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.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who 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, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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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