Who We Are

The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group is an organization dedicated to stopping the production, distribution and sale of counterfeit or "fake" golf equipment across the globe. Formed in 2004, the group is made of five of the most well-known golf manufacturers in the world –Callaway-Odyssey; TaylorMade-adidas Golf and Ashworth; PING; Cleveland Golf, Srixon and Never Compromise; and Acushnet Company whose brands are Titleist, FootJoy and Scotty Cameron. These manufacturers came together to protect the integrity of the game and to protect the consumers they've served for so many years.

The group works internationally with law enforcement and government agencies to identify and eliminate counterfeiting operations while simultaneously working to raise consumer awareness of the issue. This isn't a brand issue, it's an honesty issue, a quality issue, and in some cases, a safety issue. For the good of customers and the game, the group is committed to putting an end to these fakes.

Spotting a Fake

For golfers, the issues with counterfeit clubs can range anywhere from a loss of distance and accuracy to a safety issue—with shafts that shatter and heads that fly off mid-swing. Some golfers look online and see what they think are top-of-the-line clubs at bottom barrel prices, so they buy them. But as the old adage goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Although we would like to educate golfers on how to spot a fake, the truth is the most reliable way to be sure someone is purchasing an authentic product is to buy the product from an authorized source. There will always be a risk that a product purchased from an unauthorized source will be counterfeit. Counterfeit manufacturers are constantly changing and it's becoming more and more difficult to spot counterfeits…until you play golf with them.

Authentic clubs maximize a golfer's performance. To ensure the golf equipment you're purchasing, or have already purchased is authentic, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I purchasing my new golf equipment from an authorized dealer?
   To ensure that you are purchasing authentic golf products, please buy from an authorized retailer/dealer. A list of authorized retailers can be found at each manufacturer's website, or by contacting the manufacturer's customer service department.
2. A number of websites offer discounted golf products and claim to be OEM's or approved vendors. Are they legit?
   Probably not. There has been an increase in the number of websites that offer deeply discounted golf products. These sites are mainly based in China. If the site is not identified as an authorized retailer / vendor according to the manufacturer's website, it is likely selling counterfeit products.
3. There are slight differences in the appearance of the club, including different shades of color, or slightly different engravings. Did I purchase a fake?
   Most likely. Most golf manufacturer's do not sell "blems" or "seconds", so there will not be different versions of golf equipment in the marketplace.
4. The golf club that I purchased off of a website was shipped from China. Should I be concerned?
   Yes, if the product is shipped from China, chances are high that it is fake.

WHEN IN DOUBT, DON'T BUY IT! SAVE YOUR GAME!

Counterfeit Problem

It's estimated that as many as 2 million counterfeit golf clubs are produced each year. To put that number in perspective, if you laid every fake club end-to-end they would stretch from Bethpage Black to Pebble Beach and back again. That's more than 5000 miles. And that doesn't even take into account the millions of fake balls, bags, gloves, and apparel produced. It's a major problem.

The growth of the Internet and rogue websites selling fakes has led to an increase in the sale of counterfeit golf products over the last decade. As a result, consumers purchasing golf equipment from unauthorized dealers are often times duped into spending their hard earned money on fake goods. The efforts of the group have led to raids and seizures of a substantial number of counterfeit clubs, but there is still considerable work left to be done.

Share Your Counterfeit Horror Story

News

Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group a Hit at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show
March 18, 2013
Back in late January, the Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group took part in the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show down in Orlando, Florida. Group representatives along with experts from many of the Group's member brands manned the booth for the 3-day trade show and spoke with thousands of golf lovers, including industry professionals, distributors, consumers and PGA pros.

In addition to educating countless golfers about the issue of counterfeit golf products worldwide, the Golf Group also participated in numerous media interviews aimed at raising awareness of our initiatives, from the Golf Channel to ESPN.com to regional and local papers. It was another successful year for the Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group connecting with golf enthusiasts from all around the world at the PGA Show. The Group would like to thank Reed Exhibitions and the PGA for their help in making our booth possible. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year. If you'd like to follow-up with us after a conversation at the show, please email us at keepgolfreal@gmail.com.

Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group's Efforts Leads to Elimination of 60 Counterfeit Websites
November 25, 2013
The Golf Group announced today that a preliminary injunction has been issued by the Southern District Court of Florida to shut down 60 websites where counterfeit clubs and products were reportedly being sold. When a final judgment is rendered, visitors going to many of these websites will ultimately be redirected to keepgolfreal.com where they can find out more information about how to avoid being duped by counterfeiters.

Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group Closes Out Summer Campaign with a Dozen Successful Raids
September 10, 2013
The Golf Group announced today a recent string of raids of various China-based counterfeit operations in multiple cities over a month-long span. Local Chinese authorities raided a dozen storefronts and distribution facilities located in Dongguan City, Zhuhai City and Qingdao City, from late July through August.

Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group Carries Momentum into 2013
April 15, 2013
The Golf Group announced today the successful raids of two facilities responsible for supplying counterfeit golf products to numerous stores throughout a well-known golf market. The raids by local Chinese authorities resulted in the seizure of tens of thousands of counterfeit items including finished clubs, club heads, shafts, head covers and bags. Additionally, local authorities seized the equipment used to manufacture the counterfeit items.

Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group's "Clustering" Campaign Results in Massive Counterfeit Seizures
December 4, 2012
The Golf Group today announced the completion of a successful law enforcement initiative, called a clustering campaign, which resulted in the seizure of nearly 500,000 counterfeit golf products and the arrest of more than 30 suspects by the Public Security Bureau of China. In total, the campaign spanned 6 months and involved raids on 14 different locations. The campaign revealed an elaborate counterfeiting network that operated throughout the country with locations in Xiamen, Shanghai, Dongguan and Beijing.

Carpe Diem: Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group Works with Chinese Officials to Take Down Two Counterfeit Operations on Same Day
November 12, 2012
The Golf Group announced today the successful completion of simultaneous raids of two separate China-based counterfeit operations on October 18th. The raids of the unrelated operations resulted in the seizure of more than 1,700 counterfeit golf products by local Chinese authorities.

Golf Group Continues to Make Progress in Ongoing Efforts to Deter Counterfeiting
September 27, 2012
The Golf Group reported a recent string of raids and convictions of multiple counterfeiters of golf products in China. These raids were part of a larger clustering campaign by the group in which police in four provinces have raided more than 20 counterfeiting operations, seized more than 350,000 counterfeit golf products and arrested more than 20 counterfeiters including manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.

FAQs

What is the Golf Group doing to get rid of counterfeiting in golf?
It comes down to two things — education and enforcement. Since forming the anti-counterfeiting group we've worked with law enforcement officials around the world to conduct raids and to chase down those involved in this criminal activity.

Education may be even more important to our efforts because as long as people are willing to buy these fakes, counterfeiters will continue to make them. We are committed to educating golfers on the risks and pitfalls associated with these clubs. This website is just one part of our education efforts.

How are your efforts going?
In 2012, the Golf Group’s efforts with the help of Chinese law enforcement led to the seizure of more than 500,000 counterfeit golf products highlighted by a clustering campaign initiative resulting in the arrest of more than 30 suspects from raids of 14 different locations.

Continuing that momentum into 2013, the Golf Group helped law enforcement seize thousands of counterfeit golf products throughout the year and saw its efforts lead to more than 250 websites selling counterfeit golf products having been shut down. The Golf Group looks forward to building on its recent success and continuing to increase consumer awareness and preventing the production, distribution and sale of fake gold equipment across the globe.

How can I be sure that I purchase authentic products?
The only way to be sure is to always buy your golf equipment from an authorized dealer.

I think I purchased fake clubs. What can I do?
Although it's up to you to decide what's in your best interest, here are several options you might consider:

1. Dispute the charges with your credit card company.
2. File a claim with PayPal (if you used their services).
3. Report the incident to the Internet Crime Compliance Center at www.ic3.gov.

Where are fake clubs made?
While the vast majority, more than 90 percent, of counterfeit golf products are made in China, they can be made anywhere. The Golf Group has investigated and raided counterfeit manufacturers in China, Thailand and Vietnam, to name just a few locations.

Group Members