TaylorMade has acquired Nassau Golf Co. Ltd.
That’s the headline. The terms of the sale weren’t disclosed. There’s your footnote.
The interesting stuff is somewhere in the middle.
Chances are, even if you’re not keenly aware of it, you are familiar with Nassau Golf. The South Korea-based ball factory has produced numerous TaylorMade balls over the years. It’s also the factory responsible for the original Kirkland Signature four-piece golf ball (the one where the covers didn’t rip) and, perhaps most notably, it produces the MTB Black and MTB X for Dean Snell.
TaylorMade’s Third Ball Plant
The acquisition of Nassau makes for the third ball factory under TaylorMade control. The company owns a plant in South Carolina where it puts covers on TP5 series balls. A 2019 partnership with Foremost in Taiwan is only just ramping up but it has already given TaylorMade greater control over its ball manufacturing process.
A 15-Year Partnership
Nassau isn’t new to TaylorMade. The companies have worked closely for more than 15 years but, as its ball business has grown (it’s up 176 percent over the last five years according to Golf Datatech), keeping up with demand has proven challenging.
TaylorMade CEO David Abeles says the Nassau acquisition is part of the company’s “strategic plan to create vertical integration in the company’s golf ball supply chain.” Ultimately, bringing Nassau into the fold gives TaylorMade complete ownership of the manufacturing process. It effectively gives TaylorMade a factory structure not dissimilar from Titleist, Bridgestone, Callaway and Srixon.
Bottom line: acquiring Nassau gives TaylorMade both capacity and control.
That’s a hell of a combination.
As we’ve said before, as TaylorMade’s ball business has grown, it’s needed more capacity. The trickle-down impact of that has been a squeeze on some of the smaller direct-to-consumer brands serviced by those same factories.
If you’re wondering why your favorite DTC ball is perpetually out of stock, chalk it up to supply, demand and pecking order inside the top-tier Asian factories where TaylorMade is the top dog. It’s the reason why some, most notably Vice, have begun sourcing balls from lower-tier factories.
While the acquisition of Nassau will certainly give TaylorMade greater manufacturing capabilities, the unknown is what it means for the smaller brands, most notably Snell Golf, which rely on Nassau.
Will TaylorMade be content to carry on Nassau’s role as a supplier and give smaller competitors enough manufacturing line time needed to produce a reasonable quantity of balls or will it focus totally on its own golf balls, forcing smaller brands to take their business elsewhere?
It’s probably too soon to tell but it goes without saying that TaylorMade’s acquisition of Nassau Golf could have a significant impact on the golf ball industry.
*We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.
Carl
8 months agoTaylormade or Nassau also owns Foremost in Taiwan so they have and are making lots of different companies golf balls…..would bet that does not change.
Brad
8 months agoI’ve been a golf ball developer and haved worked with several factories and brands for quite a long time. Knowing pretty much ALOT of what goes around in the golf ball industry, its fun catching up to these articles. Some are true but some is really BS. I’m confused Tony expressing Vice using “lower-tier factories.” I’d like to ask who would be the “higher-tier factories.” Not of course the top brand factories but qualified OEM golf ball factories. Really would like an answer, and not hearing saying a top-tier factory is in Taiwan who simply copy cats “A;s” technology.
leftright
8 months agoUhm, I’m looking in my bag for a TM product right now. Uhm, can’t find one and probably never will. Their quality has always been substandard compared to Callaway and especially Ping. They may make a product to satisfy many golfers but I’ve been disappointed in their offerings.
Russ Wyborski
8 months agoI’ve been a Snell ball user for 3-4 years.. It would be unfortunate if they disappeared because of this purchase.
The good news is that since my play has improved, between the balls that I bought at the beginning of the year, and the balls given to me during the season (living next to a CC Pro is nice,), I actually ended up with more balls than I had at the beginning of the year.
Brad
8 months agoDean has a good relationship with TM. Maybe even some “business” with them too. TM pretty much controlled 100% of Nassau’s production in the past too so pretty much TM has been letting Dean make his balls over there and I’d think it will continue.
Matt
8 months agoI really hope this doesn’t negatively impact Snell. I have been using their balls for a few years now and really enjoy their product and supporting a small local business.
Gene
8 months agoThis acquisition seems to mean TM will make their top of the line balls there first. Quality Control being the main reason. As for Snell and others, maybe TM has a plan for them too. I’d be surprised if Snell didn’t know about this in advance of the final deal…but, then again ~~ it IS Golf.
Tim
8 months agoIf this ruins Snell I am going to be furious. Snell makes a great product and they run their business the right way. I wasn’t planning to ever play another brand’s ball. If I have to go back to paying nearly $50 for a box of ProV’s I am never buying another Taylormade product.
mackdaddy9
8 months agoDon’t wait if you play Snell balls buy the 5 dozen deal
Julian Taylor
8 months agoPlease sign me up for your newsletter.
Keep up the good work.
Steven L. Hale Sr.
8 months agoIMHO, TM is looking at “ELIMINATING THE COMPETITION”, (ADAMS GOLF etc…), If you Can’t beat them with your “SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS”, then buy them out (For their Innovative Patents), and “REPACKAGE” them as your own designs…Then let the original product die due to “ZERO MARKETING”!!! Shrew…VERY SHREW!!!
Steve
8 months agoThis is T.M. being proactive for what’s eventually going to start happening during the 1st quarter of 2022. Golf ball availability will dwindle immensely due to shipping costs and materials if a recent forecast holds true. The big fish will have first priority to the dwindling available stock, leaving the little guys, and the DTC ball guys with almost nothing. T.M. having control will be one of the few along with Titleist with the lions share of balls for us consumer’s. Again, if the forecast pan’s out, be forewarned the shelves for golf balls will be bare at best, and assuredly be more expensive. It’s the law of supply and demand. Hint, buy as many of the balls you currently play, NOW!!!
HARKSHARK
8 months agoThis is why I left vice behind. I wear their hats and people ask do you play their balls…I answer..m.. Used to..
There’s no stock over and over.
I also picked a big name ball.. In my case tp5x and that’s going forward my ball for availability and consistency
Mike
8 months agoWow, it sounds as if all those balls I was going to sell on eBay now, I should wait until Spring.
Lou
8 months agoTony Covey ranks balls in his Ball Lab. Titleist comes in with the highest rank as they are consistently the highest quality. Every ball not a Titleist seems to have flaws. All the DTC balls have flaws. Titleist owns all their own plants. Everyone else uses an outside company to manufacture their balls. This incudes DTC. What more do you need to know. It costs a little more to go 1st Class. Buy Titleist or go a different Class. It’s just that easy. It’s pennies on the dollar compared to a new club and you’ll be further down the road to better golf.
Paulo
8 months agoLou Achusnet?
Thilo
8 months agoI do agree. It is very difficult for me to understand why people buy DTC brands as if the those where the cool industry rebels, and Titleist and other bigger brands the bad guys. The small DTCs have zero vertical integration, and absolutely no real R&D. They buy the balls in Asia, do some branding, and people buy them for extremely high prices.
When the big brands are on sale you pay the same price as for a DTC. The owners of DTCs want to make a living just as the managers, employees and owners of the big companies. Now that I think about it, I should start a DTC ball brand…
Eduardo
8 months agoTony, what do you mean by “Vice have begun sourcing balls from lower-tier factories”??? All of their balls? Should I stop buying from them?
Tony Covey
8 months agoThe Pro, Pro Plus, and Pro Soft are made by Foremost. It’s generally regarded as one of the top factories. In addition to the Vice balls, Foremost produces product for TaylorMade, OnCore, Wilson, and DICK’S (Maxfli) among others. They, along with Nassau are the only ones currently making a quality cast urethane product outside of the OEM factories. The *new* Vice Pro Fusion is produced by Feng Tay. Feng Tay makes balls for Mizuno and also produce balls under the RZN brand (they made the Nike balls as well). Consistency isn’t generally is tight as it is with Foremost and Nassau, but it’s easier to not only get supply but also do it for a bit less as driving prices down is a key part of the DTC strategy.
Brad
8 months agoTony, I’m surprised you think Foremost is a top factory when they are just copying a top brand’s casting technology. Don’t you think there would be a reason Foremost has “permission” to produce these balls and why they are offered at a more expensive price?
Jim
8 months agoI hope this doesn’t affect Snell golf ball production as I have been an avid user since the very beginning. I can only hope that we’ll still see the same quality ball. At least Dean Snell is transparent in his presentation of his golf balls so I doubt he would sell an inferior ball. One advantage in his favor may be that he worked for TM previously so maybe there is a good relationship. Let’s hope.
Larry E
8 months agoI hope the same about Snell.
Brandon
8 months agoWho knows how it will work out, but I would probably stock up on Snell’s right now if I were you.
Brent
8 months agofrom past episodes of No Putts Given do you thing this has anything to do with the urethane shortage?
Tim
8 months agoMr. Snell- hopefully you survive or go to work at TM……
terry
8 months agoI’ve been playing the OnCore Elixir for the past year or so with the occasional Maxfli Tour thrown in the bag. Can’t beat either ball for the money. Just picked up 2 dozen of the 2019 Maxfli for $45 with free shipping. Almost ready for next year
steve s
8 months agoWhere? Help a guy out, I really like those balls….
Brad
8 months agoBoth balls are coming from the same factory. From my perspective, a better ball would be OnCore. thinking of the materials being used.
Ty Behnke
8 months agoI play titleist golf balls ever since I read hitting the same ball is important to improving my game (understanding how the ball reacts and how I influence that). I was given snell, Srixon and Taylormade TP5x ? for a gift at different times and have been open to trying different brands. In the end
None of the three measure up in regards to my Tour Soft (previously usedProV1)balls. I was actually shocked at how much I lost when playing the Taylormade balls. They were good around the greens but 20-30 yards less on most shots. Im no pro, 10-11 handicap. Wondering if anyone else notices similar differences.
Rich
8 months agoI play Kirkland. $1/ball. I’ve played them all. This move is all about money. Golfers money in corporate golfs coffers. I played PV1 for years. Then realized I was being taken hook, line, and sinker. Don’t fall for the hype! I’m as golf nerd techy as the best of them. But .01 stroke per round to play a ball 5x more expensive makes no sense.
Abraham
8 months agoIt depends on your perspective (how much money you are willing to spend, how many balls you lose per round, how much you care about your score/performance).
If I lose one ball per round, I could save $3 per round playing a $1 crappy ball over a ProV1x. Keep in mind, modern fitted equipment and nicer courses (not withstanding private clubs) will run you many thousands per year.
I had the opposite evolution. I used to play nothing but the cheaper balls. I then took a step back and looked at how much I spend on golf in a year. If I really wanted to save money, the answer would be quitting golf.. However, golf means a lot to me and playing the nicest balls made little percentage change in my overall golf budget.
35 rounds a year at $60 per round = $2,100. I usually buy $500-1000 in new equipment, range balls, training aids, publications, etc. I also take a golf trip once a year that costs $1,000-2000.
So conservatively, I spend $5k on golf per year . . . I buy 4 boxes of Titleist per year for $200 . . . big whoop.
Mark J Adriansen
8 months agoAgree with you, Abraham, 100%
It’s a value-based decision each person makes on their own. If the ProV1’s are worth it to YOU, then buy ’em. If not, then don’t. Personally, I play current-year ProV1’s found at a local course by an employee there. He brings me a few dozen (none from the water), I pick the ones I want (the best ones), and pay him $20 per dozen. I get basically new balls for less than ½ price and he makes a few bucks. Great deal for me and him!
Matt
8 months agoSuper appreciate both these takes, but I love the breakdown you giver, Abraham – in the grand scheme of “golf costs”, $200 for a ball you never have to question makes a lot of sense.
Cheers! (Fwiw: bought 5 sudden MTB-Black two weeks ago and have my first rounds with them tomorrow and Friday – if they’re as good as hoped, I may buy another 5 dozen to future-proof the inevitable ball shortages, lol
Mike
8 months agoConsider yourself fortunate, sport. A lot of people do not have 5K to drop on golf every single year. 48 balls last you a full season?
paul
8 months agoI have to disagree.
I use to play with what I found, until I tried a Titleist AVX and after a couple of rounds I found consistency.
my handicap went from 9 down to 5 with 6 club competition wins in 6 weeks. just my experience and view on expensive v cheaper golf balls.
Tim
8 months agoMan, I really liked the Kirklands at first, they plan pretty nice for my game, the problem is even in my best round where I don’t shank a single drive into the trees, I still have to replace 2-4 Kirklands, either due to the shell cracking or from iron/wedge marks. If they fix that I’d for sure go back though.
leftright
8 months agoOne word….China. They make crap for the most part. Manufacturers are going to rue the day they put all their eggs in the China basket.
ALBERTO BETANCOURT
8 months agoI believe in real competition. In the sense that it serves the consumers interest by forcing manufacturers to produce quality products and keep prices competitive. This move by Taylor Made concentrates power in few manufacturers. I don´t like it!
Duke Knerr
8 months agoI’m s Snell consumer for years, I hope this isn’t the case of the big guy eliminating the competition. But I guess only time will tell.
MarkM
8 months agoWow, that’s pretty big news – especially for all the DTC ball companies that rely on this factory. To be continued …
Rob
8 months agoR.I.P. Snell balls as we currently know them.
Adam Rodriguez
8 months agoIs this why vice now has the vice pro zero? Because it is using a lower tier manufacturer?
Paul
8 months agoIt took Taylor Made a long time to make a decent golf ball, and they finally did it with the tp5 line. This acquisition is only going to degrade the quality of the ball. Essentially the Taylor Made balls are going to now be like a cheaply made Callaway ball. Snell balls are not bad balls at all and have great covers lending to both feel and playability, but they are now almost as expensive as the top of the line balls. Its basically back to the 1980’s where Titleist is king and the others are playing catch up. I’ll win my share of the skin money using a Titleist ball thank you, and this Taylor made move will only degrade the TP5 and put more crappy balls into the hands of golfers.
Steve S
8 months agoNot sure how this is going to degrade TM’s quality. It’s the same factory that makes the TP5/5x for them. They just bought the place. The quality impact will be on Snell if they have to go somewhere else.
Max
8 months agoI’m conflicted…in general I root for the plucky upstarts, but in this case, it’s been downright HARD to find any TM Tour Response in a retail store near Cleveland for the bulk of the season. Fortunately the internet exists so I haven’t been shut out but if this makes it easier to grab that last second dozen on those days I find myself ill prepared, well, hooray for me.
Either way it will be interesting to see how it shakes out. Somehow I don’t think the huge corporation is going to have much compassion for the plucky upstart
19thole Al
8 months agoMy favorite ball is the MaxFli Tour made by Foremost. Can we keep an eye on this?….Thanks.
Walter S.
8 months ago+1 on your comment. 🙂
Zorak
8 months agoSame here. Been playing Maxfli for around 30 years. Like the tours and the price is right.
John Marsh
8 months agoI play DTC golf balls & I hope Taylor Made is not going to force them to end up with an inferior product
Ray
8 months agoTM just following the typical runaway capitalist formula of the last 50 years. Buy out the innovation and competition, increase profits with inferior product and higher prices. Yea they will keep making a top of the line ball to compete with the other top 3 but the weekend hacker will see a inferior ball for more money.
Mike
8 months agoThe weekend hacker realistically won’t know the difference in terms of ball quality.
Mike
8 months agoThat’s definitely true, but will the weekend hacker know any difference between a ball that tested perfect & one that is 1% “off”. I think not.