Buyer Beware

Law enforcement also is reluctant to devote resources. "Most law enforcement thinks it is a U.S. Customs issue and not a law-enforcement issue," says Gingrich. "It's a challenge to convince them it is a serious crime."

One place where progress has been made is China's legitimate foundries. Workers in Fu Sheng's 1.8-million square-foot facility in Zhongshan, for example, must go through metal detectors any time they leave the factory. At Sino Golf Manufacturing, where hundreds of putter heads are milled every day, reinforced screens prevent heads from being tossed out the window to a waiting accomplice -- a practice that as recently as 10 years ago was commonplace at some foundries.

Photo: Courtesy of Acushnet

Although foundries no longer enable counterfeiting as they used to, the explosion of the Internet and sites such as eBay and Overstock.com has made it easier for counterfeiters to unload their products, providing a worldwide marketplace consisting primarily of consumers who are seeking a deal and are willing to buy on looks and faith. "Ninety percent of counterfeits bought in the U.S. are over the Internet," says Gingrich. "When you buy on the Internet, you're gambling."

Ricky Ishii took that gamble and lost. A 13-handicapper who lives in Denver, Ishii found Titleist Pro V1 golf balls on Overstock.com for $33 a dozen, placed an order and quickly found out that seeking a bargain sometimes results in getting less than you paid for -- far less.

"I opened the box and immediately said to myself, 'Oh my God, I got taken,' " says Ishii. "The hologram on the box didn't shine, and the balls looked like the old Spalding Dot with the shallow dimples and a big seam around it." Ishii, who received a refund after lodging a complaint, sent the spurious spheres to Titleist where it was confirmed the balls were indeed not only fake, but had covers about 10 times thicker than a real Pro V1. "They were nothing more than glorified range balls," says Rogan.

Not all Internet sites are counterfeit havens. 3balls.com, one of the Web's largest sellers of golf equipment, screens the clubs it takes in trade. The site's founder, Leigh Bader, says returns due to suspicion of counterfeiting are "statistically insignificant."

In China, brick-and-mortar shops that sell counterfeits are prevalent, but that is the exception in the United States. The odds of bogus clubs available for purchase rises significantly at stores specializing in liquidations or clearances.

Partly because counterfeiting has become so prevalent, Gingrich feels things will eventually get better. "At least in the U.S., the dollars that are involved have gotten the attention of senators and congressmen," he says. "And that is a vehicle we need to get more enforcement involved. The days of looking the other way and winking are lessening. Counterfeiting will never disappear, but it will be less."

In an activity filled with lies and deceit, that would be a welcomed truth.

Which Is The Fake And How To Tell?

Manufacturers face a constant dilemma: They want to let consumers know what to look for so they don't get ripped off, but in an effort to catch counterfeiters, they don't want to tip how they spot a fake. Although manufacturers contacted for this article would not reveal many visual means of detecting counterfeits, they did provide other advice that may prevent you from becoming a victim.

• If a club lacks a serial number, there is a good chance it could be fake. But if it does have a serial number, do not assume it is legitimate. Some counterfeiters simply copy serial numbers from legitimate products and put them on the bogus clubs.

• Look for the egregious error. There have been instances where counterfeiters have misspelled a word. Although rare, it is a dead giveaway.

• Beware brand-new clubs for sale on an Internet auction site. While some stories of "just won in a raffle" or "got as a gift" are true, some aren't.

• If you are buying an entire set of clubs, including bag and travel bag -- at anything resembling a good deal -- the probability is fairly high the products are counterfeits.

• If the club you are evaluating claims to be titanium and a magnet clings to it, it is a fake. Magnets will not cling to titanium.

• If the club purports to have a graphite crown, tap a quarter on the top of the head. Counterfeiters are known to substitute metal and paint it to resemble graphite. A fake clubhead will ring louder (somewhat like a bell) than the real thing. This method is how we determined the FT-i on the left in the above photo was a counterfeit.

• Finally, if you suspect a product might be counterfeit, contact the manufacturer whose name appears on the club. Although they are not responsible for the product, they will tell you if it is a fake -- and if it is, likely will be able to shut down the seller.

In short, you'll be doing everyone a favor.