Bullet Golf Sues USGA for $20 Million

A golf equipment maker filed a lawsuit Friday in Orange County Superior Court against the United States Golf Assn., claiming that the organization hindered the company’s sales by refusing to designate its new golf club as conforming to USGA standards.

Bullet Golf Inc., which had revenue last year of about $50 million, asks for $20 million in damages in the complaint.

Last year, the Santa Ana company began marketing a club that features a notched head. But the USGA said the product does not fit its requirement that clubs be “plain in shape,” rendering its use illegal in tournaments.

“It’s a very subjective opinion,” said Bullet Golf President Steve Dunn. “For whatever reason, they don’t like the way the club looks--and because of that, I’m not able to market a product in our free-enterprise system.”