Counterfeit golf club sales worldwide have reached dollar numbers in the low billions. It is a huge concern for golf club manufacturers and consumers.
Cosmetically, counterfeit clubs look just like the real thing - the clubs are made in the United States by the real manufacturers.
But upon closer inspection by x-ray, knock-off clubs have little resemblance to the authentic models.
We had three sand wedges show up in the lost and found last year, all the same model and made by the same manufacturer.
It was kind of a coincidence that all three clubs were the same color code, grip, shaft and head. One day while looking at the clubs, I noticed that two were virtually identical, and the third looked a little different. Close but no cigar.
Upon further inspection, the serial number was sloppily stamped and going in the wrong direction - a clear indication that the third wedge was a fake. A call to the manufacturer showed no serial number on file.
If you shop on-line and get a great deal that is too good to be true, chances are you are in for a surprise when you open your package. The shiny new club you have just bought are probably right off some ship from somewhere over in Asia.
They might look great, but performance will be no where near the characteristics of the authentic club.
Leah Chan, the global corporate counsel for Taylor Made, said “counterfeit clubs can't match ours, and consumers need to remember that when making their purchase.”
Lisa Rogan, of Acushnet, says counterfeiting is “getting worse” and blames a bad economy that forces golfers to look for incredible deals, and counterfeit peddlers looking for the fast buck at the expense of not so savvy consumers.
With golf clubs as with anything else, you get what you pay for. Knock-off clubs break more frequently, the heads fly off, shafts crack, and grips are not installed in an even close to proper manner.
It all looks well and good as a finished product, but use and time dictate the ultimate results.
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The news of Annika Sorenstam's imminent retirement from golf is all over golf publications and newspapers. Sorenstam is 37 years old and has set too many records to count on the LPGA tour.
Sorenstam is a six-time Vare Trophy winner for low scoring average, has 10 LPGA major tournament wins, is the only woman to shoot a record score of 59 on the LPGA Tour, an eight-time winner of the LPGA money title and Player of the Year honors, has 72 LPGA Tour wins and 88 tournament wins worldwide. To top it all off, Sorenstam has won $22,115,835 on the LPGA Tour.
It seems like an early age to retire, but Sorenstam has been plagued by injury the past few years, wants to do other things and wants to give up competitive golf while she is still able to compete.
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If you are into trying out new, authentic golf equipment, try to attend the Demo Days at Dutch Hollow Country Club.
Ping representative Pat Carli will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday June 13 to offer club fitting and advice on Ping equipment. Taylor Made will sponsor a Demo Day from 2:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 26.
Put these dates on your calendar.
See you on the links!
But upon closer inspection by x-ray, knock-off clubs have little resemblance to the authentic models.
We had three sand wedges show up in the lost and found last year, all the same model and made by the same manufacturer.
It was kind of a coincidence that all three clubs were the same color code, grip, shaft and head. One day while looking at the clubs, I noticed that two were virtually identical, and the third looked a little different. Close but no cigar.
Upon further inspection, the serial number was sloppily stamped and going in the wrong direction - a clear indication that the third wedge was a fake. A call to the manufacturer showed no serial number on file.
If you shop on-line and get a great deal that is too good to be true, chances are you are in for a surprise when you open your package. The shiny new club you have just bought are probably right off some ship from somewhere over in Asia.
They might look great, but performance will be no where near the characteristics of the authentic club.
Leah Chan, the global corporate counsel for Taylor Made, said “counterfeit clubs can't match ours, and consumers need to remember that when making their purchase.”
Lisa Rogan, of Acushnet, says counterfeiting is “getting worse” and blames a bad economy that forces golfers to look for incredible deals, and counterfeit peddlers looking for the fast buck at the expense of not so savvy consumers.
With golf clubs as with anything else, you get what you pay for. Knock-off clubs break more frequently, the heads fly off, shafts crack, and grips are not installed in an even close to proper manner.
It all looks well and good as a finished product, but use and time dictate the ultimate results.
-
The news of Annika Sorenstam's imminent retirement from golf is all over golf publications and newspapers. Sorenstam is 37 years old and has set too many records to count on the LPGA tour.
Sorenstam is a six-time Vare Trophy winner for low scoring average, has 10 LPGA major tournament wins, is the only woman to shoot a record score of 59 on the LPGA Tour, an eight-time winner of the LPGA money title and Player of the Year honors, has 72 LPGA Tour wins and 88 tournament wins worldwide. To top it all off, Sorenstam has won $22,115,835 on the LPGA Tour.
It seems like an early age to retire, but Sorenstam has been plagued by injury the past few years, wants to do other things and wants to give up competitive golf while she is still able to compete.
-
If you are into trying out new, authentic golf equipment, try to attend the Demo Days at Dutch Hollow Country Club.
Ping representative Pat Carli will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday June 13 to offer club fitting and advice on Ping equipment. Taylor Made will sponsor a Demo Day from 2:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 26.
Put these dates on your calendar.
See you on the links!
