Who Makes Kirkland Golf Balls: A Tipsy Golfer’s Investigation

Full disclosure: I'm writing this article after my third glass of Cabernet, so buckle up.

It's me, Linda, your favorite golf-obsessed mess from San Diego. Today we're talking about those Kirkland golf balls that have been burning a hole in my bag (and my conscience) for the past year, which many golfers have also been curious about. Who makes Kirkland golf balls? Are they actually any good? And most importantly, can they withstand my ability to slice a ball into another zip code?

The Great Kirkland Golf Ball Mystery: An Introduction

You know how sometimes you stumble upon something so good, you can't believe it's real? That's how I felt when I first discovered Kirkland golf balls. It was like finding out that unicorns exist, and they're selling them at Costco for $1.99 a pound!

So there I was, wandering through Costco like a zombie on a Tuesday afternoon (don't judge, we've all been there), when I stumbled upon this mountain of Kirkland Signature golf ball boxes. Twenty-five bucks for two dozen? I thought I was hallucinating. I mean, I've spent more on a single round of post-game drinks at Torrey Pines golf course.

Before I knew it, I was loading my cart with more balls than I could possibly lose in a year. (Spoiler alert: I was wrong about that last part.)

As I was checking out, the cashier gave me a knowing look. "First time buying Kirkland golf balls?" she asked. I nodded, feeling like I was joining some secret cult. She leaned in and whispered, "Welcome to the dark side." I'm still not sure if she was joking.

The Great Costco Experiment on the Golf Course

Fast forward to my next round at Coronado. I pull out one of these Kirkland balls, and my buddy Mike looks at me like I've just pulled out a rubber chicken. "Linda," he says, "what the hell are you doing?"

I'll tell you what I was doing, Mike. I was about to shoot the best round of my life. Okay, that's a lie. I shot a 94. But it FELT like the best round of my life because I wasn't weeping over every $5 Pro V1 I sent into the Pacific.

Speaking of the Pacific, let me tell you about the 16th hole at Coronado. It's a par 4 with the ocean all down the right side. Normally, I'd be gripping my 6-iron like it owed me money, terrified of donating another Titleist golf balls to the fish. But with my Kirkland? I stood up there like I was Lexi Thompson, took a swing, and… pulled it way left into the trees. But hey, at least it wasn't in the ocean, right?

Who Makes Kirkland Golf Balls? The Manufacturing Mystery

After sobering up and doing some actual research, here's what I've uncovered about who manufactures Kirkland golf balls:

• The Chinese Giant Company: Qingdao SM Parker, a company based in China, is the primary manufacturer of Kirkland golf balls. They produce various golf products for different brands, supplying golf balls to the market with high quality at budget prices.

• Costco's Role: Costco Wholesale Corporation doesn't actually make the balls themselves. They partner with manufacturers like Qingdao SM Parker to produce their Kirkland brand products. The golf industry has been somewhat shaken by this arrangement, since it delivers premium performance at a fraction of the cost.

• The Nassau Connection: Some sources suggest that Nassau Golf, a Korean company, was involved in the early production of Kirkland golf balls. However, current evidence points to Qingdao SM Parker as the primary manufacturer who makes Kirkland golf balls.

So there you have it. Costco's Kirkland golf balls are made by a Chinese giant company, Qingdao SM Parker, based on specifications provided by Costco. It's a global effort to help golfers like me lose balls in exotic locations around the world.

Kirkland Golf Balls: The Good, The Bad, and The "What Were They Thinking?"

Let's break down the quality of these budget golf ball options:

Good stuff:

• Cheap as chips: Seriously, the price point is unbeatable

• Surprisingly long distance: Off the tee (or maybe that was the tailwind on 16)

• High spin performance: On the greens (sometimes too much, but we'll get to that)

• Durable: Enough to survive my chunked wedge shots that never get more than 3 feet off the ground

• Soft feel: The urethane cover provides a premium feel that most golfers appreciate

The not-so-good:

• Only white: C'mon, Costco, some of us like a little color in our lives!

• Ugly logo: There, I said it. The Kirkland Signature logo looks like it was designed by the same person who decides where to put the free samples.

• Too much high spin: On the greens (yes, this is in both categories, fight me)

• Too cheap: You lose all fear of water hazards. My wallet thanks me, my scorecard does not.

How Do Kirkland Golf Balls Actually Play?

Off the tee with high swing speeds: They're long. Not "I suddenly hit it like Bryson DeChambeau" long, but respectable. I outdrive Mike now, which may or may not have ended our friendship. For amateur golfers with varying swing speeds, these balls provide excellent energy transfer and distance. There was this one time at Torrey Pines North, I caught one just right on the 7th hole. The ball took off like it had somewhere better to be. Ended up in the group ahead's fairway. I yelled "Fore!" but I think it came out more like "Holy s**t!

Iron shots and approach shots: Here's where it gets interesting. They stop on a dime. Great for those tucked pins, terrible for my habit of flying the green. I played Maderas last week, and on the par 3 14th, I hit what I thought was a perfect 7-iron. The ball landed on the green, took two hops, and then started rolling back towards me like it was magnetized. Ended up below the green. I hate golf sometimes. But for most golfers who can control their shots, this responsive performance is a major plus.

Around the greens: So. Much. Spin. I've never had so many chips scoot back off the green. Is it the ball's fault or my terrible technique? The world may never know. Although, I did make my first-ever birdie from off the green with these bad boys. Skulled a chip on 18 at Balboa, it hit the pin and dropped. I'm counting it. The urethane cover really grips the club face on these delicate shots.

Putting: They roll true. Although after three-putting from 15 feet, I'm not sure that's a good thing. They do make a satisfying "plonk" when they finally deign to drop in the hole, though.

The Kirkland Performance+ Ball: A Game-Changing Multi-Layer Design

Just when I thought I had the Kirkland golf balls figured out, Costco goes and shakes things up with the Kirkland Performance+. This urethane golf balls option is their attempt to compete with the big boys in the premium golf ball market.

The Performance+ is a 3-piece golf ball with a urethane cover, similar to what you'd find on high-end balls from Titleist or Callaway. But here's the kicker: it's still priced like a Kirkland. It's like finding a Rolex at a yard sale.

I took these bad boys out for a spin at Torrey Pines South (because why not torture myself?). The feel off the clubface was noticeably softer than the original Kirkland ball. My drives seemed to hang in the air a bit longer, and the spin around the greens was more controllable. The multi-layer design really helps with energy transfer for impressive distance while maintaining that soft feel around the greens.

Are they as good as a Pro V1? Well, I'm not good enough to really tell the difference. But for the price, they're a steal. Just don't tell my Pro V1-loving friends I said that.

Kirkland Golf vs. Major Brands: How They Compare

For those of you who like your information in neat little boxes (unlike my golf game, which is more like a Jackson Pollock painting), here's a handy comparison:

Does Costco Sell Golf Clubs Too?

In case you're wondering if you can outfit your entire golf game at Costco - yes, occasionally Costco sell golf clubs too. I haven't tried them myself (yet), but if they're anything like their balls, they might be worth a look for beginners or budget-conscious players looking to get into the game without spending a fortune.

After spending more time than I probably should lurking on Reddit (and maybe having a glass or two of wine), I decided to poll the golf community about Kirkland balls. Out of 103 total votes:

• 40 golfers love them

• 46 think they're "okay-ish"

• 22 gave them a hard "no way"

The "love them" camp is pretty clear: these balls are the best value in golf, period, receiving many positive reviews from golfers. One golfer who regularly shells out $57 for Pro V1X admitted that Kirklands compare surprisingly well to the premium balls, especially for amateur golfers without professional-level swing speeds.

But it's not all sunshine and birdies. The most common complaints?

• The Spin Issue: Several players mentioned they're too spinny, especially for those of us who can turn a slight fade into a visit to the next fairway

• Durability Concerns: One player noted they only last 4-6 holes before showing significant wear, unlike some premium options

• Consistency Questions: Some mentioned quality control issues, with a few balls even being flagged as overweight in USGA standards (yikes!)

Interesting alternatives kept coming up:

• Maxfli Tour: Several players swear by these as the second-best value in golf

• Vice Pros: Available at Sam's Club for similar prices

In high demand during certain seasons, these Kirkland options sometimes go out of stock, causing panic among devotees who've gotten used to their performance.

3-Piece Golf Balls vs. 4-Piece Golf Balls: What's The Difference?

Kirkland has offered both 3-piece golf balls and 4-piece golf balls over the years, with varying levels of success. The 4-piece models were actually in such high demand they became something of a legend in the golf industry before production issues led to their discontinuation.

For the average golfer, the difference comes down to feel and control:

• 3-piece golf balls (like the current Kirkland Performance+) offer a good balance of distance and feel

• 4-piece golf balls typically provide more spin control and a slightly firmer feel for players with high swing speeds

Most golfers won't notice a huge difference, but if you're particular about your game, you might prefer one construction over the other.

My Final Thoughts on Kirkland Golf Balls

What I do know is this: Kirkland golf balls have made the game more accessible, functioning effectively as a budget golf ball with premium features. They've given budget-conscious golfers like me a chance to play with a quality ball without taking out a second mortgage. And let's be honest, for most of us weekend warriors, the difference between a Kirkland and a Pro V1 is far less significant than the difference between a good swing and whatever it is I do on the first tee.

The Kirkland golf ball phenomenon also raises some interesting questions about the golf industry as a whole. How much of what we pay for premium golf balls is actual performance, and how much is just marketing? If a Chinese company like Qingdao SM Parker can produce a ball that performs this well at this price point, what does that say about the margins on the major brands?

But here's the real kicker: Kirkland golf balls have made losing balls a lot less painful. I used to treat every Pro V1 like it was my firstborn child. Now, when I slice a Kirkland into the woods, I just shrug and pull out another new ball. It's liberating, really. My blood pressure has never been better (though that might also be the wine).

Whether you're playing with Kirkland golf balls, Pro V1s, or those random balls you find in the woods (we've all been there), remember that it's all about having fun on the course. And if saving money on golf balls means you can afford another round or another post-game beverage, I'd call that a win for the game.