MacGregor Muirfield “International” blades. Anyone heard of them?

Posted in the equipment section Earlier today but likely better suited here. I recently picked up a Muirfield International 2 iron and have never seen this branding before. I have sets of standard Muirfields as well as the 20th Anniversary edition. Anyone familiar with the International version? Understand there may be a limited edition version of Muirfields out there but i've never come across even via Google. Appreciate any insight

I've seen a few "International" sets on Japanese auction sites, such as "Tourney Custom International Edition", though I'm not sure I've seen Muirfield Internationals specifically before. I assumed they were limited sets built mainly for the burgeoning Japanese market in the golf boom and bubble years (70s to early 90s).

If anyone has a definitive answer, I'd like to hear it, because I've thought about buying a set to try out...

As much as I have been around Macgregor stuff over the years I have never seen or heard of those until now

likewise! The plot thickens. Thanks Big Stu

I joined twitter to see if I could message Clay but i see he's not accepting messages. Found him via his putter site rollyourball.com and have emailed him. let's see if I get a response. Will let you know.

Clay responded! He asked for some additional photos so I’ll report back once he has a chance to review and assess.

Tell him to get on it!

Happy to see an interesting thread rather than every single question listed about some quiz, people b____ching about people who wear jeans (wouldn't let 'em button my fly) and going round for the 341st time about whether pros hit the ball too far. Tiger plays tomorrow so the world should stop shortly after lunch.

This thread promises to break some new ground - never seen one of those either. No classic clubs expert, but love my Muirfield 20ths!

I will follow this too, as I love older MacGregor irons. I hope no one says they used to "game" them "Back in day" though =).

It's a Japanese version as Catchy said. I've seen some on Yahoo auction and they are usually quite pricey. There was a version that was a direct remake of the Pro82 model played by Nicklaus during the 86 masters. The Macgregor Pro82, is the next closest thing. I've got a set. They are amazing.

here is clay long’s response On the internationals — “ That international is made from a Pro 82 forging. Probably made prior to 1986. Most likely a special run for MacGregor Japan during the original Muirfield production. Japan always liked their products different from US production due to parallel exporters. Should be a match to the other Muirfield set you have. “

and clay also detailed the history of the muirfields. Awesome detail and appreciate the time he took to provide to some guy like me who he doesn’t even know. Super nice! Thought many of you would appreciate this.

“Ok so here is the order of clubs you are interested in:

Jack won the 1980 US Open and PGA using a prototype set under development at that time. From those prototypes in 1981, there was a Limited Edition set made of 1000 numbered sets. Marked Jack Nicklaus Limited Edition. They were made from a brand new forged back forging developed just for that product and marked Pro 81. We made 1000 numbered sets for domestic sales and 1000 sets for Japan marked “International Limited Edition” or something close to that. They were $1000/set. Supposedly the dies for that forging were to be destroyed after the run. Now that was 1981 and the Pro 81 was a forged back (muscle forged into the back)

In 1982 a new set of forgings were developed using the Pro 81 base and filling in the back to make it a flat back forging (no design in the back, just flat). Same club and spec as the Pro 81, just had a flat back that any number of designs could be machined into (muscle, wing, diamond, etc.). This Pro 82 forging was used to make the original Muirfield irons which had the muscle machined into the flat backs. (I actually wrote the CNC programs for those backs.) They were introduced in 1982 or 1983, not sure off the top of my head. 

So Jack played the Muirfield, Pro 82 forgings through 1985 and then switched back to an original 1981 Limited Edition set in early 1986.

After the Masters victory in 1986 with the 81 Limited Edition set, we made the following years Muirfield model, the Muirfield 20th, out of the original 1981 Pro 81 forged back forging. (the one that was supposed to have been destroyed) So the Muirfield 20th is the same club as the 1981 Limited Edition. It wasn’t an anniversary edition, it was named for his 20th major championship (including two US Ams) and was the 1987 Muirfield production model.

Those forgings were outstanding models by anybody’s standards and were done before I got to Macgregor in 1980. Done by a couple of retired toolmakers along with Jack Wullcotte down in West Palm Beach. The masters are epoxy.

So now you know the Muirfield story. 

Clay

Now that is fantastic, golfunderpar18! It was great of you to reach out directly to Clay Long, and wonderful that he gave such a detailed reply.

Interesting to note that he said the Muirfield 20ths were named after Jack's 20th major, not the 20th anniversary of his Open Championship at Muirfield, so that puts that little dispute to bed.

I wonder if the International sets have different specs, for example shorter shafts? I wouldn't be surprised if the shafts are 1/2" shorter than the US spec models.

Not sure on the specs. The 2 iron I recently acquired has a Brunswick shaft in it which I wouldn’t expect to be a stock offering. Was going to measure but it may not be helpful. Great insight though.

Thanks for the great info on the various Muirfield castings.  I've got a set of lefty 2-sand.

How many lefty sets were commonly made?

tjleftywags,

I have 2 sets of lefty Muirfield 20ths.  I have a read somewhere that the leftys were cast not forged but looking at one of the sand wedges I think that is wrong.  The wear pattern is very much a forged club.