For The Huffington Post. November 2016.
Don’t understand the game of golf but have someone close who is crazy about it? As you begin to make those holiday shopping lists, cross off the golfer men and women in your life using this unique shopping guide. Whether they are learning the game, or a pro already, the list below offers 22 of the trendiest products that any golfer would ever need! From recyclable polos and Scandinavian footwear, to swing analyzers and GPS enabled watches, below are some of the best gifts of the season for the golfer, available at every price range.
ACCELERATOR PRO® INDOOR PUTTING GREEN WITH BALL RETURN $49.99
Can’t get out on the course this winter? Practice your swing at the office or at home, with this 9-foot true-roll indoor putting green. It rolls out 3-7 feet and stores well in a small box. Practicing indoors might actually give you an edge when spring comes around.
Surprise a golf lover at work with this gift box from Man Crates, that actually is a sealed wooden crate, equipped with a crowbar. Inside you will find a SKLZ Chipping Training Net, 12 Impact practice balls, Turf Chipping Mat & Rubber Tee, a Putt Pocket Training Cup and a Line M Up Ball Marking Tool. It’s quirky, fun and memorable.
Got back problems but still love to play? Designed for right-and left- handed golf players, this divot repairing putter helps with comfort and balance. It alleviates back/knee pain, improves golf game, and assists golfers in repairing ball marks. Proper golf etiquette requires that players repair their own ball marks on the green, so the Double Duty Putter from InventHelp comes in quite handy.
Looking for a fun stocking stuffer? The no-tie elastic lacing system is perfect for athletes who don’t want to worry about their laces coming undone. The laces come in a variety of colors and are adjustable to any size. Even acclaimed golfer, Danny Willett won a couple of tournaments this year while wearing HICKIES!
JONES SPORTS CO GOLF SHOE BAG $44.95
Have a thing for the 70s and 80s designs? The classic single strap golf shoe bag with breathable air flow holes, makes for the perfect accessory out at the course. It can also be personalized with custom embroidery for an extra special gift. Let dad stand out with his cool looking shoe bag.
Icebug Mist RB9X is a Scandinavian designed shoe that feels like a sandal, yet wears like a shoe. It is great for dry and wet weather, with open air mesh upper, and gives great traction on the green. Specially designed upper holds the foot for comfort all day long.
SEAMUS WOOLEN GOLF HEADCOVERS $55
Never get your clubs mixed up again. Seamus Golf woolen golf head covers are hand cut and sewn in Oregon, USA and were featured at the U.S. Open 2015 and 2016. They come in a variety of designs, colors, and sizes. Add a custom leather label or choose a tartan representing the family clan name for a personal gift.
ORVIS PERSONALIZED ID CADDY $55
Know someone who likes to collect vintage? Get them a personalized military style leather ID tag that snaps securely onto a golf bag. Engravings come on a solid brass tag that tucks into the leather caddy, while the leather caddy itself can also be embossed with initials.
TOM TOM GOLFER 2 SMARTWATCH $249.99
Tech savvy golfers will love this ultra-slim, GPS-enabled smartwatch that also shows how far you’ve hit each ball, and keeps track of the score, distance, and time. The inbuilt GPS is preloaded with 40,000 courses worldwide and is weather and water resistant up to 40 meters.
BRAVEN 105 BLUETOOTH SPEAKER $49.95
Too quiet out in nature? Listen to your favorite tunes without carrying a heavy speaker around. The BRAVEN 105 is a waterproof, compact speaker that allows you to stream music wirelessly up for 8 hours. It even has multifunctional elastic strap that mounts onto a golf cart.
LEUPOLD GX-2i2 RANGEFINDER $329
Need a personal caddie to get your game on? This handy rangefinder allows golfers to quickly choose the proper club, complete rounds faster, and improve scores, using advanced technology. It also accounts for uphill and downhill slopes, and makes recommendations customized to a golfer’s specific hitting distances.
Here’s a corky gift that would make any golfer cheer up! The 15-inch golfing gnome with clubs from At Home is adorable in the yard, at the desk, or on a bookshelf.
Feeling hot on the course? Carry your own portable personal eco-friendly air cooler on the cart or at the range. The cooler uses unique basalt nano material to cool, humidify and clean the air 3-4 square meters around you, creating the perfect microclimate to get your best game on.
This tech tote from Great Useful Stuff is designed to hold everything you would need during all 18-holes. Listen to music with a built-in wireless speaker with Bluetooth capabilities, answer calls, from the swipe-friendly plastic cover without having to remove or touch it, and store food, beverages, and golf gear – all in one easy to carry bag!
POWERHANDZ TRAINING GLOVES $69.99
Those who want to improve hand strength and work on their swing can benefit from Pure Grip Gloves. The patented premium weighted training gloves are designed to improve muscle memory during training through repetition, and help increase power and speed.
TILE SLIM BLUETOOTH TRACKER $30
Never lose your wallet again with the ultra-thin Bluetooth tracker – as thin as two credit cards. Tile Slim is a handy device that connects to an app, can ring your phone, and be seen on a map. Tuck it into a golf bag, wallet, or anything you don’t want to lose, and use our simple app to make it ring or see the last place you left it at.
Look good on the course and in the boardroom with the Bradley Allan Oxford Pique Pocket Polo, featuring technical fabrics, subtle textures and proper fit. They come in a solid and strip styles, and in a variety of colors.
Of course you need a golf themed pop-up greeting card to accompany all those gifts! Check out the eco-friendly 3D Lovepop card titled Golf Ball which features a life-size pop-up golf ball and tee from the perspective of the golfer.
GOLFING NOTEPAD COLLECTION $29.95
The Stationery Studio offers golf theme notepads that can be personalized with up to 3 lines of text and one of four design logos. The pads come ready to be gifted, wrapped in cellophane with a coordinating ribbon.
What’s better than some good looking polos? Ones that are made from recycled plastic bottles! The Recover Polo look and feel like cotton, feature a relaxed collar and chest pocket. Each one is made from 8 plastic bottles so you can feel good about your purchase.
Whether you’re a golf pro or a beginner on the greens, the Blast Golf 360 motion sensor is an absolute must have! The sensor is easy to use and records various analytics to help you improve your game.
Take your music hands and Bluetooth free! These are the world’s first premium, wireless over-ear active headphones with built-in 8-GB onboard storage that stores up to 4,000 songs in the headphones. They are also water-resistant and perfect for enjoying sports hands free.