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Liberty, South Carolina, - population 3,200. A rural community marked by historic buildings and an enviably slow pace of life. Yet, nestled in the heart of this small town, the TaylorMade Golf ball plant stands as a testament to innovation, technology and precision.
Since its establishment in 2013, the facility has undergone significant growth, leading the way in producing high-quality golf balls that cater to both professionals and amateurs alike. In fact, every TaylorMade golf ball played on the LPGA and PGA TOUR passes through Liberty.
With a commitment to cutting-edge technology and meticulous quality control, the Liberty location has allowed TaylorMade to solidify its position as a leading player in the golf ball industry.
Scott Austin, the Custom Logo Operations and TOUR Manager at the Liberty plant, has been with the company since 2006. He recalls the early days when they made the bold decision to construct a new home base in Liberty, shifting operations from their previous location 30 miles away. Initially expecting moderate growth in golf ball production, they were taken aback when the numbers skyrocketed and presently the plant churns out dozens by the hundreds of thousands per month – with millions flowing through annually. That level of production is a testament to the industry's overall growth and TaylorMade's relentless pursuit.
One of the driving forces behind TaylorMade's success has been its focus on visual technology. According to Austin, the visual tech revolution has transformed operations at Liberty. While the core and mantle layers are manufactured in Taiwan or Korea, the plant specializes in cast molding, finishing, painting and stamping. The incorporation of proprietary and conventional printing techniques has enabled TaylorMade to offer a wide range of visual enhancements, such as the renowned TP5/TP5x pix™, Tour Response Stripe™, all-new MySymbol, along with custom logos and personalized symbols. These features not only enhance visibility during play but TP5/TP5x pix can provide valuable feedback to golfers, while Tour Response Stripe aids in alignment, enriching the overall experience on the course.
“From start to finish here at Liberty, a golf ball goes through roughly 10 departments. When you add up each one of those, depending on automation or human interaction, approximately 50 people play a role in the creation of one golf ball from the time it's started to the time it's finished.” Scott Austin, the Custom Logo Operations and TOUR Manager
TaylorMade's production process at the Liberty plant is a well-orchestrated symphony of precision and craftsmanship. It begins with the finished mantle, which undergoes priming to ensure proper adhesion. The patented cast urethane process takes center stage, shaping the golf ball's dimples and separating the seam in the mold. Subsequent steps involve removing excess flash, buffing the ball for uniformity and prepping the cast urethane material for painting. The paint booth applies multiple coats, followed by stamping and decoration operations to add distinct visual elements. A crucial quality control phase verifies the ball's durability, visual aesthetics and adherence to strict specifications. Finally, the balls are packed and sent to TaylorMade's distribution center in Garrison, Indiana, ready to find their way to golfers worldwide.
Cast urethane is the unprecedented standard for premium golf ball performance. Kenny Reinhardt, the Director of Operations at the Liberty plant, emphasizes the benefits of cast urethane, which combines excellent durability with a superior feel. In the past, Reinhardt explains, you could have a golf ball with a soft feel or a golf ball that was durable. Achieving both is a challenge. However, cast urethane creates a ball that retains its resilience after rigorous use, from iron shots to bunker escapes, and delivering exceptional feel shot after shot.
The Liberty plant plays a pivotal role in supplying golf balls to the PGA and LPGA TOUR, as the sole supplier of TaylorMade golf balls used at the professional level. While the balls used by pros are the same as those available in the marketplace, they undergo meticulous sorting to meet tighter specifications for size, weight and speed. TaylorMade's PGA TOUR department in Carlsbad, California, collaborates closely with the Liberty plant, customizing logos and numbers based on upcoming events and player preferences.
“We gauge size, compression, cosmetics and pretty much anything else you can think of to make sure that when the player receives them, they’re ready to go straight from the box and onto the tee.” Janice Holland – TaylorMade Tour Golf Ball Inspector
Having a quality product begins with having a quality process. The team at Liberty monitors and controls every step of manufacturing. According to Kenny Reinhardt, the plant's Director of Operations, every function along the line has specific control parameters based on proven statistical data - all in an effort to ensure only the highest quality products reach your golf bag.
“Quality begins and ends with the people. Instead of waiting till the very end to say whether we have a good product or not, we put control parameters in place along the way to make sure we have a good product. The thing we believe at TaylorMade Liberty is you have control of the product, never pass a defect forward. That’s the mantra we live by here in Liberty.” Kenny Reinhardt, Director of Operations at Liberty Ball Plant
From visual tech to precision manufacturing and the use of cast urethane covers, the Liberty ball plant is a testament to TaylorMade’s pursuit of innovation and quality. With a TOUR team that includes some of the game’s best in Rory McIlroy, Nelly Korda, Collin Morikawa and Tommy Fleetwood, alongside a growing community of golfers who are latching onto TaylorMade’s catalog of visual tech and personalized golf balls, it’s no wonder why the team at Liberty stays so busy.
This small South Carolina town is a driving force in the industry, shaping the future of golf one ball at a time.