How Tariffs Affect the Game of Golf and All Our Equipment
By: Patrick Stephenson
Donald Trump has proposed tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada – which provide a host of goods to the U.S. such as toys, lumber and food (AFP via Getty Images)
Golf is a global game, but what happens when international trade policies start messing with your favorite gear? Tariffs—those pesky import taxes—have a way of sneaking into places you wouldn’t expect, including your golf bag. Whether it’s your Titleist Pro V1s, that sleek TaylorMade driver, or even your trusty FootJoy shoes, tariffs have a direct impact on what you pay and, in some cases, even what’s available to buy.
In recent years, tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, and other key trading partners have shaken up the golf industry. Some of the biggest names in golf—Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, and Ping—have been forced to rethink where they source materials and manufacture equipment. The result? Higher prices, potential delays, and even changes to the quality or availability of certain products.
But how exactly do tariffs work, and why should you care? If you’ve noticed that your favorite gear is getting pricier or that your go-to ball is suddenly backordered, you’re already feeling the effects. Let’s break it down and see what’s really happening behind the scenes.
Understanding Tariffs and Their Mechanisms
Tariffs are essentially taxes on imported goods. The idea is to make foreign products more expensive, encouraging domestic production. In theory, this sounds like a good way to support local businesses. But in industries like golf, where the supply chain is deeply international, tariffs often end up costing consumers more rather than boosting American manufacturing.
Here’s the reality: Most of the big golf brands rely on parts and materials from overseas. Let’s take a quick look at how some of the biggest names in golf are affected:
Titleist (Acushnet Company): While Titleist proudly assembles its golf balls in Massachusetts, many of its club components come from Asia. A 10% tariff on China-made grips, shafts, and clubheads? That’s a direct hit to their bottom line, which means higher prices for you.
TaylorMade: Since being sold by Adidas, TaylorMade has leaned heavily on production in China and Vietnam. Their drivers, irons, and even some ball production are tied to Asian factories even though they are assembled in Carlsbad, CA. Any tariff increase on those products means you could be paying more for that new driver.
Callaway (Now Topgolf Callaway Brands): Callaway owns multiple golf brands (Odyssey, TravisMathew, and now Topgolf), but their clubs and balls still rely on components from overseas. They’ve already seen increased production costs due to tariffs, which gets passed along to golfers.
So, while the intention behind tariffs might be to bring more production back to the U.S., the golf industry just doesn’t work that way, at least in the short term.
Brands aren’t going to build a new shaft factory overnight in California or start milling clubheads in Texas. Instead, they either absorb the extra costs (which isn’t sustainable) or pass them on to golfers through price hikes.
And if you’re wondering why your new set of irons costs $200 more than it did a few years ago, well… now you know.
Global Supply Chains in Golf Equipment Manufacturing
Golf clubs, balls, and even apparel might have American brand names stamped on them, but their journey to your bag is anything but local. The golf industry relies on an international web of suppliers and manufacturers to keep up with demand while maintaining high performance standards.
Take Titleist, for example. While they proudly manufacture their Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls in Massachusetts, many of the raw materials—like the rubber cores, urethane covers, and even dimpling technology—come from overseas. The same goes for their clubs, where grips, shafts, and clubheads are sourced from places like China, Vietnam, and Japan before final assembly happens in the U.S.
TaylorMade, on the other hand, has a significant portion of its production based in Asia, particularly China and Vietnam. When you look at the stealthy carbon-fiber technology in their drivers, much of the material comes from specialized manufacturers in China. A tariff on Chinese-made golf components? That means a more expensive Qi35 driver.
Callaway has a similar setup. While their premium Chrome Soft golf balls are made in the U.S., many of their clubs—especially their new popular Elyte line—use components from Asian suppliers. The carbon chassis, shafts, and grips are often imported, meaning any tariff on these materials increases Callaway’s costs.
Even Ping, which prides itself on assembling its clubs in Arizona, sources many of its shafts and grips from overseas manufacturers. That means tariff hikes hit them, too, and there’s only so much cost they can absorb before it trickles down to golfers.
So, why don’t these companies just move production back to the U.S.? Simply put, the expertise, materials, and infrastructure for many of these components don’t exist stateside. It’s not just about cost—it’s about availability. Tariffs don’t change the fact that certain materials and manufacturing processes are simply better (or only available) in specific regions.
Direct Impact of Tariffs on Golf Equipment Costs
So, what happens when tariffs hit golf equipment? Prices go up—plain and simple.
A real-world example? Acushnet (Titleist’s parent company) reported that a 10% tariff on certain imported materials added nearly $7 million to their annual costs. That’s not pocket change, and while some of that gets absorbed, a good chunk gets passed on to consumers.
For brands like TaylorMade and Callaway, whose clubs rely even more on imported components, the price increases are even more noticeable. A new TaylorMade driver that might have cost $499 a few years ago could now be $599 or more—thanks in part to tariffs increasing the cost of materials and manufacturing.
And let’s not forget about the golf ball market. A tariff on urethane (a key material in premium balls like the Pro V1, Chrome Soft, and TP5) means manufacturing costs rise. Sure, brands might try to offset these costs with efficiency improvements, but eventually, those increases show up at the register.
Even golf shoes, gloves, and bags aren’t immune. Many of the world’s best-selling shoes—like FootJoy’s Pro SL or Adidas Tour 360—are made in Asia, where tariffs on imported textiles and synthetic materials can drive up production costs. The same goes for gloves (often made in China or Indonesia) and bags (many of which are sourced from Vietnam).
At the end of the day, tariffs act as a hidden tax on golfers. They don’t just impact the big corporations—anyone looking to upgrade their gear ends up paying more. And unless manufacturers can find ways to shift production (which is easier said than done), these price hikes could be here to stay.
Key Takeaways
Golf’s Global Supply Chain: Major golf brands like Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, and Ping rely heavily on international manufacturing, with components sourced from places like China, Vietnam, and Japan. Tariffs on these imports can significantly raise production costs.
Higher Prices for Golf Gear: Due to tariffs, the cost of golf equipment—including clubs, balls, and apparel—has gone up. Brands like TaylorMade and Callaway are particularly impacted, as their products depend on foreign-made components.
Why Production Can’t Easily Return to the U.S.: The infrastructure and specialized manufacturing processes needed to produce some golf equipment just don’t exist in the U.S., making it difficult to shift production stateside quickly.
Golf Balls and Apparel Are Affected Too: Even items like premium golf balls (Pro V1, Chrome Soft) and golf apparel (shoes, gloves, and bags) face price hikes due to tariffs on materials such as urethane, textiles, and synthetic fibers.
The Impact on Consumers: Tariffs end up acting as a hidden tax on consumers, raising the price of their favorite gear. While companies can try to absorb some costs, these hikes are often passed along to golfers, meaning more expensive gear across the board.
Ongoing Price Increases: Given the complex supply chain and the costs associated with tariffs, these price increases may be here to stay unless manufacturers can find alternative solutions for sourcing materials or relocating production.
