PGA begin court fight over use of trade mark

A former member of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) told the High Court yesterday he was not passing himself off as a member of the worldwide association or illegally using the PGA’s global trade marks.

High Court president Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns heard that Kevin Beirth, who trades under the title of the Irish Professional Golfers Association (IPGA), had been removed from membership of the PGA in July last year following an incident at a Pro-Am in October 2011.

Beirth, of Milesian Lawn, Feltrim, Swords, Co. Dublin, told the court that following a High Court application last week he had been served with documents and, since he was representing himself, he would require time to consider them. He said he was not passing himself off as the PGA or a member of it.