Costco Kirkland Signature Gen 3 Forged Wedge -

Kirkland Signature Gen 3 Forged Wedge

The mighty Costco wedge is back with a vengeance. Okay, maybe that is a bit dramatic, but the new Kirkland Signature Gen 3 forged wedge is a serious step up from the previous Costco wedges, and it is still hitting a great price point. While the $199.99 sticker price is a bump, Costco put that extra cash to good use. They’ve ditched the flashy packaging, gone with a full forged construction, and added real deal Lamkin Crossline 360 grips. Available in the standard 52º, 56º, and 60º lofts with versatile sole grinds, this set is built to handle a wide range of golfers looking for a value wedge, or just love the Costco Golf trend!

The Looks

I would say the Kirkland Signature wedges have a moderate footprint. They hardly scream “game improvement,” but they also don’t have a compact, tear-drop, tour-inspired shape. It’s somewhere right in between those two. The leading edge is a bit rounded which I feel like sort of exaggerates the offset. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like the toe looks a little blunt too. Not so much cut off like a vintage square toe blade, but I do appreciate it being slightly stubby. Then there’s the anti-glare sandblasted face. While this goes a long way in cutting down light reflection, the toe and heel sections can still send a little of that light back to your eyes. That said, it’s not unmanageable.

It’s also worth noting that I think the branding/aesthetics are much better on these wedges. The Kirkland Signature logo still screams “grocery store wedge” a little bit, but the look is certainly much cleaner overall. There’s also a milling line across the back of club which highlights the progressive center of gravity (COG), which we’ll discuss more later. Generally speaking, I feel like the Gen 3 forged wedges look much more premium than previous generations.

How Does it Feel?

These Costco wedges have a bit more heft to them compared to the earlier versions. They are notably more responsive, and the forged carbon steel face provides much more precise feedback at impact. You can really feel the difference where you strike the face, which is a significant step up from the sensation you got with the previous cast models. I found those to be a little more “muted” compared to these. I’m still not sure that I’m ready to call them “buttery.”

Beyond that, the sole grinds and stock shafts play a major part in how these clubs feel. The sole grinds are on the wider and flatter side, which offers a stable, consistent turf interaction, but perhaps a bit less shot versatility than what a better player might ask from their wedge. As for the stock Kirkland Signature wedge shafts (I believe made by Dynamic Gold), they lean toward the lighter and softer side. If you are a player who prefers a heavier, firmer feel in your wedges, you might find yourself needing a re-shafting project at some point. That said, the stock configuration is plenty playable, provides good feedback, and is capable of generating enough spin.

How Does it Sound?

The previous cast models produced a muted click at impact, but this Gen 3 Costco wedge is different. It’s denser and firmer, yet still delivers a satisfying and clean “click.” That denser, firmer sound at impact is a distinct shift from previous generations that reflects the change to a forged build.

The sound through the turf is often a little on the heavier side due to the wider soles. On cleaner strikes, however, the sound is nice and “whispy” as the club lightly and smoothly glides across the surface without digging.

On-Course Performance

Performance is largely dependent on how well these sole grinds and leading edges suit your game. I didn’t find a massive amount of shot versatility here, but standard shots are easy to execute. The heads are pretty forgiving on heavier strikes, and they perform well in the sand if you allow yourself trust the club to do the work. I would go so far as to say I was most impressed with how well the 56º performed in bunkers! I also felt there was a performance improvement over previous Costco wedges, driven by the previously mentioned responsiveness of the forged construction. Better feedback provides a more precision in the hands, which of course aids in control.

As mentioned earlier, there’s a progressive center of gravity. This design shifts mass locations throughout the set. There’s more mass higher in the head of the gap wedge for trajectory control, and lower in the lob wedge for a higher, more manageable flight. It is a subtle inclusion, and I’d be lying if I said I definitely noticed it, but the trajectories for all three wedges was certainly functional.

Final Thoughts – Kirkland Signature Gen 3 Forged Wedge

The Gen 3’s shift to a forged construction makes the Kirkland Signature golf gear moving more out of the “novelty” conversation and into the realm of performance-oriented equipment. While they aren’t going to replace a custom-fitted, boutique wedge for a player who demands absolute versatility, they offer a level of feedback and consistency that is is certainly more interesting at this price point. They still aren’t the most premium wedge out there, but they are 100% a respectable, big step up from the originals.