Over the last couple of weeks I have been sharing a variety of press releases from Miura Golf. Mary Beth Lacy of golf public relations firm Mary Beth Lacy Inc has been kind enough to share this information with me. Thus far I have talked about the Passing Point Neo Genesis irons which I have made swings with already this year. In January, I saw and felt first hand the new Hayate driver and metalwoods and they are more stunning than pictures give them credit for. Most recently, I divulged information about a forged Miura iron for golfers of all skill levels… the CB-2008.
Yesterday marked a big day for the newest reincarnation of the Miura Golf brand. On June 20th Miura Golf launched its MG Collection (Miura Giken) in North America. It’s the day before the Summer Solstice and with this release it will mark a slightly “hotter” golf season in North America. I first heard of the Miura Giken irons several years ago but it was in February at the Niagara Golf Show where I talked to Brian Morrissey of Power Golf who happens to be a dealer of many upscale brands such as Miura. He told me to keep my eyes open because what Miura Golf was bringing to market over here was eyebrow-raising.
With this most recent press release Miura has announced the rest of the exotic line that has just been launched. There is an old adage which is “save the best for last” and this just might be the case. With the launch of the CB-1008 and MB-5005 Miura Golf has introduced two new exquisite player’s irons. Below is the press release from the company.
Miura Debuts Two New Players’ Irons
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA — Miura Golf has introduced two new irons to their MG Collection– the CB-1008 cavityback and the MB-5005 muscleback — for better players.
CB-1008
The CB-1008 player’s cavityback is forged from a billet of soft carbon steel. It features awider sole (19mm on the 7-iron) that significantly contributes to the iron’s playability and forgiveness. That weight distribution in the sole, combined with a lower center of gravity, delivers forgiveness and increased launch angles — especially in the mid- and long irons. “Being able to deliver the feel and performance generally only associated with a Blade iron makes the CB-1008 a naturally choice in the players’ iron category,” says Bill Holowaty, COO of Miura Golf. “A wider sole and a precise distribution of weight are design characteristics which enhance the playability of this iron.” Each CB-1008 iron has a $279 MAP price.
MB-5005
By redistributing approximately 15 grams of weight from the muscleback part of the iron,
we modified the design of a typical blade iron — resulting in the MB-5005. Thus, this iron looks like a blade but plays like a cavityback. It incorporates one of Miura’s key design principles, “There exist subtleties with the design of the MB-5005 which have enabled the Miura family to deliver a Blade iron that plays like a Cavity Back,” said Holowaty. “The redistribution of weight in the head allows for an expanded sweet spot and lower center of gravity. The MB-5005 is also slightly longer from heel to toe, delivering a feeling of confidence to the golfer at address.”
The MB-5005 is a limited edition product line in North America. Each MB-5005 iron has a $329 MAP price.
About Miura Golf
Miura Golf makes the world’s finest forged golf clubs, which are designed and manufactured by the Miura family in their factory in Himeji, Japan. The entire family works hands-on in the factory and continues to carry on the Miura legacy.
World-renowned craftsman Katsuhiro Miura began hand-crafting and grinding irons in 1957, and has created one of the most-respected brands in the golf industry. Miura’s endless quest for the perfect club has brought to the world over 10 product series, a number that grows as the next generation of the Miura family – led by sons Shinei and Yoshitaka – continue their meticulous refinement and evolution of product lines. Each club is individually hand-crafted and will never be mass produced, as generations of steel-making skill and passion brings to us the world’s finest golf clubs.
This attention to detail will be demonstrated in the new Miura branding, which now reflects the clean and sleek lines of a Miura club. The rebrand also reflects the new partnership between the Miura and Milstein families, and also reflects a broader reach with their products that display the same exquisite quality but with the ability to serve golfers of all skill levels. With the release of more forgiving clubs, Miura is reaching deeper into the golf community and exposing more golfers to its legendary feel and craftsmanship.
Wisconsin… it’s a home to so many great things. The shimmering shores of the coastline that borders Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. It’s the home of the Badgers, Packers, Brewers and Bucks. I think it also was the home to televisions sitcom “Laverne and Shirley” and the brewery that they worked for. Wisconsin is also known for its forests and farmlands. After this week it is also known for a golf course that was created on land where dairy cows once grazed so we could eat Wisconsin cheese.
One of Wisconsin’s finest.
This week the USGA held its national championship in Erin, Wisconsin at Erin Hills. A golf course owned by visionary Andrew Ziegler and designed by the team of Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten. A links-style golf course that looked like it would be right at home with the wind-swept links courses of Scotland and Ireland. The venue was actually built with the anticipation of one day hosting the U.S. Open.
Leading up to the U.S. Open at Erin Hills there was quite the build-up about the course itself. While some players in the field like Rory McIlroy were loving the golf course and its set-up others were quick to judge the golf course harshly. I wrote about Adam Scott and Kevin Na who posted “that video” on social media about the rough and after he turned in a solid first round he was quick to say that his remarks were taken out of context. Either way, to summarize the golf course it appeared to be in terrific shape, yes the first cut was long and the fescue was just that. But this golf course also featured fairways that were said to be 50-60 yards wide and greens that were everything that Chambers Bay wasn’t.
Photo Credit: erinhills.com
Before the end of the first round of the year’s second Major Championship it was already very newsworthy. On Thursday, there was the news that a blimp doing advertising for a financial institution caught on fire and later crashed within proximity of the golf course. Thankfully everyone survived and the pilot who was burned in the fire is said to be okay. Meanwhile at a hydration station on the golf course E.coli bacteria was found. The stations were shutdown and the USGA would supply complimentary bottled water to the spectators at all of the hydration stations for the duration of the tournament. While the rough and the fescue effected some like Rory who said and I am paraphrasing… “You have fairways 50-60 yards wide and the best players in the world. The fescue shouldn’t be an issue”. Ironically enough for him it turned out to be a problem. Yet for Kevin Na (whom admonished the fescue) it wasn’t as he played very well that first day. In fact, many more players played very well but none played better than Rickie Fowler during round one. Rickie that first day was “on fire” and as hard as he fought the rest of the way he would slowly fade out of contention. If Rickie could win a Major… it would be a great thing for golf. A young man who possesses many of the same characteristics as Mr. Palmer.
Rickie winning a Major would be great for all of golf. (Photo Credit: golfweek.com)
By the time the tournament had finished its second round there was more off the course news. It was reported that a 94 year-old man passed away at the course. Also making news at the conclusion of the second round was the list of players who did not make the cut. The top three in the world Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson all missed the cut. As did players like Bubba Watson, Justin Rose, Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson to name a few. But the news wasn’t all bleak. The amateurs in the field played real well. Players like Cameron Champ (who was -5 after the first two rounds) had me excited at the prospect of a “what if an amateur won?” . The U.S. Open low amateur Scottie Scheffler gave us some excitement as well. Congratulations go out to the latter.
What blew me away though was the record-setting number of players better than par for the tournament. Never has a U.S. Open seen these kinds of numbers occur. I am the first to admit that I love to watch the U.S. Open because of the carnage that typically happens. Conditions that border on brutal and in a way… stupid. Think about Chambers Bay or the fiasco that occurred at 2018 venue Shinnecock Hills in 2004. For the most part I was sort of “bored” watching the golf because the scores were so low but then the third round happened on Saturday. More and more low scores were getting posted but none were lower than the -9 (63) turned in by Justin Thomas. It was the lowest score that a player has recorded in relation to par in a U.S. Open championship. It was a round that bested the prior record set by Johnny Miller at the 1973 U.S. Open. A record that the “shy’ Johnny Miller has never really mentioned. That round by Thomas could be summed up with one adjective… electric. Speaking of electric.
I know that I mentioned that I love the U.S. Open because of the low scores turned in. I love the U.S. Open because it can make the world’s best look ordinary. As much as I was “bored” by the low scores getting posted it did make for compelling television. Numerous players were in contention after the third round including 54 hole leader Brian Harman, Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood and Brooks Koepka setting up what could make for a fantastic final round. Finally the winds were going to be up a little bit from earlier in the week and alas it would be a chance for Erin Hills to show her teeth. While Harman and Fleetwood would play par golf and Matsuyama would fire an impressive -6 (66) Brooks Koepka would pull away and beat the field by four strokes and post a -5 (67) en route to his Major victory. The first of what could be many in his career.
The Champion Brooks Koepka (Photo Credit: businessinsider.com)
As I sit back and digest everything that happened it’s tough not think about and remember the side stories from the 117th U.S. Open Championship at Erin Hills. Crash and burning of the literal and figurative kind. Bacteria-laced water and the death of a golf fan. We crowned a newly minted Major champion. I still like scores closer to par in a championship like the U.S. Open but in the end Erin Hills you were fun. The 117th U.S. Open proved to provide plenty of excitement for golf and its collective fanbase.
Before I really get into this piece I need to clarify that I am not writing this particular piece looking for a pity party. I’ve never been that guy and never will be. But I also happen to be the kind of guy that wears my heart on sleeve. Anybody that really knows me would agree and say that I’m really easy to read.
In the past I have documented my 18 year fight with various health issues. I know that I don’t have a terminal illness or need to be in palliative care but I have been plagued with battle after battle and it really does seems never-ending. The past 18 years has seen me go through numerous Transient Ischemic Attacks, a scare that saw me go ever so close to renal failure, a near amputation of my right leg and numerous cardiac issues not to mention Diabetes. Most of these issues have really come within the last six years. Ironically enough, this is the period of time when I decided to try this golf thing as a professional. The results never came and I am not the least bit ashamed of it… if anything I would have regrets if I never tried.
Gangrene… never again!
I guess the point that I’m trying to make is that in life you have a choice. Quit and feel sorry for yourself or you can fight and grind and make the most of life. I’m definitely in the latter category and I think this is why I get “pissed” at guys when they withdraw from tournaments because they’re playing bad. I remember my first event… I was stressed out or at least I think that I was. I cold-topped my first ever tee shot as a professional which unceremoniously never made it past the forward tees. Then I topped my recovery shot as well out of the lush rough. By the time I was walking up the third hole at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ontario I was having an angina episode. I never withdrew then and played out the tournament. I was playing okay in a U.S. Open Local Qualifier one year at Mendon Country Club in Victor, NY. On the 8th hole I suffered a real “doozer” of an angina attack. Maybe I should have applied for a cart but I didn’t want to be “that guy”. This one was so bad that I couldn’t really lift my arm over my head because of weakness. I played that one out too and got the “letter of death”. In fact, I had one withdrawal from a tournament when I was carted off of the course and taken by ambulance from Tarandowah Golfer’s Club in Avon, Ontario. This was also on the Great Lakes Tour like the FireRock event. I didn’t want to quit but I had no choice. Flee or fight right?
I remember when this was taken. 9th Hole Tarandowah… 2 holes later I was taken by ambulance.
Over the last few months I’ve been fighting some issues that have gotten worse than I’ve ever had. Weakness, chest palpitations and light-headedness. I’ve gone through a battery of tests recently and an Ultrasound (Doppler) of my lower body revealed that I have severe blockages of the Iliac, Renal ,Femoral and Tibial arteries. It explains a lot like the strain and pain that I feel in my legs all too often. Also, I had a Carotid Doppler (Ultrasound) last week and I found out that I have a moderate to severe blockage of my Right Innominate Artery which comes off of the Carotid Artery. This also explains a lot of things like the light-headedness. In the next two weeks I have more tests like a Holter Monitor for a few days, an exercise stress test and an Echocardiogram. Hopefully, we can get all of our ducks in a row and start making me feel at least a little better.
A better day means #fightandgrind. Testing Vice Golf and Loudmouth Golf.
In the meantime I have a choice to make. Fight or feel sorry for myself. Of course in typical fashion I choose to fight and grind. I’ve been trying to get to the range to practice but I haven’t been able to go because I’ve had a ton of bad days recently. Today I had a good day and felt good enough to go. So off to the range I went at Legends On The Niagara and spent three hours working on short game, putting and full swing taking full advantage of my good day. While I was at it I was testing products from VICE Golf, Loudmouth Golf, Skechers and SwingOil for upcoming reviews. It was an okay session that ended real strong. I had some rust and I made some horrible passes where I was topping my 7-iron. It drove me nuts and then I realized the problem. Here’s a little tip kids…
Check your grip pressure and arm tightness. If it’s too tight a lot of bad will come of it. No wrist hinging and you’ll likely stand up during the backswing. A loss of spine angle and a flip later and you’re cold-topping 7-irons. Loose hands and spaghetti arms.
It was so nice being out there today. I just sat out there on a bench on the range and took it all in. The sounds, the sights and the smells. All of these things are the reason why I love this game. If you’re down… #fightandgrind
