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2026 Who Brands. All information is provided for educational purposes. Brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners.

  1. Home
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  3. Sports
  4. Kirkland Golf
Kirkland Golf logo
Sports

Who Owns Kirkland Golf?

Kirkland Golf is a private label product line owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST), headquartered in Issaquah, Washington. Costco introduced Kirkland Signature golf balls in 2016 and the KS1 putter in 2020. Products are manufactured by third-party contractors to Costco specifications and sold only in Costco warehouses and on Costco.com to paying members.

Parent Company

Costco Wholesale Corporation

Founded

2016

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Issaquah, Washington, USA

Kirkland Golf Timeline

1983
Costco Wholesale Corporation

Parent company established in Issaquah, Washington, USA

Company Founded
2016

Kirkland Golf

Founded by Costco Wholesale Corporation (internal development)

Founded
mid rangemass marketUnited StatesOfficial Website

Who Owns Kirkland Golf?

  • Parent Company: Costco Wholesale Corporation
  • Ownership Type: Product line
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: COST
BrandParent CompanyOwnership Type
Kirkland GolfCostco Wholesale CorporationProduct line

Where to Buy

Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
AmazonKirkland Golf on Amazon

History of Kirkland Golf

  • Founded: 2016
  • Founders: Costco Wholesale Corporation (internal development)

Costco entered the golf equipment market in 2016 with the launch of Kirkland Signature golf balls. The balls were sold in boxes of 24 for $29.99, roughly one-third the price of Titleist Pro V1 balls, which retail at approximately $50 per dozen. The product sold out rapidly in Costco warehouses and online, generating significant attention in the golf community.

Golf publications including Golf Digest and MyGolfSpy tested the Kirkland Signature balls and found them competitive with premium balls in performance metrics. The balls were manufactured by Qingdao SM Parker in China. Costco's initial supply could not meet demand, and the balls were out of stock for months. Costco restocked the product but continued to face intermittent availability issues.

In 2018, Costco expanded the Kirkland Signature golf line with a three-piece golf ball, the Kirkland Signature Performance+. The three-piece ball was designed to compete more directly with premium tour-level balls. It was priced at $44.99 for 24 balls, still significantly below the price of comparable premium balls.

In October 2020, Costco launched the Kirkland Signature KS1 putter. The putter was priced at $149.99, positioned well below premium putters from brands like Scotty Cameron, which can cost $400 or more. The KS1 was a milled 303 stainless steel putter with a blade-style design. It sold out within hours of release on Costco.com.

The KS1 putter launch generated a trademark dispute. Kirkland's, a Tennessee-based home decor retailer, filed a lawsuit against Costco claiming that the KS1 name infringed on Kirkland's trademarks. Kirkland's argued that consumers could confuse the KS1 putter with Kirkland's products. Costco had previously used the Kirkland Signature name under a 1997 settlement agreement with Kirkland's that allowed Costco to use the name on certain products. The lawsuit was resolved in 2022 when a federal judge ruled in Costco's favor, finding that the KS1 putter was sold under the Kirkland Signature brand and did not create consumer confusion with Kirkland's home decor stores.

Costco has continued to expand the Kirkland Golf line with golf gloves, golf bags, towels, and other accessories. The brand has not released additional club models beyond the KS1 putter as of 2025. Kirkland Signature golf balls remain the flagship product and are consistently among the most discussed private label golf products in online golf communities.

About Costco Wholesale Corporation

What does Costco own?
Costco Wholesale Corporation owns and operates 923 membership warehouse locations worldwide and owns the Kirkland Signature private label brand. The company also operates Costco Pharmacy, Costco Optical, Costco Travel, Costco Auto Program, and Costco Gasoline as service businesses within its warehouses. Costco's e-commerce platform extends its product offering beyond what is available in warehouses. Kirkland Signature generates approximately $50 billion in estimated annual sales.

Is Costco publicly traded?
Yes, Costco Wholesale Corporation is listed on NASDAQ under ticker COST. The company has been publicly traded since December 1985. Costco has no single controlling shareholder, with major institutional holders including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. The company has a single class of common stock with equal voting rights per share. Co-founder James Sinegal reduced his stake significantly after retiring as CEO in 2012.

Who founded Costco?
Costco was founded in 1983 by James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman in Seattle, Washington. Sinegal had previously worked at Price Club, the pioneer of the membership warehouse club concept founded by Sol Price in San Diego in 1976. The first Costco warehouse opened in Seattle in September 1983. Costco merged with Price Club in 1993 to form PriceCostco, which was later renamed Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Where is Costco headquartered?
Costco Wholesale Corporation is headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, USA, a suburb of Seattle. The company was originally headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, which is the origin of the Kirkland Signature brand name. Costco operates 923 warehouse locations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Spain, France, China, and other countries.

How many warehouses does Costco operate?
As of early 2026, Costco operates 923 warehouse locations worldwide. The United States has approximately 614 warehouses, Canada has approximately 108, and the remaining locations are in the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Spain, France, China, and other countries. Costco typically opens 20 to 30 new warehouses per year as part of its ongoing expansion program.

Who is the CEO of Costco?
Ron Vachris serves as President and CEO of Costco Wholesale Corporation, having succeeded Craig Jelinek in January 2024. Vachris joined Costco in 1986 and spent his entire career at the company. He served as President from 2011 until becoming CEO. Jelinek had led the company since 2012, succeeding co-founder James Sinegal.

What is Costco's annual revenue?
Costco reported net sales of approximately $254.0 billion for fiscal year 2025 (ended September 1, 2025), up approximately 8% from FY2024. Q1 FY2026 (ended November 24, 2025) net sales were $65.98 billion, up 8.2% year-over-year. Membership fees account for approximately 7% of total revenue but a much larger share of operating income, as the merchandise business operates on very thin margins.

  • Founded: 1983
  • Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington, USA
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock: NASDAQ: COST
  • Revenue: $254.0B (FY2025)
  • Employees: ~316,000

Visit Costco Wholesale Corporation website

View full company profile for Costco Wholesale Corporation

Where Is Kirkland Golf Made / Based?

  • Headquarters: Issaquah, Washington, USA
  • Manufacturing / Operations: China, United States

Kirkland Golf Categories & Tags

GolfGolf BallsPuttersPrivate LabelCostco

Kirkland Golf Recalls & Controversies

In 2020, Kirkland's, a Tennessee-based home decor retailer, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Costco over the KS1 putter name. Kirkland's argued that the KS1 brand could cause consumer confusion with Kirkland's stores. Costco had operated under a 1997 settlement agreement with Kirkland's that allowed Costco to use the Kirkland name on certain products. In 2022, a federal judge ruled in Costco's favor, finding that the KS1 putter was sold under the Kirkland Signature label and did not create confusion with Kirkland's home decor business. The case was dismissed.

Kirkland Signature golf balls have faced occasional quality consistency complaints from consumers, particularly regarding batch-to-batch variation in performance characteristics. These complaints have been documented in online golf forums but have not resulted in product recalls or regulatory action. Costco's return policy allows members to return products they are unsatisfied with.

No product safety recalls have been issued for Kirkland Golf products through the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). No regulatory actions or safety violations have been documented.

Brands Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation

Kirkland SignatureFood Beverage

Kirkland Signature

Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco's private label brand spanning hundreds of product categories, from food and beverages to household goods, health products, and automotive supplies. Sold exclusively to Costco members.

private-labelcostcoconsumer-goods
View all brands owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation

Kirkland Golf Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

  • +Costco's buying power enables golf ball prices at roughly one-third of premium brand equivalents
  • +Independent testing by Golf Digest and MyGolfSpy validated product performance
  • +Access to 914 Costco warehouses and Costco.com provides broad distribution
  • +Costco's generous return policy applies to all Kirkland Golf products
  • +Strong organic media coverage and community discussion generate brand awareness at no marketing cost

Considerations

  • -Available only to Costco members, limiting addressable market
  • -Intermittent stock shortages have frustrated consumers, particularly for golf balls and the KS1 putter
  • -Only one putter model has been released, limiting the club product line
  • -Costco does not disclose manufacturing partners, creating less transparency than premium brands
  • -No custom fitting options, which serious golfers often expect from premium equipment

Frequently Asked Questions About Kirkland Golf

Sources & Further Reading

  • Costco Wholesale Corporation FY2025 Annual Report (SEC 10-K)
  • Costco Investor Relations
  • Costco Kirkland Signature Page
  • Golf Digest: Kirkland Signature Golf Ball Review
  • MyGolfSpy: Kirkland Signature Ball Testing
  • Wikipedia: Kirkland Signature
  • Kirkland's v. Costco Trademark Ruling (2022)
  • Qingdao SM Parker Golf Ball Manufacturing
  • Reddit r/golf Kirkland Discussions
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation Corporate Website

Competitors to Kirkland Golf

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

BrandParent CompanyCountryFoundedMarket PositionPrimary MarketGender Target
Kirkland CoffeeKirkland CoffeeSister Brand
Costco
USA
1995
Mass marketUnited statesAll Genders
Kirkland Signature Motor OilKirkland Signature Motor OilSister Brand
Costco
USA
1995
Mass marketUnited statesAll Genders
Kirkland SignatureKirkland SignatureSister Brand
Costco
USA
1995
Mass marketUnited statesAll Genders

Learn More About Competitors

Kirkland CoffeeFood Beverage

Kirkland Coffee

Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco's private label coffee brand offering whole bean, ground, K-Cup, and cold brew products exclusively to Costco members under the Kirkland Signature label.

coffeeprivate-labelcostco
Kirkland Signature Motor OilAutomotive

Kirkland Signature Motor Oil

Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco's private label motor oil under Kirkland Signature, manufactured by Warren Distribution and sold exclusively to Costco members in full synthetic and conventional formulations.

motor-oilprivate-labelsynthetic-oil
Kirkland SignatureFood Beverage

Kirkland Signature

Owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation

Costco's private label brand spanning hundreds of product categories, from food and beverages to household goods, health products, and automotive supplies. Sold exclusively to Costco members.

private-labelcostcoconsumer-goods

Competitive Analysis

Market Positioning: Kirkland Golf competes with 3 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.

Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.

Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.

Independent Alternatives to Kirkland Golf

Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Costco Wholesale Corporation, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.

TopgolfSports

Topgolf

Owned by Leonard Green & Partners, L.P.

American sports entertainment company combining technology-driven golf venues with food, beverage, and social experiences. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Majority-owned by Leonard Green & Partners, which bought 60% effective January 1, 2026, while Callaway Golf Company retained 40%.

golfsports-entertainmentvenues
Privately Owned

Topgolf is privately owned, unlike Kirkland Golf which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Arsenal Football ClubSports

Arsenal Football Club

Owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment

English professional football club based in London, competing in the Premier League and owned by American billionaire Stan Kroenke through Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.

footballsoccerpremier-league
Privately Owned

Arsenal Football Club is privately owned, unlike Kirkland Golf which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Arsenal W.F.C.Sports

Arsenal W.F.C.

Owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment

English professional women's football club based in London, competing in the Women's Super League and owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.

footballsoccerwomen-sports
Privately Owned

Arsenal W.F.C. is privately owned, unlike Kirkland Golf which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Aston VillaSports

Aston Villa

Owned by V Sports

English professional football club based in Birmingham, competing in the Premier League, owned by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens through V Sports since 2018.

footballpremier-leagueenglish-football
Privately Owned

Aston Villa is privately owned, unlike Kirkland Golf which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Atletico MadridSports

Atletico Madrid

Owned by Atletico de Madrid (Gil Marin Family)

Spanish professional football club based in Madrid, competing in La Liga and one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football.

footballla-ligaspanish-football
Privately Owned

Atletico Madrid is privately owned, unlike Kirkland Golf which is under a publicly traded parent company.

BenficaSports

Benfica

Owned by SL Benfica (Member-Owned)

Portuguese professional football club based in Lisbon, competing in the Primeira Liga and the most successful club in Portuguese football.

footballprimeira-ligaportuguese-football
Privately Owned

Benfica is privately owned, unlike Kirkland Golf which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Costco Wholesale Corporation Stock Information

Jobs at Costco Wholesale Corporation

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Last reviewed: August 1, 2026 · Reviewed by Who Brands Editorial Team