Deadly Fire at Golf Ball Factory Could Impact Supply Chain

A fire at a factory that manufactures golf balls in Taiwan killed nine people and could have a ripple effect on your golf bag.

The factory, which was destroyed by the fire, manufactured balls for Launch Technologies, Inc. and provided balls for companies that include Callaway, TaylorMade, Bridgestone, Mizuno, and Wilson. 

An explosion and fire has killed at least six people, including three firefighters, and injured 98 more at a golf ball factory in Taiwan, with four others unaccounted for. The cause of the blast is under investigation. pic.twitter.com/s5GZViup3v

— RT (@RT_com) September 24, 2023

The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined yet, but Dean Klatt, CEO and founder of ball manufacturer Seed Golf, said it was a chemical fire that spread quickly because water couldn’t be used to put it out. Four firefighters were among the nine who died. 

Klatt said it could be six months to a year before production is back up and running. 

Klatt said in an email to Golf Digest:

“Whatever LT inventory we OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] have on hand or on the water [being shipped] is all we’ll have for quite a while. Moving manufacture is not easy in this case. Tooling (i.e. dimple patterns) will have most likely been destroyed, so it’s a complete rebuild at a new plant with many unknowns. Dimple tooling is expensive, and that set-up takes time, then there’s the quality control issues to consider once you get to production phase at a new plant. At best, I would say six months to reestablish supply elsewhere.”

There are reports that criminal charges will be filed based on conditions at the factory prior to the fire. 

Taiwan authorities fine golf ball manufacturer and warn of criminal charges for storing 30 times the legal limit of hazardous material and other violations after a major factory fire killed nine people and left one other missing. https://t.co/i4YZEy2Arz

— ABC News (@ABC) September 25, 2023

As part of its report, the Associated Press said the factory created one-fifth of all the golf balls in the world, with 80% of those being sold in the United States.

Cover Image via AP