Counterfeit clubs seized in Berkshire

Callaway Golf Europe has confirmed that police arrested two people in Berkshire suspected of selling counterfeit Odyssey putters. The Odyssey brand is one of the Callaway Golf family of brands. The putters were being sold on the internet auction website eBay.
Police and Trading Standards officers from Windsor & Maidenhead raided a residential address on 4th May and seized approximately 80 counterfeit Odyssey putters as well as jewellery and clothing. Two computers plus documents were also taken away for examination.
The raid follows a tip-off from a golf professional who called Callaway Golf after suspecting an Odyssey putter bought by a member of the public via the internet was a fake.
Neil Howie, Callaway Golf Europe managing director, said, “We would like to thank Windsor & Maidenhead Trading Standards and the Police for their cooperation in this matter. Callaway Golf and the authorities are active in tracking down those who sell counterfeit golf clubs.
“In this case, it appears that putters were being bought from places such as China and then being sold on eBay for a profit. We recommend that golfers always buy from Callaway Golf Preferred Retailers, who are listed on our website: www.callawaygolf.com.”
In October last year, more than 6,500 counterfeit clubs and other accessories, many destined for internet sales, were seized during raids in Bangkok, Thailand. Since 2004, Callaway Golf and other premium golf equipment manufacturers have been working together to combat the manufacture and sale of counterfeit clubs resulting in more than 100,000 fake golf clubs, balls and accessories with a street value of millions of pounds being seized and destroyed.
Steve Johnson, Trading Standards Manager for the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, said: “We are absolutely delighted by the success of this operation. We worked closely with Callaway Golf, following a tip-off from a golf professional. We are currently looking into all the circumstances and the possibility of taking court action.
“This case underlines the need for people to be extremely cautious before parting with their hard-earned cash. The message is: ‘If the bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is’ so buy from reputable dealers and guard against being taken in by people out to make a quick buck at the public’s expense.”
The two people arrested – a man and a woman – were later bailed pending further enquiries.