Equipment
GolfWRX exclusive: The story behind the new Costco KS1 putter
Costco, together with its Kirkland Signature brand, is one of the biggest forces in retail. Once again, it is disrupting the golf equipment space with the introduction of the company’s very first original golf club: the KS1 putter.
In an exclusive interview with GolfWRX, Tim Farmer, Costco vice president and general merchandise manager, dug into the details behind the putter. Farmer also spoke at great length about Costco’s other golf products, including the wildly popular Kirkland Signature four-piece golf ball and the current Kirkland three-piece urethane ball, which upon the time of publication has over 17,000 reviews and a 4.5/5 star rating.
The Costco Golf story
“The approach to creating the KS1 putter was no different than creating any other Kirkland Signature product – to work with a manufacturer to create something that offers exceptional value to our customers”
-Tim Farmer
First, some background on the Kirkland Signature brand, from Costco
“By taking the lead in sourcing and formulating new products, co-branding with premium national and international brands, and partnering with top manufacturers around the world, we’ve created an exclusive range of (Kirkland Signature) products that reflect our members’ tastes and exceed their expectations.”
The approach, from a Costco’s perspective, is to capitalize within a market where they believe an opportunity exists to be a price disruptor to other products currently available. The research includes talking with venders, working with Costco’s long list of approved suppliers, and visiting trade shows—including the PGA Merchandise Show.
The original golf breakthrough came with the introduction of the Kirkland Signature Tour Performance four-piece ball in late 2016. The story goes, Costco was approached by a manufacturer with its own IP on a golf ball design and the opportunity to produce a ball under the Kirkland brand. Independent testing conducted by a third party and Costco’s own internal testing proved the four-piece ball offered exceptional performance. The ball was then approved and shortly after arrived in warehouses. “That’s when things went a little crazy,” says Farmer.
The price of $29.99 for two dozen four-piece urethane balls seemed too good to be true, but in the age of social media and launch monitors, golfers were buzzing, and the balls sold out almost immediately company-wide. Demand and buzz even created a secondary market where the golf balls were selling for 4-5 times their initial price including on eBay. Costco was both shocked and excited, and the ball became the proof of concept that its own line of golf products could be in high demand by members.
The Costco KS1 putter story
Considering the number of options Costco had for potentially producing a golf club, a putter was selected for its relative simplicity and the knowledge that of all the clubs in the bag, golfers love to experiment and test putters the most.
Farmer admitted that he, (a 9 handicap) along with a lot of other employees and members of the board of directors at Costco, are golf nuts themselves, and the putter was an exciting product to develop. It was an attractive product because the company knew it was a category where it could offer the best value and performance comparable to other products on the market.
The Costco buyers approached a well-respected manufacturer in China that also produces putters for a number of well-known OEMs to help develop the KS1. After working through initial prototypes and multiple designs, the wide-body plumbers neck was the final choice based on its popularity and mass appeal.
Farmer made the point that mass appeal is a huge part of the Costco merchandising philosophy because the average Costco Warehouse is 160,000 square feet, and at most, merchandises only 3,700 items per store. When you compare that to other big box stores of similar size, they could carry upwards of 120,000 different items. Fewer products create more value, which at the end of the day, is Costco’s biggest goal.
Costco KS1 putter specs
The specs of the putter clearly reflect the greatest opportunity to offer a club to the largest part of the bell curve for the best possible value.
- Construction: 100% milled from 303 stainless steel. Also has a 303 insert.
- Length: 34.5″
- Loft: 3 degrees
- Lie: 71 degrees
- Head weight: 340g with stock 10g adjustable weights. A separate weight kit will be available for 34.99 (online only) and will come with a wrench and adjustable 5g (x2) and 15g (x2) weights.
- Grip: Superstroke Countercore
- Head cover included
- Right-hand only
One of the interesting details from my conversation with Farmer concerned the reason the weight kit is being sold separately: “Research shows the majority of golfers don’t tinker with weights and settings of their clubs,” he said. “So to offer the best value, we are making it available online.”
It’s a smart decision that falls right in line with Costco’s directive to offer the greatest value while still creating options for members who are looking for something extra.
Availability & price
According to Farmer, the putter should become available online within the next couple of weeks. They don’t have an exact in-store date yet since pallets (how everything at Costco is moved around, stored, and merchandised) are currently in the process of being built and delivered—but expect to see them around three weeks from now.
The current plan is to have the putters in a select 80 stores to start with the potential to have them expand once the initial volume and sales data is analyzed. Like all things Costco, from mayonnaise to socks, every item has to earn its floor space. But if the putter sells anything like the golf ball, you can expect to see a potential second and third run.
The KS1 putter will be sold for $139.99 USD and the weight kit (available online only) will be a separate $34.99
The putter might just be the beginning…
Toward the end of my conversation with Farmer, the one question I had to ask is if other clubs and balls are on the horizon for Costco and the Kirkland Signature brand. I asked specifically about a rumored three-wedge set, and if they planned to update the current three-piece urethane ball.
Although Farmer was unable to provide specific details about any clubs beyond saying, “we are always working on new products that offer value to our members,” he was willing to say they are excited to see the reaction to the KS1 Putter. As for the three-piece golf ball, Costco is currently going through the testing phase for a potential replacement possibly by the end of the year.
When it comes to offering value, quality, and trust, there really is no other company in the entire consumer goods space that has the ability to deliver on a grand scale like Costco, and the Costco KS1 putter could be another game-changer for this constantly innovating retail giant.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100
Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.
TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.
The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.
One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.
Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.
See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:
MySpider Tour
MySpider Tour X
Equipment
Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory
In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.
McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.
So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?
Driver
2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)
McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.
What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)
The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.
Fairway woods
2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X
The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.
The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.
Irons
2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.
With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.
Wedges
2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.
Putter
2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.
Ball
2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)
As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
Grips
2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC
Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
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Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)
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stanley
May 24, 2020 at 2:53 pm
rick shiels put up a video review of this putter. i guess it is what you expected.
John Reich
Apr 13, 2022 at 6:22 pm
Costco now has the left-handed version of the KS1
uhgolfguy1
May 18, 2020 at 1:02 am
You’d think quality control could be an issue but given the nature of the milling process, the putters should have good quality.
303 SS is a great material for putters… just ask Scotty Cameron.
Me personally, I think the KS1 is a bit chunky for my taste, but I’m sure it feels great.
Simms
May 23, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Very much a Odyssey looking putter, I ordered one first thing on line and 8 days latter still waiting, but I went into a COSTCO yesterday and they had a pallet full of them…so I got a hands on look….will be sending mine back when it comes without even opening, not anything special until they drop the price to say $79…
stanley
May 13, 2020 at 11:58 pm
can’t lie. i am excited to see some reviews for these putters. but lets keep in mind that we have some amazing american milled putters here.
Cody Reeder
May 13, 2020 at 1:36 pm
I just want to know where it is made… and by who.. Sean Toulon says it is not made or has anything to do with Odyssey soo… Who??
Spitfisher
May 26, 2020 at 2:25 pm
Do you really honestly believe any manufacturer would come clean with a ” yeah, we make it” statement?
Besides there is no Odyssey, toulon etc factory anywhere in the world. A factory is tooled for product, proto types and QC samples are produced, vendor writes a PO ahead of time, production starts, product and marketing material is produced and a way it goes.
Jimmy Ray
May 8, 2020 at 10:59 am
Right Hand only…nuf said.
curt j benjamins
May 9, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Damn it we lefties always get shafted, no pun intended
Bill
May 7, 2020 at 11:38 pm
Does this look like an Odyssey O-Works #1 with a different insert and color scheme?
Duke
May 8, 2020 at 10:54 am
It is just that. I listened to a podcast the other day and it revolved around this putter. It is constructed by same plant with very similar characteristics.
Mike
May 8, 2020 at 2:03 pm
I believe it’s technically the exact same putter that comes with the Callaway Edge set that they sell, but gets branded as Odyssey with their license agreement.
stanley
May 7, 2020 at 11:16 pm
i thought about this….. and it’s a no go. but we will see. kirkland sells everything.
Jack
May 7, 2020 at 10:10 pm
Thing is, the design is just atrocious. Did they do any consumer forums before finalizing on the design?
Michaele
May 8, 2020 at 9:30 am
One picture shooting primarily the bottom of the putter is your basis for your comment?
Your comment is atrocious too.
Duke
May 8, 2020 at 10:56 am
It is constructed by same plant with very similar characteristics as the Odyssey line.
Bob
May 7, 2020 at 8:36 pm
You can buy a full set of 10 Callaway Edge clubs from Costco and that includes an Odyssey putter. These must be made for Costco as they are not available anywhere else. A review of them made them sound like a good deal for an average golfer. I hope that I survive this Covid and get a chance to play them. B.
Duh!
May 7, 2020 at 7:13 pm
Made in a Wuhan lab to destroy American golfers everywhere.
Gary Mohlenkamp
May 8, 2020 at 12:35 pm
I agree! I will never purchase anything made in China if I have a choice.
Delbert
May 8, 2020 at 3:46 pm
Why do companies continue to do business with a country that steals IP like they do? Their government and economy are set up in such a way to prevent creativity. Do not buy this putter. It will give you the YIPS! There, I said it. But I didn’t say shank.
Jbone
May 19, 2020 at 8:37 pm
Agreed. The one positive of this virus is China getting exposed. Hopefully people speak with their wallets
Martin
May 7, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Time will tell if it will sell, but i have a feeling it well.
Calvin
May 7, 2020 at 6:41 pm
I don’t understand why you would do a CNC machined 303SS putter and just to put in a machined 303SS face insert. Doesn’t it just defeats the purpose of the CNC precision and you are not trying to affect the impact feel with different material anyways?
Homer Simpson
May 8, 2020 at 10:42 am
You’re a club homer. Only you would would dissect the club like this. Calvin, tell me, what’s your favorite hole on your golf bag?
Joe McManuis
May 7, 2020 at 5:20 pm
Any indication whether it will be available in Canada this summer and whether weight kit will also be available?
Al
May 7, 2020 at 4:31 pm
Lot of occasional golf dads will see this come June.
Chris
May 7, 2020 at 2:13 pm
So why did conversation on 4 piece ball stop? They should have talked about why they stopped making the 4 piece ball and why they won’t have the same problem with the putter…or will they?
BingHogan
May 7, 2020 at 11:09 am
They only want to sell you chicken.! And a $65.00 “club” fee.
Not sure how many members they have now but I have heard they make about $70 million per year.
The Costco Country Club. Has a nice ring to it…
Paulo
May 7, 2020 at 10:59 am
Is this Piece an advert for Costco ? Maybe state that st the top like they used to in magazines
Vanilla Ice
May 7, 2020 at 10:57 am
Balls – Hero
Putter – Zero
steve
May 7, 2020 at 10:21 am
$150 OTD for this club seems more in line with buying a club from a traditional gilf retailer. Why would someone make this purchase versus numerous other options from other well known manufacturers? This example of value in no way it compares to that of the original four piece ball that they sold. Thanks Costco but I think you’re whiffing on this one
John
May 7, 2020 at 9:26 am
I don’t know about you folks… but sure reminds me of a Scotty Cameron Newport 2
Stanley
May 7, 2020 at 9:04 am
No pics from address?
Paulo
May 8, 2020 at 1:06 am
The Costco marketing dept didn’t send any…
DB
May 7, 2020 at 8:42 am
Sorry, not interested in another putter coming from some cheap Chinese factory when there are so many great putter makers milling their putters right here in the USA.
jim
May 7, 2020 at 8:05 am
139.99 in my opinion is not a “real Value”. plus another $35 for weight kit (for those who want it) puts it very in-line with other putters in the big box stores.
Homer Simpson
May 8, 2020 at 10:46 am
It is a value. Not everyone buys used golf clubs on wrx for a value. I like this site but there are too many club homers and poors trying To flip and make money.
MJ 23
May 7, 2020 at 5:01 am
Now THAT is funny! Does it come with a corn dog?
brian
May 7, 2020 at 8:43 am
The only putter line that really puts it in line with are the cheaper Cleveland putters and low-end Odyssey White Hot line, none of which have adjustability features.
Brandon
May 7, 2020 at 9:48 am
You can find plenty of new past model year higher end Odyssey putters for right around 130 bucks. Got by eye on a stroke lab double wide right now.
brian
May 7, 2020 at 1:22 pm
I’m only seeing used Stroke Lab putters for under $150 doing a search.
Paulo
May 8, 2020 at 5:07 pm
I’d rather have one of those
Guy
May 8, 2020 at 7:24 pm
I just bought a brand new O-works #2 for $70. There’s deals to be found if you strike at the right times.
CT
May 9, 2020 at 12:44 pm
From where? Looking for one. Thanks!