Costco does not manufacture Kirkland Signature golf balls themselves. The current Kirkland Signature Performance+ balls are produced under contract in Asia by Costco’s long-time golf ball supplier, SM Global, along with SM Parker, their network of factories. The white balls are produced in Vietnam, whereas the yellow balls come from another factory in China.
That was the straightforward answer on who manufactures Kirkland Signature golf balls currently, however, it did not stay like that all the time. The initial 2016 ball was sourced from an alternative factory in South Korea, and the manufacturer of the ball changed as new iterations of Kirkland SignatureWho Makes Kirkland Golf Balls released by Costco. Below, we cover all the companies that have taken part in the process, changes that have occurred in the ball since its launch, ways to determine the factory of origin of your ball, and compare it to the Titleist Pro V1.
The Short Version
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does Costco make the ball? | No. Costco owns the Kirkland Signature brand and sells the ball, but outside companies produce it |
| Who supplies it? | SM Global, a sourcing and logistics company that works closely with Costco and is listed as the maker on the USGA conforming ball list |
| Where are white balls made? | In Vietnam, at an SM Parker factory |
| Where are yellow balls made? | At a different factory in China |
| Who made the original 2016 ball? | Nassau Golf, in South Korea |
| Is it made by Titleist? | No. Titleist makes its Pro V1 in its own plants in Massachusetts |
| Current model | Kirkland Signature Performance+ V3.0, a three-piece ball with a urethane cover |
| Is it legal for tournaments? | Yes. The ball conforms to the Rules of Golf |
The Companies Behind Kirkland Golf Balls
In general, most store brand products are produced by specialized manufacturers and packaged for retailers using their brand labels, and the same goes for golf balls. Making a urethane golf ball requires costly machinery and much experience, which is why Costco collaborates with firms that specialize in the production of these golf balls. There are some well-known names in this regard.
| Company | What it does | Its link to Kirkland |
|---|---|---|
| Costco | Owns the Kirkland Signature brand, sets the specs and sells the ball in warehouses and online | The brand owner and retailer, not the maker |
| SM Global | A sourcing, logistics and packaging company that started in California in 1989 | A major Costco partner for golf products, and the company listed as the manufacturer on the USGA conforming ball list |
| SM Parker | A golf ball manufacturer closely aligned with SM Global, with factories in China and Vietnam | Produces Kirkland balls, including the current white Performance+ in Vietnam |
| A separate factory in China | A contract golf ball plant | Produces the current yellow Performance+ |
| Nassau Golf | A South Korean golf ball manufacturer that has made balls for several brands | Made the original four-piece Kirkland ball in 2016 |
The former Fantom plant that became SM Parker in Qingdao, China once operated by the name Fantom until it was acquired. The Vietnam factory of SM Parker manufactures balls for other brands such as the PXG Xtreme golf ball. Although this does not imply that the balls are a Kirkland, it proves that the factory manufactures urethane balls for established brands.
Why the Answer Keeps Changing
If you have tried to find the answer for yourself earlier, you have probably found many different answers, most of which were true at some point. Costco switched up suppliers and factories with every new revision, so now it uses two factories for one ball at the same time. The same ball from 2016, a 2019 ball, and a 2026 ball can have three different producers, and all of them will be right depending on what time period we talk about.
What is more, the company on the package does not mean the producer itself. The company listed by USGA as conforming is SM Global, which takes care of logistics, while the actual manufacturing is done by SM Parker and partner factories abroad.
The History of Kirkland Golf Balls
Kirkland golf balls have had one of the most talked-about stories in golf equipment over the last decade. Here is how the ball has changed.
| When | Ball | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Kirkland Signature Four-Piece | Launched at about $30 for two dozen. Made by Nassau Golf in South Korea, it drew comparisons to premium tour balls and sold out quickly. |
| 2017 to 2018 | Legal dispute | Acushnet, the parent company of Titleist, claimed the ball infringed several of its patents and challenged Costco’s marketing. Costco went to court first, Acushnet countersued, and the two sides settled in 2018. |
| After 2018 | Kirkland Signature Three-Piece | Costco returned with a three-piece urethane ball produced in China, which became the base for later Performance+ models. |
| 2019 | A new four-piece ball | Pulled from sale with refunds offered after golfers reported problems with the cover. |
| Later | Performance+ V2.0 | The three-piece Performance+ line continued with an updated version. |
| By early 2024 | Performance+ V3.0 | The current model, a three-piece ball with a 338-dimple urethane cover. White balls are made in Vietnam. |
| 2025 onward | Updated V3.0 batch | A revised batch with new packaging and slightly firmer compression, still labeled V3.0, with hollow alignment arrows on the ball. The yellow version is made in China. |
The original four-piece ball never returned. Even now, many golfers still hope for another version like it, which is part of why every new Kirkland release gets so much attention.
White vs Yellow: Two Factories, One Name
This is the one detail that most golfers are unaware of. The white and yellow Kirkland Signature Performance+ balls have the same name, the same packaging, and even the same price point, although the balls are manufactured at different facilities located in different countries.
Since the balls are produced at two different facilities, there can be no guarantee of uniform performance for both the colors. Recent tests conducted with robots have shown that the yellow ball spins more when hit on a full swing than the white one, whereas both spin less on the greens than premium balls used in tours.
How to Check Which Factory Made Your Box
You do not need a lab to find out where your Kirkland balls came from. Everything you need is printed on the packaging and the ball.
| What to look at | What you will see | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| The country of origin on the box or sleeve | Made in Viet Nam, or Made in China | Vietnam points to the white SM Parker ball, and China points to the yellow ball |
| The ball color | White or yellow | The two colors come from different factories |
| The version on the box | V3.0 on current boxes | Confirms you have the current Performance+ generation |
| The alignment marks on the ball | Hollow arrows or solid chevrons beside the Performance+ text | Hollow arrows mark the newer V3.0 batch, and chevrons mark the earlier one |
Is the Kirkland Ball a Titleist Pro V1 in Disguise
No. This is one of the most prevalent myths surrounding Costco golf balls. Titleist manufactures its Pro V1 and Pro V1x ball in its own facilities in Massachusetts and does not manufacture golf balls for Costco. One way to prove that these two companies are actually competitors and not partners is through the legal battle that Acushnet and Costco are involved in.
The comparisons began when the first Kirkland ball proved to perform almost equally as well as expensive golf balls but at a very low price. It should be noted that the current Kirkland ball is not the same as the original one, though it is also a multi-layered ball with a soft urethane cover.
| Feature | Kirkland Signature Performance+ V3.0 | Titleist Pro V1 |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Contract factories in Vietnam (white) and China (yellow) | Titleist, in its own plants in Massachusetts |
| Construction | Three-piece | Three-piece |
| Cover | Urethane | Cast urethane |
| Where you can buy it | Costco warehouses and Costco.com only | Golf shops, sporting goods stores and online retailers |
| Typical price | Roughly $15 to $20 a dozen, sold in two-dozen boxes | Around $55 to $58 a dozen |
| How it performs | Close to premium balls off the tee, a little shorter with irons, and less spin around the greens | Tour-level distance, consistency and short game spin |
| Best for | Mid to high handicaps and golfers who lose a lot of balls | Golfers who want top-level spin and consistency on every shot |
What the Kirkland Ball Is Like to Play
The current version of Performance+ V3.0 is a three-piece ball that comes with a urethane cover, like premium tour balls. The compression of this ball is low to mid-90s, depending on which batch the ball came from, which means that it is slightly firmer compared to other premium balls.
On tee shots, it can compete against other expensive balls. When hit with irons, the ball flies shorter than the top tour balls, and when near the green, the ball does not grip as well as other premium balls when pitched or chipped. Also, earlier versions of this ball showed greater differences between balls in terms of compression compared to other premium balls, but newer batches are more uniform.
In any case, it remains one of the best deals among urethane balls, especially for those who lose several balls per round and do not wish to pay premium ball price for each lost ball , one that ends up in the water.
Who Should Play Kirkland Golf Balls
Kirkland balls make the most sense for mid to high handicap golfers who want a urethane cover without the premium price, for players with moderate to fast swing speeds who like a firmer feel, and for anyone who goes through a lot of balls on tight or water-heavy courses.
Low handicap golfers who rely on consistent spin around the greens, or who want every ball in the box to perform exactly the same, may still be better off with a premium tour ball. The best way to decide is to play a sleeve of each on your own course and pay attention to how they react on chips and short approach shots.
Where to Buy Kirkland Golf Balls
Kirkland Signature golf balls are available exclusively through Costco. They come packaged in boxes of twenty-four and generally cost between $30 and $40 per box, either in the warehouse stores or online on Costco.com, and this varies according to promotions. You should check the prices in your local warehouse.
The supply may be inconsistent, particularly during the spring when the golfing season begins. In case you find Kirkland golf balls listed for sale by resellers online, they usually have marked up the price; therefore, it will always be cheaper buying from Costco.
Final Take
So, who are the manufacturers of Kirkland golf balls? The Kirkland balls are designed and distributed by Costco, sourced through SM Global that is part of the USGA conforming list, while the balls are manufactured in contract factories, with the white Performance+ being manufactured in an SM Parker factory in Vietnam and the yellow ones in a different factory in China. The iconic 2016 version was manufactured by Nassau Golf in South Korea, which explains why the previous answer mentioned a different manufacturer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kirkland golf balls made by Titleist?
No. Kirkland golf balls are not made by Titleist. Titleist makes its Pro V1 in its own plants in Massachusetts, and its parent company Acushnet was in a legal dispute with Costco over the original Kirkland ball.
Where are Kirkland golf balls made?
Current Kirkland Signature Performance+ balls are made in Asia. The white version is made in Vietnam and the yellow version is made in China, and the country is printed on the box.
Who made the original Kirkland four-piece golf ball?
The original Kirkland Signature four-piece ball, released in 2016, was made by Nassau Golf in South Korea. It sold out and was never brought back in its original form.
Are white and yellow Kirkland golf balls the same?
White and yellow Kirkland balls share the same name and design, but they are made in different factories, with the white made in Vietnam and the yellow in China. Because of that, they can perform a little differently.
What is SM Global?
SM Global is a sourcing, logistics and packaging company that started in California in 1989 and works closely with Costco on golf products. It is listed as the manufacturer of Kirkland golf balls on the USGA conforming ball list.
Are Kirkland golf balls legal for tournament play?
Yes. Kirkland Signature Performance+ golf balls conform to the Rules of Golf, so you can use them in tournaments, handicap rounds and club events.
Are Kirkland golf balls the same as PXG golf balls?
No. The white Kirkland ball is made in the same Vietnam factory that produces PXG’s Xtreme ball, but the two are separate products with their own designs and specs.
How much do Kirkland golf balls cost?
Kirkland golf balls usually cost around $30 to $40 for a two-dozen box, which works out to roughly $15 to $20 a dozen. That is far less than most premium urethane golf balls.
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