(More) Stocking Stuffer and Holiday Gift Ideas for 2009
Can you believe it’s December already? Where has the year gone? And where did the warm temperatures and sun disappear to? Well, I know the answer to the latter; however, the bigger question should be did you manage to survive last month’s Black Friday shopping “event”? With gift giving still probably high on your “to-do” list, chances are you joined the masses while hunting, scratching, and kicking your way through the mall looking for the right gift for the golfing aficionado. If you were unsuccessful, we believe that the following products represent good value for your hard earned dollars and deserve a place in your stocking stuffers list this year. Good luck and happy holidays!
AB Golf Designs
For anyone seeking attention-grabbing head covers with a unique, playful twist, look no further than AB Golf Designs. Recognized worldwide for its fun-filled “bottoms-up” themed Butthead line, the company has added an array of new looks in the past few months. Among the highlights - a Pink Ribbon cover benefitting breast cancer charity, an appetizing cheeseburger, the crystal-encrusted Bling-tini for golfers in a celebratory mood and patriotic boxing gloves showcasing the American, English or Australian flag. Always fun and functional, AB’s high-quality plush headcovers have become a fixture in the bags of pros worldwide, including LPGA Tour stars Christina Kim and Yani Tseng. They’re also the corporate and tournament market-leader, excelling in low minimums, prompt turn-around and superb customer service for custom orders. Prices range from $25 to $30. For more information, please visit www.abgolfdesigns.com or call 480-545-4653.
Bushnell PRO 1600 Laser Rangefinder
Bushnell Outdoor Products has introduced the Pro 1600 - the newest member of the company’s industry leading distance measuring devices, available in two models: Tournament Edition and the patented Slope Edition. Both models will be available at Bushnell retail partners in March 2009. The Tournament Edition will retail for $429 and the Slope Edition $479. Both Pro 1600 models work without a locating reflector device and the unit can start obtaining accurate distances to any object right out of the box, with no downloads necessary. The more sophisticated of the two rangefinders is the Pro 1600 Slope Edition, featuring a built-in inclinometer to provide the golfer with a compensated distance based upon the degree of incline or decline. This means when you are aiming at an up-hill or down-hill target, the Pro 1600 with Slope +/- will adjust the yardage reading for the angle and distance to help golfers with accurate club selection.
Engineered for golfers who play competitively, the Pro 1600 Tournament Edition is legal for tournament play. Like the Slope Edition, the Pro 1600 TE is capable of ranging distances from five to 1,600 yards and it is accurate within +/- one yard. Other product features include: 7x magnification, range 400 yards to the flag, 100% waterproof (meets IPX7 standard), Patented RainGuard® HD lens coating, Scan and PinSeeker modes, and carrying case. Bushnell offers a full range of laser rangefinders, which continue to change and improve the way golfers assess distances, ultimately improving performance. For more information, please visit www.bushnellgolf.com.
Club Glove
The overwhelming choice of serious golfers, Club Glove’s products are used by more than 90 percent of PGA and Champions Tour players, and have been a staple selection of the past six Ryder Cup captains. Club Glove offers everything from their new Train Reaction Luggage System ($667 - $757) which allows you to effortlessly maneuver clubs and gear together. Using a leverage system to create a perfect center of gravity, it precisely balances three pieces of luggage to make them feel weightless. The Train Reaction eliminates the stress of getting luggage from one place to the next. Also available, and offering remarkable qualities not found in any other, Club Glove’s Microfiber “Tour Size” Caddie Towel ($19.95, $24.95 -$29.95 w/ embroidery) is sure to please any golfer. Each towel has more than five million yards of microfiber strands and has the ability to hold 500 percent of its weight in water. For more information, please visit www.clubglove.com or call 800-736-4568.
Dunning Sportswear
Dunning Sportswear’s Vintage Merino Zip-Neck Wool Sweater ($160) is versatile enough for golf, sporting or leisure activities. The expansive range of Dunning thermal pieces are specifically designed to keep men warm and comfortable while layering without bulk. Crafted to be worn with a close-to-the-body fit, they are available in fine merino wool with superior natural moisture-wicking properties. Building on its unique heritage of creating leading-edge technical garments, Dunning also proudly introduces its Performance Woven sportshirts ($125) in an array of classic patterns and traditional prep colors. Designed to help men of all ages look stylish, stay dry and remain comfortable in any travel, business or casual environment, these distinctive lightweight shirts feature a proprietary blend of cotton, Invista Coolmax and polyester ensures a superior hand, superb wrinkle resistance, breathability and moisture-wicking. Who doesn’t want to look stylish in any environment, right? Please visit www.dunningsportswear.com or call 800-955-6528 for their latest catalog.
ECCO Golf
Danish shoemaker ECCO’s Spring/Summer 2010 golf collection offers an expansive range of new styles crafted from the highest-grade leathers and showcasing the brand’s proprietary comfort and performance technologies. Each ECCO golf shoe is touched by more than 225 sets of highly-skilled hands during production, resulting in a level of quality that would be hard to match by any major footwear manufacturer. This labor-intensive process facilitates the brand’s unrivalled attention to detail that helps discerning players look, feel and play their best. For more information, please visit www.eccousa.com or call 800-886-3226.
Keri golf
For those women who’d like to be the envy of their foursome, keri golf’s cart ($375) and stand bags ($299.99) are must-haves. Highlights include specialized pockets for balls, cell phones and wallets, insulated storage space for snacks/drinks, external tee holders, gold-plated hardware and personalized monogramming alongside detachable zip bags and mirrors in coordinated fabric frames. When it’s time to leave the course and head to a favorite restaurant or to do a little shopping in the city, a keri golf bucket tote ($115) is the perfect accessory to carry everything you need. Designed in tandem with the line’s eye-catching cart and stand bags, the totes are available in classic black and white colors, while the new patent leather shuttle duffel ($375) is just the right size for a weekend getaway. For more information, please visit www.kerigolf.com or call 888-332-5053.
LIJA by Linda Hipp
Inspired by art and literature from the 1920s-1950s, LIJA (pronounced Lee-zha), by Linda Hipp’s Fall 2009 collections-Garden of Eden, Twilight in Italy and The Sun Also Rises-draw their titles from books of the era, while the individual styles are named for famous artists, design aesthetics, shoes and other period themes. A fusion of sport, leisure and fashion, the lines array layering pieces showcases sophisticated prints and unique detailing in knits, soft shell and midlayer looks. A highlight of the collection is the “Mira” fabrication, a technical bottom fabric that offers functionality and easy care. Hipp’s favorite pieces include the variegated stripe pattern of the Classic Marcel Pullover ($120) and the bold, contemporary styling of the Cubism Plaid Knee Short ($110). Hipp is an avid golfer; however, her designs are influenced by both European trends and West Coast style. For more information, please visit www.lijastyle.com or call 888-263-1191.
Quagmire
A favorite of Hollywood celebrities, Toronto-based Quagmire combines elements from sport and street fashion to offer vibrant, colorful looks for men and women. Featuring an array of bright and pastel hues, cut-and-sew detailing and unique logo and pocket placement, the line’s trademark styling embodies a fun, irreverent attitude. Crafted from the environmentally-friendly “Gud ‘N Dri” fabric, performance characteristics include breathability, durability, fast-drying properties and antimicrobials to provide comfort on and off the course. Additionally, the pieces are soft, static-free, wrinkle-proof and piling-resistant. Popular men’s styles include the Hooked polo ($85), featuring an interlock texture and contrast stitching; Sweetspot pants ($109), a nylon-spandex blend offering a comfortable, chic style; and water-resistant Rainman jacket ($149). For women, the 3some ($89) is an eco-friendly cardigan, made from a bamboo fiber, while the Aftergolf ($119) is a sophisticated, urban blazer. For more information, please visit www.quagmiregolf.com or call 800-652-9839.
The RoboCup
Fine Tune Golf has introduced a product that was launched at the 2009 PGA Show where it won ‘Best New Product’. By bundling this effective tool with the Caddy Cord, a ‘missed putt return guide’ that is placed behind the golf hole, golfers are rewarded when even missed putts shoot right back to them. Together, this personal putting caddy collection saves time, golfers’ backs and brings the fun back into putting. ”RoboCup is an ideal gift for any avid golfer,” says Keith Foley, co-founder of Fine Tune Golf and inventor of the RoboCup. Foley says that the RoboCup is a gift that keeps giving and giving. “It returns your putts time and time again and really can truly be your putting companion year-round,” he says. In addition to the price being well suited for a gift, Foley shares that the invention is not only sought-after by golf consumers, but also tour pros. More than 150 tour pros and 37 instructors and PGA professionals have been using the RoboCup in their practice. My Le Foley, co-founder of Fine Tune Golf, says that each of these professionals have specifically requested the RoboCup. “We like to say that the gift of a RoboCup helps you putt like the pros,” she says. The RoboCup will keep giving year-round, as it is the only ball return device designed to work on every practice green - both indoors and out. The new tech-inspired invention runs on four AA batteries and will return the ball up to 14 feet, depending on green speed. A set of batteries lasts for 12,000 putt returns. The RoboCup and Caddy Cord set are available for $59.95. For additional information, please visit www.finetunegolf.com.
