Golf Equipment Wholesaler Admits to Illegal Pricing Conduct Under Competition Law
- Barry Money
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Golf Imports Pty. Ltd. after the wholesaler admitted to engaging in resale price maintenance, a serious breach of Australian competition law.
The undertaking follows an ACCC investigation into pricing clauses that restricted how retailers could advertise and sell golf equipment supplied by Golf Imports, including well-known brands such as Callaway.
What Is Resale Price Maintenance?
Under Australian competition law, suppliers are prohibited from preventing, or attempting to prevent, retailers from selling or advertising goods below a specified minimum price. This conduct is known as resale price maintenance and is illegal regardless of business size or market position.
Retailers must remain free to set their own prices. Any attempt by a supplier to control downstream pricing risks regulatory enforcement and significant penalties.
What Did Golf Imports Do?
Golf Imports is an Australian importer and wholesaler supplying major golf retailers, including Drummond Golf, GolfBox and Golf World.
Between April 2022 and July 2025, Golf Imports admitted that it published clauses on its website that prohibited retailers from advertising products below prices specified by Golf Imports. These clauses appeared in its Online Policy and Supply Agreement.
The documents also stated that Golf Imports could suspend or terminate a retailer’s ability to advertise or sell its products if the pricing restrictions were not followed.
While Golf Imports did not take further steps to enforce these clauses, the ACCC considered the conduct unlawful.
Why the ACCC Took Action
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe emphasised that price competition is fundamental to Australia’s market economy.
“Resale price maintenance can keep prices higher than they otherwise would be and cause significant consumer harm, particularly at a time of increased cost of living pressure,” Ms. Lowe said.
The ACCC has warned suppliers across all industries that attempts to control retail pricing may lead to enforcement action, including court proceedings where appropriate.
What the Undertaking Requires
Under the court-enforceable undertaking, which will remain in effect for three years, Golf Imports must:
Remove all minimum pricing clauses from its policies and agreements
Notify retailers of the changes
Implement a competition law compliance program
Golf Imports was established in 2006 and stocks multiple golf brands, including acting as the exclusive Australian distributor for Izzo Golf, Infiniti Golf and Golf Pride.
Why This Matters for Suppliers and Franchisors
This case is a timely reminder for wholesalers, franchisors and suppliers that resale price maintenance can occur through:
Formal pricing policies or supply agreements
Advertising restrictions
Threats to withdraw supply or discounts
Incentives tied to maintaining minimum prices
The consequences can be significant. In December 2023, power tool supplier Techtronic was ordered by the Federal Court to pay $15 million in penalties after admitting to similar conduct.
Need Help Navigating Competition Law Risks?
Bane Legal Services is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We are a trusted legal matchmaker, helping businesses connect with the right commercial, competition, franchising or consumer law lawyer based on over 30 years of real-world business experience.
If your business supplies goods to retailers, franchisees or distributors, getting the right legal guidance early can help you avoid costly compliance mistakes.
Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), “Wholesaler Golf Imports admits to engaging in resale price maintenance”, media release dated 18 December 2025.
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