Kia Ma?

[j.b.newton]

Looking through some old bags, I stumbled upon my old TM TP Daytona Kia Ma... After a little bit of TLC and a new grip, its not quite back in the line up - but definitely in the office for some quick putting.  What happened to Kia Ma, is he still producing putters? 

 

The 2 I've putted with are as good of a quality feel/performance as any other of the "elite" designers if tried.

[MattM97]

He's still at TM last I heard but they have him kinda in the shop just doing whatever they need him to do. I have seen 1 recent Kia Ma putter but really once they go into the inserts he was on the back burner. 

[j.b.newton]

man, thats sad.  Seems like a big waste of talent, but what do I know....

[MattM97]

He wouldn't be the first and won't be the last in the golf industry. 

[cgasucks]

I remember.  TM was pushing his putters hard in the late 2000s-early 2010s.  Then they never mentioned his name since.

[MattM97]

Last putter I know of that Kia Ma made and it was in 2020 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8UkvfCF7Xu/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[Ed Settle]

What a great guy! So it’s taken during the TaylorMade SLDR trip in 2014. 

[HandsomeMatt]

I have a Rossa Maranello prototype that was supposedly made for Sergio Garcia by Kia Ma, no sightline, milled, carbon steel with no badges or inserts in the bottom. I shot the lowest round of my life with that putter, feel is sublime and it's almost an in between headsize, like between an 8802 to a Del Mar. Love that thing.

[hagimihale]

I had a Kia Ma Rossa Fortuna in the bag for years.  At least 6. Nothing could kick that thing out of the bag.  I still have one up at my buddy's house in NJ.  

 

Kia May started in the industry in the early 80s. Later worked at Ray Cook, where he came up with the design of the "hosel-less" putter (shaft all the way thru the head).  He launched his own firm - K&M Golf - in 1992.  TM bought K&M in 2003.  

 

The Spider was launched in 2008.  Although Kia Ma was still designing his own line (Rossa TP by Kia Ma), the popularity of the Spider led to the decline of the Rossa TP line.  TM chose high-volume sales over something that could have competed with SC, Bettinardi, etc.  

 

I've read that he is still involved with TM in some fashion, but is probably winding down after 40+ years in the industry...

 

 

[j.b.newton]

All, thanks for the updates...  

[DeCuchi]

I would love if TM released a Kia Ma fully milled line. Just let the man tweak a few of their current line up or bring back some classic blade shapes. Give them a little more premium look, finish, and milled faces(no inserts). Charge a premium or sell them through a “MyKia” thing and thank me later. I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only one who order.

Edited November 13, 2022 by DeCuchi