945TW

kaboboom · January 15, 2012

I swear this club found me...

Just got home after visiting Raleigh, NC on a business trip. Stayed over to watch football at a friend's house in the area. I wanted o kill some time, so I went looking for a used book store I had been to once before. But I couldn't find it, even though I knew I was is the right area...just the wrong strip mall. I saw a Play It Again Sports, and figured it was as good a place as any to ask for directions. I used to browse in one of these stores when I lived in California, but I knew their policy had changed, and they don't accept blades and vintage clubs anymore. Sure enough, the racks were filled with only metal woods and cavity backs. So I went to the counter to ask directions, and while the kid (maybe 20) was looking up the book store, I noticed a persimmon wood behind the counter. I told him he had a persimmon wood, and I'd like to see it. He didn't even know which club I was talking about. His manager piped in that they sometimes accepted these with trade ins, but they were "299s". I quickly examined the club, and said I'd buy it for $2.99. The manager said that was their code for unsaleables, but I could have it for $5. The evidence is in the pics below. The club had been refinished, and never hit since. It had a new shaft and grip. I think the only "flaw" was the gold paint used on the toe stamp (but maybe I'm wrong). The sole plate looked either very worn, or someone ground out scratches to the point that the wording and "1" were very faint. But the refinish looked pretty professional to me. Because I had no intention of buying any clubs on the road, I left the driver at my friends house until I can figure out when and how to get it home...because it is coming home, and sometime soon.

Maxwell · January 15, 2012

Kaboom - Your the 1st person to find a Mens R/H 1949 MacGregor Tourney 945 driver. I am aware of someone from this web site who did find a spoon or 3 wood in original and unfinished condition. You guys nust be living right or something.
max

kaboboom · January 15, 2012

According to my reference book (Classic Golf Clubs by Joe Clement), the red insert indicates that is was produced in 1953, the first year for the 945 (and advertized as "formerly, the 693").

Maxwell · January 16, 2012

Kaboom - You're right - the first year was 1953!
Max

kaboboom · January 16, 2012

It is difficult for me to understand how such a club can find its way to place where no one appreciates its uniqueness and beauty. Golf has come a very long way here in the age of Technology, but the appreciation craftsmanship appears to have been left in the past. I actually thought that someone from this forum would have recognized this club as one they personally restored to help solve the puzzle.

rex235 · January 16, 2012

Kaboboom-

If someone on this thread was responsible for the work, it would most likely not be where you found it.

There are hundreds, possibly thousands of clubs, where the original and second owners used them, but the following generations of players have pushed them away into garages...as if no longer capable of performing the task they were designed and built for.

Others have much more than common knowledge about these MacGregors.