MacGregor M09 LFF

Here's pictures of my M09 Jumbo LFF. I just sent it to PersimmonPal for refinishing and reshafting. I have a new old stock 693 (probably made in the 80s from old stock) that will sacrifice it's shaft for the M09. First, what year is this one? I am thinking 1954-1955. Not sure what year the W/R/W was done. Second, I am now thinking of what stain to use and paint fill. I am thinking of gold for the Winged MT. Possibly gold for the sole stampings. Any suggestions? If anyone has their M09s they want to show please do so. I would love to see examples. Thanks in advance.

Nice. I normally go with white paint or nothing. I'd say white will set off the top of the insert a treat.

Decent shaft and this will be a beast. Great heads. Leviathan.

Back in the late 70's, early 80's, I probably bought and sold 200 MacGregor Drivers.

In all that time, I saw exactly 1 LFF. It had a Red Fiber Insert and sweptback soleplate.

Back in those days, most of Drivers I'd run across, were M43/M33 or M85/M75. Every once in a while, I'd see a 945. I very rarely saw a 693 and a good one would bring about $1000 (in 1980 dollars). A quality LFF would bring $1500-$2000 in Japan.

Now LFF's seem to be everywhere.

Some people are selling their collections or unfortunately these are showing up at estate sales. On the bright side, there are people like us who understand and appreciate the craftsmanship of a time long ago. It is a great thing that these beauties will continue to live on, albeit in collection. From time to time these beauties still make it out on the course.

The look of the young generation who have never seen a club made from persimmon is amusing. They ask to hit it and I always say that's fine but the wood is pristine and any sky marks or pitting will result in a refinish and they will pay for it. These kids ask how much is a refinish and I tell them about $80-$100. Funny that all the kids pass on hitting my woods. :D

If I ever get my hands on one I guaran-bl00dy-tee it'll be used. Have got a couple of deeper faced efforts (later George Bayers) and they are sweet.

Might be all over the place your side of the ponds; rare as hen's teeth over here.

The look of the young generation who have never seen a club made from persimmon is amusing. They ask to hit it and I always say that's fine but the wood is pristine and any sky marks or pitting will result in a refinish and they will pay for it. These kids ask how much is a refinish and I tell them about $80-$100. Funny that all the kids pass on hitting my woods. :D

$80-$100??

We used to pay $17 in 1980 dollars.

My retro set

The look of the young generation who have never seen a club made from persimmon is amusing. They ask to hit it and I always say that's fine but the wood is pristine and any sky marks or pitting will result in a refinish and they will pay for it. These kids ask how much is a refinish and I tell them about $80-$100. Funny that all the kids pass on hitting my woods. :D

 

$80-$100??

 

We used to pay $17 in 1980 dollars.

 

My retro set

The look of the young generation who have never seen a club made from persimmon is amusing. They ask to hit it and I always say that's fine but the wood is pristine and any sky marks or pitting will result in a refinish and they will pay for it. These kids ask how much is a refinish and I tell them about $80-$100. Funny that all the kids pass on hitting my woods. :D

 

$80-$100??

 

We used to pay $17 in 1980 dollars.

 

My retro set

I tell these "swing for the fences" kids this price and they back off. To be honest I really don't want these kids hitting one of my prized persimmon woods, like the M85W in the pictures, I am certain most can understand here.

The '50-'51 LFFs are the red fiber inserts.

'52-'53 wbw insert and '54-55 rwr insert.

I thought only the '50 had the M09T L.F.F. toe.

And the '52 & '54 had M09 -LFF- on the toe.

Did the M09T L.F.F. on the toe exist for all 3 models?

I believe the T meant the original grip was leather.

So did the '50 red fiber have an M09 -LFF- model?

Please correct me if I wrong since it's my favorite club.

I seem to recall that the w/r/w was a special order, probably during '52&'53. Of course I seem to have misplaced my Kaplan book. It is probably stored away somewhere.

The '50-'51 LFFs are the red fiber inserts.

 

'52-'53 wbw insert and '54-55 rwr insert.

 

I thought only the '50 had the M09T L.F.F. toe.

 

And the '52 & '54 had M09 -LFF- on the toe.

 

Did the M09T L.F.F. on the toe exist for all 3 models?

 

I believe the T meant the original grip was leather.

 

So did the '50 red fiber have an M09 -LFF- model?

 

Please correct me if I wrong since it's my favorite club.

Stephen-

The "T" stamp means it had a cord grip.

The '50-'51 LFFs are the red fiber inserts.

 

'52-'53 wbw insert and '54-55 rwr insert.

 

I thought only the '50 had the M09T L.F.F. toe.

 

And the '52 & '54 had M09 -LFF- on the toe.

 

Did the M09T L.F.F. on the toe exist for all 3 models?

 

I believe the T meant the original grip was leather.

 

So did the '50 red fiber have an M09 -LFF- model?

 

Please correct me if I wrong since it's my favorite club.

My memory isn't what it used to be, but as near as I can remember ...

I never saw nor heard of an LFF with the "MO9" designation on the toe.

The designation on the original was simply "LFF". There was also supposedly a "4 letter" designation on the toe of a "super deep LFF" model ... I think "VLFF"?

The LFF head was supposedly a 693 head, just deeper. I never heard of the "MO9" designation until Samson's book.

In contrast to what Toney Penna's nephew says the "LFF" stood for, it was assumed by those in the business back then, that LFF stood for "Large F'n Face".

I'm not trying to cast aspersions on anyone's memory, but while sitting in Toney Penna's shop in Jupiter back in the early 80's, Toney himself referred to that club as the "Large F'n Face".

To Brianl99

The original 1949 LFF was a model 40 stamped Toney Penna

In 1952,LFF was stamped MT with a white red white insert model M09 or M09T

Same for 1953

1954 insert changed to white black white

I also cast aspersions on your memory!!!

CHARLEY PENNA

Thanks for the clarification Charley! It appears my LFF is a 52-53.

Also, five face screws went to 6

CHARLEY PENNA

Charley-

Also have a 1953 LH MacGregor M09 Jumbo LFF ...

RH Only?

A photo was posted on a different thread, but here it is again with a 1955 LH M80W, which is on the right.

Thanks for the clarification Charley! It appears my LFF is a 52-53.

And all red fiber LFF '50-'51.

What year(s) for Jumbo 693s?

Thanks for the clarification Charley! It appears my LFF is a 52-53.

 

And all red fiber LFF '50-'51.

 

What year(s) for Jumbo 693s?

Don't even bring up Jumbo 693s. :) I once owned an absolutely fabulous Jumbo 693 once, to go along with a 2 and 3. I traded it form a set of M85W and a couple of other things. If only I knew what I really had. Totally a STUPID decision on my part. The guy I traded it to probably knew full well what that was and had no issue taking advantage of me. UGH!

Charley-

 

Also have a 1953 LH MacGregor M09 Jumbo LFF ...

 

RH Only?

 

A photo was posted on a different thread, but here it is again with a 1955 LH M80W, which is on the right.

 

 

Rex - I am confused. You're asking Charley RH only, so is the picture a reverse negative? Did the owner have any sole pictures? Maybe with an M85? Also, isn't the wbw the '54-'55?

Charley-

 

Also have a 1953 LH MacGregor M09 Jumbo LFF ...

 

RH Only?

 

A photo was posted on a different thread, but here it is again with a 1955 LH M80W, which is on the right.

 

 

 

Rex - I am confused. You're asking Charley RH only, so is the picture a reverse negative? Did the owner have any sole pictures? Maybe with an M85? Also, isn't the wbw the '54-'55?

Stephen-

My apologies. This LH M09 is a '54.

Note that ALL of the MacGregor M09 LFF models in the MacGregor Catalog state Right Hand Only.

And that's just the tip....

Charley-

 

Also have a 1953 LH MacGregor M09 Jumbo LFF ...

 

RH Only?

 

A photo was posted on a different thread, but here it is again with a 1955 LH M80W, which is on the right.

 

 

 

Rex - I am confused. You're asking Charley RH only, so is the picture a reverse negative? Did the owner have any sole pictures? Maybe with an M85? Also, isn't the wbw the '54-'55?

 

Stephen-

 

My apologies. This LH M09 is a '54.

 

Note that ALL of the MacGregor M09 LFF models in the MacGregor Catalog state Right Hand Only.

 

And that's just the tip....

What is title of the other thread with the Lefty LFF please?

Tstephen-

Check "No New Acquisitions" ....

Is there some other LH MacGregor Model you'd like to see, or is it just "Jumbo M09 LFF"?

Any rare classic lefty driver would be great to see.

Do you remember the page number on "No New Acquisitions?"

Tstephen-

OK... Here they are again!

The LH M09 JUMBO LFF is on the Left. The M80W is on the Right.

edited

:swoon:

My LFF MO9T was refinished several years back by a gracious forum member, and he provided several pics of the process which included a face repair next to the insert near the heel. Original chord grip, red fiber insert, and the shaft was in good shape. But here's a little back story. I talked my wife into going to a local auction (1990 or so). I had no idea what we might find let alone buy...had never been to an auction and haven't since. There was a golf bag with maybe 10 putters I put a bid on and won. When I went up to get it, there was another bag there, and they said I could have either. Well, I noticed the "wood" woods, and I remember a golf article about persimmons, but I wasn't really sure how to tell. But I changed my choice, and took the complete set rather than the putters. The driver (black) was the LFF paired with black 653 fairway woods. The irons (which I played a few days ago) are Spalding RTJ Synco-strokes. I've been hoarding ever since, but it's kind of cool that my first almost accidental buy included an LFF. My guess is the original owner ordered the set in black to match, and keeping the driver black seemed right rather than require a lot of sanding to accept a lighter stain.

My M09 Jumbo LFF was supposed to be refinished by a person I had been using but due to issues it was not completed. Here's the LFF in its current state. The concern is the extra weight removed from the bottom of the LFF. I will be sending the LFF to Dave Wood to do his magic and bring it back to the state it should be.

 

Just thought I'd post a few pictures. I'll arrange to send this to Dave some time this winter.

RobotDoctor - that club looked like that (the removed weight) when John opened it up?

My M09 Jumbo LFF was supposed to be refinished by a person I had been using but due to issues it was not completed. Here's the LFF in its current state. The concern is the extra weight removed from the bottom of the LFF. I will be sending the LFF to Dave Wood to do his magic and bring it back to the state it should be.

 

Just thought I'd post a few pictures. I'll arrange to send this to Dave some time this winter.

 

RobotDoctor - that club looked like that (the removed weight) when John opened it up?

Yes, John told me that is how it was. He was really concerned about it. I am quite certain John was just prepping the driver. We had discussed methods of strengthening the bores, most likely an epoxy blend of some kind. John was just not able to complete the driver. No worries there.

I have also talked to Dave Wood about this and he said a combination of epoxy and saw dust or cork to strengthen. I will weigh the driver as is now to get a rough idea on swingweight so Dave will know what needs to be done.

A little confused. Please explain what "strengthening the bores" means.

A little confused. Please explain what "strengthening the bores" means.