Hi
As an international 'independent' forum I think you should not be allowing the manufacturers any say in the testing process...otherwise this potentially taints the results, IMHO. While the golfing companies may try to skew the results for their own marketing bias, you could point out that, at least for most of the medium to large manufacturers, they are selling clubs globally, not just the USA.
Golf is an international sport played around the world and continually for the 12 months of the year. I would challenge you on the number of 'international' tests vs USA (or mainland America) tests.
While I appreciate the enormity of the numbers regarding testers vs equipment available the up front rule is the issue...not the fact that for example only 4 clubs are available for 1000 requests...I don't expect to get picked, but I would at least like to have the oppurtunity.
If shipping is the issue you could offer testing to international testers with a deal where they would pay for all or part of the shipping cost.
As an Australian golfer we play year round in many different conditions and I would have thought getting as many differences into your test data would only improve your results.
Please consider you international readers for your testing
Regards
Chris