Our Brand STory
Makino Golf was founded by Shohei Nomura, a former industrial designer from Tokyo, who moved to Hyōgo Prefecture to pursue his passion for golf club manufacturing. The region is renowned for its skilled artisans and boasts a legacy of craftsmanship spanning over 90 years.
All Makino irons and wedges are forged at Kyōei Golf Industry Co., Ltd., the oldest golf club forging house in Japan.
The putters result from a partnership between Nomura and machinist Shinagawa, merging artistry with precision engineering.
Photo: Nomura with one of his mentors, Iuichi Yukio, while learning the art of grinding.
In 2021, they teamed up on a limited edition putter, with Iuichi handling the grinding and Nomura working on the finishing touches. More details here.
From a young age, Nomura was uniquely fascinated by metal. While other children played with conventional toys, he could spend hours polishing metal objects, captivated by their sheen and the intricate process of refining them. Despite his reluctance, he was compelled by his father to join him for golf every other weekend. Over time, what started as an obligation turned into a genuine passion, complementing his love for metalwork.
It is said that the brand name “Makino Sports” existed in the 1980s and gained a cult following among a niche audience. However, it reportedly faded from the market during the economic crises of the 1990s. Inspired by the original brand's story and philosophy, Nomura adopted the name “Makino,” giving it personal significance beyond its traditional meaning.
“Makino” embodies the spirit of craftsmanship, merging elements of “Nomura” and “Makita” (the Japanese tools company known for its high-quality power tools and innovative solutions for DIY enthusiasts and professionals alike). By combining these influences, the brand honors Japanese heritage and construction, producing golf clubs that are both functional and artistically crafted.
MODAL ARCHITEXWith Shinagawa’s addition to the team, we launched MA3 (Modal Architex), a bold and innovative line designed for a global audience. True to its name, MA3 combines Modal, a term for control in machinery, with Architex (derived from “architects”) to represent creativity, capturing the spirit of trial and error that lies at the heart of craftsmanship. Each product in the lineup boasts an artistic allure, and in hand, it reflects the stoic presence of a dedicated golfer. This resonates with Makino’s core philosophy of “Don’t let the clubs take over your golf”—an athlete-first approach to performance-driven golf.
