Bridgestone Golf confirms shock ball plant closure in news that will draw attention of Tiger Woods

Bridgestone Golf, one of the world’s leading golf ball manufacturers, has announced it will shut down its Covington, Georgia production and testing facility on 30 June, ending 36 years of manufacturing operations in the United States.

The decision marks a significant restructuring for Bridgestone, which has long been a fixture in U.S.-based golf ball production. 

The Covington plant, located around 45 minutes east of Atlanta, employed approximately 160 workers as recently as 2020 and was capable of producing up to a billion golf balls annually at peak output.

In a statement, Bridgestone confirmed that manufacturing will now be consolidated at its Seki facility in Japan, where the majority of its golf balls are already produced. 

The company described the move as part of a broader effort to optimise its global supply chain, improve operational efficiency and reduce costs amid increasing volatility in international markets.

The closure will result in around 86 job losses, although Bridgestone said it intends to support affected employees through the transition. 

Local economic officials in Newton County acknowledged the plant’s long-standing contribution to the region’s industrial base and said efforts would be made to assist workers in finding new employment opportunities.

Bridgestone Golf USA president and CEO Dan Murphy, who has held senior roles with the company since 2004 and returned to lead the business in 2018, described the decision as both difficult and strategic.

“We’re proud of the legacy we’ve had in Covington, and especially of the people who have worked here over the years,” Murphy said. 

“These people are the salt of the earth, and it has been an honour to be part of this team. We will be doing the right thing by them and honouring their commitment to us as best we can.”

Murphy emphasised that the shift in manufacturing would not affect product quality or availability for consumers. He noted that an estimated 95% of golf products sold in the U.S. are already produced overseas, and insisted the change would be “invisible to the consumer at retail”.

“The goal is to ensure our customers won’t see anything different,” he said. “This allows us to be more focused on the front end of our business. We will be stronger, leaner, and better positioned to tell the story of our innovative products and invest in marketing and tour presence.”

Bridgestone added in a press release that the decision followed a comprehensive review of its global operations. 

The company said it regularly evaluates its manufacturing footprint to ensure long-term competitiveness, citing supply chain pressures, cost management and operational efficiency as key drivers.

“Bridgestone Golf regularly evaluates all aspects of its business to consider market realities and ensure it remains sustainable and competitive,” the statement read. 

“This decision comes after a thorough assessment of the increasing volatility in global markets and evolving challenges related to supply chain, operational efficiency, and cost management.”

The Covington facility has played a notable role in the company’s history. 

At various points it was responsible for producing Bridgestone’s premium golf balls, including models used on professional tours. 

Under Murphy’s leadership, Covington became the sole production site for the company’s top-tier golf balls by 2014.

The development will inevitably draw attention across professional golf, not least from Tiger Woods, one of Bridgestone’s most high-profile ambassadors, who plays the company’s Tour B XS golf ball.

Woods, 50, is currently taking time away from the game as he focuses on his health following a recent DUI arrest after a car crash in Florida.

Bridgestone’s PGA Tour presence also includes golf ball staffers such as Jason Day, Fred Couples, Chris Gotterup and Kurt Kitayama, ensuring the brand remains visible at the highest level of the game despite the operational shift.

Founded in 1931 by Shōjirō Ishibashi, Bridgestone began producing golf balls in 1937 and later expanded into clubs in 1972, evolving into a major equipment supplier across global golf markets.