Bettinardi Registry Reuses COA's For Similar Putters - What is the point of Registry Certificates?

[Broke100]

Greetings. First post/new member...but not new to golf or putter collecting!

Purchased my first special edition putter, a 2017 Bettinardi QB6 Limited Run (w/copper insert) which came with the correct headcover and a Bettinardi Registry certificate (a.k.a. COA or Certificate of Authenticity). Before my purchase, I ran the COA number through the Bettinardi Registry database and confirmed it was for a QB6 Limited Run putter. Later I noticed the text search feature of the Registry and tried a search on QB6 Limited Run. Oddly, only the same one COA result was produced. I was expecting quite a few more, as this "limited run" produced 200 actual putters. I checked various online sales sites for the same model selling with COA's and all had the exact same Bettinardi Registry number (RJB8535). I then tried searching for other limited run models (like the 2018 SS9) and for each, only one COA was available. Could it be possible that somehow one COA was to represent 200 putters (more or less with other limited runs)? At that point the COA is literally just a printed copy for the one club that was photographed.

Well, after an email to Bettinardi, that is true. Only one-off clubs get their own COA. What is Bettinardi thinking? Calling these COA's is irresponsible as they can be easily copied and used with a counterfeit putter. It almost makes counterfeiting limited run models easier. One could even bundle an original COA with a counterfeit putter. This just doesn't make good sense. Bettinardi doesn't describe their registry at all, although I've seen posts from what appeared to be an employee describing it as expected, as an authentication program. Below is my recent email exchange. I suggest that Bettinardi clear this up via their website, perhaps bifurcating the program for truly authenticated putters and those that just include a brief, generic specification sheet (like mine) - I'm pretty sure the signatures are copies, too! Bottom line, the COA may not confirm authenticity even though it reads "registered milled putter" and has a registry number.

 

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out to Bettinardi Golf.

If it a limited run then the COA registry will be all the same for the amount manufactured (example 200). If it was a custom putter then that would have it's own COA because there is only one made.

Hope this helps!

Happy Holidays!

Best,

Customer Service

_____________________________ 

Hello.

Are registry numbers shared across the same model of each putter?  For instance, with the 2017 QB6 Limited Run putters, I’ve seen the exact same registry number on included certificates for offerings from different sellers.  In fact, there is only one registry entry for this model, yet 200 were made!

Thanks for the clarification. Nice putters!

[MattM97]

Bettinardi's are hard to fake due to their milling patterns so there are probably no fakes out there and if there are they are probably bad. Why they even bothered with 200 of the same COA's I'm not sure maybe they thought it's better than nothing but in this case you're on the opposite side.

 

The COA for one offs is nice since you can get all the info there, maybe the COA's for this putter is just to check specs if someone forgets?

[Broke100]

Still seems like a huge goof (a.k.a. credibility blow) for Bettinardi to even issue such paper. Issuing false (or multi-use) registry certificates seems to diminish the value of the registry system in general. They could just send a copy of the cut-sheet (for limited run putters) which was publicly available prior to the release, see both attachments. The cut-sheet is actually more helpful anyway.