Christmas Gift Guide Part 2

Check out these great golf gift ideas for the holidays

By Tony Dear

In the first part of this year’s Christmas gift guide, we focused on hardware – clubs, balls, and bags. This week we’re shifting to soft(er)ware – apparel/shoes, tech, and miscellaneous gift items including books – all of which, we’re fairly certain, will go down a storm on Christmas Day. And the message remains the same – we either wear, use, listen to, take advantage of, or read everything here ourselves. Or, if we don’t, we play with people who do and whose opinion we trust. Everything here, therefore, comes highly recommended.

Apparel/Shoes

Bombas Caddie Men’s Golf Ankle Sock ($72 4-Pack – bombas.com)

Yes, $72 isn’t inexpensive for four pairs of socks, but Bombas socks are made with proprietary cotton-poly yarns that feel natural and wick sweat away. They’re also fully-cushioned, designed with thermoregulation and a mesh under-toe ventilation zone. So, your feet can breathe. And for every pair you buy, Bombas donates a pair to someone who needs them.

G/FORE Long-Wing Gallivanter shoe ($225 – gfore.com)

Comfortable and colorful, the Gallivanter comes in fetching Blush/White and is made with premium waterproof leather. The fully-padded mesh interior is both breathable and cushioning. Discount on first order at G/FORE web site.

Radmor Colby Varsity stripe ($110 – radmorgolf.com)

“Made from the finest cotton in the world” – a blend of Peruvian Pima Cotton + Elastane yarns. Biodegradable fabric. Discount on first order at web site.

True Linkswear OG Feel ($155 – truelinkswear.com)

Perhaps the most comfortable shoe from the company many insist make the most comfortable shoes in the game. Fully-breathable one-piece sock-fit upper.

2undr Long John ($50 – 2undr.com)

Prepare for cold weather golf with the comfortable first-layer 2undr Long John – 65% Bamboo, 30% Cotton, 5% Elastane.

Tech

Arccos Smoke Sensors ($225 – arccosgolf.com)

Gen 3+ sensors in black/smoke color design. The latest shot tracking software on both iOS and Android platforms. 13 new, ultra-light, low-profile sensor design with long-lasting battery and power-saving mode. One P3 putter sensor featuring a new design that is more than 40% smaller and 20% lighter

Bushnell Pro X3 Rangefinder ($600 – bushnellgolf.com)

Bushnell says the Pro X3 is “the most feature rich, best-performing laser rangefinder on Earth.”  Open the box and you find the feature-rich, incredibly accurate rangefinder, a Premium Carrying Case, washable Micro-fiber cloth, a CR2 Battery and Quick-Start guide.

Garmin Approach S62 Golf Watch ($390 – garmin.com)

All the info you need on an easy to read full-color display. 42,000 pre-loaded courses.

Miscellaneous

Imagine golf app (Eexclusive access for $10/month or $60/year – imaginegolf.com)

We featured Malcolm Scovill’s brilliant mental game app in October of last year, so it’s not new. But amazing fresh content is being added all the time, like new monthly virtual coaching. We have very rarely seen any product receive this many recommendations, five-star reviews, and genuine testimonials as the Imagine app so are fairly certain it can help anyone become a better, more satisfied golfer.

Whiskers Laces ($15/pair, sock/laces bundles available – whiskerslaces.com)
‘

Tiny rebellious threads of self-expression’ is how company founder Mike Gossett describes his extroverted laces which are available in numerous styles, colors and lengths.

Orange Whip Trainer ($110 – orangewhipgolf.com)

As extra speed has become the golf swing’s most valued asset so a slew of speed-boosting training aids has flooded the market. Though the majority are highly-effective and well worth the investment, few are better than the Orange Whip Trainer.

Nelsonhill Bag Tag Wallet ($38 – nelsonhill.co)

Bag tags are a popular on-course accessory to help identify your bag and add a touch of personality to your gear. This leather tag doubles as a wallet or extra pocket to keep cash, receipts, scorecard or whatever you need to keep safe and easily accessible in your bag.

Blue Tees Player Magnetic Portable Speaker ($130 – blueteesgolf.com)

Good sound quality and a magnet to attach it to your cart – a great device from the company that also makes excellent, affordable rangefinders.

Uther Glove Holder ($80 – uthersupply.com)

How many old, dirty and disfigured gloves does your golfing spouse/child/friend have stuffed in some seldom-used pocket of their bag, rarely seeing the light of day and virtually unwearable when they do make an appearance? The zipped Uther Glove Holder can keep up to four gloves each in its own compartment, prolonging its life and saving the golfer from having to fork out $25 or more every time they get out for a game.

Books

Five superb books from a memorable year for golf-publishing:

‘Long Golden Afternoon’ ($36 – amazon.com)

Stephen Proctor chronicles the important period in golf history following Young Tom Morris’s tragic death

‘Phil’ ($20 – amazon.com)
Good writers make you want to turn from page 1 to 2. Great writers have you feeling as excited to turn from page 208 to 209. It helps that author Alan Shipnuck had such a fascinating and exciting subject as Phil Mickelson, but this is the very epitome of a ‘page-turner’.

‘When Revelation Comes’ ($35 – back9press.com)

Jim Hartsell’s beautifully-written book about the golf trip to Scotland he took following the tragic death of his youngest son is beyond moving.

‘The Four Foundations of Golf’ ($26 – amazon.com)

Jon Sherman has become a respected voice on golf instruction and his latest book declutters the swing and mental game in a way that will help you improve more comfortably and rapidly than ever before.

‘The Golfers Zoo’ ($30 – back9press.com.)

Golf Channel presenter Shane Bacon’s first book is for the kids and a delightful story that will help introduce your children to the greatest game on earth.

Also consider back9’s other book – Jay Revell’s ‘Swing Walk, Repeat – Observations from a Lifelong golf obsession’. $35.

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Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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