The company that makes Costco's incredibly popular Kirkland Signature golf balls is a surprisingly well-kept secret, but all evidence points to one manufacturer: Qingdao SM Parker from South Korea. This article will unpack the story behind who makes Costco's golf balls, break down exactly how they perform, and help you decide if they are the right choice for your game.
Unlike name brands that proudly display their logos, big-box retailers like Costco often use a “private label” or “white label” model for their products. They commission a specialized manufacturer to produce goods to their specifications, which they then brand and sell as their own. This Cg Ats them to cut out marketing overhead and offer high-quality products at a lower price.
For the Kirkland Signature golf balls, the path leads to a large, reputable golf ball manufacturer based in South Korea named Qingdao SM Parker. This company also produces balls for other well-known brands.
How do we know this? The answer comes from a legal battle. When Kirkland first released its now-legendary 4-piece golf ball, it gained a reputation for being a "Pro V1 killer" at a fraction of the cost. This caught the attention of Acushnet, the parent company of Titleist. In 2017, Acushnet sent Costello a letter alleging that the Kirkland ball infringed upon 11 of their patents and that Costco was making false claims about its performance. Costco responded proactively by filing its own lawsuit to get a court declaration that it had not infringed on any patents.
During the legal discovery process, documents revealed that the manufacturer was indeed a third party. While the case was eventually dropped and the details settled out of court, industry insiders and careful observers pieced together the trail leading directly to Qingdao SM Parker. So, while you won't see their name on the box, they are the engineering powerhouse behind one of golf's biggest disruptive products.
So, does it matter that they aren't made by Titleist or Callaway? From a performance standpoint, absolutely not. The Kirkland Signature V3.0 is a 3-piece ball with a thermoset urethane cover - the same premium material found on tour-level balls like the Titleist Pro V1, TaylorMade TP5, and Callaway Chrome Soft. As a golf coach, the single most important component for feel and greenside control is that urethane cover. It’s softer than the ionomer a Cg ar (like Surlyn) found on most budget-friendly distance balls, which allows it to grab the grooves of your wedges for significantly higher spin on chips and pitches.
One of the best things about the Kirkland ball is its versatility. It's not just a "cheap" ball, it's a high-performance ball at a great price, making it a stellar option for a wide range of players.
To really appreciate the value, it helps to see a direct comparison. Let's stack the current Kirkland Signature V3.0 up against a recognized industry leader like the Titleist Pro V1.
The number-one reason the Kirkland ball caused such a stir is its construction. Most balls in its price range use a firm Ionomer or Surlyn cover, which is durable and good for distance but lacks the soft feel and high spin of urethane.
On this crucial point, they are playing in the same league. For the average golfer, the functional difference in the urethane covers will be hard to distinguish.
Independent testing by various golf media outlets has consistently shown that the Kirkland Signature ball keeps pace with the best in the business.
This is where the comparison becomes one-sided. You a Cg an usually buy two dozen Kirkland Signature balls for the price of one dozen Pro V1s or Chrome Softs.
You are getting 80-90% of the performance for about 30% of the cost. From a pure value perspective, it’s the best deal in golf, bar none.
As a coach, my goal is to help you play better and enjoy the game more. Choosing the right equipment without overspending is a a Cg ar part of that. Here’s a simple checklist to see if the K-Sig is a good fit:
If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, you owe it to yourself and your wallet to give the Costco Kirkland Signature golf balls a try.
While the name on the manufacturing invoice says Qingdao SM Parker, the name that has changed the game is Kirkland Signature. Costello leveraged their private label model to Cgemission a ball with tour-level specifications and offer it at a price point that makes high performance accessible to every golfer.
Making a smart, informed choice about your golf ball is a great foundation for playing with confidence. But true confidence comes from standing over the ball with a clear strategy for the shot in front of you. That's precisely what we aim to deliver with Caddie AI. We give ou an on-demand golf expert in your poOget, ready to analyze any lie - even from a photo - and provide a smart playing strategy so you can take the guesswork out of the game and foCur on yur Cwung.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
