Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Examples of such estimates include provisions for warranty, uncollectible accounts receivable, inventory obsolescence, sales returns, tax contingencies, estimates on the valuation of share-based awards and recoverability of long-lived assets and investments. Actual results may materially differ from these estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company reviews its estimates to ensure that these estimates appropriately reflect changes in its business or as new information becomes available.

Recent Accounting Standards

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.” This ASU requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. ASU No. 2011-11 will be applied retrospectively and is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The adoption of this amendment will not have a material impact on the Company’s disclosures to the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment.” This ASU is intended to simplify how entities, both public and nonpublic, test goodwill for impairment. ASU 2011-08 permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is “more likely than not” that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in Topic 350, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other.” The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50%. ASU 2011-08 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Based on the Company’s evaluation of this ASU, the adoption of this amendment will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, “Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income”. This ASU amends the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (Codification) to allow an entity the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. The amendments to the Codification in the ASU do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. In addition, in December 2011, the FASB issued an amendment to ASU No. 2011-05 that defers the requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement. ASU 2011-05 will be applied retrospectively, and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2011. Based on the Company’s evaluation of this ASU, the adoption of this amendment will only impact the presentation of comprehensive income (loss) on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements.” This ASU represents the converged guidance of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (the Boards) on fair value measurement. The collective efforts of the Boards and their staffs, reflected in ASU 2011-04, have resulted in common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements, including a consistent meaning of the term “fair value.” The Boards have concluded the common requirements will result in greater comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. ASU No. 2011-04 will be applied prospectively and is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Based on the Company’s evaluation of this ASU, the adoption of this amendment will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Sales are recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” as products are shipped to customers, net of an allowance for sales returns and sales programs. The criteria for recognition of revenue are met when persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists and both title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Sales returns are estimated based upon historical returns, current economic trends, changes in customer demands and sell-through of products. The Company also records estimated reductions to revenue for sales programs such as incentive offerings. Sales program accruals are estimated based upon the attributes of the sales program, management’s forecast of future product demand, and historical customer participation in similar programs.

Revenues from gift cards are deferred and recognized when the cards are redeemed. In addition, the Company recognizes revenue from unredeemed gift cards when the likelihood of redemption becomes remote and under circumstances that comply with any applicable state escheatment laws. The Company’s gift cards have no expiration. 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 deferred revenue associated with outstanding gift cards decreased from $3,247,000 at December 31, 2010 to $1,988,000 at December 31, 2011.

Revenues from course credits in connection with the use of uPro GPS on-course range finders are deferred when purchased and recognized when customers download the course credits for usage. Deferred revenue associated with unused course credits was $2,945,000 and $2,898,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are included in net sales and costs incurred related to shipping and handling are included in cost of sales.

Royalty income is recorded in net sales as underlying product sales occur, subject to certain minimums, in accordance with the related licensing arrangements. The Company recognized royalty income under its various licensing agreements of $6,219,000, $5,831,000 and $5,634,000 during 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Warranty Policy

The Company has a stated two-year warranty policy for its golf clubs. The Company’s policy is to accrue the estimated cost of satisfying future warranty claims at the time the sale is recorded. In estimating its future warranty obligations, the Company considers various relevant factors, including the Company’s stated warranty policies and practices, the historical frequency of claims, and the cost to replace or repair its products under warranty. The decrease in the estimated future warranty obligation is primarily due to a decline in sales and in warranty return rates primarily due to improved durability of newer products combined with an increase in customer paid repairs. The following table provides a reconciliation of the activity related to the Company’s reserve for warranty expense:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
	(In thousands)
Beginning balance	$	8,427		$	9,449		$	11,614
Provision		8,614			8,439			8,544
Claims paid/costs incurred		(8,901	)		(9,461	)		(10,709	)

Ending balance	$	8,140		$	8,427		$	9,449

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables, foreign currency forward contracts and put and call option contracts (see Note 11) and its credit facilities (see Note 10). The carrying amounts of these instruments approximate fair value because of their short-term maturities and variable interest rates.

Advertising Costs

The Company advertises primarily through television and print media. The Company’s policy is to expense advertising costs, including production costs, as incurred. Advertising expenses for 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $53,051,000, $48,432,000 and $47,366,000, respectively.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs for 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $34,309,000, $36,383,000 and $32,213,000 respectively.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions

The Company’s foreign subsidiaries utilize their local currency as their functional currency. The accounts of these foreign subsidiaries have been translated into United States dollars using the current exchange rate at the balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and at the average exchange rate for the period for revenues and expenses. Cumulative translation gains or losses are recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. Gains or losses resulting from transactions that are made in a currency different from the functional currency are recognized in earnings as they occur. The Company recorded net foreign currency transaction gains of $708,000, $6,926,000 and $7,112,000 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Derivatives and Hedging

The Company from time to time uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to foreign exchange rates. The derivative instruments are accounted for pursuant to ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” which requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet, measure those instruments at fair value and recognize changes in the fair value of derivatives in earnings in the period of change unless the derivative qualifies as an effective hedge that offsets certain exposures. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had derivative financial instruments in the form of foreign currency forward contracts and put and call option contracts that were not designated as hedging instruments in accordance with ASC Topic 815.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains an allowance for estimated losses resulting from the failure of its customers to make required payments. An estimate of uncollectable amounts is made by management 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.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or fair market value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. The inventory balance, which includes material, labor and manufacturing overhead costs, is recorded net of an estimated allowance for obsolete or unmarketable inventory. The estimated allowance for obsolete or unmarketable inventory is based upon current inventory levels, sales trends and historical experience as well as management’s estimates of market conditions and forecasts of future product demand, all of which are subject to change.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives as follows:


Buildings and improvements			10-30 years
Machinery and equipment			5-10 years
Furniture, computers and equipment			3-5 years
Production molds			2-5 years

Normal repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Expenditures that materially increase values, change capacities or extend useful lives are capitalized. The related costs and accumulated depreciation of disposed assets are eliminated and any resulting gain or loss on disposition is included in net income (loss). Construction in-process consists primarily of costs associated with building improvements, machinery and equipment that have not yet been placed into service, unfinished molds as well as in-process internally developed software.

In accordance with ASC Topic 350-40, “Internal-Use Software,” the Company capitalizes certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal use software. Costs incurred in the preliminary project stage are expensed. All direct external costs incurred to develop internal-use software during the development stage are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining estimated useful lives. Costs such as maintenance and training are expensed as incurred.

Long-Lived Assets

In accordance with ASC Topic 360-10-05, “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, the Company assesses potential impairments of its long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when the carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets consist of goodwill, trade names, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, patents and other intangible assets acquired during the acquisition of Odyssey Sports, Inc., the Top-Flite and Ben Hogan assets, FrogTrader, Inc., the Tour Golf Group assets, the uPlay, LLC assets and certain foreign distributors.

In accordance with ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other,” goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but instead are measured for impairment at least annually, or when events indicate that an impairment exists. The Company calculates impairment as the excess of the carrying value of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets over their estimated fair value. If the carrying value exceeds the estimate of fair value a write-down is recorded. To determine fair value, the Company uses its internal discounted cash flow estimates, quoted market prices, royalty rates when available and independent appraisals when appropriate.

Intangible assets that are determined to have definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are measured for impairment only when events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may be impaired in accordance with ASC Topic 360-10-05 discussed above. See Note 9 for further discussion of the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets.

Investments

The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of acquisition and reevaluates such classification at each balance sheet date. Investments that do not have readily determinable fair values are stated at cost and are reported in other assets. The Company monitors investments for impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 325-35-2, “Impairment” and ASC Topic 320-35-17 through 35-35, “Scope of Impairment Guidance.” See Note 5 for further discussion of the Company’s investments.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its share-based compensation arrangements in accordance with ASC Topic 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation” (“ASC Topic 718”),” which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards to employees and directors based on estimated fair values. ASC Topic 718 further requires a reduction in share-based compensation expense by an estimated forfeiture rate. The forfeiture rate used by the Company is based on historical forfeiture trends. If actual forfeiture rates are not consistent with the Company’s estimates, the Company may be required to increase or decrease compensation expenses in future periods.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value of its stock options and stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) at the date of grant. The Black-Scholes option valuation model requires the input of subjective assumptions to calculate the value of stock options/SARs. The Company uses historical data among other information to estimate the expected price volatility, option/SAR life, and forfeiture rate. The Company uses forecasted dividends to estimate the expected dividend yield. The Company believes a forecasted calculation is more appropriate than using historical data since the amount of dividends paid have decreased beginning in 2009. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option/SAR. Compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for stock options. Compensation expense for SARs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based on an estimated fair value, which is remeasured each reporting period. Once vested, the SARs continue to be remeasured to fair value until they are exercised.

The Company records compensation expense for restricted stock awards and restricted stock units (collectively “restricted stock”) based on the estimated fair value of the award on the date of grant. The estimated fair value is determined based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the award date multiplied by the number of shares underlying the restricted stock awarded. Total compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

Phantom stock units (“PSUs”) are a form of share-based awards that are indexed to the Company’s stock and are settled in cash. As such, these awards are classified as liabilities. Because PSUs are settled in cash, compensation expense recognized over the vesting period will vary based on changes in fair value. Fair value is remeasured at the end of each interim reporting period through the award’s settlement date and is based on the closing price of the Company’s stock.

Income Taxes

Current income tax expense or benefit is the amount of income taxes expected to be payable or receivable for the current year. A deferred income tax asset or liability is established for the difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability computed pursuant to ASC Topic 740 and its reported amount in the financial statements that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years when the reported amount of the asset or liability is recovered or settled, respectively. In accordance with the applicable accounting rules, the Company maintains a valuation allowance for a deferred tax asset when it deemed it to be more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In evaluating whether a valuation allowance is required under such rules, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including prior operating results, the nature and reason for any losses, its forecast of future taxable income, and the dates on which any deferred tax assets are expected to expire. These assumptions require a significant amount of judgment, including estimates of future taxable income. These estimates are based on the Company’s best judgment at the time made based on current and projected circumstances and conditions. As a result of the Company’s evaluation during 2011, the Company recorded a $52,455,000 increase to income tax expense in order to establish a valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets. In addition, the Company has discontinued recognizing income tax benefits related to its U.S. net operating losses until it is determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the benefits from its U.S. deferred tax assets. For further information, see Note 16 “Income Taxes.”

Pursuant to ASC Topic 740-25-6, the Company is required to accrue for the estimated additional amount of taxes for uncertain tax positions if it is deemed to be more likely than not that the Company would be required to pay such additional taxes.

The Company is required to file federal and state income tax returns in the United States and various other income tax returns in foreign jurisdictions. The preparation of these income tax returns requires the Company to interpret the applicable tax laws and regulations in effect in such jurisdictions, which could affect the amount of tax paid by the Company. The Company accrues an amount for its estimate of additional tax liability, including interest and penalties, for any uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in an income tax return. The Company reviews and updates the accrual for uncertain tax positions as more definitive information becomes available. Historically, additional taxes paid as a result of the resolution of the Company’s uncertain tax positions have not been materially different from the Company’s expectations. For further information, see Note 16 “Income Taxes.”

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net primarily includes gains and losses on foreign currency exchange contracts and foreign currency transactions. The components of other income (expense), net are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010			2009
	(In thousands)
Foreign currency exchange contract losses, net	$	(8,861	)	$	(18,600	)	$	(7,594	)
Foreign currency transaction gains, net		708			6,926			7,112
Gains on deferred compensation plan assets		—			199			867
Other		52			478			493

	$	(8,101	)	$	(10,997	)	$	878

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income for the Company include net income and foreign currency translation adjustments. Since the Company has met the indefinite reversal criteria, it does not accrue income taxes on foreign currency translation adjustments. The total equity adjustment from foreign currency translation included in accumulated other comprehensive income was income of $14,071,000 and $13,564,000 as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Segment Information

The Company’s operating segments are organized on the basis of products and consist of Golf Clubs and Golf Balls. The Golf Clubs segment consists primarily of Callaway Golf and Top-Flite woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters as well as Odyssey putters, pre-owned clubs, GPS on-course range finders, other golf-related accessories and royalties from licensing of the Company’s trademarks and service marks. The Golf Balls segment consists primarily of Callaway Golf and Top-Flite golf balls that are designed, manufactured and sold by the Company. The Company also discloses information about geographic areas. This information is presented in Note 19.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company’s financial instruments that are subject to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, trade receivables and foreign currency exchange contracts.

The Company historically invests its excess cash in money market accounts and short-term U.S. government securities and has established guidelines relative to diversification and maturities in an effort to maintain safety and liquidity. These guidelines are periodically reviewed and modified to take advantage of trends in yields and interest rates.

The Company operates in the golf equipment industry and primarily sells its products to golf equipment retailers (including pro shops at golf courses and off-course retailers), sporting goods retailers and mass merchants, directly and through wholly-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries, and to foreign distributors. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally requires no collateral from these customers. The Company maintains reserves for estimated credit losses, which it considers adequate to cover any such losses. At December 31, 2011, no single customer in the United States represented over 10% of the Company’s outstanding accounts receivable balance. Managing customer-related credit risk is more difficult in regions outside of the United States. During 2011, approximately 53% of the Company’s net sales were made in regions outside of the United States, compared to 52% in 2010 and 50% in 2009. Prolonged unfavorable economic conditions in the United States or in the Company’s international markets could significantly increase the Company’s credit risk.

From time to time, the Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts and put or call options for the purpose of hedging foreign exchange rate exposures on existing or anticipated transactions. In the event of a failure to honor one of these contracts by one of the banks with which the Company has contracted, management believes any loss would be limited to the exchange rate differential from the time the contract was made until the time it was settled.