Who Makes Kirkland Golf Balls?

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Kirkland Golf Balls
Contents

Who Makes Kirkland Golf Balls? 

So, who makes Kirkland golf balls? 

It’s not Costco themselves, but a third party company, Qingdao SM Parker, which is based in China. According to the same news site from above, the original design was made in Japan but they’ve switched manufacturers since the Titleist lawsuit. 

Kirkland golf balls – are they worth the money? Or has the hype died down?

Let’s face it, there isn’t much better than finding a great deal on something that you know will help your golf game. Maybe it’s a new driver that a friend couldn’t hit and sold you at a discount price. 

Or, a set of irons you found in the used section at your local golf store that are in mint condition. Or, a brand-new golf ball that is low-cost and incredible quality to help you score better from tee to green.

Because golf is not a cheap sport by any means. By the time you add up green fees, equipment, golf balls, and instruction or training aids, it’s a good chunk of money.

Luckily, there is one great way to save money and play better golf – Kirkland Signature golf balls. You might have heard about them and asked, “Who makes Kirkland golf balls?” 

It’s a good question and in this post, we’ll do some digging to help you learn more about these golf balls and see if they’re right for you. Plus, talk about some other golf gear you might not know is at Costco.

Kirkland Golf Balls: Everything You Need to Know 

Even though Kirkland golf balls are relatively new in the golf industry, they’ve made quite an impression on players and stirred up a lot of controversy too. Let’s get into it… 

History of Kirkland Golf Balls 

The first Kirkland Signature golf ball was released in 2016. Once golfers found out about how well they performed and the extremely low price, they developed a cult-like following. Costco literally couldn’t keep up with the demand. 

The original design was a 3-piece golf ball that had similar performance to the ProV1. Players found them to be slightly shorter in terms of total distance but the amazing feel and price made up for a few less yards. 

The balls were flying off the shelves until Titleist sued Kirkland based on patent infringement. According to this news report, “Acushnet sent a cease and desist letter to Costco alleging their balls infringe upon 11 of its patents. Acushnet further asserted Kirkland Signature’s guarantee that all of its products “will meet or exceed the quality standards of leading national brands” constitutes false advertising.”

They eventually settled out of court in 2018, but the original design was dead. 

In 2019, the Kirkland Signature balls made a comeback with a newly designed 4-piece golf ball but they didn’t last long either. After receiving tons of complaints and overall poor reviews, Costco pulled them from stores once again. 

Luckily, Costco is relentless and in the past few years, they’ve developed a new 3-piece golf ball which has gotten the company back on track. While they’re not as popular as the original design, they’re still a great choice for the everyday golfer and one of the best balls for seniors

Great Value
KIRKLAND SIGNATURE Three-Piece Urethane Cover Golf Ball

KIRKLAND SIGNATURE Three-Piece Urethane Cover Golf Ball

  • 3-piece urethane cover golf ball
  • Conforms with usga and r&a rules
  • High performance ball suitable for recreational and competitive play.
  • Item package weight: 10.0 pounds

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Kirkland Golf Balls Review & Performance 

You might be thinking, what about performance and price in their new golf ball design? 

First off, it’s a phenomenal deal like most things at Costco. Of course, they don’t just come in a dozen but in typical Costco fashion, come in two dozen for a little over $30! At that time of this writing they were $34.99 on Costco’s website and a couple bucks more on Amazon.  

Despite the shockingly low price tag, they’re also a great golf ball in terms of distance and accuracy. According to Costco, “With low compression highly elastic rubber core provides a soft feel with high speed, while the 338-dimple pattern provides a penetrating ball trajectory. In addition, the speed boosting mantle is optimized with three-piece construction to control spin with long irons while generating high spin on short irons for control around the green.” 

I’ve personally tried these out to see how they compare to Titleist and TaylorMade golf balls and will say I’m impressed with the performance. I’m not sure if they’re quite as good as the Pro V1 or the TP5 but they are no doubt comparable. 

Unless you really need one of these golf balls because you’re a consistent player, almost every other type of golfer can benefit from the Kirkland Signature golf balls. 

Kirkland Golf Balls

More Golf Gear at Costco – Kirkland Golf Clubs

Did you know that Kirkland also makes golf clubs too? 

That’s right, they also make clubs alongside their popular golf balls and gloves too. Buy a few collared shirts for cheap and they can nearly sponsor your entire golf outing.

Unfortunately, they do not make a full set of Kirkland clubs (yet). You can’t play a Kirkland driver, woods, irons, wedges, and putter to match your golf ball. However, they do specialize in short game equipment like wedges and putting (more on that in the next section).

But how about their golf clubs? Who makes them? Are they a knock off of popular brands? 

Let’s get into it… 

Who Makes Kirkland Golf Clubs?

Like most products, Costco themselves does not manufacture them but instead, partner with another brand. In the case of Kirkland wedges, they work with a company in Carlsbad, California. This area is Southern California and houses some of the biggest names in golf including Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade (aka, the big three in the golf world). 

Kirkland 3-Piece Wedge Set

The wedge set comes with a 52, 56, and 60-degree wedge which you can pair alongside your pitching wedge. The wedges have Milled Face technology and even come with True Temper steel shafts too.

Kirkland 3 Piece Wedge SetBased on the reviews and researching these wedges, they seem like a great fit for the everyday golfer. Lower handicaps should probably skip them as they don’t have quite as much feel and some have said they’re “hot” aka too long. Skilled golfers typically aren’t looking for “hot” wedges and instead prefer the feel. 

For the type of golfer they are targeting I’m surprised they aren’t a cavity back wedge which makes them more forgiving. The best part of course is the price – $169 in store for the entire wedge set. 

This is an amazing deal considering that most new wedges like the Titleist Vokey or Callaway Jaws are $179 or more per wedge! You can save 60% and use that towards green fees or other golf gadgets. 

Kirkland Signature KS1 Putter

The wedges are one of the best deals in golf but the Signature KS1 putter is a good choice too. This blade putter is pretty standard in terms of design and has garnered rave reviews online. 

Let’s start with the basics – it’s 34.5 inches, which is rare in the golf world as most are either 34 or 35 inches. But 34.5 is a good putter length considering that most golfers use putters that are too long (most guides recommend only using 35 inches, the most popular length, if you’re six feet or taller).

Kirkland KS1 Putter

The KS1 putter is 100% CNC Milled and made with 303 stainless steel. It also has adjustable heel and toe weights that you can change based on your stroke (this is a great perk). Plus, it comes with a Super Stroke Countercore Mid-Slim 2.0 putter grip – one of the best putter grips available. 

Not to mention, it comes in right and left-handed models. If you don’t have a Costco membership, you can still buy this putter on Amazon for a higher price too. Click here to check the price on Amazon

Kirkland Golf Gloves

While the balls and clubs are great, I would argue the golf gloves are truly the best thing a golfer can buy at Costco. First off, they come in a pack of four so that already sets them apart from any other golf glove, which are almost always sold individually. Plus, four gloves is a little over $20 total – meaning the average glove is about $5 each.

Don’t let the low price tag fool you either, they are one of the best golf gloves out there. I would compare it to a $12-$15 glove from other brands like Callaway or FootJoy. The leather design is comfortable, durable, and lasts longer than any other $5 purchase in your golf game.

But the best part is that they offer tons of sizes too; from small to extra large (including ML), you’re bound to find one for your hand size. The only problem is quantity, my Costco can’t seem to keep them in stock fast enough anymore.

If you do find them make sure to stock up so you have plenty of gloves for the future. They’re also available on Amazon but for a higher price (but still worth every penny). 

Full Golf Club Sets at Costco 

While Kirkland only offers balls, putters, and wedges from their brand, they have partnered with several other brands to offer full set options. 

The Callaway Edge is a 10-piece golf club set that is great for everyday golfers. The woods come with stiff graphite shafts while the irons have stiff steel shafts. The set includes a driver, 3-wood, 5-hybrid, 6-9 iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and an Odyssey White Hot Pro putter. 

The driver is a titanium head while the 3-wood and 5-woods are forgiving clubs with low CG for high launch. While the irons are cavity back for extra forgiveness and the wedges are pretty decent too. All the woods, hybrids, and putter come with matching head covers and are available in men’s and women’s options.

Another full set of clubs that is offered from Costco is the Pro Golf Launch 10-piece set. These are geared more toward beginner golfers with their oversized club heads and lightweight design. The set includes a driver, 3-wood, 4-hybrid, 6-9 iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and mallet style putter.

Like the Callaway clubs, the woods have graphite shafts, while the irons are steel shafts. However, these clubs have regular flex shafts only. They also come with matching head covers too. 

Lastly, Costco also sells junior golf clubs with their EPEC junior set. These clubs are fitted to a child’s height and allow you to upgrade them as your kid grows. They offer eight sizes based on height and come with a driver, two irons, sand wedge and a putter. 

Other Golf Equipment at Costco 

A quick search on Costco’s website and I found all types of other golf products as well. From Skechers golf shoes, mats, golf carts, bags, and even a Foresight all-in-one-simulator package. Make sure to check your local store or online to learn more about other great golf deals. 

Top Questions About Kirkland Golf  

Do you have extra questions about Kirkland and their golf products? If so, we have answers below.

Did Titleist sue Kirkland? 

Yes, Titleist has had some serious issues with Kirkland ever since the golf balls were released in 2016. They settled the case out of court in 2018 for an unknown amount. This caused Costco to change the design of their golf balls several times to avoid more legal issues.

Why did Titleist sue Kirkland?

Titleist thought the original design of the Kirkland golf ball was far too similar to their Pro V1, hence the lawsuit. But the latest design is comparable to the most popular in golf, but not quite as good. They’re a few yards shorter than the Pro V1 but offer a similar feel around the greens. 

Overall, they’re still a great golf ball at an unbeatable price. 

Are Costco golf balls the same as Titleist?

No, they are not the same golf ball. Kirkland golf balls do not have the same distance and other features of the wildly popular Titleist Pro V1 golf ball. But unless you’re a single digit handicap I doubt you will notice a difference. For most everyday golfers it’s worth opting for Kirkland as they are similar and significantly cheaper. 

Does Costco sell golf clubs?

Yes, Costco does offer a few golf clubs too. Their signature Kirkland brand offers wedges and a putter. While other golf clubs are sold at Costco – including Callaway – and come in full sets. 

Are Costco golf balls legal?

Yes, these conform to both the USGA and R&A Rules so you can use them in competitive events without worry. 

Does Costco sell Bettinardi golf putters?

In the fall of 2022 a Twitter post went viral in the golf world as someone spotted Bettinardi putters in the store. They were selling the Bettinardi Studio Queen B putters (which are great looking clubs) for $320 – a $100 discount off the normal price. While the brand isn’t a household name, like Odyssey or PXG, they have been around since 1998 and have 95 worldwide Tour wins in professional golf! 

These high-end clubs at Costco surprised a lot of golf fans as the brand is more upscale and not normally discounted. But it turns out the company had a distributor in South America break their contract to offer them at the store… without the consent of Bettinardi Golf.

According to Golf WRX, the company is taking action so you might not be able to get them for long. They released this statement saying, “We are extremely disappointed that one of our distributors would choose to diminish our brand and end our relationship in this way. Bettinardi Golf is actively pursuing all courses of action to have this product removed from all Costco stores and the Costco website.”

If you can find some at your store, it’s a great deal. If not, their KS1 putter is a solid blade putter for around $100. 

Can you buy Kirkland golf balls on Amazon?

Yes! 

Even if you don’t have a Costco membership, you can still buy these incredible golf balls online. They’re slightly higher priced but if you don’t need much else from Costco, it’s worth the extra few bucks (and not having to wait in long lines). The same goes for their gloves, wedges, and putters too. 

Wrapping Up

Costco has some great golf equipment to help you save money and play better golf. 

Even though the new golf design isn’t as solid as the 2016 original model, it’s still a great deal. While it’s not the longest ball in golf, it’s great for the price. 

A lot of stores now offer different golf club sets for men, women, and junior golfers too. Plus, don’t forget to check out the golf gloves, wedges, and putter to complete your setup. It’s almost your one-stop shop for all things golf. 

Don’t forget, even if you don’t have a Costco membership, you can buy a lot of these products at Amazon for a slightly higher price. 

Click here to buy the Kirkland golf balls on Amazon now.

Have you ever tried the Kirkland signature golf balls? 

If so, let us know in the comments below 

Picture of Michael Leonard

Michael Leonard

Michael Leonard is a full-time writer, author, creator of Wicked Smart Golf and +1 handicap amateur golfer. He left his corporate career in 2017 to pursue entrepreneurship and professional golf; since then, he’s competed in 160+ tournament days and went to Q-school in 2019.

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6 thoughts on “Who Makes Kirkland Golf Balls?”

  1. I recently purchased a set of wedges by Kirkland. I am a senior golfer 71 years old but, with the results I am more than pleased. I like the way the ball checks up on the green for me and I can control the distances better thank you Kirkland

    Reply
    • One downside with Costco golf equipment is that they don’t have them for lefties, at least not in Iceland. What is that? Golfballs are great, gloves I need to check but the wedges only get for right handed.

      Reply
  2. Absolutely a great deal. Can’t beat the performance. I’ve added extra yards and improved my consistency lowering my handicap. At 71 I need every advantage I can find.

    Reply

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