Who Makes Kirkland Signature Golf Balls? An Inside Look At The Craftsmanship
Qingdak SM Parker makes the Kirkland Signature golf ball. Even though Costco sells Kirkland Signature Golf Balls, it isn’t the manufacturer. A Chinese sports equipment company called Qingdak SM Parker makes Kirkland Signature golf balls for Costco.
And no! Titleist doesn’t make these balls. Moreover, it is not even big news. Everybody knows them as Costco golf balls. These low price premium balls are a relief for a lot of beginner golfers.
Let me introduce you to this manufacturer and discuss the Kirkland Signature golf balls. I will also include the current price of the balls and what I think about the overall quality of them.
Who Makes Kirkland Signature Golf Balls?
Qingdao SM Parker Golf Co. Ltd makes Kirkland Signature golf balls. This company is located in the Qingdao City of Shandong Province in China. It is known for making sports equipment, mostly golf balls.
The company has multiple manufacturing facilities to produce these urethane-cover golf balls. Before handing out the balls to Costco, they get through different phases of testing and quality assurance.
It ensures the balls are up to the industry standard and meet the performance requirements of golfers.
Rubber, synthetic resin, and urethane are used to make these golf balls. With the popularity of Kirkland Signature golf balls, the company has also become well-known in the industry.
History of Kirkland Signature Golf Balls
In golf, the ball quality plays an important role in the player’s performance. The speed, spin, and control of the ball are extremely important here. Premium ball manufacturers have been ruling the industry with their high-quality balls. But those balls are pretty expensive.
Amateur golfers may not always want to spend a lot of money on such balls. This is what led Costco to release its own private-label brand, Kirkland Signature. In 2016, Costco brought four-piece Kirkland Signature golf balls into the market.
I tried those four-piece balls after the release, and they were pretty amazing. The build quality and performance of those balls were great compared to the golf balls of the same price.
However, Costco dropped the whole product line due to a lawsuit for patent violation. Then, it launched the three-piece golf balls. These balls also became popular among budget-conscious golfers.
top Kirkland Signature Golf Ball Models
Qingdao SM Parker makes three models of Kirkland Signature golf balls. Here is a quick overview of these balls.
Kirkland Signature Distance
This is the most basic golf ball model under the Kirkland Signature brand. The balls are made of soft rubber to increase the carry distance. You can expect to get a similar distance to premium golf balls from Titleist or Callaway.
Kirkland Signature Tour Performance
If you look for a ball that is balanced between speed and control, this is the one. With its optimised spin performance, the ball provides more flexibility to beginner and intermediate golfers.
Kirkland Signature Performance+
This is the top model from the Kirkland Signature manufacturer. The reduced spin performance ensures the ball has a better carry distance. If beginner golfers use this ball against premium and pricey balls, they might not find a noticeable difference in performance.
types of Materials Kirkland Signature use
As I have already mentioned, the production of Kirkland Signature four-piece balls has been discontinued. Now, the company only makes three-piece golf balls. Check what each of the pieces is made of.
- Rubber Core: The innermost piece of the golf ball is the core. Qingdao SM Parker uses highly elastic rubber to make the ball core. This increases the speed and carry distance of the balls.
- Synthetic Resin Mantle: The middle layer of the ball is known as the mantle. It balances the speed and spin of the ball to give it the desired performance. The mantle is a much thicker layer than the outer cover.
- Urethane Cover: Urethane or surly are common materials for making golf ball covers. Kirkland Signature golf balls have urethane covers to make the ball more durable. It also slows the spin to give an improved balance. Urethane-cover golf balls are generally more expensive, but not these Kirkland Signature ones.
Where Can I Buy Kirkland Signature Golf Balls, and How Much Do They Cost?
As Kirkland Signature is the private label brand of Costco, the manufacturer can’t supply these balls to other distributors or retailers. So, you have to buy these balls from Costco. You can visit their physical stores or order the balls online.
I ordered my pack from the Costco website. Each Kirkland Signature golf ball pack of 12 balls costs $12.51 plus shipping. So, the price of each ball is merely over $1. The price may be a bit higher if I consider the shipping cost.
The price of Kirkland Signature Tour Performance balls is $23.99 per dozen. So, each ball costs slightly below $2. Kirkland Signature Performance+ balls cost slightly more at $34.99 per dozen.
Are Kirkland Signature Golf Balls Good?
Of course. I mean, the value they provide for the money is extraordinary. Getting golf balls that provide a good balance of speed, control, and spin at this price is not what I thought would be possible. But now, Kirkland Signature golf balls are one of my favorites.
In my opinion, beginner golfers may benefit the most from these balls. They can practice a lot to master different techniques with these affordable balls. It’s not only my opinion, but other people are also talking about these balls.
FAQ about Who Makes Kirkland Golf Balls
The answers to these frequently asked questions might enlighten you more about Kirkland Signature golf balls and their manufacturer. Have a look.
Q: Which Kirkland Signature golf balls are the best?
I prefer the Kirkland Signature Performance+ golf balls over other models. This is because the design and build quality of these balls are just awesome. The speed and spin of these balls are also superior to other golf balls.
Q: Are Kirkland golf balls the same as Pro V1?
No. These two balls are quite different. The Pro V1 is a premium golf ball coming at a higher price. So, its durability and performance are better. Kirkland Signature golf balls are also good, but not as much as the Pro V1.
Q: Can I buy Kirkland Signature golf balls directly from the manufacturer?
I fear you can’t. Costco has an exclusive contract with the Qingdao SM Parker for manufacturing these golf balls. So, they are only available at Costco.