CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 871,192	$ 843,794	$ 886,945
Cost of sales	486,181	486,161	529,019
Gross profit	385,011	357,633	357,926
Selling expenses	235,556	228,910	234,231
General and administrative expenses	71,969	68,567	61,662
Research and development expenses	33,318	33,213	31,285
Total operating expenses	340,843	330,690	327,178
Income from operations	44,168	26,943	30,748
Interest income	621	388	438
Interest expense	(2,368)	(8,733)	(9,499)
Gain on sale of investments in golf-related ventures	17,662	0	0
Other income (expense), net	(1,690)	1,465	(48)
Income before income taxes	58,393	20,063	21,639
Income tax (benefit) provision	(132,561)	5,495	5,631
Net income	190,954	14,568	16,008
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	1,054	0	0
Net income attributable to Callaway Golf Company	$ 189,900	$ 14,568	$ 16,008
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.02	$ 0.18	$ 0.21
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.98	$ 0.17	$ 0.20
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	94,045	83,116	77,559
Diluted (in shares)	95,845	84,611	78,385
Dividends paid per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.04	$ 0.04	$ 0.04