Privacy policy
Last updated: May 17, 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how The Caddie's Choice ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and discloses your personal information when you visit, use our services, or make a purchase from thecaddieschoice.com (the "Site") or otherwise communicate with us regarding the Site (collectively, the "Services"). For purposes of this Privacy Policy, "you" and "your" means you as the user of the Services, whether you are a customer, website visitor, or another individual whose information we have collected pursuant to this Privacy Policy.
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using and accessing any of the Services, you agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, please do not use or access any of the Services.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, including to reflect changes to our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post the revised Privacy Policy on the Site, update the "Last updated" date, and take any other steps required by applicable law.
Personal Information We Collect
The personal information we collect about you varies based on how you interact with our Services. We may collect information that you directly submit, that is collected automatically, and that we receive from third parties.
Information you provide directly
- Contact details such as your name, email address, phone number, and shipping address.
- Order information such as the products you purchase, billing details, and shipping preferences.
- Account information if you create an account, including your username and password.
- Customer support information including the contents of messages you send us, your feedback, and any photos or documentation you provide (e.g., for a grading dispute or counterfeit claim).
Information collected automatically
- Device and usage information such as IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, and time spent on pages.
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Cookies section below).
- Order and transaction history processed through our payment provider.
Information from third parties
- Payment processors such as Shopify Payments or PayPal, who provide order confirmation and fraud screening data.
- Shipping partners such as DHL, FedEx, or USPS, who provide tracking and delivery confirmation.
- Analytics providers such as Google Analytics.
Product Serial Number Records
The Caddie's Choice maintains a separate, internal database of serial numbers, stencil patterns, and authentication marks for each driver head we sell. This product-level data is:
- Independent of customer personal information. Serial numbers are tied to the product, not to any individual customer or order.
- Retained indefinitely for authentication and traceability purposes (e.g., for counterfeit dispute resolution or recall scenarios).
- Not shared with third parties except (a) at the customer's explicit request (e.g., to support a counterfeit dispute with a manufacturer), (b) in response to a valid legal request, or (c) as part of an internal audit or transfer of the business.
When you place an order, your customer record and the product serial number record are linked via the order ID. Upon your request to delete your personal information, the link is severed: your personal data is deleted, but the serial number record is retained in anonymized form.
Prior-Owner Information (Japanese Sourcing)
Each head we sell was previously owned by a private individual or held by a Japanese retailer (Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, or specialist Tokyo pro shops). The Caddie's Choice collects only the purchase platform, purchase date, and purchase price (for our internal cost accounting only).
We do not collect, store, or disclose names or contact information of prior owners, records linking specific Japanese individuals to specific heads, or any photographs that may identify a prior owner. This information is treated as internal cost data and is not shared with US customers or any third party except as required by Japanese consumer protection law or tax authorities.
How We Use Your Personal Information
- Providing products and services — processing orders, payments, shipping, and providing customer support.
- Marketing and advertising — sending you promotional communications about new arrivals, sales, and other content we think will be of interest (only if you have opted in).
- Security and fraud prevention — detecting and preventing fraudulent activity, unauthorized account access, and other security incidents.
- Communicating with you — providing customer support, responding to inquiries, and notifying you of changes to our Services.
- Compliance — complying with applicable laws and regulations, including tax and consumer protection laws in Japan, the United States, and other jurisdictions.
How We Share Your Personal Information
We may share your personal information with the following categories of recipients:
- Service providers who perform services on our behalf, including payment processing, shipping, hosting, email delivery, and analytics.
- Business partners such as Japanese sourcing partners who assist with product authentication and fulfillment.
- Authorities and others as required by law, in response to legal process, or to protect our rights, the rights of others, or the security of our Services.
- In connection with a business transfer such as a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.
We do not sell your personal information to third parties for monetary consideration.
International Data Transfers
The Caddie's Choice is operated from Japan and serves customers in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. By placing an order, you consent to the transfer of your personal information to Japan for order fulfillment, customer service, and accounting purposes. We comply with:
- EU/UK GDPR for UK customers (Standard Contractual Clauses where required)
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents
- Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) for Canadian customers
- Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Principles) for Australian customers
Your Rights and Choices
Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the rights listed below in relation to your personal information. You may exercise these rights by emailing us at privacy@thecaddieschoice.com.
- Access — Request a copy of all personal information we hold about you (provided within 30 days)
- Correction — Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information (corrected within 7 days of verification)
- Deletion — Request deletion of your personal information (deleted within 30 days, except where retention is required by law — e.g., Japanese tax records require 7-year retention of invoice data)
- Portability — Request your personal information in a machine-readable format (CSV or JSON)
- Opt-out of marketing — Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time via the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or by emailing us
For California residents, you have additional rights under CCPA including the right to know what categories of personal information we collect, the right to delete, the right to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information), and the right to non-discrimination for exercising these rights.
Cookies and Analytics
We use the following tracking technologies on thecaddieschoice.com:
| Provider | Purpose | Opt-Out |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify (essential) | Cart, checkout, session | Cannot be disabled |
| Google Analytics 4 | Site usage analytics | tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout |
| Meta Pixel (Phase 2) | Advertising retargeting | facebook.com/about/privacy |
| TikTok Pixel (Phase 2) | Advertising retargeting | TikTok account settings |
A cookie banner is displayed on first visit for EU/UK users with granular consent (functional / analytics / marketing).
Most browsers also allow you to set your preferences regarding cookies. Some browsers transmit "do-not-track" signals to websites. Because there is not yet a common understanding of how to interpret these signals, we currently do not alter our practices when we receive a "do-not-track" signal.
Data Retention Schedule
| Data Type | Retention |
|---|---|
| Customer account info | Until account deletion request + 30 days |
| Order records (linked to invoices) | 7 years (Japanese tax law) |
| Anonymized product serial records | Indefinite |
| Email marketing list | Until unsubscribe + 30 days |
| Cookie / analytics data | 26 months (GA4 default) |
| Support ticket history | 3 years |
Children's Privacy
The Caddie's Choice does not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. Our products are intended for adult golfers. If we become aware that we have collected information from a minor, we will delete it promptly.
Security
We take reasonable and appropriate measures to protect the personal information that we collect, store, and process from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. No security system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee the security of our systems 100%. In the event that any information under our control is compromised as a result of a breach of security, we will take reasonable steps to investigate the situation and, where appropriate, notify those individuals whose information may have been compromised and take other steps in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Contact
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at privacy@thecaddieschoice.com.
The Caddie's Choice
Fukuoka, Japan