Golfer's assocation takes legal action against ex-member for infringement

The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) is to ask the High Court to restrain a former member from passing himself off as a member of the worldwide association by infringing its international PGA trademark.

Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley yesterday granted the PGA permission to serve short notice of its legal challenge against Kevin Beirth, trading under the title of the Irish Professional Golfers Association or IPGA.

Declan McGrath, counsel for the PGA, told the court he had a trademark infringement and passing off application against Mr Beirth, of Melesian Lawn, Feltrim, Swords, Co Dublin, trading as the Irish PGA.

Mr McGrath said PGA solicitors, Mason, Hayes and Curran, would serve notice of the PGA’s intention to seek interlocutory injunctions against Mr Beirth at a number of email addresses he uses as well as by phone and personal service.

He said the PGA was a long established and well-known organisation and Mr Beirth was involved in conducting promotions under the title of the IPGA.

Ireland’s major championship winners Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell, are all members of the PGA.

Mr Beirth is a professional golfer who promotes three Co Dublin teaching academies and professional golf advice by “a PGA trained professional”. The golf schools are at Newcastle Golf Centre, Stepaside Driving Range, and Drynam Golf Centre, which advertise that they feature Kevin Beirth of the IPGA.

Three day golf teaching schools in Portugal are also advertised on websites which state that they feature Kevin Beirth of the IPGA.

The IPGA was formed in a Portrush hotel in 1911 and had 40 members by 1914.

It dissolved in 1975 when members voted to merge with the PGA, of which Ireland is one of a number of regions, as are England, Scotland and Wales.

Today the PGA claims to have 7,500 members employed in more than 70 countries worldwide.