As the sport grows more popular, players are snapping up cheap copies
China has replaced Taiwan as the world's counterfeit capital for golf equipment as pirates, eager to feed the mainland's booming golf market, churn out thousands of fake clubs at a fraction of the price of the real thing.
Almost all of the fake clubs have been manufactured by Taiwanese-invested operations in Dongguan, Guangdong, during the past five years due to the movement of legitimate golf club manufacturing from the island to the mainland.
According to Nicky Au, golf development director of the Hong Kong Golf Association, the problem of counterfeiting in the golfing industry has risen to serious levels on the mainland, with most stores selling fake clubs.
'You can hardly find the real stuff in China,' Mr Au said.
'Like with VCDs, watches, handbags and fashion items, unscrupulous traders have been manufacturing counterfeit clubs and drivers since Taiwanese businessmen moved their production lines on to the mainland five years ago.'