A trademark firm representing Tiger Woods has issued a ‘cease and desist’ letter to a Welsh golf course over concerns that fans may be misled by a similar name to one of the legend’s own ventures.
The new play-and-party golf course in Anglesey, North Wales, is being launched by local professional golfer Matthew Wharton, and was set to be called PuttStroke.
However the premium mini-golf experience has attracted attention from a trademark firm representing 48-year-old Woods.
The Daily Post that JA Kemp, a leading patent and trademark company in London, have contacted Wharton because of the similarities between the proposed name and PopStroke, a business partly owned by golfing icon Woods operating in the US.
JA Kemp intervened after spotting a previous article on the proposal on the Daily Post website last month – in which Wharton, 50, cheekily said: ‘I’m taking inspiration from several of the mini golf courses designed by Tiger Woods and his team.
A trademark firm representing Tiger Woods has sent a ‘cease and desist’ letter to a golf course
Matthew Wharton had hoped to call his North Wales play-and-party golf course PuttStroke
‘I’m calling it Puttstroke but I may have to think again if I get a warning letter from Tiger.’
Now that he has been called out on the name, because of a ‘substantial risk of confusion’ according to JA Kemp, Wharton, 50, has asked for help to find a new moniker for the business.
Wharton admitted: ‘I was a bit shocked to receive the letter.
‘It arrived pretty soon after I announced the venture. I was surprised it had caught Tiger’s eye so quickly, but I suppose in a way that’s quite a compliment – maybe it shows he’s worried about the competition!
‘I’m happy to go along with the request and look for a new name. I’ve decided to seek inspiration from the public – to see if they can suggest something suitable. I’d be delighted to hear ideas for the new name so long as it’s not Putty McPuttFace or something.
‘We live in a Welsh village and we’re trying to promote the Welsh language, so it would be good to hear suggestions for names that would translate well and put Welsh first.’
In the US, PopStroke offers 13 luxury clubhouses, indoor children’s playgrounds, and premium-turfed 18-hole putting courses, with a goal of reaching 50 across the country.
Wharton’s Golf Mon venture uses the old golf course and driving range in Llangefni, which closed in 2018.
Construction work on the new project has already begun, with floodlight greens that mirror traditional golf clubs, but allow for later playing times, and dining facilities, including a pizza restaurant which is already operating on the site.
Woods finished the Masters at the bottom of the leaderboard, scoring 16-over for the week
There was a moment of levity when a handshake with a tree went viral on social media
Woods found himself in the unusual position of finishing the Masters at the bottom of the leaderboard in Augusta, Georgia, shooting 77 on Sunday to finish 16-over for the tournament.
However, fans of the golfing great were treated to a moment of levity during the broadcast when the 48-year-old appeared to give a handshake to a tree – which promptly went viral on social media.
