Equipment
Miura Golf’s buyer revealed
The official Miura-related announcement you’ve been waiting for: Billionaire investor, banking magnate, and golf enthusiast Howard Milstein has acquired global rights to distribute Miura Golf equipment.
We broke the news of Miura’s sale earlier this month, and new company president Hoyt McGarity told us the company’s trademark quality and pricing will remain consistent under the new ownership.
Milstein and family have acquired a majority interest in distribution rights, according to a press release, which also officially confirms Hoyt McGarity, founder and CEO of TrueSpec will serve as company president.
“We are excited to announce this new partnership and new chapter in Miura Golf’s storied history,” Milstein said. “We believe that Miura, with its decades-old reputation as perhaps the world’s finest designer and manufacturer of forged clubs, represents an ideal partner in the golf equipment category and is a tremendous fit with our company.”
Milstein is Chairman, President and CEO of New York Private Bank & Trust — the nation’s largest privately owned, family-run bank — and its operating bank, Emigrant Bank. Also a successful real estate investor, Milstein is perhaps most interesting for our purposes as the business partner of Jack Nicklaus and the Nicklaus family since 2007.
Also interesting: It appears the two golf companies under Milstein’s charge will be working together in some capacity, a story we will continue to follow.
“We focused on strategic opportunities and aligning ourselves with likeminded partners and companies that mirror the high standards long established by Jack and his company,” Milstein said. “Miura Golf is such a company, and we are pleased and proud to announce this partnership.”
Founded in 1957, Katsuhiro Miura’s company has been making handcrafted forged irons of the highest quality for 50 years. According to the company, professional golfers have won several major championships using its clubs, specifically its forged players irons, without endorsement contracts. The company has also produced forged irons for major OEMs.
Once the undisputed leader in the ultra-premium equipment space, billionaire Bob Parsons-owned PXG has fired a shot across the company’s bow, cutting into market share over the past three years. Now, it would seem, Miura is equipped with similar firepower.
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Jim
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:58 pm
It appears to be merely a distribution deal.
http://miuragolf.com/Miura-Milstein.pdf
Eric
Jan 25, 2017 at 2:46 pm
How are they gonna spell Miura incorrectly in its own press release *smh*
Jim
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Must agree with Mark – “Muira Golf’s buyer revealed” and “acquired global rights to distribute Miura Golf equipment” are, to me, not one and the same thing.
Will the company (Miura) that manufactures the highly sought-after irons change in any way? Or have they (Katsuhiro Miura & sons) merely sold the global distribution rights to Mr. Milstein?
ButchT
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Until you can finance PXG or Miura irons like a home or car, I am out of their market!
Shallowface
Jan 25, 2017 at 7:38 am
Looking forward to seeing a set of Jack Nicklaus Miurafield irons.
Mark
Jan 25, 2017 at 11:04 am
Clever.
Mark
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:49 am
“Muira Golf’s buyer revealed” and “acquired global rights to distribute Miura Golf equipment” are, to me, not one and the same thing. Please clarify. Has Milstein bought the company or has he just acquired the global distribution rights?
JThunder
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:45 am
Another smaller company bought by a billionaire. Just what the world needs.
S Hitter
Jan 24, 2017 at 9:50 pm
That would be 60 years, mate. Can you do maths?