Acushnet Company
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Golf equipment and apparel |
| Founded | January 1, 1910 in Acushnet, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founder | Philip E. "Skipper" Young |
| Headquarters | Fairhaven, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Primarily United States |
Key people | David Maher (President and CEO) |
| Products | Golf equipment, clothing, and accessories |
Number of employees | 3,000 |
| Parent | Fila Korea (majority owner) |
| Website | www |
The Acushnet Company is a U.S.-based enterprise specializing in the golf sector. It manages several well-known brands that manufacture golf equipment, clothing, and related accessories.
Among its principal brands are Titleist, famous for its golf balls and clubs; FootJoy, which concentrates on footwear and gloves; Scotty Cameron, a top name in putters; Vokey Design, recognized for its wedges; Union Green, catering to casual golfers with balls and accessories; and Pinnacle, known for distance golf balls.
History
Established in Acushnet, Massachusetts in 1910 by businessman Philip E. "Skipper" Young, the company initially focused on producing rubber goods before transitioning to golf equipment, particularly golf balls. In 1932, Acushnet divided into Rubber and Golf divisions, with the Golf segment introducing the highly successful Titleist ball in 1935.
American Brands (which later became Fortune Brands) acquired Acushnet in 1976. The original rubber division was sold off in 1995 as Fortune Brands concentrated solely on golf-related products. In December 2010, Fortune Brands declared its intention to divest all non-liquor businesses, including Acushnet.
On May 20, 2011, a Korean-led consortium featuring Fila Korea and Mirae Asset Private Equity purchased Acushnet for $1.23 billion. The deal finalized in July 2011. Acushnet made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange on October 28, 2016. By August 2018, Fila Korea had increased its ownership stake to a controlling 53.1%, solidifying its majority position.
David Maher currently holds the roles of president and CEO, managing a workforce of roughly 3,000 employees. The company’s strategy focuses on preserving market leadership through innovation across its subsidiaries—Titleist, FootJoy, Scotty Cameron, Pinnacle, and Vokey Design—supporting operations primarily within the United States.
Operations
With approximately 3,000 employees based in Massachusetts, Acushnet ranks among the largest employers in the area. Its headquarters along with the Packing and Distribution Center are situated in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, roughly three miles south of where it was originally founded.
The company runs two manufacturing plants dedicated to golf balls and an R&D Technology Center located within the New Bedford Industrial Park. Additionally, there is a Custom Golf Ball facility in New Bedford.
Important locations include:
- Ball Plant 2: 256 Samuel Barnett Boulevard, North Dartmouth, MA
- Ball Plant 3: 215 Duchaine Boulevard, New Bedford, MA
- Ball Plant C: 700 Belleville Avenue, New Bedford, MA
- Ball Plant 4: Acushnet Titleist (Thailand) Ltd., Rayong, Thailand
- Distribution Center: 333 Bridge Street, Fairhaven, MA
- R&D Center: 181 Samuel Barnett Boulevard, North Dartmouth, MA
Brands
Acushnet’s principal brands consist of FootJoy, Scotty Cameron, Titleist, and Vokey.
FootJoy
Originating in Massachusetts in 1857 and acquired by Acushnet from General Mills in 1985, FootJoy leads the U.S. market for golf shoes and gloves. Its product range includes athletic footwear, golf gloves, apparel such as shirts, shorts, pants, socks, sweaters, jackets, hoodies, along with accessories like bags and caps.
Scotty Cameron
Scotty Cameron is renowned for crafting premium putters and operates out of California. Following initial collaborations with several golf manufacturers, Cameron joined forces with Titleist, a division of Acushnet. His "Custom Shop" offers clients the opportunity to tailor their putters through options such as personalized paint fills, custom engravings, unique shaft bands, specialized grips, and repair services.
The design philosophy behind Cameron's putters takes cues from Karsten Solheim's pioneering PING models. Many of his putter lines are named after famous leisure and golf locations in California, including Newport Beach and Sonoma. Cameron has built a prestigious brand image by securing trademarks like "G.S.S." (German stainless steel), which denotes the use of premium materials in select releases under the Acushnet umbrella.
Titleist
Established by Phillip E. "Skipper" Young, an MIT alumnus from the class of 1932, Titleist focuses on producing golf balls and clubs. Since 1935, Acushnet has been manufacturing Titleist golf balls, which have captured a substantial portion of the market, notably becoming the leading choice at the 1949 U.S. Open.
Vokey Design
The Vokey label originated from Canadian craftsman Bob Vokey (born 1939), who shifted his career from playing golf to designing and building high-quality golf clubs in the United States. This transition significantly expanded the company's product range and strengthened its position in the competitive golf equipment market.