Note 2. Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of its products, which include golf clubs, golf balls, golf bags and other lifestyle and golf-related apparel and accessories. The Company sells its products to customers, which include on- and off-course golf shops and national retail stores, as well as to consumers through its e-commerce business and at its apparel retail locations. In addition, the Company recognizes royalty income from the sale of certain soft goods products, as well as revenue from the sale of gift cards.

The Company's contracts with customers are generally in the form of a purchase order. In certain cases, the Company enters into sales agreements, which provide items such as specific terms, discounts and allowances. In addition, the Company enters into licensing agreements with certain distributors.

The following table presents the Company's revenue disaggregated by major product category and operating segment (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Operating Segments
	Golf Clubs		Golf Balls		Gear, Accessories & Other		Total
Major product category:
Woods	$	128,802	$	—	$	—	$	128,802
Irons	95,209		—		—		95,209
Putters	33,430		—		—		33,430
Golf Balls	—		54,922		—		54,922
Gear, Accessories and Other	—		—		90,828		90,828
	$	257,441	$	54,922	$	90,828	$	403,191

The Company sells its golf clubs and golf ball products as well as its gear and accessories in the United States and internationally, with its principal international markets being Japan and Europe. Sales of golf clubs, golf balls and gear and accessories in each region are generally proportional to the Company's consolidated net sales by operating segment as a percentage of total consolidated net sales. Sales of gear and accessories in Japan are proportionally higher relative to the size of that region due to sales from the apparel joint venture. The following table presents information about the geographical areas in which the Company operates. Revenues are attributed to the location to which the product was shipped.



	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Major Geographic Region:	(In thousands)
United States	$	235,161
Europe	51,202
Japan	69,275
Rest of Asia	24,775
Other foreign countries	22,778
	$	403,191

Product Sales

The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of its products when it satisfies the terms of a sales order from a customer or consumer, and transfers control of the products ordered to a customer or consumer. Control transfers at a point in time when products are shipped, and in certain cases, when products are received by customers. In addition, the Company recognizes revenue at the point of sale on transactions with consumers at its retail locations.

Royalty Income

Royalty income is recognized over time in net sales as underlying product sales occur, subject to certain minimum royalties, in accordance with the related licensing arrangements and is included in the Gear, Accessories and Other operating segment. Total royalty income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $4,844,000 and $5,124,000, respectively.

Gift Cards

Revenues from gift cards are deferred and recognized when the cards are redeemed. The Company’s gift cards have no expiration date. The Company recognizes revenue from unredeemed gift cards, otherwise known as breakage, when the likelihood of redemption becomes remote and under circumstances that comply with any applicable state escheatment laws. To determine when redemption is remote, the Company analyzes an aging of unredeemed cards (based on the date the card was last used or the activation date if the card has never been used) and compares that information with historical redemption trends. The Company uses a historical redemption rate to recognize breakage on unredeemed gift cards. The Company does not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions used to determine the timing of recognition of gift card revenues. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the total amount of deferred revenue on gift cards was $971,000 and $1,273,000, respectively, of which $274,000 and $261,000 was recognized into revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. At March 31, 2018, the total amount of deferred revenue on gift cards was $1,043,000.

Variable Consideration

The amount of revenue the Company recognizes is based on the amount of consideration it expects to receive from customers and consumers. The amount of consideration is the net sales price, which includes estimates of variable consideration, including sales returns, discounts and allowances as well as sales programs, sales promotions and price concessions that are offered by the Company. These estimates are based on the amounts earned or to be claimed by customers and consumers on the related sales, and are therefore classified as reductions to sales and trade accounts receivable.

The Company’s primary sales program, the “Preferred Retailer Program,” offers longer payment terms during the initial sell-in period, as well as potential rebates and discounts, for participating retailers in exchange for providing certain benefits to the Company, including the maintenance of agreed upon inventory levels, prime product placement and retailer staff training. Under this program, qualifying retailers can earn either discounts or rebates based upon the amount of product purchased. Discounts are applied and recorded at the time of sale. For rebates, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration related to the rebate at the time of sale based on the customer’s estimated qualifying current year product purchases. The estimate is based on the historical level of purchases, adjusted for any factors expected to affect the current year purchase levels. The estimated year-end rebate is adjusted quarterly based on actual purchase levels, as necessary. The Preferred Retailer Program is generally short-term in nature and the actual amount of rebate to be paid under this program is known as of the end of the year and paid to customers shortly after year-end. Historically, the Company's actual amount of variable consideration related to its Preferred Retailer Program has not been materially different from its estimates.

The Company also offers short-term sales program incentives, which include sell-through promotions and price concessions. The Company estimates variable consideration related to these types of programs at the time of the sale based on a historical average rate, which generally aligns with the Company's products' life cycles. The Company monitors this estimate and adjusts the promotional liability when it becomes evident that the amount of consideration it expects to receive changes. Historically, the Company’s actual amount of variable consideration related to these sales programs has not been materially different from its estimates.

The Company records an estimate for anticipated returns through a reduction of sales and cost of sales and accounts receivable in the period that the related sales are recorded. Sales returns are estimated based upon historical returns, current economic trends, changes in customer demands and sell-through of products. The Company also offers its customers sales programs that allow for specific returns. The Company records a return liability for anticipated returns related to these sales programs at the time of the sale based on the terms of the sales program. Historically, the Company’s actual sales returns have not been materially different from management’s original estimates. The Company does not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions used to calculate its return liability.

Credit Losses

The Company's trade accounts receivable are recorded at net realizable value, which includes an appropriate allowance for estimated credit losses, as well as reserves related to product returns and sales programs as described above. The estimate of credit losses is based upon historical bad debts, current customer receivable balances, age of customer receivable balances, the customer’s financial condition and current economic trends, all of which are subject to change. Actual uncollected amounts have historically been consistent with the Company’s expectations. The Company's payment terms on its receivables from customers are generally 60 days or less.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the activity related to the Company’s allowance for credit losses (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Beginning balance	$	4,447		$	5,728
Provision	(595		)	737
Write-off of uncollectible amounts, net of recoveries	(43		)	(2,765		)
Ending balance	$	3,809		$	3,700

The Company has a two-year stated product warranty. The estimated cost associated with its product warranty continues to be recognized at the time of the sale. See Note 10 for further information.