Is JDM the only major Asian golf market?

[NeverInTheRough]

Is JDM the only major Asian golf market? In other words, are their any Korean golf manufacturers, or Chinese, or Thai golf manufacturers? I've been looking and can only find JDM brands, not that that's a bad thing, I was just curious.

[xxio]

Korean has Korean only market-products for OEMs but few and far between compared to Japan. I've seen Callaway Korea fairway woods.

For Korean brands there are a couple but I can only think of Elord at this time.

There are golf products that are manufactured in Korea shafts for Graman and some of the MFS shafts I think.

Of course Titleist is now owned by a Korean company. I think Honma for awhile was majority held by Koreans when they first came up with Beres.

[xxio]

Manufacturers or brands? If manufacturing I would think everything manufactured in China still beats out volume of shafts, grips, heads etc from Bangladesh, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand (those are the only other places that I have seen "made in" stickers from)

[NeverInTheRough]

[quote name='xxio' timestamp='1418594456' post='10592959']
Korean has Korean only market-products for OEMs but few and far between compared to Japan. I've seen Callaway Korea fairway woods.

For Korean brands there are a couple but I can only think of Elord at this time.

There are golf products that are manufactured in Korea shafts for Graman and some of the MFS shafts I think.

Of course Titleist is now owned by a Korean company. I think Honma for awhile was majority held by Koreans when they first came up with Beres.
[/quote]

Thanks! Titleist is actually [b]owned[/b] by a Korean company?? Like if I buy a Titleist product, the money ends up going to a Korean company? That's cool if that's the case. I've heard of Honma, Callaway/JDM, and Taylormade/JDM hybrid companies, which I'm not really interested in since it's for all intents and purposes still American.

Thanks again, I'll be sure to check out Elord.

[NeverInTheRough]

[quote name='xxio' timestamp='1418594884' post='10592983']
Manufacturers or brands? If manufacturing I would think everything manufactured in China still beats out volume of shafts, grips, heads etc from Bangladesh, Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand (those are the only other places that I have seen "made in" stickers from)
[/quote]

Brands/Companies.

[xxio]

Yes Titleist was bought by Fila about 2 years ago.

Koreans are very nationalistic as well that is why the Korean Tourists that visit my part of the world have noticeably switched to AP irons and Cameron putters.

[NeverInTheRough]

[quote name='xxio' timestamp='1418596158' post='10593079']
Yes Titleist was bought by Fila about 2 years ago.

Koreans are very nationalistic as well that is why the Korean Tourists that visit my part of the world have noticeably switched to AP irons and Cameron putters.
[/quote]

WOW! This is something else. This will make my search a whole lot easier now, since Titleist is easier to come by and for the most part is cheaper than most JDM's. I knew this forum would come in handy one day!

[phizzy30]

I would recommend going JDM for irons especially if your interested in forged. I've tried a couple Korean brands and didn't think they were on the same level as JDM.