Anyone who has even the slightest interest in golf has probably heard of Titleist. The Titleist Pro V1 golf ball has been the most played ball on the PGA Tour for the past 20 years and is widely considered to be one of the most important pieces of equipment in the history of the game.
But since their founding years, Titleist have branched out to manufacture other pieces of golfing equipment, including clubs. But where are Titleist golf clubs made? What is the history of this powerhouse golfing brand? Let’s take a dive into the world of Titleist.
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What Is Titleist?
Titliest is an American brand of golf equipment, best known for their golf balls. The name itself is derived from the word ‘titlist’, which means ‘title holder’.
The company was established in 1932 by Philip E. Young, an amateur golfer. In 1930, Young was playing a match with his friend, who was head of the x-ray department at a local hospital. During the match, Young missed a perfectly well-stroked putt and was convinced that the ball was at fault.
So Young and his friend took a little trip to the hospital. They x-rayed the golf ball and discovered the core was indeed off-center.
Thus began Young’s mission to develop a ball of the highest quality and performance. Working with fellow MIT graduate Fred Bommer, a rubber specialist, and avid golfer, Young developed a machine that could uniformly wind rubber string around a core, making the ball ‘dead center’.
In 1935, the golf ball was finally perfected, and Young named it ‘Titleist’, since it clearly held the title for being the best golf ball available.
It didn’t take long for Titleist balls to find their place in the professional spheres of golf. In 1949, Titleist officially claimed the #1 spot by winning the ball count at the U.S. Open. Thereafter, year after year, more and more pros and amateurs alike would discover the brilliance of the Titleist golf balls.
In October 2000, the Pro V1 was released, and thus the absolute gold standard of golf ball was set. It has yet to be beaten.
Where Are Titleist Golf Clubs Made?
Titliest is an American company, with its headquarters located in New Haven, Massachusetts. While the golf balls are produced in New Haven, Titleist golf clubs are actually manufactured in Carlsbad, California.
Some of the individual parts may come from China or Japan, but every club is assembled in the Carlsbad manufacturing plant, undergoing the tight scrutiny of Titleist’s industry-leading quality assurance.
Titliest also has a network of fitting centers in the US, the UK, and more. With the help of TrackMan Launch Monitor technology, expert fitters will work with you to create a club that is specially tailored to your specific needs. You can find out more about Titleist club fitting here.
Which Pro Golfers Use Titleist Clubs?
As you’d expect, some of the top names in golf are Titleist brand ambassadors, using both Titleist balls and clubs. To name but a few…
- Justin Thomas, 13 time PGA Tour winner, and former world no. 1.
- Webb Simpson, seven-time PGA Tour Champion, and 2012 U.S. Open Champion.
- Patrick Cantlay, three-time PGA Tour Champion.
- Sung-Jae Im, South Korean golfing prodigy, 2018 Web.com Player of the Year, and 2019 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.
- Adam Scott, former world no. 1, 14 time PGA Tour winner, and 2013 Masters Champion.
Countless other professionals use Titleist golf balls even if they do not use Titleist clubs, including the likes of Patrick Reed, Tony Finau, Paul Casey, Lee Westwood, and Bubba Watson.
Titleist and Tiger Woods
Perhaps Titleist’s strongest professional endorsement of all… Tiger Woods, and the Scotty Cameron putter.
In 1999, Woods started using the Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter, with which he has since won 13 major titles (the fourteenth was won with a previous Scotty Cameron model in 1997). Tiger uses it to this day, and though it has undergone a few changes over the years, it has remained a favorite for many professionals.
Final Thoughts
It’s funny to think that it all started with a missed putt. Since its inception, Titleist’s mission has been clear: to create the highest quality, highest performing equipment. It’s also nice to know that all the magic happens here in the US. The plant in Carlsbad is huge, and will no doubt continue to produce outstanding golf clubs that are gobbled up by pros and amateurs alike.
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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
