Costco doesn’t make its own wedges. A California design firm and a golf supplier with a factory in Qingdao, China do, and right now Costco’s new forged set gets you a 52, 56, and 60 for $199.99. For most golfers that’s still a great deal, if you can catch it in stock.
Is the Kirkland Wedge Set worth buying?
So who makes Kirkland wedges? Kirkland Signature is Costco’s own brand, and the clubs come from outside partners. There are really two answers, and they’re both true.
On the design side, the name you’ll see is Southern California Design Co., or SCDC. Back in January 2023, SCDC was reported as the design company Costco worked with on its Signature wedges.
On the production side, the USGA conforming list is the best paper trail you’ve got. The Gen 2 wedges were listed under SM Global LLC in 2023, and the new Gen 3 Forged set was listed under SM Global/SM Parker Golf in April 2026. SM Parker Golf is based in Qingdao, and it’s the same company that makes Kirkland’s golf balls. Costco doesn’t put a maker’s name on either product page.
Here’s what you need to know about who’s behind each set, what changed from Gen 2 to Gen 3, where you can actually buy them, and who should grab a set.
Quick Overview
- Who makes them: not Costco. SCDC, a California design firm, is tied to the design, and the USGA list names SM Global and its Qingdao supplier, SM Parker Golf.
- What’s in the box: a 52-degree gap wedge, a 56-degree sand wedge, and a 60-degree lob wedge.
- Price: $199.99 for the Gen 3 Forged set, about $67 a wedge. Gen 2 was $169.99.
- Both hands now: Gen 3 comes in right or left hand. Gen 2 was right-handed only.
- Where to buy: you can only buy them new from Costco. Amazon’s old listing is unavailable.
Kirkland Wedge Set Specs
The current Gen 3 set is forged with a sandblasted face, while the Kirkland Signature Gen 2 set it replaced was a cast, milled-face set.
| Specification | Gen 3 Forged (current) | Gen 2 (replaced) |
|---|---|---|
| Costco item | 1985300 | 1654529 |
| Price | $199.99 | $169.99 |
| Costco online stock (October 19, 2026) | Out of stock | Out of stock, not sold in warehouse |
| Lofts | 52 (gap), 56 (sand), 60 (lob) | 52 (gap), 56 (sand), 60 (lob) |
| Hand | Right or left | Right only |
| Head | Forged mild carbon steel | Carbon steel, cast |
| Face | Sand Blast Face Technology | Milled Face Technology |
| Grip | Lamkin Crossline 360 | Kirkland Signature Tour Grip |
| Shaft | Kirkland Signature Wedge Flex | Kirkland Signature Wedge Flex |
| Bounce | Not published | 8 (52), 10 (56), 10 (60) |
| Lie | Not published | 64 on all three |
| Length | Not published | 35.5 in (52), 35.25 in (56), 35 in (60) |
| Swing weight | Not published | D3 (52), D4 (56), D4 (60) |
| USGA-listed maker | SM Global/SM Parker Golf | SM Global LLC |
| Custom options | None | None |
| Returns | Costco satisfaction guarantee | Costco satisfaction guarantee |
A California Design Firm and a Qingdao Factory Are Behind Kirkland Wedges
Kirkland wedges go back further than most people think. Kirkland Signature wedges were already on the USGA conforming list in July 2020, with “milled face technology” written on the back.
SCDC shares a registered mailing address with Indi Golf, a small company that makes wedges and putters. SCDC calls itself a full-service product development firm, covering design, engineering, sourcing, and production. So think of SCDC as the people who design and manage the club, not the factory that forges it.
SM Global is a sourcing and logistics company that’s also been tied to Costco’s gloves. And SM Parker isn’t a one-brand shop, either. It’s a larger forging house in China that makes components for several direct-to-consumer and boutique brands.
SCDC got a lot more attention in 2024. TaylorMade sued Costco in California’s Southern District, claiming the Kirkland Signature Players irons copied five patents from its P790 irons. The complaint named Costco and its contracted design partner for those irons, Southern California Design Corporation, also known as Indi Golf.
Now, keep that in perspective. The lawsuit was about irons, not wedges. It doesn’t tell you anything about how the wedges play.
Three Forged Wedges Cost About What One Vokey Does
This is why everybody buys these. At $199.99, you walk out with three wedges. A single Titleist Vokey SM11 is $199. That’s one club.
| Wedge | Price | What you get | Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland Gen 3 Forged | $199.99 | Three forged wedges: 52, 56, 60 | Right or left |
| Kirkland Gen 2 | $169.99 (out of stock) | Three cast wedges: 52, 56, 60 | Right only |
| Titleist Vokey SM11 | $199 each | One wedge, your loft, bounce, and grind | Right or left |
| Takomo Skyforger | $89 each | One forged wedge in 48, 52, 56, or 60 | Right or left |
And the lofts are the ones most golfers are missing. A lot of beginner sets stop at a pitching wedge and maybe a sand wedge. The Kirkland set gives you a 52 for full shots inside your pitching wedge, a 56 for bunkers and pitches, and a 60 for the short, high stuff around the green.
Here’s the thing you need to check first. The 52 has to fit with your pitching wedge. If your pitching wedge is around 44 to 46 degrees, jumping straight to a 52 can leave you a yardage gap. If you already carry a 48 or a 50, the 60 might be more club than you need. Look at the loft on your pitching wedge before you buy. My golf wedges guide walks through how to space your lofts, and my 56-degree wedge distance guide shows how far that middle club should go.
If you’re a 20 handicap trying to get up and down more often, a $199 wedge isn’t what’s keeping you from breaking 90. Three lofts you actually practice with will do a lot more for you than one expensive club.
Gen 3 Is Forged and Finally Comes in Left-Handed
Gen 2 was a cast set. Gen 3 is forged. Costco says the new heads are forged mild carbon steel for better feel, with a Sand Blast face for spin and a progressive center of gravity in each wedge to help launch and control. If you want the long version of what forged versus cast actually changes, I cover it in my forged vs cast golf clubs breakdown.
The bigger deal is the left-handed version. Gen 2 only came in right hand, so lefties were stuck. Costco now lists the Gen 3 set in right and left at the same $199.99. That’s a big one if you’re a lefty who’s been watching your buddies grab these.
The grip changed too. Gen 2 came with a Kirkland Signature Tour Grip. Gen 3 ships with a Lamkin Crossline 360.
Gen 3 does cost $30 more than Gen 2 did. For a forged head, a left-handed option, and a Lamkin grip, that $30 is worth it.
One Sole and One Shaft Is Fine for Most Golfers, but Not for Everybody
Every Kirkland set is a fixed package. One shaft, one grip, one sole on each wedge. You can’t pick a bounce, you can’t pick a grind, and you can’t change the lofts.
For the Gen 2 set, Costco’s own spec chart lists 8 degrees of bounce on the 52 and 10 on both the 56 and the 60. You’ll see the opposite floating around online, with 10 on the gap wedge and 8 on the lob wedge. Costco’s chart says otherwise. For Gen 3, Costco hasn’t published bounce, lie, length, or swing weight at all. It just calls the sole a versatile design for a wide range of players and turf conditions.
For a lot of recreational golfers, that’s fine. If you hit normal pitches, chips, and bunker shots from normal lies, you’re not going to miss a grind menu you’d never use.
But it’s a problem for a couple of golfers. If you love opening the face way up and hitting high flops, or you play firm, tight turf and know you need less bounce, a one-size sole makes life harder. That golfer should be building a set one wedge at a time. Takomo’s Skyforger is $89 a wedge and lets you pick 48, 52, 56, or 60. If you want to go all the way, a fitting tells you exactly what bounce and grind you need. My golf club fitting guide explains what that gets you.
What I Don’t Love
The biggest problem is simple. You can’t always buy them. Costco is the only place selling these new, and as of October 19, 2026, the Gen 3 set was out of stock online in both hands. The Gen 2 set shows out of stock online and isn’t sold in the warehouse. Amazon’s old Kirkland wedge set listing says currently unavailable, and an Amazon search for the set turns up other brands.
If you go used, 2nd Swing had 94 used Kirkland Signature wedges listed, but they’re single wedges, not sets. Check the grooves and make sure you know which generation you’re getting. My guide to where to buy used golf clubs covers what to look for.
Costco doesn’t list a Kirkland warranty on either page. Buying new, you get Costco’s satisfaction guarantee, subject to its exceptions, and Costco tells you to contact them for manufacturer warranty information. Buy a used set from a stranger and you don’t get that.
Who It’s For
Buy it if:
- You need a gap, sand, and lob wedge and don’t want to spend $597 on three Vokeys.
- Your pitching wedge loft works with a 52 as the next club.
- You’re left-handed and couldn’t get the old Gen 2 set.
- You hit mostly standard pitches, chips, and bunker shots.
Skip it if:
- You need a specific bounce, grind, or shaft.
- You open the face for flop shots all the time or play really firm turf.
- You can’t wait for Costco to restock and don’t want to buy used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes Kirkland Signature wedges?
Costco doesn’t build them itself. Southern California Design Co. (SCDC) was named as Costco’s design firm on the earlier Kirkland wedges. For production, the USGA conforming list names SM Global LLC on Gen 2, and SM Global with its Qingdao factory, SM Parker Golf, on the Gen 3 Forged set.
Are Kirkland wedges forged?
The current ones are. Costco’s Gen 3 set uses a forged mild carbon steel head with a Sand Blast face. The Gen 1 and Gen 2 sets were cast, and Gen 2 had a milled face. If you’re shopping used, check which generation you’re looking at, because they’re different clubs.
Do Kirkland wedges come in left-handed?
Yes, the Gen 3 Forged set does. Costco lists it in right and left hand at $199.99. The older Gen 2 set was right-handed only.
What is the bounce on Kirkland wedges?
For Gen 2, Costco’s spec chart lists 8 degrees on the 52 and 10 degrees on the 56 and 60, with a 64-degree lie on all three. Costco hasn’t published bounce for the Gen 3 Forged set. There are no bounce or grind options on either set.
Can you buy Kirkland wedges on Amazon?
Not new right now. Amazon’s Kirkland Signature 3-piece wedge set listing shows currently unavailable, with no restock date. New sets only come from Costco. Used single Kirkland wedges do show up at 2nd Swing.
Final Thoughts: Kirkland Wedge Set Review
Costco’s partners make these, not Costco, and the forged Gen 3 set is the one to buy today. If you need three wedges and don’t care about grind options, grab it at $199.99 the next time it’s in stock. If you need a specific bounce or you can’t wait, buy single wedges and build your own.
About the author
Paul Liberatore
Paul Liberatore is the founder of Golfers Authority and a former four-year golf gear contributor to Sports Illustrated. He tests golf equipment hands-on to help golfers make better buying decisions.