Note 14. Share-Based Employee Compensation

As of March 31, 2019, the Company had two shareholder approved stock plans under which shares were available for equity-based awards: the Callaway Golf Company Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan (the "2004 Incentive Plan") and the 2013 Non-Employee Directors Stock Incentive Plan (the "2013 Directors Plan"). From time to time, the Company grants stock options, restricted stock units, performance share units, phantom stock units, stock appreciation rights and other awards under these plans.

The table below summarizes the amounts recognized in the financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 for share-based compensation, including expense for restricted stock units, performance share units, stock options and cash settled stock appreciation rights.



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2019		2018
	In thousands
Cost of sales	$	249	$	213
Operating expenses	3,186		2,786
Total cost of share-based compensation included in income, before income tax	$	3,435	$	2,999

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted stock units awarded under the 2004 Incentive Plan and the 2013 Directors Plan are valued at the Company’s closing stock price on the date of grant. Restricted stock units generally vest over a one- to three-year period. Compensation expense for restricted stock units is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period and is reduced by an estimate for forfeitures. The number of shares underlying restricted stock units granted during the three months ended March 31, 2019 was nominal. During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company granted 400,000 and 360,000 shares underlying restricted stock units, respectively, at a weighted average grant-date fair value of $15.17 and $14.80 per share, respectively.

Total compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, recognized for restricted stock units during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was $1,799,000 and $1,387,000. At March 31, 2019, the Company had $13,292,000 of total unamortized compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock units. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.8 years.

Performance Based Awards

The Company grants performance share units and awards subject to total shareholder return metrics under the 2004 Incentive Plan.

Performance share units are stock-based awards in which the number of shares ultimately received depends on the Company's performance against specified metrics over a one- to five-year performance period from the date of grant. These performance metrics are established by the Company at the beginning of the performance period. At the end of the performance period, the number of shares of stock that could be issued is fixed based upon the degree of achievement of the performance goals. The number of shares that could be issued can range from 0% to 200% of the participant's target award. Performance share units are initially valued at the Company's closing stock price on the date of grant. Stock compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The expense recognized over the vesting period is adjusted up or down based on the anticipated performance level during the performance period. If the performance metrics are not probable of achievement during the performance period, compensation expense would be reversed. The awards are forfeited if the threshold performance metrics are not achieved as of the end of the performance period. The performance share units cliff-vest in full over a period of three to five years from the date of grant.

The Company granted 226,000 and 307,000 shares underlying performance share units during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, at a weighted average grant-date fair value of $15.17 and $14.80 per share, respectively. The awards granted during 2019 and 2018 are subject to a three- to five-year performance period provided that (i) if certain first year performance goals are achieved, the participant could earn up to 50% of the three-year target award shares, subject to continued service through the vesting date, and (ii) if certain cumulative first- and second-year performance goals are achieved, the participant could earn up to an aggregate of 80% of the three-year target award shares (which includes any shares earned during the first year), subject to continued service through the vesting date. Based on the Company’s performance, participants earned a minimum of 50% of the target award shares granted in 2018, in each case subject to continued service through the vesting date.

Performance share units with total shareholder return requirements are awards that compare the performance of the Company's common stock over a three-year period to that of the Company's peer group. The fair value of these awards is derived using the Monte Carlo simulation which utilizes the stock volatility, dividend yield and market correlation of the Company and the Company's peer group. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company granted 149,000 shares underlying performance share units subject to total shareholder return requirements at a weighted average grant-date fair value of $16.96 per share. There were no performance share units granted that were subject to total shareholder return requirements in the first quarter of 2018. Stock compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over a three-year vesting period.

During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized total compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, for performance based awards of $1,636,000 and $1,604,000. At March 31, 2019, unamortized compensation expense related to these awards was $13,677,000, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years.