Are Studio Styles Made in the USA

[kangamatt]

I've always assumed that all Camerons were made in the USA and I"ve seen some conflicting info posted around.

 

Are Studio Styles Made In the USA and if so are there other Camerons that are not? Perhaps I should clarify.

 

Which camerons are not made in the USA

 

Any help is appreciated.

[tickyboy]

All retail....

 

Only handmades are made in USA....makes you wonder what you're paying for.

[HipCheck]

Yep. All retail is Korea.

 

"Pretty sneaky sis."

[MR.PINCHY]

Yep. All retail is Korea.

 

"Pretty sneaky sis."

 

Korea??

 

im pretty sure that its USA made...

 

and i've always thought some of the tour ones were actually made in Japan??

[kangamatt]

You've got to be kidding. So up and down the line at retail - Cameron putters are made in Korea? What about the phantom which say Made in America on the headcovers?

 

I can't understand a $300 price tag for them when they're made in Korea.

 

Makes me look at Big Oak and Mills and think that's a value.

 

What about Gauge USA? Are they made in the US?

[Tsukasa36]

Does it matter? since they all perform well.. I don't think it really matters. I'm actually surprised that Scotty Cameron chose Korea to produce their high quality putters. There must be a reason. Cameron have always emphasized the quality..

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

Chances are they are using a USA MAde CNC lathe and an American program to mill the putters, wherever they do it in the far east. the labor is much cheaper and as long as they maintain STRICT quality control, the quality will match anything here.

 

However, SOMEONE is making a killing for the cheap labor and at $300 a pop!!!!

 

I wonder what SC drives?

[memphishorn]

Wow! I don't know why I'm shocked to hear that and I don't even own any Scotty's. Makes me wonder if Made in the USA is still true for PING putters.

[kangamatt]

I've been contemplating a putter purchase for the past couple of months and I've been torn between Mills, Big Oak, Bettinardi and Cameron. All things being equal I was going to get a Studio Style 33" 350g but am now thinking that the price seems inflated when contrasted with the other Mfg's and the craftsmenship that I feel I'm buying with Bettinardi, Big Oak, or Mills.

 

It's seems to me that the choices are so limited with Camerons (length, headweight, etc) in no small part because Acushnet is really only interested in the cheapest offshore mfg that they can find.

 

One of the previous posters mentioned that all Camerons are MFG'd to the highest tolerances and I'm curious who's word or what information he's basing that conclusion. I'm sorry but I think that the highest tolerances would be maintained with manufacturing as close as possible to the person whos namesake graces the putters. And to my way of thinking manufacturing in Korea doesn't create an aura of fine craftsmanship.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[hoganapex]

i do know the american classic bullseye models are made in the us. not sure that's true with the other models. i know all titliest irons/woods are produced in asia though.

[HipCheck]

Yep. All retail is Korea.

 

"Pretty sneaky sis."

 

Korea??

 

im pretty sure that its USA made...

 

and i've always thought some of the tour ones were actually made in Japan??

 

Nope. No Japan.

 

Handmades, 009s, Customs, Tour. They're all made in the US. Retail is Korea.

There's only so much someone will pay for a retail putter. People will pay a bit more for reputation, but companies can maximize profit with cheaper labor. So that's what Titleist/Cameron does.

 

When I was originally writing this, I was going to say " The price of a Cameron would be too high if made in the US."

 

But actually I don't believe that's true. All Bettinardis, including Hogans and Mizunos, are made in the US in the same factory, and you can get them for around $200, so I think that says a lot.

[sfdoddsy]

Not quite the image you get when you read the Cameron website is it?

 

There it is Scotty moving from machine to machine, eyeballing each putter and laying his hands upon his creations, willing his spirit into each head.

 

Instead, it seems it is just a machine in an industrial park just outside Pusan or wherever.

 

For some reason I find this hilarious.

 

It doesn't change how the putters play of course, but it does tend to fray the Scotty mystique.

 

Steve

[PARIO]

well i have no idea where they are made. but anytime the scotty cameron putters come up i want to put in my 2 cents. I do not own a scotty cameron never have but i will not say that i never will. when it comes to golf equipment what i want changes every 2 minutes so when I finish with this post i might want to buy a scotty. but that is a personal problem i think it is called being a club HO! :)

 

I think scotty makes beautiful putters but i think that it is all marketing! i dont think they will help your game and some of them feel HORRIBLE AND VERY LIGHT and if they are really made in Korea than thats an even bigger reason to not buy them. But if I was on tour and scotty asked me to play one of his putters and pay me tons of money i would do it. But as a Joe Blow why would you buy one of his putters? when you can email David Mills and he will write you back and make a putter to your liking? Or even better Big Oak putters are in my opinion much better than Camerons and Dave is a member of GolfWRX just PM him. you cant beat that! the day that Scotty Cameron joins this site or replies to my emails or starts making putters in the USA I might reconsider my opinion! just my 2 cents

[Geo]

You've got to be kidding. So up and down the line at retail - Cameron putters are made in Korea? What about the phantom which say Made in America on the headcovers?

 

I can't understand a $300 price tag for them when they're made in Korea.

 

Makes me look at Big Oak and Mills and think that's a value.

 

What about Gauge USA? Are they made in the US?

 

:cheesy: The phantom headcover was probably made in America.

 

As for the putter though--I've long since got past my xenophobia and no longer buy something because it was "made in 'merica." That "dey took our jobs" mentality has people paying more for a Chevy Cavalier that will break down after 30,000 miles over a Civic that will last 200,000. The fact that Scotty has his putters made in Korea won't keep me from buying a Cameron--the fact that Bettinardi and Mills make a better one (to me--but I loves them all :cheesy: ) will.

 

beruo

 

(btw, I seriously doubt that Korea's labor is cheap--the same argument used to be said for Japan, but wages are very high there and I'd bet that Korea's not too far off that. If anything, Korea probably out-produces the US--gotta love the teamsters! :) )

[taylormadefan]

 

 

I think scotty makes beautiful putters but i think that it is all marketing! i dont think they will help your game and some of them feel HORRIBLE AND VERY LIGHT and if they are really made in Korea than thats an even bigger reason to not buy them. But if I was on tour and scotty asked me to play one of his putters and pay me tons of money i would do it. But as a Joe Blow why would you buy one of his putters? when you can email David Mills and he will write you back and make a putter to your liking? Or even better Big Oak putters are in my opinion much better than Camerons and Dave is a member of GolfWRX just PM him. you cant beat that! the day that Scotty Cameron joins this site or replies to my emails or starts making putters in the USA I might reconsider my opinion! just my 2 cents

 

Why is being made in Korea such a bad thing??? As someone mentioned above, if the quality is there, why worry?? What about your $400 driver or $800 irons from China?

 

Outsourcing is everywhere, Scotty isn't hte first guy to come up with this, and he's not the last.

 

There are restaurants in the US where when you call to make a reservation you're not calling the restaurant at all, you're calling a call center in India which has a seating chart and enters it into a computer which transmits it back to the hostess so your table is reserved.

 

Economics 101, why pay $10 for soemthing you can pay $5 for.

[PARIO]

Taylormadefan you are completely right. there is absolutely nothing wrong with it being made in Korea Japan or China or anything else. My TM driver is not made in USA or any of my other equipment for that matter. I just feel that they market there product as being very American. And I used the made in Korea to make the point that Big Oak and TP Mills are right here in your own yard and you can actually speak to the guys who make them.

 

P.S. if they make there high quality putters for so cheap in Korea what are we paying so much for?

[taylormadefan]

Taylormadefan you are completely right. there is absolutely nothing wrong with it being made in Korea Japan or China or anything else. My TM driver is not made in USA or any of my other equipment for that matter. I just feel that they market there product as being very American. And I used the made in Korea to make the point that Big Oak and TP Mills are right here in your own yard and you can actually speak to the guys who make them.

 

P.S. if they make there high quality putters for so cheap in Korea what are we paying so much for?

 

LOL, you migt want to qualify your statement by adding info like that next time. Statments like, " if they are really made in Korea than thats an even bigger reason to not buy them." can lead to this :cheesy: :cheesy:

 

However, that CLEARLY wasn't your intent. :)

 

I definately agree that there are a ton of great putter builders locally who can give you the same or better quality as Scotty for even less price, like Tom Slighter and Heritage golf (who has some awesome designs).

 

As to why we pay so much for something cheap to produce, it's the way the world turns. There's a reason why Bill Gates is the richest man in the world, he gets lots of people to pay big dollars for something that costs next to nothing to produce.

 

I'm VERY excited to see how the new Mizunoardi's will do in the market place espeically since they've priced them so aggressively (the blades cost $80 less than Scotties). If Bob can finally provide Scotty with some competition maybe he'll rethink some of his price points in the future.

[sfdoddsy]

It's not whether they are made in Korea or not. I don't care. It is the mythic image that people buy into of Scotty alone in his workshop slaving over a hot lathe that I find so funny. That his sweat has dripped on their own putter.

 

First he 'borrows' most of his designs from Ping, then he gets someone else to make them while he, according to his site, swans around Augusta.

 

He certainly has cojones.

[taylormadefan]

It's not whether they are made in Korea or not. I don't care. It is the mythic image that people buy into of Scotty alone in his workshop slaving over a hot lathe that I find so funny. That his sweat has dripped on their own putter.

 

First he 'borrows' most of his designs from Ping, then he gets someone else to make them while he, according to his site, swans around Augusta.

 

He certainly has cojones.

 

I don't think anyone who buys a Cameron expects Scotty to be "sweating" over their putter. Remember, Scotty didn't magically inherit his empire from nothing. The guy worked hard for many years to build a great product. Was there a little bit of luck and right place right time involved, sure, but that's the case with any successful person. You don't get to the top without knowing what you're doing and working hard and like him or not, Cameron has definately done that.

 

As far as "borrowing" his ideas from Ping. The Anser is the most copied form in golf. Everyone from Cameron, to Gauge, to Zen Oracle has "borrowed" it . . . so why not gripe about them too???

 

I really don't understand why you're so bitter?

 

He's paying people to produce HIS product. He's not stealing David Mills's putter heads and stamping his name on them. It's his operation from top to bottom. . . .

 

Why shouldn't Scotty be at Augusta? He makes putters to be used by the world's best golfers, where were the world's best golfers last weekend? Shouldn't he be there to support his product?

[sfdoddsy]

I'm not bitter. But you can't seriously tell me that a large part of the perceived value of Scotty Cameron putters doesn't come from the perceived involvement of the big guy himself, however ephemeral.

 

Or, as his website puts it:

 

"On March 15, 2006, we followed Scotty around the Custom Shop for about 20 minutes. It's amazing to see what he can accomplish in just a few minutes when he gets going. We captured the action in the slideshow posted here.

 

Scotty is truly in this business because he loves creating and tinkering. From the gripping station, complete with its laser-guided alignment system, to his welding deck, with white-hot torches at the ready, Scotty designed the Custom Shop to allow him free movement between every aspect of putter making. He seems to get as much excitement from a perfectly aligned grip on a brand new putter setup, as he does tackling a bent shaft with some good old fashioned elbow grease. And just watch out when he gets a raw putter head in his hands that needs a new neck. He’s deadly accurate with the band saw, grinders, and welding torches.

 

Another interesting thing about Scotty, a trait of true craftsmen the world over, is his instinctual reliance on his eye, feel, and experience. He’ll simply grab a putter, grind here, buff there, check it in an outstretched hand, look down the lines, fine tune his work—and he’s done. There’s nothing like experience in fine craftsmanship."

 

For some reason there are no equally effusive paens to the those who actually build the little suckers, nor any firelit photos of the facilities.

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[Gxgolfer]

The vast majority of clubs are made in Asia. Titleist/SC never claim that their putters are made in the USA and most things you use in day to day life is made in Asia. Marketing shows the essence of the product. Displaying Scottys skills, thought process, etc. are all part of the branding. I doubt most people care where their golf equipment is made. I would wager most only care about how well it performs, feels and is quality of finish.

[taylormadefan]

The vast majority of clubs are made in Asia. Titleist/SC never claim that their putters are made in the USA and most things you use in day to day life is made in Asia. Marketing shows the essence of the product. Displaying Scottys skills, thought process, etc. are all part of the branding. I doubt most people care where their golf equipment is made. I would wager most only care about how well it performs, feels and is quality of finish.

 

Exactly, that's the only reason I bought my bullseye. I loved the way it felt when flushed and the super clean visual that I haven't found anywhere else.

 

The instant something feels better or improves my putting, it's in the bag, no questions asked no matter what brand it is.

 

sfdoddsy,

 

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me a club has to perform marketing and advertisting be damned. I take those stories just like a car advertisement. Is BMW really the "ultimate driving machine" compared to a Honda Accord? I'll drive both and find out for myself rather than take either company's word for it. :)

[kangamatt]

I think it's as simple as the difference between for example:

 

Scotty Cameron by Titleist

 

vs.

 

Hogan by Bettinardi

 

It seems to me that what your buying is a Titleist Putter designed by Cameron vs a Hogan putter made by Bettinardi.

 

I guess i'd rather have the putter made by the artisan (at his manufacturing shop) than have the design put into production by a manufacturing giant in Korea.

[Gxgolfer]

I think it's as simple as the difference between for example:

 

Scotty Cameron by Titleist

 

vs.

 

Hogan by Bettinardi

 

It seems to me that what your buying is a Titleist Putter designed by Cameron vs a Hogan putter made by Bettinardi.

 

I guess i'd rather have the putter made by the artisan (at his manufacturing shop) than have the design put into production by a manufacturing giant in Korea.

 

RJB mills fantastic putters for Mizuno in the US. His raw billets are most likely foreign in origin. Scotty's are probably rough casted/milled in Asia and then finished in the States. Unless its a very special putter, I doubt either gentleman will actually touch your putter in the production process.

[Geo]

RJB mills fantastic putters for Mizuno in the US. His raw billets are most likely foreign in origin. Scotty's are probably rough casted/milled in Asia and then finished in the States. Unless its a very special putter, I doubt either gentleman will actually touch your putter in the production process.

 

:) Both of these were touched by an artist! :cheesy:

 

Michael Jackson Accuser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bettinardi BB18

 

 

[davy9]

So why does it say "Made in America" on the spec. sticker that came on my new newport 2?

 

 

[sergizmo]

So why does it say "Made in America" on the spec. sticker that came on my new newport 2?

 

It may have been assembled in America but the head was made in Korea.

[davy9]

IC

[Geo]

So why does it say "Made in America" on the spec. sticker that came on my new newport 2?

 

 

 

The spec sticker was very likely made in the US. Thing is, I'm not even being facetious here--companies always do stuff like this to represent an image. That's why everyone thinks Camerons are made here--the implication is that they are.

 

Best example of this is another company who bills their putters as "Made in America by Americans," while pointing out that another company is made by the Chinese. Thing is, the guy is Canadian--which is absolutely not a problem in my mind (hell, some of my best friends are Canadian! :cheesy: ). But what is a problem is playing the "America-First" ticket while being less than forthecoming about being a green-card holder. :)

[MrParr1Noid]

Thing is, the guy is Canadian--which is absolutely not a problem in my mind (hell, some of my best friends are Canadian! tongue.gif )

 

Me too beruo, I think some of those Canadians are real nice people, they really know their place and don't make me feel uncomfortable being around them. :)