Who Owns Titleist? Acushnet, FootJoy, and the Brand's History

It all began with a missed Putt—and an X-ray. What sounds like a bizarre anecdote from 1932 was, in fact, the starting point for one of the most significant developments in the history of golf. The discovery of an off-center golf ball core gave rise to a brand that is now found in more professional golfers’ bags than any other: Titleist.

But who is actually behind Titleist? Which company owns the brand—and what does FootJoy have to do with it? In this article, you’ll learn everything about the history, ownership structure, and brand family behind the famous Titleist script.

Titleist at a Glance

The Founding Story: A Putt, an X-Ray, a Brand

The story of Titleist begins on a Sunday in 1932. Phil Young, a passionate amateur and owner of a precision rubber company called Acushnet Process Company, lost a hole to a friend—and was convinced the ball was to blame. His playing partner headed the X-ray department at a nearby hospital. The two examined the ball—and indeed found what Young had suspected: the core was off-center.

This discovery changed the sport of golf forever.

Young recruited his MIT classmate Fred Bommer, a rubber specialist and passionate golfer, to join the project. Together, they set out to develop the best golf ball in the world—one that would be uniform and consistent in quality, ball after ball. It took three years. In 1935, it was ready: the first Titleist golf ball.

From the very beginning, Young relied on a strategically sound distribution channel: Titleist balls were sold exclusively through golf professionals —at a time when most competitors were sold in department stores. This built trust, credibility, and a close relationship with specialty retailers, which remains at the core of the brand to this day.

In 1936, the Acushnet Golf Ball Demonstration Machine made its debut—a mobile device that impressively demonstrated the superiority of the Titleist ball on the country’s most prestigious golf courses.

Titleist’s Path to Number 1

In 1945, Titleist began systematically tapping into the PGA Tour. The logic behind it was simple and effective: If the world’s best players trust a ball with their livelihoods, it must be the best ball. This “Most Played” strategy continues to drive Titleist to this day.

The brand reached its first major milestone in 1949: At the U.S. Open at Medinah Country Club, Titleist won the ball count for the first time—more players had a Titleist in their bag than any other ball. It was the beginning of a dominance that would last more than seven decades.

Who owns Titleist? An explanation of the ownership structure

Titleist is not an independent company, but rather the flagship brand of the American company Acushnet Holdings Corp. —listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the fitting ticker symbol “GOLF.”

To understand who owns Titleist, it’s worth taking a look at the ownership timeline:

Today, Acushnet is a global company headquartered in Fairhaven, Massachusetts —the very same place where Phil Young once developed his first golf ball. This connection to the company’s founding history is no coincidence, but rather a core part of its corporate philosophy.

Is FootJoy part of Titleist?

We’re often asked this question—and the answer is: No, not directly. FootJoy is not part of Titleist, and Titleist is not part of FootJoy. Both are independent brands under the Acushnet umbrella.

Acushnet acquired FootJoy in 1985. Since then, Titleist and FootJoy have been sister brands within the same company—strategically closely integrated, but managed separately on an operational level. So if you buy a Titleist ball and FootJoy shoes, you’re buying two products from the same parent company, but from two separate brands.

The Acushnet Brand Family

Acushnet is more than just Titleist and FootJoy. Today, the company is home to a carefully curated family of premium golf brands:

Titleist – golf balls, clubs, and equipment. “Golf’s Symbol of Excellence” and the most-played brand on professional Tours worldwide for over 75 years.

FootJoy – Shoes, gloves, apparel. The most-played shoe on the PGA Tour for over 75 years. Also the #1 glove in golf.

Vokey Design – Wedges, developed by master craftsman Bob Vokey. The most-played wedge brand on the PGA Tour without interruption since 2004.

Scotty Cameron – Premium putters from the Putter Studio in Southern California. More PGA Tour champions trust Scotty Cameron than any other putter brand.

KJUS – Technical performance apparel for golf and skiing. Acquired by Acushnet in 2019.

Club Glove – Market leader in golf luggage, the preferred choice of PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and PGA club professionals. Joined the Acushnet family in 2023.

The strategy behind this is clear: Acushnet focuses on the one to two million “dedicated golfers” at the top of the golf engagement pyramid—players who shop with performance in mind and invest in top-of-the-line equipment.

Is Titleist a good golf brand?

The numbers speak for themselves—and they’re remarkably clear:

• #1 golf ball on the world’s professional Tours for over 75 years—with more players than all other brands combined
• #1 Driver on the PGA Tour for five consecutive years (as of 2026)
• Vokey Wedges have been the most-played wedge brand on the PGA Tour since 2004
• Scotty Cameron has been the most-played Putter brand on the PGA Tour for more than 20 years
• About 75% of professional golfers on the world’s tours play a Titleist ball—including players who use other brands of clubs

What sets Titleist apart as a brand is its exceptional consistency over decades. The belief that quality and performance are non-negotiable has been embedded in the brand’s DNA since Phil Young’s first X-ray—and is reflected in every Titleist product to this day. It’s no coincidence that every single Titleist golf ball is still X-rayed today, just as it was in 1935.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Titleist

Who owns Titleist?

Titleist is owned by Acushnet Holdings Corp., a publicly traded company (NYSE: GOLF) headquartered in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Acushnet has been Titleist’s parent company since the brand’s inception in 1932.

Is FootJoy a Titleist brand?

No. FootJoy is not part of Titleist but is—just like Titleist—an independent brand under the Acushnet Holdings umbrella. Both are sister brands within the same corporate group but are managed separately.

Is Titleist American?

Yes. Titleist was founded in 1935 in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and is still headquartered there today. Its parent company, Acushnet, is also an American company.

Is Titleist a good golf brand?

Yes—and the numbers clearly back that up. For over 75 years, Titleist has been the most-played golf ball brand on professional Tours worldwide. Vokey wedges have been #1 on the PGA Tour since 2004, and Scotty Cameron putters for more than 20 years. This consistency is unique in the golf industry.

Which brands are part of Acushnet?

Acushnet owns: Titleist, FootJoy, Vokey Design, Scotty Cameron, KJUS, and Club Glove. Acushnet also distributes the Pinnacle brand in the value segment.

Since when has Titleist been publicly traded?

Titleist itself is not publicly traded. Its parent company, Acushnet Holdings Corp., went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016/2017 under the ticker symbol “GOLF.”