Katsuhiro Miura, the Japanese founder of Miura Golf and craftsman of hand-forged irons and wedges, has died at the age of 82.
Born in Japan in 1942, Miura first began making clubs in Hemiji aged just 16, and founded the Miura Manufacturing Company when he was 35.
Specialising in hand-made forged irons, wedges and putters, Miura operated on the mantra that he would never introduce a new club unless it was an improvement on an existing one, so while the company enjoyed significant success in the hands of tour players and elite amateurs, Miura never sought to be a mass market brand or a company that produced new models every year.
Miura brought his sons, Shinei and Yoshitaka, into the business in 1994, and more recently his grandson, Kokuse, joined the company.
The last iron Katsuhiro himself designed was the KM-700, released in 2022, which was dubbed his ‘crowning achievement’. The irons feature a red Hanko emblem on the back of the head, which was known as Katsihiro’s personal stamp of approval.
Speaking to Golf Digest, Hoyt McGarity, Miura Golf CEO, said: “I bought my first set of Miura irons in high school, and I’m proud to say they remain the finest forged irons in the world. Katsuhiro Miura was an artist, a craftsman and a perfectionist. He will be missed and his leadership and vision will remain embedded in our company, in our culture, and in every club we make.”
Miura Golf COO Bill Holowaty added: “The pathway to creating a legacy is loving what you do. Miura-san never sought the spotlight — his passion was the quiet, relentless pursuit of perfection. For over 30 years, he was a guiding presence in my life, both personally and professionally. What mattered most to him was not recognition but knowing that the legacy he built was in the trusted hands of his sons, Yoshitaka and Shinei, and now his grandson, Kokuse. We remain deeply honored to be the guardians of his brand and his life’s work.”
