Spring 2001

Eye On The Ball:  Dave Oakley Helping Callaway Make Mark in Industry

Excuse Dave Oakley if you find him taking too much satisfaction watching people get teed off. It’s his job. Eight months ago, the 1983 chemical engineering alumnus followed his heart and left the field of consulting to help Callaway Golf penetrate an established market in the golf ball industry.

"I was on vacation from consulting work and played a round of golf with the Callaway ball. I knew this was a solid product, and I thought it had the potential to make an impact in the golf ball market," Oakley recalled.

Oakley previously worked for five years in the field of consulting, with Callaway as one of his clients. As one of the world leaders in golf club manufacturing, Callaway has made a significant mark on professional tours around the world.

The company decided to branch out beyond clubs, forming a new golf ball division 12 months ago. Callaway began searching for a Director of Quality and Engineering for the department. Oakley decided that the timing was right for a move back into the engineering field.

"Coming to work every day has been a lot of fun. We are making a product that people use and want to buy. I want to buy the product, too," said Oakley.

Oakley works with a staff of 25 in the areas of capital planning, quality improvement and quality assurance. An important aspect of his work is to find answers to yield and capacity issues. He also studies the technical issues involved in getting new products to the market.

Oakley helps run quality testing on Callaway balls that leave the plant for either the public or professional tour players. Although the golf ball section of Callaway has been in existence for just one year, the product has made an impact on the market.

"The Titleist Pro V1 ball has received a lot of attention for its performance on the professional tour. We have launched a product with similar performance, but the distance has been consistently better with the Callaway ball," said Oakley.

Working with a product used by professional players and the general public has allowed Oakley to interact with the rich and famous. In his eight months at Callaway, golf legends Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Johnny Miller, John Mahaffey and Seve Ballesteros have toured the newly formed golf ball testing facility. Entertainers Celine Dion and Kenny G have also taken plant tours.

"This is the first time that I have worked with a product that celebrities and the general public both use. That presents challenges, but it also is a lot of fun," said Oakley.

Callaway overcomes a unique challenge when marketing products to professional players. The company has not paid millions of dollars to professional golfers to use their products. Instead, Callaway relies on the quality of its products for its endorsement among the best players in the world.

A major focus of Oakley’s work has been the establishment of quality controls. With its reputation entrenched in the golf club field, Callaway hopes to continue making strides in its ball division. Dave Oakley will lead that effort and should have no problem if he follows a primary rule of golf: keep your eye on the ball.