I have been collecting persimmon woods for quite some time, only the past 5 or 6 years getting serious about it. I have had some terrific sets or drivers over the years when I dabbled in collecting (since 1992). My quest started when I found a golf shop to hang out at in Dover, DE back in 1990/1991. I would see some terrific persimmon woods come in that the store had restored by a local club craftsman. At the time I was gaming a either a Taylormade 8.5 degree metal wood or a Cleveland Classic DG43. Seeing these terrific classic persimmon woods come in made me want to find a "6 screw MacGregor persimmon." I was introduced to the club craftsman, Mike Copolla, and developed a friendship with him. He took my Cleveland Classic DG43 and put in a R/W/R insert and a TT DG X100 shaft (my swing speed at the time was just over 120mph). I found a MacGregor 1953 3 wood dried up and in pitiful condition in a used club bin over Christmas break 1990 and had Mike restore this. That became a very solid, very long fairway wood that I could depend on. I gamed that 3 wood until 2001. That 3 wood opened my world to the reality I could own some of these classics. I soon purchased a set of MacGregor 693s (1-3) but ended up trading those off a couple of years afterwards (not smart). Over the years, as I moved back to Colorado, I still aspired to collect classic persimmon sets/drivers. I once had a 1953 MacGregor 945W set (1-4) that was simply outstanding but, again, stupidly traded them off for something else. Fast forward to present day, I have built a small but nice collection of woods. The following is my top 10 (actually 11) sets and/or drivers for the collection I wish to have. The items in bold are sets/drivers I currently have. I just picked up another set of 1953 MacGregor TA 945W woods (1-4). These were only made one year so these are very hard to come by. There are 2 left to round out my collection, one is the Unicorn of collectible MacGregors.
MacGregor Tommy Armour 945W EOM (1954-1955)
MacGregor Tommy Armour 693 (1949-1952)
MacGregor M85W (1953-1955 )
MacGregor M09 LFF (1950-1955) - I have a 1953 model
MacGregor M43T (1950-1952)
MacGregor Toney Penna WW Special (1954) *
MacGregor Toney Penna TP Special (1954)
MacGregor Tommy Armour 945W (1953)
Wood Brothers Texan ( coincidentally this one was made for tour player Gene Sauers)
Wood Brothers Barry Jaeckel Texan *
I took down the 1952-1955 M75W set since I just sold my unrestored set.
* denotes the sets/driver that I do not have in my collection.
A friend of mine just purchased the Wood Brothers Barry Jaeckel Texan. It is fabulous! And I want!!!
At this point I believe my collection is complete. I will now focus on restoring what I have.
Sam - your wish list is the best and got me onto the other site.
Thanks Tom. I could easily extend this to the top 20 or even more. My old MacGregor staff bag can only hold so much. LOL
Great list of clubs there. Macgregor really made some quality persimmon clubs in the 1950’s, probably unmatched at that time.
I‘m not a collector, everything I buy I expect to play. Some have worked out better than others when it comes to playability. If they don’t play well for me I move them on, no matter the collectibility of the club.
I have a set of 1968 Powerbilt woods that wouldn’t be on the list of most sought after persimmon woods but the active tip section really helps launch modern balls high and long and make them a great playing set. Another favorite set is my Ping Karsten’s due to their playability.
When it comes to golden era 1950’s stuff I’m really drawn to early 50’s Powerbilt and late 50’s Stan Thompson. I have a 1953 Powerbilt driver that is just an incredible block of wood.
To play them is to continue the legacy and that is a tremendous thing!!!!
It would be hard to take anything off your list, but there are so many clubs I would have to include. I would be more likely to have a top 30 list than a top 10 because I never met a 50's Mac I didn't like. (And some from the 60's that tickle my fancy too!)
My first classic was a Byron Nelson 4 wood I found at the local public course and bought for a few bucks. It's nowhere on anyone's collectable list and the head was too small for my swing, but what I wouldn't give to have that back. No need to limit any list, so here is some of what your list is missing:
You need some Super Eye O Matics on the list. I have both EOMs and SEOMs, and I get your M85/M75 love, I love mine too. But I've always had a thing for the SEOM insert, especially that notch on the top. So, you need either the 945 SEOM, M85, or M/R/B 75 SEOMs there too.
Second, nothing is cooler than the single year 1958 inserts that are both SEOM and Velocitized. They are just stone cold cool clubs, especially the TP1W. I wouldn't trade my set of TP1Ws for anything, even the unicorn.
Third, you need to put the 653 in there. The M43 and M85 are the same club, so I'd take one off the list and put on the 653 if you made me keep the list to a low number. (I prefer my M33 to my M85 because red fiber is cooler than black).
And lastly, not a Mac, but no list could ever be complete without Hogan 1953 Commemorative driver. I have two, one of which I picked up in the early 80's and was my only driver until this century. That is still the best looking piece of wood I've ever had in my hands.
Top 30 is the only way I could ever make a list, and I'd leave some slots empty because I have a long habit of love at first sight when I see something I've never seen before.