The Acushnet Company plans to produce its top-selling Titleist Pro-V1 golf balls at a factory somewhere in Asia within 3 to 5 years. Domestic production of the Pro-V1 eventually will be trimmed about 20 percent and an estimated 100 jobs will be eliminated through attrition, with no layoffs, according to The Standard-Times. Titleist produces golf balls at plants in North Dartmouth and New Bedford, Mass.


Jerry Bellis, executive vice president for sales and marketing at Titleist, told the Massachussett’s newspaper that a combination of factors led to the decision to break with company history after 75 years of making golf balls, and locate a new plant outside the U.S. Energy costs, shipping costs and labor costs figured heavily into the decision, he said.







 

According to an Acushnet statement attained by Golfweek, “The Asian location will better position Titleist’s supply in the markets that are experiencing and forecasted to provide the greatest future growth.”

 

The site of the new plant was not disclosed.

Acushnet’s decision follows a similar announcement made by Callaway Golf Co. on May 29. The Carlsbad, Calif.-based equipment company announced plans to close its Gloversville, N.Y., ball factory and shift production to China to take advantage of lower manufacturing and shipping costs.