The U.S. Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group (The Golf Group) reported results from a raid of five China-based counterfeiting targets carried out over the past month. The operations, which were executed by Chinese law enforcement with the assistance of the Golf Group, resulted in the seizure of nearly 90,000 counterfeit golf products and continued the momentum that the Golf Group and Chinese authorities have built toward stopping the spread of fakes.


 

“Every raid that we carry out saves a countless number of consumers from being duped into purchasing fake clubs,” said Rawleigh Grove, Vice President and General Counsel for Ping. “This sends a strong message to those who produce fakes that we will continue to work with the proper authorities to find manufacturers and ensure that their potentially dangerous products never reach the public.”

 

 

On May 22, following a comprehensive investigation, Chinese authorities raided three targets in Huangjiang, Dongguan city, Guangdong Province. The Dongguan Huangjiang Administration of Industry and Commerce (AIC) executed the search and seizure. On the same day, the Dongguan Tangxia Municipal AIC completed another raid on a counterfeit manufacturer in Tangxia. More than 85,000 pieces of counterfeit apparel were found and seized in those four locations.

 

 

The Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security carried out the fifth raid on June 5. Authorities found more than 1,200 pieces of counterfeit golf clubs and over 400 pieces of counterfeit apparel at the Jinshuo Golf Shop. In all five raids, Chinese law enforcement seized a combination of counterfeit golf clubs, gloves, caps, bags, t-shirts and club head covers.

 

 

“These fake products come at a cost to everyone involved with the sport of golf,” said Brian Lynch, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Callaway. “We are committed to doing everything in our power to help Chinese law enforcement so it can in turn help us uphold the integrity of one of the world's greatest sports.”

 

 

More information about the dangers of counterfeit golf clubs and products, and how to avoid them, can be found at www.keepgolfreal.com.

 

 

About the Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting Working Group

 

 

The Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group consists of five of the most well-known golf companies in the world — Acushnet Company whose brands are Titleist, FootJoy and Scotty Cameron; Callaway-Odyssey; Cleveland Golf, Srixon and Never Compromise; PING; and TaylorMade-adidas Golf and Ashworth. Formed in 2004, the Golf Anti-Counterfeiting Group has worked with international law enforcement and government agencies to conduct raids and investigations of counterfeit operations, as well as raise public awareness of the issue. Since 2011, the Golf Group's efforts with the help of Chinese law enforcement led to the seizure of more than 575,000 counterfeit golf products highlighted by a clustering campaign initiative resulting in the arrest of more than 30 suspects from raids of 14 different locations.