Hi Thomas,

As you can imagine, protecting the Titleist brand from counterfeiters is something we take very seriously and our brand protection team vigorously protects our intellectual property.  Lately there has been an increase of counterfeit golf products making their way into the marketplace. While we have a program to aggressively pursue those who engage in these practices, some counterfeit product finds its way into the marketplace, especially via the internet. 

To that end, to ensure that you purchase authentic Titleist product, always buy from an authorized Titleist retailer. Our products are primarily sold at golf courses, off course golf specialty shops and certain sporting goods stores.  When you make purchases in these unauthorized locations, there is a much greater chance that the products offered are counterfeit.

If you would like more information on how to spot counterfeit products and how to report them, please follow this link: http://www.titleist.com/customerservice/counterfeit.asp.   

Hi Mike - I bought a set of AP2 irons from golf club gate, which arrived today. In my haste, zeal and ignorance, I did not do any due diligence with respect to possible counterfeits. Now I'm reading the chances are good I may have been scammed (nothg definitive about this particular site, however). Is there any way to verify the serial number - 6521194? As soon as I unpacked them I compared them to my buddy's AP2s, and we cannot see any difference. Even the details that I read I'm supposed to look for like hosels being slightly longer from 3-PW, match up. Haven't hit them, but will show them to his pro later today. Any information you can provide would be great (I've been all over the Team Titleist site). Thanks. Rob

Hi Rob,

Unfortunately I don't have access to that information. Your best bet is to contact our brand protection team via email at ip@acushnetgolf.com. They will be able to help provide you with some more information. Feel free to send me a pm if you have any difficulty connecting with the team.

Best,
Mike 

Hey Rob,

Mate i was looking at picking up a set of AP2's as well, could you please let me know if your serial number is ok. Sorry to use you like this but yeh that would be awesome.

Cheers,

Mike

No problem, Mike,

I spoke to the Titleist rep that works with my club and he said the clubs are likely counterfeit - more based on the price than anything.  He said it is common and simple to grab a legit serial number and burn it onto fake clubs.  The more I examine the clubs, the more I'm convinced they are fakes - the shape of the sole/leading edge is rounded (especially toward the toe), while the legit AP2s I'vre compared them to have a pretty flat sole with the curve at either end.  I will be sending the clubs to Titleist HQ for authentication (not sure how long that will take).  The merchant insists they are an authorized dealer, but the likelihood seems slim.  I'll post the results of my saga.  Net-net, I think the "too good to be true" rule applies here.

Rob

Hey Mike - just heard back from Titleist that the serial number does not check out.  They've also had numerous other complaints about Golf Club Gate.  I'd say stay away.

Rob

Hey buddy sorry for the late reply but thanks heaps for the advice and im sorry you got stung.

Anyways happy golfing mate

Why is the website link still here on our site? 

IMO, the website mentioned sells seconds or rejects from the factory. They also have a Japan only release of a Titleist Iron, also most likely a reject.

The reason the serial numbers come up wrong, is there is no serial number to begin with and the people selling the clubs think they need it, so either make one up, or copy. 

Quality control is big at Titleist and all the OEMs I imagine, so rejects/defects have to be common In this economy destroying rejects is not cost effective and I bet the rejects are sold off for lower than cost to be sold at less than cost. Tooling for counterfeit irons/Drivers is expensive and I doubt it is as wide spread as it seems.

Like the OP said, the sole grinds and other details of finishing will be off. They also could not be USGA conforming and /or defective. In a driver or multi cavity Iron, the results of a defect could be dangerous.

Truer words have never been spoken.  Sorry you got suckered, but like they say: you get what you pay for.  I have a buddy that got hosed on a fake scotty off of Ebay.  I knew it was fake right away.  He reported the seller and got his $$ back at least. I hope it all works out for you.

have played the 690mb's for the last 10 years or so and dont play as much so i decided to get a set of ap2's....well ran across a set of ap2's on craigslist...yeah i know...stupid...but they were a good deal so i went for it...have played 3 rounds with these clubs and just couldnt seem to get a good feel wiht them...well i was playing with a buddy today, who happens to play ap2's as well, and he spotted that they are fakes immediately....im sooooo bummed as i know their is very little chance of me getting my money back and all i have for the guy is an email address which could be/is fake as well...AND, i still dont have a set of ap2's!!  some lessons are learned the hard way....   :-(

Go to mygolfspy.com it will give you a list of counterfeit sites. I am pretty sure golf club gate is fake!

I have been buying from globalgolf.com and they are legit as far as i know. As a matter of fact, three months ago i picked up mint Titleist 910 D2 from them that was brand new at a steep discount. It came with a brand new tool kit and head cover. Has the titleist hologram on the shaft, been gaming it with no problems..

Did you get the 710 AP2? What aspect of the 690.CB do you like better? I have the AP2 712 (8-GW) as part of a combo set with the AP1 and so far I really like the AP2's. Great turf interaction, forgiveness, feel, pretty much the best irons I have hit.

I also bought AP2's from Global Golf.  Are they real? 

i read somewhere that if you put a magnet to the irons that are real it wil not stick but i bought mine from a local golf shop new and the magnet sticks to them just wondering how true that is 

Yes. Global Golf is a legitimate website. The golf pro who I take lessons from recommended that site when I was looking for a used clubs.

The Shaft are soft and run the serial number with Titleist.

                                                   Mark