Equipment
Costco chairman: The Kirkland Signature golf ball will be back
If you didn’t get a chance to jump on the Costco Kirkland Signature golf ball bandwagon before the train left the station (to mix metaphors), don’t worry.
Per SeattlePi.com, Costco co-founder and chairman of the board Jeffrey Brotman dropped the site a line in response to the grim news, which we also covered at the end of December: the balls were sold out.
The Kirkland Signature four-piece cupboard was bare for weeks ahead of Christmas, only to be restocked online December 20 and sell out again within a half hour, with eager golfers crashing the site in the process. Until now, it had been assumed Costco would contract South Korean manufacturer Nassau Golf for another cargo ship full, but no official word had been received.
Consider this the official word. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Brotman wrote an email saying in part, “the golf balls will return.”
Of course, we’d like to have a more specific idea of when they’ll line the discount warehouse’s shelves, but we take solace in the fact they’ll be back.
The $30-for-two-dozen four-piece urethane balls caused quite a stir in the golf equipment community last year. Our Andrew Tursky rounded up some of the considerable enthusiasm from the forums in this piece.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that 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, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that 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, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes
As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Turk20
Apr 4, 2017 at 6:52 am
Both Taylor made and maxfli had golf balls in their mid range price that were better than their top lines both ‘sold out’ and came back as inferior balls. We will see what happens but I will not buy more than minimum to check them out first. COSTCO really screwed up on golf gloves when they dropped the leather ones and now only have the synthetic. After years of buying them would not go near current product.
stan markowski
Mar 12, 2017 at 9:03 pm
I like Costco they are a good company,their quality is also very good I am waiting for their golf balls I”ll take mine in yellow please…stan
JT Reese
Feb 12, 2017 at 1:19 pm
Bottom line is this. As a consumer paying $45-50 a dozen for a pro-line ball is insane! The MG (Master Grip) also has close specs to the PRO-V, for $19.99 per doz. Like anything else you pay for the name. It’s time there is some competition that may drive the prices down. Personally, I play the Prov, only because I have a contact who is a ball hunter guru! No water balls. So $20 a dozen for mint, this is what I do. Ain’t paying their price!
Ivor Robson
Feb 3, 2017 at 7:58 pm
Can’t wait to buy the k sigs at the wembly stadium location
Deadeye
Jan 31, 2017 at 6:32 pm
I just changed from Prov1 to Callaway super hot 55. Great feel, at least ten yards longer and available at Costco for fifteen dollars a dozen. Not as much spin around the green but flies straighter and holds greens. Nice soft feel on all clubs. So, bring back the four piece ball if you want but I am staying with my new best ball.
DTrump
Jan 31, 2017 at 4:03 pm
The Kirkland Signature ball is a great ball, which was made to fire the first shot towards the big boys. This ball is the official ball of Kim Jong Un and it says right on the box, guaranteed 2 Hole In Ones per dozen purchased. This ball will bring the Koreas together once again.
I will not play this ball, because it doesnt say Titleist.
DJT
Jan 30, 2017 at 2:51 am
For far too long South Korean ball companies have been killing U.S jobs and destroying our domestic golf ball industry. My administration will be taxing these balls %200 to level the playing field with the U.S made ProV1 (which is fabulous ball, amazing really.) This undercutting stops NOW. My team is also considering ban on foreign players so all PGA events are won by U.S PLAYERS ONLY. #fakeballs #muricafirst #MPGAGA
Rick
Jan 30, 2017 at 4:07 am
When I read stuff like that all I hear is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zbjGUmI4Js
Rick
Jan 30, 2017 at 4:14 am
Obviously the English version haha, or as you would probably rather say the “murican version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyrNktD_PwA
DC1
Jan 31, 2017 at 2:21 pm
Hilarious! First Trump related laugh I have had since the election!
Golfer
Aug 20, 2020 at 2:45 am
Hate to break it to you, but the ProV1 is not made in the US anymore
Randel
Jan 29, 2017 at 8:36 pm
Very simple, how many new Costco Members will be plunking down $50 or more for a membership so they can buy Kirkland balls? Once in the store do you think a $30 dollar purchase is all that they will buy? Costco now knows these balls will bring in more customers and any item that is a sure fire draw will of course be a priority for them….
Grizz01
Jan 31, 2017 at 7:21 pm
I love the free market!
BooBunkie
Jan 29, 2017 at 5:28 am
Ooooh Peter’s Dad is on line 1! The duuuuuude!!!
Jim
Jan 29, 2017 at 12:51 am
I would imagine there are plenty of ball manufactures in China, South Korea and even Taiwan that can make a ball very much like or exactly the same as Costco sold as Kirkland..and they would be very happy to sell a few million to Costco any day of the week. If you had the rights to a ball Costco would buy a couple million of what would you do? Callaway, Taylormade, Titliest all make most of their high end balls in the U.S. with a small portion and cheaper models coming in from over seas. There has to be some manufactures that have room for others, I did some searching and found 2 companies in China that were offering a 3 piece urethane ball with any name you wanted printed on it in lots of 10,000 or more…about .55 cents each????
The dude
Jan 29, 2017 at 7:36 pm
Nice research!!
Golfer
Aug 20, 2020 at 2:47 am
This is actually incorrect, all of the premium balls you listed are currently being made overseas either entirely, or only the urethane cover is made in the US. Check the side of the box…
TonyK
Jan 28, 2017 at 11:13 pm
If Kirkland Signature balls come back, it won’t be the same ball by Nassau Korea. According to a Korean golf forum, currently Nassau Korea are not making the KS balls any more and they do not have a plan to make them in the near future.
Sean
Jan 30, 2017 at 3:19 pm
Source?
BooBunkie
Jan 28, 2017 at 4:13 pm
These my friend are Pro V’s with masquerade masks on. Think Phantom Of The Opera.
The dude
Jan 28, 2017 at 5:26 pm
Not even Close….
– Wally Uilhein
Obee
Jan 30, 2017 at 10:57 am
The spin data seems far different on full wedge shots. At least the data I saw.
David Montgomery
Jan 28, 2017 at 3:17 pm
Is it true that Costco bought a bunch of unwanted balls from TayloreMade for really cheap and they just re-branded them with their logo? That would explain why people love the feel and especially the price.
Joseph
Jan 28, 2017 at 7:16 pm
Costco buys a lot of overruns, closeouts and gray market product intended for other markets, not the US Costco may sell golf balls called Kirtland, but you can be certain that it will not be the same ball from the same factory’s that was sold last year. Why? Because whoever those balls were actually made for will cut off the factory if they ever dump product to Costco again. If Costco was selling them for $14 a dozen, that factory wasn’t making much on the deal anyway, just getting rid of excess inventory.
Jack
Jan 29, 2017 at 6:33 am
Really.. interesting as I thought Costco mostly buys stuff in bulk and brands create specific products to work in their stores. Kirkland products are specifically designed for Costco as that’s their store brand. I highly doubt they went into this only thinking short term. Kirkland products don’t change that often. Golf balls though might since they probably never imagined people paying so much attention to them. If the current supplier changes their mind, I’m sure there are other suppliers willing to do the same if they have the excess capacity. Which I think is what happened. The current supplier ran out of capacity and Costco couldn’t find another one soon enough to produce an identical product.
DC1
Jan 31, 2017 at 2:24 pm
Bingo. Don’t sell costco short, they are a very smart retailer who takes the long view. If they say they are coming back, they are coming back. They know the balls are really good, they won’t come back with an inferior product. That’s not how they work.
Golfgirlrobin
Jan 29, 2017 at 5:57 pm
All Kirkland branded product is designed and made specifically for Costco. They’re not cheaper because they’re overruns or rebranded, Kirkland is cheaper because there are virtually no marketing costs and they control the entire production chain.
Tazz2293
Jan 30, 2017 at 7:20 am
The Costco Golf R&D Department is really pumping out golf ball innovation as we speak.
Lance
Jan 28, 2017 at 12:20 pm
Why not link to the source?
toad37
Jan 28, 2017 at 3:14 pm
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Costco-says-golf-balls-will-return-10883759.php