Member’s Mark Golf Ball Review
Sam’s Club has officially joined the value golf ball game with its new Member’s Mark golf ball. Designed with a three-piece construction and a responsive polyurethane cover, this ball promises soft feel and performance at an affordable price point. The Member’s Mark golf ball also aims to deliver a higher launch, slightly higher speeds, and lower spin in your long game.
This ball retails at $27.99 per box of two dozen, but after a “non-member’s fee”, shipping, and tax, the total price came out to just over $40 a box. This puts the Member’s Mark golf ball right in the same range of the Costco ball. And let’s be honest, everyone really wants to know how these two balls compare against each other! I’ll do my best to share those thoughts throughout this review.
How Does it Feel?
The Member’s Mark golf ball delivers a quality feel for a ball of this price point. Its core layer makes the ball feel firmer at higher speeds. I found this specifically noticeable when hitting shots with my woods. There’s enough presence to get a feel of jump off of your driver, but it doesn’t feel “rocky” by any means. As you progress through your shots/clubs, the softer compression becomes more noticeable. I wouldn’t say it has a squishy, marshmallowy feel, but it isn’t super grippy/sticky either. You just get a good sense of the ball compression at impact on a decently struck shot.
Note: I don’t believe higher swing-speed players will necessarily find the Member’s Mark to feel firm enough. That said, I did prefer the feel of the Member’s Mark over the Kirkland Signature in some areas which I’ll discuss below.
Off the Tee
This is where the Member’s Mark golf ball really stood out for me. The responsive feel and low spin made it easier to control, and my results reflected it. I can’t tell you that I noticed the higher launch characteristics, but I can say that it didn’t feel like it was difficult to get the ball up in the air and going.
Balls of this “one size fits all skill levels” are often a bit too spinny at higher speeds. Through a decent amount of rounds, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how controlled the spin is. I won’t try and convince you that it’s reminiscent of a premium distance ball, especially for higher swing speeds, but compared to something like…the K-Sig, it was much more manageable. I got along relatively well with the Member’s Mark off the tee and found it to be a dependable, playable ball.
On the Approach
For me personally, approach shots are where I started to notice the Member’s Mark ball’s true colors. Long and full mid irons were solid and consistent with my woods experience above. The ball was responsive and controllable so no issues hitting my targets. I can’t say I was seeing a ton of bite on the greens from my 4-7 irons, but I don’t usually anyway. No complaints.
When I started getting into full/full-ish swings with shorter irons, I thought the overall results were sort of “meh”. (I generally hate using “meh”, but it really is the best articulation here.) The feel wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad. It was really just “fine”. Nothing to write home about. It could hold the greens, but it never left me feeling like I could get “crafty” with my shorter clubs. Don’t get me wrong, launch and control were definitely playable, but not necessarily satisfying.
As much as I found the Maker’s Mark ball to be unremarkable on approach shots, I still think I prefer it over the Costco ball in this area. I definitely found more value in my longer irons, and I can survive with the characteristics of the shorter irons.
Around the Green
Personal skill and preferences will factor heavily in this area of evaluation and ball selection. The characteristics of the shorter irons mentioned above carried on in this area as well. I just didn’t feel like the ball felt great and that really translated to the outcomes of short pitches and chips. I could get the ball to spin fairly well with my wedges, but I didn’t feel like I had the greatest control of the ball because because I didn’t click with the ball’s “feel”.
With putting, the Member’s Mark was ok, but not great. And really, that’s very heavily related to personal preference, to be fair. It felt ok off of the putter, but not great. It’s tough to explain why, though. It definitely didn’t feel too soft, and it wasn’t clicky at all. It just didn’t have a feel that translated well in my hands. So I felt like I could putt ok with it, but I wasn’t confident from most distances.
If I have to pick between the Member’s Mark and the K-Sig around the green, I’m picking the K-Sig.
Final Thoughts – Sam’s Club Member’s Mark Golf Ball
The Member’s Mark golf ball is a perfectly reasonable option in the value category. For the most part, it delivers on its intent of a soft-feeling, affordable ball with solid long game performance. Off the tee and with longer irons, it was impressively consistent and easy to control. While I didn’t personally love it around the green , it still offers enough playability for the average golfer, especially at this price.
One thing I didn’t touch on throughout the review was the ball’s durability. That certainly adds value to this ball. The cover held up well and the ball stayed consistent with regular use. If you have experience in this area of the market, you know that’s a very worthwhile trait that can separate itself from the competition.
That said, this ball isn’t going to blow anyone away. It’s not some hidden gem that plays like a $50 Tour ball. That’s ok, it doesn’t have to. It’s a very serviceable, reasonably priced option that gives golfers another alternative in the growing world of budget golf balls.
…and the million dollar question: am I choosing the Sam’s Club or the Costco ball? At this point in time, I’d definitely pick the Sam’s Club ball if I have to pick one. I don’t think either one competes with companies that have specialized expertise in making golf balls, but the Member’s Mark ball has my vote at the moment.
