Acushnet Company

History

Founded in Acushnet, Massachusetts by Philip E. "Skipper" Young in 1910, the Acushnet Process Company focused on deresinating latex and supplying rubber to industry, and over time began to make their own rubber-based products including water bottles and bathing caps. Eventually, Acushnet Process became a manufacturer of golf equipment, principally, golf balls.

In 1932, the company sectioned into two divisions: Rubber and Golf, both of which became quite successful. The Rubber division was sold in 1985.

In 1935, the Golf division produced the Titleist golf ball, which has consistently been the company's most successful product.

In 1976, the company was purchased by American Brands (now known as Fortune Brands).

In 1985, Fortune sold off the Acushnet Company's Acushnet Rubber division, which was Acushnet's original business (circa early 1900s).

On December 8, 2010, Fortune Brands announced its intent to sell or spin off Acushnet and some other businesses.

Acushnet employs roughly 3000 people in Massachusetts, making it one of the largest employers in the region. It is headquartered in Fairhaven, Massachusetts alongside its Packing and Distribution Center about three miles (five kilometres) south of its original location.

They also have two golf ball manufacturing plants and an R&D Technology Center located in the New Bedford Industrial Park, as well as a Custom Golf Ball plant located in New Bedford.

Acushnet currently operates several facilities, many of which are in Massachusetts, as follows:

Brands

Acushnet Company's primary brands are Titleist, FootJoy, Scotty Cameron, and Pinnacle.

FootJoy

Company Slogan: "The #1 Shoe and Glove in Golf." [1] FootJoy is a golf clothing company based in Massachusetts and founded in 1857. Footjoy was acquired by the Acushnet Company in 1985 from General Mills. [2] Currently, FootJoy is the number one seller of golf shoes and gloves in the United States. [3] A popular shoe series is the Dryjoys which Footjoy claims are extremely waterproof, comfortable and provide the stability a golfer requires to make a good swing. The most recent product is the Reel Fit, a golf shoe that Footjoy claims: "can provide extreme support using an innovative lacing design instead of using traditional laces". [4]

Scotty Cameron

Scotty Cameron is a golf club designer who specializes in high-end putters. Cameron currently resides and has based his company, Scotty Cameron, in California. Cameron made his first putters using his mother-in-law's garage as his factory. [5] After working with several golf companies, Scotty would accept a deal with Titleist. Later, Cameron created a "Custom Shop" where users and collectors can customize their putter by ordering a custom paint fill, engraving, shaft band and grip along with other options. Players can also bring in their older Scotty Cameron Putter and have them repaired. Cameron's putters, the most storied of which are inspired by Karsten Solheim's (PING) original designs (Anser, Zing, B60) are named after popular California beach towns (Newport Beach, Laguna Beach) and Northern California counties renowned for their golf, wine, and leisure tourism (Sonoma, Napa, Monterey). His original designs, usually mallet putters, are often named using ad hoc wordplay. Cameron is a master of prestige branding, going so far as to trademark (under the Acushnet name) the acronym "G.S.S." or German stainless steel. "G.S.S." is simply 303 stainless imported from Germany and used in Cameron's more exclusive releases. It is molecularly identical to other 303 steels.

Pinnacle

Company Slogan: "Distance Doesn't Have To Be Hard." [6] Pinnacle is a golf equipment company located in Massachusetts that produces golf balls. These balls are marketed on their low price and the company's claim that it gives the player more distance. These golf balls include: Platinum Feel, Platinum Distance, Gold FX Soft, Gold FX Long and the Ribbon. [7] Adding to their reputation as a distance driven ball Pinnacle sponsors a long drive team.