. The face is a variable thickness forged 15-3-3 Beta Titanium Cup Face, plasma welded to the 6-4 Ti body for maximum and controlled CT over the majority of the face. The entire club face is the sweet spot, thanks to this innovative technology, so even off-centre hits produce straight drives. 

The MT driver has a neutral draw bias, and produces a low to medium spin rate. I was able to work the ball with ease, and found this big stick to consistently deliver a low-trajectory drive with very little spin. Weight triangulation in the sole enhances MOI.

I tested the 9.5° driver with stiff, 65 g Aldila NVS shaft. The MT driver is also available in 8.5°, 10.5° and 11.5°, and offers the option of a Mitsubishi Bassarra shaft. The Golf Pride DD2 grip is perfect for this club shaft and head weight – heck, it’s a great grip, period. The MT driver also offers an Offset model, too.

Pound for pound, the MT 460 driver from MacGregor Golf is at the top of the 2008 class in its category. It looks really sharp, too. I really like the low profile face and deep head for excellent CG positioning. It’s a winner.

MT Hybrid

Here’s another winner from the MT line, again boasting Cup Face 360° no-weld, no-face insert technology: the MT hybrid. I tested the 20° 3 Hybrid – it’s available in 17°, 23°, 26° and 29° models, too. The 39 ½-inch MacGregor MT graphite shaft is a big surprise – a great performer. A face 1° open is ideal, too – kudos to MacGregor’s crack R&D squad.

MT hybrids feature the same technology forward features, construction and sole design as the MT Fairway Woods. But the MT hybrids have slightly deeper faces for more confidence at address than with long irons. The MT hybrids' sleek profile looks sharp. They’re sold individually but also come packaged as a standard long iron replacement in MT-OS iron sets. Alone or paired with traditional irons, the MT hybrids are amongst the best of the bunch in ’08.

MT Mid Irons

MacGregor just keeps on producing great gear in its 2008 MT line. The MD Mid Irons are no exception. Boasting a mid-iron head with a player’s club look, the MT Mid Irons are overflowing with modern golf club technology. They’re a mid-handicapper’s dream, and a pleasure to hit.

I play close to scratch, and I found the MT Mid Irons to be extremely workable without any excess design features. Keeping with its tradition of creating game improvement products with a classic sense of style, MacGregor capitalized on the Tour-inspired shaping one can find in the MT Irons. The MT MID Irons, however, provide a slightly shallower profile, a medium offset and a wide sole with a deep undercut cavity. This lowers and deepens the CG to generate higher ball launch. The 17-4 stainless steel body with Cup Face 360° Technology means there are no welds anywhere on the face - the entire face is the sweet spot.

High-launching and confidence inspiring, the MT Mid Iron set runs from 4-GW. I love the Micro-Step Lightweight steel shaft from MacGregor, and again the Golf Pride DD2 red and black grips. The slight triangular muscle back in front of a cavity produces an excellent sound and terrific feel. 

Try these clubs on for size, and your game will thank you.

MT EZ-OUT Wedge

Here’s another club from MacGregor that will boost your game a few notches: the MT EZ-OUT wedge. Featuring the profile and shape of the MT PRO, the MT EZ-OUT differs in having an oversized 17-4 stainless steel head with a deep cavity to lower the CG. The super-wide radius soles easily cuts through sand and fluffy lies around the green. The club face automatically lays into perfect impact position to minimize digging, and makes easy, high trajectory recovery shots.

This revolutionary wedge, in 56° and 60°, comes with the MacGregor MT graphite shafts. It’s the first wedge I’ve hit with a graphite shaft, and it did take some getting used to, but I will say this: if you can’t get out of the rough with this wedge, you shouldn’t be on the course – it’s that easy (rather, EZ) to hit.

With all of its MT offerings, MacGregor golf is back in the game of producing some of the very best golf equipment available. What else do you expect with more than a century of experience behind you?

For more info on all of MacGregor Golf’s offerings, visit www.macregorgolf.com.