MacGregor will be the next Hogan

[JudgeSmalls]

I bought some MacGregor V-foil M565 irons this summer and I love them. Hopefully they stay in business because when these wear out in a few years i will want another set of Macs

[gatorgolfer]

That is a very good point, but is any business impervious in today's economy.

[scunny]

the Bobby Grace sitiuation seems a bit strange too. retain the rights to his name but not his expertise doesnt look like a smart decision

[LottaBalata]

I've never owned Mac clubs. . .But I would think with G. Norman's involvement with the company, that might help boost them. But I NEVER see any kind of commercial from them. . .Where do they spend money on advertising? Online, in mags. . .maybe with a couple commericals on TV, it would help. I noticed Adams has added a few commericials to their ad scheme, but not sure if they really needed help.

 

I figure that its going to eventually be like a big 5--TMade, Callaway, Nike, Titleist, Nickent. With the typical small time--high quality club makers. I know there are other great golf companies out there. . .Wilson HAD to get a boost this year with Padraig playing the way he did.

 

Maybe Mr. Norman can save Macgregor

[MatrixcMan]

Anyone else find it odd that Ried has not come on this board concerning Macgregor?

 

Granted, he is most likley limited tow hathe can say, but I would expect the ususal "Like all companies Macgregor has been effected by the economy but we not going anywhere. Please look for our new product releases in 2009 as we continue to meet your golfing needs."

[The Duck]

rgorman@macgregorgolf.com

 

I have tried to Email him just now.

 

We will see if he responds.

[Schilly]

I emailed REid a few weeks ago regarding the demo club program, someone entirely different responded to me though.

[MrFlapjack]

It would be a great loss in my opinion if Macgregor went under. I am a big fan of their equipment and believe the turnaround with the MT series is a huge step. The major problem as mentioned above is lack of recognition. If they could get some more advertising and buzz (aside from on WRX), they might get a large boost in sales. A tv spot run for a month or so on the golf channel, saying how "Macgregor is back in the game" so to speak, with a new line of quality (affordable) equipment might help. A few ads in the golf magazines wouldn't hurt either. Look at BOSE audio, they spend almost all their budget on advertising to make people think they are the best thing going, and it works unfortunately. I will be getting a set of Pro-C's at some point, and hope that Mac can keep things together for the long term. Also, does Macgregor approach any Nationwide Tour players? It would seem like that might be a way to get some players using their clubs. It would be nice to see Macgregor work their way in kind of like how Nickent did it.

[theoge]

It would be a great loss in my opinion if Macgregor went under. I am a big fan of their equipment and believe the turnaround with the MT series is a huge step. The major problem as mentioned above is lack of recognition. If they could get some more advertising and buzz (aside from on WRX), they might get a large boost in sales. A tv spot run for a month or so on the golf channel, saying how "Macgregor is back in the game" so to speak, with a new line of quality (affordable) equipment might help. A few ads in the golf magazines wouldn't hurt either. Look at BOSE audio, they spend almost all their budget on advertising to make people think they are the best thing going, and it works unfortunately. I will be getting a set of Pro-C's at some point, and hope that Mac can keep things together for the long term. Also, does Macgregor approach any Nationwide Tour players? It would seem like that might be a way to get some players using their clubs. It would be nice to see Macgregor work their way in kind of like how Nickent did it.

 

They ran ads in Golf Magazine in 2007... did not help. When you get one driver on the list, surrounded by 3 or 4 from TaylorMade / Callaway... very few people notice and follow up when they visit a shop. The only way to move Mac stuff is to push it on people or have guys on the floor getting commissions with each sale, and that is not enough to keep a company afloat.

 

They don't have the budget to run TV ads... and the guys on the Nationwide Tour did not grow up with MacGregor and do not have a sentimental feeling towards them (like a lot of us over 40). To them they see a company that dropped off the golfing map years ago... even at the Nationwide level, why pass on the support staff and knowledge that a Titleist / PING is going to be around for the next 10-20 years and if you get on board at that level you can grow with the company.

 

Tour level and Nationwide players are not stupid... it's a business decision. If you can shoot 67 with a broomstick... why bother with the risk of joining MacGregor, not knowing their future, not having the same $$$ in both tour support and player contracts etc.

 

I wouldn't.

[twgolf]

I don't believe that Mac will go the way Hogan did. Simply put Callaway bought up Hogan in the Top Flite deal just for the golf ball technology and did not care about the Hogan line, it was just part of the deal. Notice how quickly the Hogan ball went away, and it was a great ball. Callaway just wanted the golf balls and eliminated a competitive club manufacturer as well. In the case of Mac, they do not have anything to offer any of the other major OEMs, so getting bought out is probably out of the question. Their new irons and wedges are top class products, but they just don't have the name recognition, marketing, tour presence, and following they need to survive. Just like another post mentioned, the average joe looks at what is being played on tour, and what is being constantly advertised on tv, and magazines and he wants to buy that. Even without the economic down turn, Mac was on the way down, and I really believe that they will not be the last. I would not be surprised to see Wilson go either. Remember golf equipment is not the major money maker at Wilson or Mac, so if it is losing money they will make the business decision to cut the products.

[bma725]

the Bobby Grace sitiuation seems a bit strange too. retain the rights to his name but not his expertise doesnt look like a smart decision

 

It was more of a decision on Bobby's side than MacGregor wanting to get rid of him. He had some issues to attend to away from golf and needed a break from the business. That's why he was willing to give up the use of his name and product trademarks when he left. He may come back into the business eventually, but it wasn't like they were pushing him out the door, nor did he have his next job lined up.

[golfhut]

Hate to see them get out, if they do. Great quality and service.

I have read/heard the internet now accounts for 16 - 25% of golf retail. With that being the case, and the impact big box stores have had on them the past years, many of the smaller stores who tend to support lines like MacGregor, KZG, Innovex cannot afford to do so because foot traffic is down so much.