<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                [ASHWORTH LOGO]

                               Contact: Randall L. Herrel, Sr. - Chairman & CEO
                               (760) 929-6142
                               Terence Tsang - EVP & COO/CFO
                               (760) 929-4611

                               Investor Relations: Jim White
                               Kehoe, White & Co., Inc.
                               (562) 437-0655


   ASHWORTH, INC ACQUIRES GEKKO BRANDS, LLC (THE GAME(R) AND KUDZU(R) BRANDS),
                       A LEADING MANUFACTURER OF HEADWEAR

 ACQUISITION ENHANCES THE COMPANY'S MULTI-BRAND MULTI-CHANNEL BUSINESS STRATEGY

                  -     EXPECTED TO ADD OVER $30 MILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE

                  -     EXPECTED TO BE ACCRETIVE IN FISCAL 2004

CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, July 7, 2004 - Ashworth, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASHW), a leading
golf inspired sportswear company, today announced it has acquired Gekko Brands,
LLC ("Gekko"), a leading designer, producer and distributor of headwear and
apparel under The Game(R) and Kudzu(R) brands. This strategic acquisition
provides for additional growth in new, quality channels of distribution for the
Ashworth(R) and Callaway Golf apparel brands as well as further growth from The
Game and Kudzu brands' sales into the Company's current distribution channels.

The Game brand products are marketed primarily under licenses to over 1,000
colleges and universities, as well as to the PGA TOUR, resorts, entertainment
complexes and sporting goods dealers that serve the high school and college
markets. The Game brand is one of the leading headwear brands in the
College/Bookstore distribution channel. The Kudzu(R) brand products are sold
into the NASCAR/racing markets and through outdoor sports distribution channels,
including fishing and hunting.

The acquisition enhances Ashworth, Inc.'s multi-brand, multi-channel, global
business model in several ways. The transaction increases the Company's channels
of distribution from three to six and increases the number of brands that can be
sold into each distribution channel while leveraging existing channel
relationships, sales forces and expertise. The Game management and its sales
forces will sell Ashworth and Callaway Golf apparel into their existing college
bookstores and sporting goods dealer distribution channels. Additionally, Kudzu
management will sell Ashworth inspired apparel into the corporate NASCAR/racing
channels. The Game design team will also develop a new line of Ashworth and
Callaway Golf apparel headwear, which will be sold by the Company's existing
sales forces in the US, Europe and Canada into its green grass, retail and
corporate distribution channels.
<PAGE>
Page 2


Gekko Brands, LLC achieved sales of $32 million in its fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003. Ashworth, Inc. reported revenues of $150 million for its
fiscal year ended October 31, 2003. Ashworth, Inc. believes the acquisition will
be accretive to earnings starting in fiscal 2004. The purchase price for the
acquisition was $24 million consisting of $23 million in cash at the time of
closing plus a $1 million promissory note. Up to an additional $6.5 million in
cash will be paid to the remaining partners of The Game/Kudzu management if the
subsidiary achieves specific EBIT and other operating targets over the next four
years or through fiscal 2008.

To finance this acquisition, the Company has established a 5-year bank facility
comprised of a $20 million term loan and a $35 million line of credit. This new
secured facility replaced the Company's prior $55 million bank facility.

Randall L. Herrel, Chairman and CEO of Ashworth, Inc., commented, "Gekko is a
terrific fit with our organization from a strategic and financial standpoint.
The organization is an aggressive, energetic and entrepreneurial company with a
reputation for providing high quality products with innovative logo designs,
which fits with the Ashworth culture. We see tremendous future synergies. The
transaction brings to Ashworth the opportunity to enter into new channels of
distribution with its apparel brands as well as enhance the Ashworth and
Callaway Golf apparel product categories in their existing channels of
distribution. The Game and Kudzu brands are very well respected in their
distribution channels for quality, service and innovative design. The Game brand
specifically has broad appeal across many types of sports and may provide for
even broader distribution in the future. Gekko's management team also has
incredibly strong relationships with its core customers."

Neil Stillwell, founder of The Game, commented, "We are excited to be partnering
with Ashworth, Inc., which has two of the best brands in its industry. We
believe our designers can create new and innovative headwear for both of these
brands and we can also help make the Ashworth and Callaway Golf apparel brands
leaders in the collegiate and high school team sports markets. Ashworth can also
help us in further developing our apparel lines for our distribution channels."

Terence Tsang, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating and Financial Officer
of Ashworth stated, "This transaction meets most of our acquisition criteria,
which include leadership in a niche market, diversified distribution channels,
brand extensions, apparel related products, good management team, and strong
financial metrics."

Investors and all others are invited to listen to a conference call discussing
this acquisition and related matters, today at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The call
will be broadcast over the Internet and can be accessed by visiting the
Company's investor information page at www.ashworthinc.com. An online replay
will be available until July 16, 2004. Additionally, a 48-hour telephone replay
will be accessible by calling (877) 519-4471 for domestic callers and (973)
341-3080 for international callers; enter pass code 4933804.

ASHWORTH, INC. is a designer of men's and women's golf-inspired lifestyle
sportswear distributed domestically and internationally in golf pro shops,
resorts, upscale department and specialty stores and to corporate customers.
Ashworth products include three main brand extensions. Ashworth Collection(TM)
is a range of upscale sportswear designed to be worn on and off course. Ashworth
Authentics(TM) showcases the most popular items from the Ashworth line. Ashworth
Weather Systems(R) utilizes technology to create a balance between fashion and
function in a variety of climatic conditions. Callaway Golf is a trademark of
Callaway Golf Company.
<PAGE>
Page 3


Ashworth, Inc., 2765 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, CA 92008 is an Official
Licensee of Callaway Golf Company.

To learn more, please visit our Web site at www.ashworthinc.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements related to the Company's
market position, finances, operating results, marketing plans and strategies.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. These statements involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those projected. These risks include the timely development and acceptance
of new products, as well as strategic alliances, the integration of the
Company's recent acquisition, the impact of competitive products and pricing,
the success of the Callaway Golf apparel product line, the preliminary nature of
bookings information, the ongoing risk of excess or obsolete inventory, the
potential inadequacy of booked reserves, the timely completion and successful
operation of the new distribution facility in Oceanside, CA, and other risks
described in Ashworth, Inc.'s SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for
the year ended October 31, 2003 and Form 10-Q's filed thereafter.

