I'm In Love With The MacGregor Chieftain Irons

Skip Castaneda · January 9, 2014

I bought a MacGregor Chieftain 6 iron last month. I don't have a picture, but it looks like it's from the 60's.

Anyway, I took it out to the course and it hits like a dream. I had a small bag yesterday.

A black Top Flite Sunday bag, a First Flite 3 and 5 wood, the six iron, and a a Hogan Sure On and Sure Out wedges. Oh, my putter was a Tommy Armour Spalding.

Now I'm on the search for a Chieftain wedge and a 7 or 8 iron.

Ironmaster Oddities · January 9, 2014

Chieftain wedge could be a problem. I don't think they made one. Chieftain was their top of the line retail store club. First made in the late 1930's, they were originally priced Higher than the pro-shop lines, including the Tommy Armour.
Keep in mind that before the mid thirties, there was no pro-only line of clubs. MacGregor had long been established by selling clubs through retailers like sporting goods stores, marshall Fields in Chicago and other big time department stores. A pro-shop only line was a brilliant way to create another market and, at the same time, differentiate themselves from competitors. But they sold a lot more clubs through retails stores than they did through pro shops, especially before WWII.
Uncle Bob

Skip Castaneda · January 10, 2014

Uncle Bob, I was searching the net for pictures of the irons. I saw one. It had the 2i through 9i in the picture. So there was no wedge produced with the set. I bought an 8 iron off the bay yesterday. So I will make my six my hard 5 iron, easy seven iron. And make the 8 iron my 8 iron, easy swinging 9 iron. It will be in my Sunday bag.

Wriggles · January 10, 2014

Skip

The 6 and 8 iron should work in your minimalist kit. I'm not that familiar with the Chieftain series, but I've only seen a set of woods from the 1930's once. Really beautiful, first rate clubs. Works of art. They had ivory inserts, not only on the face, but on the back edge. I'd love to find a set of those at a thrift shop. Doubtful, for they were expensive when new. Now, probably worth a king's ransom. (Does anyone use that phrase anymore?) I'm sure nobody would play a pristine example.

Play well!
Dave

oldschoolrocker · January 10, 2014

Dave,
Yes very familiar with that phase and use it from time to time, not as much now that I shop almost exclusively at thrifts for my golfing needs. But, I still use it if my sons insist on a certain brands top shelf golf ball.

Randy

BIG STU · January 11, 2014

[quote name='Wriggles' timestamp='1389376492' post='8435855']
Skip

The 6 and 8 iron should work in your minimalist kit. I'm not that familiar with the Chieftain series, but I've only seen a set of woods from the 1930's once. Really beautiful, first rate clubs. Works of art. They had ivory inserts, not only on the face, but on the back edge. I'd love to find a set of those at a thrift shop. Doubtful, for they were expensive when new. Now, probably worth a king's ransom. (Does anyone use that phrase anymore?) I'm sure nobody would play a pristine example.

Play well!
Dave
[/quote] LOL yes us old timers use that phrase a lot feel free to use it on here after all this is the old farts section of Golf WRX (myself included) Heck we are old enough to know what you mean

teevons · January 11, 2014

come on oldsticks, show your set!!

oldsticks · January 13, 2014

Here you go Tim. My favorite clad shafted set. I think from 1935. MacGregors top of the line clubs.
Stainless heads, MacOid shafts. This set is #1 - niblick + jigger and two Mashies, marked 5 & 5X. Plus a putter.
All the irons are named and numbered.
MacGregor Master 30 persimmon woods. Mother of pearl inlay on the crown.
All in a very nice old period leather bag.

Your Chieftain iron you think is from the '60's is a one year only in 1954. Kaplans book shows it. I've had a couple sets and played them. Liked them a lot.[attachment=2020067:DSCN4913.JPG]

Skip Castaneda · January 13, 2014

That's a gorgeous set of clubs oldsticks!

oldsticks · January 13, 2014

[quote name='Skip Castaneda' timestamp='1389660289' post='8455101']
That's a gorgeous set of clubs oldsticks!
[/quote]

Thanks. They play pretty good too. I don't have the balls to play the woods, afraid I might screw them up.
Teevons and I were vying for this set at a golf show in Portland a couple years ago. As luck would have it, I was already in negotiating mode when he saw them.
I know it was killing him, but he backed off.
Thank, Teevons.

teevons · January 13, 2014

thanks for posting , the craftmanship is incredible on them, works of art IMO

Kathy Marie · January 13, 2014

+1, I've never seen woods like them & they are gorgeous!!

What would you call the face treatment, is that a fancy face?

oldsticks · January 13, 2014

[quote name='Kathy Marie' timestamp='1389671653' post='8456283']
+1, I've never seen woods like them & they are gorgeous!!

What would you call the face treatment, is that a fancy face?
[/quote]

They are indeed fancy face. A particular passion for me. When I think I've seen them all...another and another show up.
Golf equipment hasn't seen that kind of variety, craftsmanship and artistic innovation since the '30's.

Is that Wilson Aer Flo in your picture? Gallagher Turfrider? Beautiful club.

teevons · January 14, 2014

OH, I am disappointed I thought this was a fancy face??

Wriggles · January 15, 2014

Mr. Oldsticks

I'm just drooling over that set. Beautiful, just beautiful. I'd love to play those woods.

(Reminds me of what a friend told me last year. She said that "She never saw a U Haul following a hearse." Words of wisdom.)

Kathy Marie · January 19, 2014

[quote name='teevons' timestamp='1389675627' post='8456701']
OH, I am disappointed I thought this was a fancy face??
[/quote]

Teevons, would you let go of my pigtail, please??????

,

Kathy Marie

jimgolf44 · December 21, 2014

[quote name='oldsticks' timestamp='1389659989' post='8455069']
Here you go Tim. My favorite clad shafted set. I think from 1935. MacGregors top of the line clubs.
Stainless heads, MacOid shafts. This set is #1 - niblick + jigger and two Mashies, marked 5 & 5X. Plus a putter.
All the irons are named and numbered.
MacGregor Master 30 persimmon woods. Mother of pearl inlay on the crown.
All in a very nice old period leather bag.

Your Chieftain iron you think is from the '60's is a one year only in 1954. Kaplans book shows it. I've had a couple sets and played them. Liked them a lot.[attachment=2020067:DSCN4913.JPG]
[/quote][quote name='oldsticks' timestamp='1389659989' post='8455069']
Here you go Tim. My favorite clad shafted set. I think from 1935. MacGregors top of the line clubs.
Stainless heads, MacOid shafts. This set is #1 - niblick + jigger and two Mashies, marked 5 & 5X. Plus a putter.
All the irons are named and numbered.
MacGregor Master 30 persimmon woods. Mother of pearl inlay on the crown.
All in a very nice old period leather bag.

Your Chieftain iron you think is from the '60's is a one year only in 1954. Kaplans book shows it. I've had a couple sets and played them. Liked them a lot.[attachment=2020067:DSCN4913.JPG]
[/quote]

Hi Oldsticks

my name is Jim and i collect and play hickory shafted clubs . I recently picked up a macoid iron that is actually wood shafted and was wondering if your Chieftain irons are hickory or steel ? Thanks , Jim