[12 piece bucket]

Just after Jack Nicklaus acquired MacGregor back in the early-80s, I got to know the CFO, who was also functioning as the interim President during their search. He attended one of my schools and offered to furnish some much needed gear, mainly practice clubs and, especially, shafts with grips (but no heads!) for our drills. MacGregor also provided me a set of custom clubs and a beautiful staff bag with my name and The Golfing Machine embroidered on it. You can see that green-and-white staff bag sandwiched between the tables in the photo below. And, yes, that is Dr. Gary Wiren, then head of instruction for the PGA of America, looking on in the black, crested blazer.

As part of this relationship, I was given a tour of their factory located in Albany, Georgia. They had a custom option on the irons that allowed me to have absolutely nothing stamped on the blades except my initials...just a pure, satin back with the club number on the sole. Maybe such an option is available through the custom club department of the major manufacturers today.

But I wouldn't hold my breath!

P.S. The fellow kneeling with his back to the camera is Tim Rash, then a 5-handicapper who attended that winter school. He took to the training like a fish to water, and that summer won the Richmond (Virginia) City Amateur Championship. Straight up...no strokes. He wasn't a '5' anymore!

Cool! Do you still have the irons? I bet they are pure. You need to break those back out for a test drive. What were you demonstrating there? Arc of Approach? Do you still have the rope with the clubhead attached?

I remember that MacGregor about 3 or 4 years ago had a custom deal where they would put different grinds on your irons. You could totally customize the set with regards to swing weights and leading edge configurations and all kinds of stuff. It was pretty cool. I don't think it ever took off. Too bad.

Love seeing all this "vintage" stuff! Thanks for sharing!

I spoke with my buddy who plays with Rash . . . He's still playing great!