Introducing the Hello Kitty Golf Line for Girls & Women
Circa 2011

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In 2011 Golf Digest asked: 'Is there room in a weak economy and a flat sport for another equipment company, particularly one called Hello Kitty Golf that will focus on two generally underserved constituencies, girls' and women's golf?'

Apparently so was the initial thinking. This web site, wsh-golf.com, was created to launch the new Hello Kitty golf line. I bought this site when the original the site’s domain expired with the goal of restoring it via its 2011 archived pages to the original content. For all those lovers of all Hello Kitty branded items, this is where the Hello Kitty golf line first made its appearance. Although you can’t purchase any of the product line here, there are plenty of stores where you can still buy just about any of the initial the Hello Kitty Golf Collection of bags and accessories.

I remember when I first heard about the Hello Kitty golf line for girls. It was around my older daughter's 8th birthday and I in California doing some consulting work for a client of the progressive software company I work for. My background is in development support for Magento cms and this CA based firm needed help with its e-commerce websites. They wanted us to develop a strategy for choosing and executing the right Magento development services and themes. Because Magento has tons of custom extensions and modules to choose from, the platform can be overwhelming. I was there with several other members of my team to help get their custom Magento website functioning smoothly and securely. My wife called me one evening saying she saw an article about a Hello Kitty golf line for girls that was being introduced. Now both my girls were big Hello Kitty fans and my wife thought getting a set of girls' golf clubs with a Hello Kitty theme was the perfect birthday gift. She wanted me to see if I could find the clubs while I was out in CA and bring them home with me. I guess I lucked out and purchased not one, but two sets ( my younger daughter's birthday was coming up in the next month), plus some Hello Kitty golf club cover's for my wife. WHile I was talking to the sales rep I admired the silver ring she was wearing saying that my wife preferred only silver jewelry. The rep told me about a great e commerce site where she buys all her designer style sterling silver rings. I checked out the site and was impressed. I decided to purchase a sterling silver criss cross ring that was studded with white cubic zirconia stones. It was reasonably priced although the cz stones looked like real diamonds. I planned to hide the ring in my wife's golf bag as a surprise. Let me just say, all the gifts were a big hit.

 

The Back Story: Hello Kitty Golf Brand

Michael Lee, who founded Nickent Golf which was taken over by Dick's Sporting conceived of the new Hello Kitty Golf brand.

"This brand was conceived in June of last year," said Michael Lee, who founded Nickent Golf . Approached by Hello Kitty's parent company, Sanrio USA, Michael Lee  was asked to help them create a line of golf equipment and accessories. The result was a few individual products within a Hello Kitty golf line that ranged from girls junior golf sets to accessories, headcovers, divot tools, ball markers, and balls, to full ladies' golf sets. Most of the design staff from Nickent, which had been taken over by Dick's Sporting were hired for this new company. They created the designs for the entire Hello Kitty golf line.

 

Who Is Hello Kitty Golf?

Hello Kitty® Golf brings together a beloved character and a popular sport – both well-known around the world – and combines them in a unique way that is fashionable and fun for golfers and non-golfers alike.

Hello Kitty Golf is the first company in North America to offer golf products featuring the smiling face of Hello Kitty on a full line of high-quality golf equipment, accessories and apparel, available in a range of colors that can be mixed and matched in a number of different combinations. The complete line of Hello Kitty Golf equipment includes clubs, bags, balls, headcovers, golf gloves, shoes, towels, caps, visors, divot tools and many other accessories, all designed to make a golfer look great on the fairway.

Hello Kitty is the corporate symbol of lifestyle company Sanrio Co., Ltd., the $5 billion company that has made Hello Kitty and its iconic white Japanese cat logo recognizable around the world. The company was founded in 1960 by Mr. Shintaro Tsuji, who created a line of character merchandise designed around gift-giving occasions. Sanrio, Inc. began in the western hemisphere in 1976 with a boutique store in San Jose, Calif., and today has more than 4,000 locations in the Americas displaying Sanrio character merchandise including character-branded stationery, school supplies, gifts and accessories.

NOTE:

Williams Sports, Inc., Doing Business In California As Williams Sports Holdings, Inc. filed as a Statement & Designation By Foreign Corporation in the State of California and is no longer active. This corporate entity was filed approximately four years ago on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 , according to public records filed with California Secretary of State.

Initial Product Line

Below is the initial product line with images and descriptions.  If you search for these products today, you will find that in most cases the prices are less than were originally posted here in 2011.

Who Is Hello Kitty Golf?

Hello Kitty® Golf brings together a beloved character and a popular sport – both well-known around the world – and combines them in a unique way that is fashionable and fun for golfers and non-golfers alike.

Hello Kitty Golf is the first company in North America to offer golf products featuring the smiling face of Hello Kitty on a full line of high-quality golf equipment, accessories and apparel, available in a range of colors that can be mixed and matched in a number of different combinations. The complete line of Hello Kitty Golf equipment includes clubs, bags, balls, headcovers, golf gloves, shoes, towels, caps, visors, divot tools and many other accessories, all designed to make a golfer look great on the fairway.

Hello Kitty is the corporate symbol of lifestyle company Sanrio Co., Ltd., the $5 billion company that has made Hello Kitty and its iconic white Japanese cat logo recognizable around the world. The company was founded in 1960 by Mr. Shintaro Tsuji, who created a line of character merchandise designed around gift-giving occasions. Sanrio, Inc. began in the western hemisphere in 1976 with a boutique store in San Jose, Calif., and today has more than 4,000 locations in the Americas displaying Sanrio character merchandise including character-branded stationery, school supplies, gifts and accessories.

 

Hello Kitty Golf Line

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GOLF BAGS

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ACCESSORIES

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GOLF SETS

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More Background On WSH-Golf.com

 

In the early 2010s, few brand collaborations captured the imagination of both golf enthusiasts and pop-culture fans quite like Hello Kitty Golf. Combining Sanrio’s globally adored feline icon with the traditionally conservative sport of golf, the line signaled an unexpected yet brilliantly strategic crossover of sport, fashion, and fandom. The now-archived website WSH-Golf.com served as the original digital home for this venture—a space dedicated to the product line’s debut and its brief but memorable presence in the golf equipment market.

Though no longer an active commerce site, WSH-Golf.com remains historically significant as the online launchpad for Hello Kitty Golf, an enterprise created under Williams Sports Holdings (WSH) and led by Michael Lee, the founder of Nickent Golf. The site provided detailed product listings, descriptions, and lifestyle imagery, all reflecting Sanrio’s effort to extend Hello Kitty’s reach into a new, aspirational market—women’s and junior golf.

Origins and Ownership

Sanrio’s Global Vision

The Hello Kitty Golf brand was officially developed through a partnership between Sanrio Co., Ltd., the Japanese lifestyle company founded by Shintaro Tsuji in 1960, and Williams Sports Holdings, Inc., a U.S.-based sports equipment company established to create the line. Sanrio’s licensing model has long relied on partnerships that translate its beloved characters into a wide range of products—from stationery and accessories to automobiles and even theme parks.

By 2011, Hello Kitty was already one of the world’s most recognizable icons, generating an estimated $5 billion annually in global merchandise sales. But until that point, the character had never been featured on a complete line of golf equipment. Golf represented both a challenge and an opportunity for Sanrio: it was an arena dominated by traditional brands like Titleist, Callaway, and Ping—none of which particularly appealed to girls or women entering the sport.

The Role of Michael Lee and Williams Sports

Enter Michael Lee, a seasoned golf-industry entrepreneur best known for founding Nickent Golf, a respected club manufacturer known for its hybrids and innovative club design. When Nickent was absorbed by Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lee pivoted toward new opportunities and, according to archived press materials, was approached by Sanrio USA to help conceptualize a line of golf products under the Hello Kitty name.

Lee’s team, including several former Nickent designers, joined Williams Sports Holdings (doing business as Williams Sports, Inc.) to bring the concept to life. Filed as a foreign corporation in California in June 2011, Williams Sports was short-lived, but its role was pivotal. It held the licensing and production rights for the Hello Kitty Golf line, handled manufacturing relationships, and oversaw distribution to U.S. retailers.

The Launch: A 2011 Market Experiment

A Surprising New Brand in a Tough Economy

In June 2011, Golf Digest posed a tongue-in-cheek question: “Is there room in a weak economy and a flat sport for another equipment company, particularly one called Hello Kitty Golf that will focus on two generally underserved constituencies, girls’ and women’s golf?”

The answer, at least initially, seemed to be yes. Golf Digest’s coverage reflected curiosity and cautious optimism—acknowledging that while golf participation rates were declining, the junior and female demographics offered growth potential. Hello Kitty Golf’s debut was strategically aligned with this insight, positioning itself as both a lifestyle and sporting brand that could draw new players to the game through design, color, and charm.

WSH-Golf.com: The Digital Showcase

The WSH-Golf.com website—short for Williams Sports Holdings—served as the brand’s online catalog and marketing hub. The site introduced the complete Hello Kitty Golf line, accompanied by detailed product photography, specifications, and pricing.

Each section of the website celebrated Hello Kitty’s integration into golf culture. The “Mix & Match” and “Diva Collection” series presented themed bags, apparel, and accessories in coordinated colorways such as pink, red, white, and black—each adorned with subtle Hello Kitty motifs rather than overt cartoon imagery. The design ethos was intentionally mature and fashionable, allowing adult women to express personality without compromising sophistication.

Product Line Details

The Hello Kitty Golf collection covered virtually every piece of equipment a golfer could need. WSH-Golf.com organized the line into five major categories: Golf Bags, Accessories, Golf Balls, Golf Sets, and Apparel.

1. Golf Bags

The star products were undoubtedly the Hello Kitty Diva Collection and Mix & Match Boston Bags, which blended luxury handbag aesthetics with golf functionality.

• Diva Collection Cart Bags ($269): Available in red, white, and pink, these nylon bags featured subtle Hello Kitty accents, multiple compartments, and a matching rain cover.
• Diva Collection Staff Bags ($319): Faux leather “staff-style” bags designed for serious golfers seeking statement pieces.
• Mix & Match Boston Bags ($199): Compact carry-alls crafted from nylon with embroidered logos, dual handles, and shoe compartments.

Each bag emphasized craftsmanship and playfulness, echoing the broader Sanrio lifestyle aesthetic.

2. Junior Golf Sets

A highlight of the brand was its junior club sets, available for three age ranges: 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12 years.

These sets featured lightweight, forgiving clubs tailored for beginners, packaged with full stand bags and accessories. For many young golfers—especially girls—this was their first introduction to golf equipment that reflected their personal tastes. Parents could purchase full sets that mirrored professional-style configurations, complete with drivers, hybrids, irons, and putters.

3. Complete Ladies’ Sets

The Hello Kitty Ladies “Mix & Match” Complete Set was the line’s premium adult offering, retailing for $819.99. Designed for slower swing speeds, the set included:

• 460cc titanium driver
• High-launch 4 and 7 woods
• Low-profile 5 hybrid
• Forgiving wide-sole irons (7–SW)
• Offset mallet putter
• Matching Hello Kitty golf bag and headcovers

These clubs weren’t just novelty items—they were functionally engineered and tested to appeal to beginner and intermediate female golfers.

4. Accessories

From branded golf balls ($14.99 per sleeve) to club headcovers, gloves, towels, and divot tools, Hello Kitty Golf expanded its identity beyond clubs. The accessories segment was key to maintaining cross-category appeal and encouraging impulse purchases at pro shops and retail stores.

Branding and Aesthetic

Sanrio’s design principles played a critical role. While Hello Kitty’s face and bow were prominent, the brand avoided overwhelming designs. The products communicated elegance through subtle cues, such as embroidered silhouettes or polished metal Hello Kitty icons on zippers and hardware.

Color choices—dominated by pinks, whites, and blacks—were deliberately bold yet balanced, allowing golfers to coordinate their look across bags, apparel, and accessories. The Hello Kitty Golf line epitomized the idea that equipment could be both high-performance and high-style.

Reception and Reviews

Consumer Response

In its first year, Hello Kitty Golf products appeared in specialty golf shops, Sanrio boutiques, and select online retailers. Customer reactions were enthusiastic among families and collectors. Parents noted the appeal of junior sets that inspired daughters to learn golf, while women praised the quality and aesthetic consistency of the Diva Collection bags.

The products gained particular traction in Asia and California, where the overlap between Hello Kitty fandom and lifestyle sports culture was strongest.

Golf Media Coverage

Mainstream golf publications provided measured coverage. Golf Digest, GolfWRX, and various regional golf blogs discussed the brand as a novelty with potential staying power. The question was whether the Hello Kitty image could sustain long-term credibility in the sport’s equipment market.

While the line didn’t displace established giants like Callaway or TaylorMade, it carved a unique identity—one that was less about performance dominance and more about participation and inclusion.

Online Legacy

Even years after its discontinuation, collectors continue to trade Hello Kitty Golf equipment on secondary markets like eBay and Mercari. Original bags and headcovers often command prices close to their original retail value, a testament to the brand’s enduring niche appeal.

Corporate Structure and Decline

Public records show that Williams Sports Holdings, Inc. filed as a foreign corporation in California on June 1, 2011, but the company is no longer active. The short lifespan suggests that while the Hello Kitty Golf line succeeded as a marketing collaboration, it may have struggled with distribution costs, niche demand, and the inherent challenges of sustaining a licensed product in a cyclical sports market.

Additionally, by the mid-2010s, Sanrio began refocusing on fashion and digital entertainment tie-ins—collaborating with brands like Puma, Casetify, and Levi’s—rather than maintaining its own sports-equipment divisions.

As WSH wound down, the WSH-Golf.com website eventually expired, only to be restored years later as a historical archive. The archived version preserves product descriptions, pricing, and even personal commentary from one of the site’s restorers, who purchased the domain to document its origin story for fans and researchers.

Cultural and Social Significance

A Feminine Reimagining of Golf

The Hello Kitty Golf line arrived at a time when golf’s demographics were shifting. Programs like LPGA’s “Girls Golf” and junior clinics were growing, but equipment manufacturers often neglected female design preferences. Hello Kitty Golf filled that gap with authenticity—it didn’t patronize female golfers but celebrated their individuality and joy in the game.

The line also played into a broader cultural trend of “kawaii meets athleticism”—where cuteness and confidence coexist. It mirrored the rise of similar aesthetic crossovers in Japan and the U.S., where fandom and fashion increasingly influenced consumer sports culture.

Influence on Later Collaborations

The experiment foreshadowed future brand crossovers. Companies like Puma, Adidas, and TaylorMade have since embraced partnerships with pop-culture brands and influencers. Even Sanrio continued in this vein with collaborations featuring Hello Kitty x Vans, Hello Kitty x Nike, and Hello Kitty x Fujifilm Instax—each leveraging nostalgia and lifestyle branding much like the golf line once did.

Legacy of WSH-Golf.com

Though the commercial lifespan of Hello Kitty Golf was brief, WSH-Golf.com stands as a fascinating digital artifact in the evolution of sports marketing. The site bridged two worlds—golf’s technical precision and Hello Kitty’s cultural charm—and demonstrated that emotional design could expand participation in a historically exclusive sport.

The site’s restoration decades later preserves an important chapter in brand experimentation. It documents a time when companies were learning to translate fandom into function, and when the boundaries between lifestyle branding and sporting goods were just beginning to blur.

The Human Story Behind the Site

The archived narrative on WSH-Golf.com also includes a personal anecdote from the site’s current owner—a professional in Magento-based e-commerce development—who encountered the Hello Kitty Golf line while consulting for a California client. His recollection adds a relatable, human dimension:

“My wife called me one evening saying she saw an article about a Hello Kitty golf line for girls that was being introduced. Now both my girls were big Hello Kitty fans… I guess I lucked out and purchased not one, but two sets—plus some Hello Kitty golf club covers for my wife.”

This passage illustrates how the brand connected families through shared enthusiasm and thoughtful gift-giving. It’s a fitting reflection of Sanrio’s founding philosophy: that small gifts can bring big smiles.

Why It Mattered

Ultimately, Hello Kitty Golf wasn’t merely about equipment—it was about representation, aspiration, and accessibility. It invited women and children into a sport that had often been slow to evolve demographically. The brand’s cheerful iconography softened golf’s formal image and suggested that style and performance could coexist.

Even if it existed for only a few seasons, Hello Kitty Golf paved the way for broader acceptance of “lifestyle sports” branding. In that sense, its cultural value far outweighs its commercial lifespan.

Today, WSH-Golf.com functions as both an archive and a memory capsule. It captures the optimism of a brand experiment that dared to merge Sanrio’s world of cuteness with the structured traditions of golf. For collectors, parents, and fans, the Hello Kitty Golf line remains emblematic of a brief but colorful chapter in golf’s evolution—a moment when the fairway met fashion, and the sound of a perfect drive could just as easily come with a smile.

 

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