Sometimes the only way to fit in a round of golf is to get it in early. And that’s certainly the theme with holiday shopping this season, what with all the supply chain and shipping hazards (to borrow from golf parlance). So to speed along the pace of play, here’s a roundup of golf gifts ranging from equipment and apparel to training aids and apps.
FootJoy Holiday Gift Highlights
It is the holiday season and golfers everywhere are beginning to think of next year—and the new and exciting gifts to either give or receive that will add to their enjoyment of the game in 2022.
Starting off our selections for this year’s gift list are some stylish yet functional offerings from FootJoy, highlighted by the HydroKnit Pullover that was designed as a mid-layer, yet performs beautifully as a rain jacket or excellent protection in windy weather.
This lightweight and versatile top utilizes three-layer bonded knit construction, four-way stretch fabric for freedom during the swing, is very breathable and has seam sealed waterproof construction that makes it 100% rainproof. Water actually rolls right off this jacket to keep you as dry as possible. The waterproof front zipper is well-designed to keep the elements out and this pullover can be zipped up snuggly around the neck for an even better seal against the rain.
The HydroKnit Pullover has a full comfortable fit and the light-weight design makes this a terrific addition to your golf attire during the colder and inclement months—and fits nicely inside a golf bag as insurance against harsh weather.
Another FootJoy staple for this gift-giving season is the all-new HyperFLX glove that features a super-soft feel, great fit, breathability and excellent gripping quality. The thin, exclusive APL™ Cabretta leather offers exceptional water and perspiration resistance and maximum grip enhancement. The glove has patented micro-perforations in key areas such as the palm and a MicroVent™ FiberSof™ on the back of the hand for added breathability. The breathable 3D PowerNet™ mesh on the knuckles makes for even a more comfortable glove, while the 3-D ComfortTab™ Velcro elastic closure gives this glove an extremely comfortable fit.
When it comes to your feet, FootJoy Traditions shoes have been one of the best- selling categories of the year—and offer the best of both worlds. The look of the shoe—especially the two-tone saddle designs—gives the footwear its name as an ode to the more traditional look of FootJoy shoes of yesteryear—but with a modern twist that includes an ultra-light feel and suburb traction with the molded sole and Pulsar LP cleats by Softspikes.
The iconic silhouette of the Traditions shoes offers a soft waterproof leather upper and a super-cushioned foam midsole that is as light as you will find in a premium golf shoe that offers this kind of stability through the swing. The built-in Achilles pad ensures a nice no-slip fit and support for the heel, and the shoe is waterproof with a one-year warranty.
For that player who wants a timeless look together with the latest in comfort, traction and technology, Traditions is a shoe that checks all the boxes.
Shop: www.footjoy.com
Radmor Golf Fall + Fall & Winter Collection
Saving the planet one piece of golf apparel at a time is an ambitious resolution. But that’s just what Radmor Golf has set out to do. The Seattle-based golf apparel company is the only brand in the golf industry to eliminate the use of “virgin” polyester at the garment level – a harmful material used in the vast majority of “stretch” and “moisture wicking” fabrics.
In doing so, Radmor Golf has reduced the amount of recycled ocean polyester and recycled nylon to just 10%, almost unheard of in the apparel business. Instead, founders Scott Morrison and Bob Conrad rely primarily on BCI organic and extra-long staple Pima cotton, two of the softest, most durable cottons available.
Radmor’s new fall and winter collection features a curated assortment of high-performance, refreshingly casual polo shirts, corduroy and knit pants and t-shirts in fall colors like sage and blue graphite. And as golfers battle the elements this winter, or just want to stay toasty, Radmor’s hoodies, sweatshirts are popular plays, and its weather-resistant Moscrip Jacket is perfect for rainy or blustery days.
For Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Radmor is planning a “site-wide” sale with savings ranging from 30 to 50%.
Shop: www.radmorgolf.com
OnCore Golf + VERO X1
Buffalo, N.Y.-based OnCore Golf has carved out a formidable position in the direct-to-consumer ball category over the past decade. Its perimeter-weighted, three-ball lineup includes the high-compression VERO X1, award-winning mid-compression ELIXR and low-compression AVANT 55. Little wonder that Charles Schwab, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott have invested in the company.
The VERO X1 ($39.99) is nothing short of a technological marvel, replete with a metal-infused mantle and enhanced perimeter-weighting that produces the highest allowable velocity off the club face. According to independent testing recently conducted by Golf EQ, OnCore Golf’s VERO X1 bested Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x in distance and delivered 60% less side spin. Professional golfer Erik Compton just switched to the VERO X1 after rigorous testing and says it is the longest, straightest ball he’s ever played.
Be on the lookout for OnCore’s Black Friday promotion, which officials say will be one of the biggest sales in company history.
Shop: www.oncoregolf.com.
Precision Pro NX9
Finding the right holiday gift for a golfer can be tricky at times, but you cannot go wrong with the PrecisionPro® NX9 Slope Rangefinder that features all the latest technology in a small, lightweight package.
The enhanced LCD display with 6X magnification makes this rangefinder easy to use and spot your target. It is quick to home in on flags and the pulse vibration technology delivers a short burst to let you know you are locking in on the flag and not a tree. This rangefinder is also adept at getting the yardage for any object in the direct line of sight—be it bunkers, trees, etc.
The slope feature enables you to see the actual distance plus a second reading that compensates for uphill/downhill—and this feature can be turned on or off easily with the toggle switch on the top of the unit. The device also lets you set the measurements in both meters and yards.
The NX9 comes with a handy carrying case and lint-free cleaning cloth that attaches to your golf bag, but one of the nicest features is the magnetic grip that allows you to keep the rangefinder handy on the bar of your golf cart or any metal object—making it easy to grab it, get the yardage and go without having to fuss with the case.
Another extra included with the NX9 is the Precision Care Package that offers a lifetime battery replacement free of charge.
This rangefinder has been highly rated by many players for its ease of use and accuracy—a perfect stocking stuffer for the golfers on your gift list.
Shop: www.precisionprogolf.com/product/nx9-slope-rangefinder
TRUE linkswear + Foray X + Sport
The walking-focused golf shoe brand headed up by Jason Moore and his brother / PGA TOUR player Ryan Moore debuted several new lines this year including its wildly popular TRUE Pebble and Dead Golfer collections. Rounding into the final stretch of 2021, these Pacific Northwest pioneers are bolstered by an $11.25 million investment from private equity firm KarpReilly.
Recently, TRUE debuted the limited-edition Queen of Clubs Foray X True Knit II ($175), its first collaboration with the women’s golf apparel brand Foray Golf. The shoes come wrapped in a Foray-designed carry bag perfect for travel or just storing the shoes at home. Foray has also added several unique finishes to the shoe, including a translucent sole under which sits the Queen of Clubs artwork.
The Moore brothers are all about comfort and performance, and TRUE’s Sport Series was just unveiled in November to rave reviews. Engineered for the eternal pursuit of par and the grinders and early risers, as the TRUE crew likes to say, the Sport’s adaptive upper is both breathable and waterproof, a one-two punch any diehard golfer would relish. It’s offered in two models, OG ($165) and Lux ($175).
TRUE is planning a Black Friday sale with killer “final sale” deals on older models, big-time savings on top-selling collections and free gift cards with certain levels of spending.
Shop: www.truelinkswear.com.
Sun Mountain + Cirque Rain Gear
Let’s face it, there will be times this winter when the weather says “no” to golf. With Sun Mountain’s new Cirque rain gear, golfers are now free to say “no” right back. Cirque is the company’s top-of-the-line waterproof lineup and is its most breathable rain suit to-date. The jacket and pants are extremely lightweight, waterproof, and breathable due their three-layer construction.
The breathable waterproof membrane has a 20k waterproof rating and an elite 50k breathability rating. Key is the four-way stretch fabric that makes this rain suit ultimately playable – a must for golfers who actually want to be able to perform amid the elements, not just play. Cirque is available in Men’s Full-Zip Jacket at $299.99 and Pants at $259.99.
Shop: www.sunmountain.com
Acculine Golf Puck Training Aid
Golf is a game of compensation and correction. You miss one tee shot to the right, and the next one is over-corrected into the hazard on the left. If your aim is a tiny bit off, you will compensate for that mistake with your golf swing. It’s human nature. You don’t even know you’re doing it.
With putting it’s even worse. Miss a couple of short putts and you immediately start messing with your perfectly good putting stroke. Next thing you know it’s a roundabout of compensation, experimentation and frustration. Now there is an easy way to check yourself for those pesky little aim and alignment errors that cost you so many strokes–the Golf Puck.
Golf Puck has taken one of the world’s most accepted training aids and made it dramatically more versatile and useful. Golf Puck’s patented aim and alignment training system provides a simple, fool-proof way to check yourself on the driving range and on the putting green, so you’ll eliminate the two most common mistakes in golf:
• Improper aim
• Inconsistent set up
Tour Pros know how important those little details are. They constantly train to aim. That’s why you will seldom see them on the driving range without some sort of alignment tool.
Three aiming sticks locked together with a golf puck is one hundred times better than one random stick by itself. Organize your practice. Be precise with your aim and alignment. Set the angles on your three aiming sticks to make sure:
• The clubface is square with the target line.
• Your feet are set properly… parallel to the target line.
• Perfect ball position for any club in the bag.
• Shoulders square.
The Golf Puck system trains you to set up precisely the same way every time – for drives, iron shots, bunker shots or for putts. Train to Aim! It’s a sure-fire way to set yourself up for success.
Here’s what you get:
• One patented, adjustable Golf Puck.
• Three golf aiming rods: 42” 36” and 18”. One puck holds up to 4 guide rods.
• Hundreds of variations for full shots, putting and chipping.
• Engineered, machined and assembled in America with American steel.
• The plastic is hardened resin – practically bullet proof.
• Risk-Free, 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Buy two Golf Puck systems and go crazy with six aiming sticks. Whatever works for you!
Shop: www.golfpuck.com
PeakVision + GX6 + SL9
PeakVision’s Dual Zone lenses give golfers something they simply don’t get with any other eyewear: an upper zone for blocking harmful UV rays and a lower zone that elucidates green topography. If Neo and Trinity from the Matrix played golf, they’d wear “Peaks.” For the holidays and into 2022, the company is leaning hard into its GX6 ($127.50 on sale) and SL9 ($118.99 on sale) models.
The GX6 is made from aluminum magnesium, a much lighter and more durable frame material. The frame’s temple pieces also feature rubberized technology for added gripping, spring hinges for added flexibility, and a fully adjustable nose bridge. SL9 features a fully adjustable hypoallergenic nose bridge for maximized performance and spring hinges for added flexibility.
Shop: www.peakvision.com
JumboMax JMX UltraLite Grips
Should you re-grip your clubs? Worn out grips can hurt your game. What is known is that over time (and rounds, plus practice sessions), heat, sweat, dirt and oily residue combine to degrade the grip. You’ll feel less traction between your hands and the club, which in turn, will cause you to grip it more tightly to keep it from slipping. This is the dreaded word in golf – tension, tension in the hands, the wrists and the forearms – and tension is a guaranteed swing-wrecker.
We tested JumboMax’s grips, which are used by 2020 U.S. Open Champion and 8-Time PGA TOUR winner, Bryson DeChambeau, as well as Retief Goosen, who is a two-time US Open Champion.
The JMX UltraLite grips from JumboMax feature a deeply textured, all-weather design for incredible feel and tackiness, and the performance better players require. JumboMax Grips simply fit your hands better for increased distance, better accuracy and more solid ball striking.
Their patented design and larger diameter provide a superior “Finger-Palm™ grip” that is revolutionizing the game of golf. These UltraLite grips are a breakthrough in grip technology offering ALL the same stability and control of JumboMax’s patented oversized grips at LESS THAN HALF the weight.
At 20-25% lighter than a standard size grip, the JMX UltraLite grips are for the player who wants all the benefits of JumboMax’s oversized grip technology, while retaining the feeling of more weight in the club head.
Also check out the putter grips, used currently by Goosen, who loves the “non-torque” feel of the putter grip. They are available in five sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large and X-Large.
FYI: When you purchase any UltraLite with Bryson’s personal logo, $1.00 per grip will be donated to the Bryson DeChambeau Charitable Foundation.
Shop: https://www.jumbomax.com/jumbomax-jmx-ultralite
SkyCaddie® SX550
The new SkyCaddie SX550 gives golfers the same powerful features as the original award-winning SX500 with a lighter, slimmer body. The impressive features are easily tapped with a 5.5” intuitive touch screen. The large HD display combined with HD quality course graphics, provide the best view of the most reliable information in the game.
SkyGolf® is offering a special Holiday Promotion of $50 off the SkyCaddie SX550 and award-winning SX400 rangefinders–and the LX5 and LX5 with ceramic bezel smart watches. The promotion ends December 31, 2021.
Shop: www.skygolf.com
Southern Tide Polos + Quarter Zips
Greenville, S.C.-based Southern Tide knows exactly how to stay in its lane. After all, when your logo is a Skipjack (fish), you can’t exactly start cranking out heavy wool hoodies and joggers. Instead, this unapologetically preppy brand is sticking with long sleeve polos and quarter zips this winter, perfect for golfers in tropical or temperate climates seeking a little shelter from the 50s and 60s.
The Driver Heather Long Sleeve Performance Polo ($99) is a classic piece with a classic fit with plenty of stretch for ease of movement on the course and Southern Tide’s usual UV protection. The Cruiser Heather Micro Striped Performance Quarter Zip Pullover ($110) features stretch and moisture-wicking fabric and is offered in five colors. And when it does rain in Southern Tide country, the Intracoastal Quarter Zip Pullover ($165) affords ample protection.
Shop: www.southerntide.com.
Peter Millar + Hoodies
Golf’s leading bespoke brand is getting into the hoodie game, and early indications are that Raleigh, N.C.-based Peter Millar has come to play. At the top of the line is the cozy Excursionist Flex Popover Hoodie ($378), crafted in Europe with Italian Merino wool. It features a tailored-fit with a dash of performance yarn to give it just enough stretch for playability.
Next up is the Crown Crafted Merino Waffle Hoodie ($248), a slightly more formal hoodie, if there is such a thing, with Merino wool sewn in a waffle knit pattern for a visibly comfy texture. And what’s a great hoodie without a pair of golf joggers? Peter Millar’s Apollo Performance Pants ($99) are available in navy blue and iron, and perfect for on- and off-course wear.
Shop: www.petermillar.com
DownUnder Board + 2.0 Tour Edition
For the most part of golf’s storied history, training aides have focused almost entirely on the upper body, whether it’s swing plane, path or impact. The DownUnder Board is eschewing tradition by helping golfers active their lower bodies. More than 100 Tour pros are using the “DUB,” including Brendon Todd, Harold Varner III, Luke Donald and Christina Kim.
The DUB 2.0 Tour Edition was released earlier this year featuring adjustable width for a variety of different swing types ranging from full to chipping, and even putting. It can also be rotated for golfers who prefer to flare their feet for additional rotation. The DUB was invented by renown Australian golfer and instructor Bradley Hughes, who’s focused on creating a solution for stabilizing the lower body during the golf swing
Using the board is a cinch: just set the width and rotation, apply pressure to the board with the inside of the feet and make a golf swing. Hughes recommends taking several swings without a ball, first, to get a feel for it. The DUB 2.0 Tour Edition was available on sale for $99.50 as of this writing, including an instructional video from Hughes. It’s regularly $109.
Shop: www.downunderboard.com.
Arccos Caddie + Link
Arccos Caddie operates via Smart Sensors screwed into the ends of club grips, or via Smart Grips and provides golfers with shot tracking, smart distances for clubs, a range finder, strokes gained analytics and more. Users simply download the app, pair their clubs via Bluetooth connection, download the course they’re playing and away they go.
And now with Arccos Caddie Link, golfers can now leave their phones in their bags, golf cart or pushcart and still enjoy the full-suite of Arccos features. Link is a wearable clip that attaches to a player’s belt or waistband, records shots and transfers the data via Bluetooth connection to the base smartphone. Because it frees up the phone’s microphone, golfers can listen to music, sporting events or take videos on the course.
Link retails for $129, and it can be bundled with Smart Sensors (14, one for each club including a putter sensor) for $279.99 for a 10% savings.
Shop: www.arccosgolf.com.
Pinehurst Resort + Donald Ross Package
If couples give each other new vehicles for Christmas, is it crazy to think a golf package, at only around a 1/20th of the price, would be an over-the-top gift? Pinehurst Resort’s Donald Ross Package is an absolute bargain in the “off-season,” offering golfers a chance to experience the Cradle of American Golf at over 50% off the peak spring and fall rates. Packages include two nights’ accommodations in any of the resort’s three hotels, villas or condos and three rounds of golf on any of its nine courses.
And because all that golf makes for a hungry group, Pinehurst also throws in its famous Southern-style breakfast each morning and a three-course dinner every evening of your stay. The Donald Ross Package starts at $692 per player from Nov. 28 – Feb. 28 (note: the Carolina Hotel will be closed Dec. 19 – Jan. 5). Playing the famed No. 2 requires a $125 surcharge, but it’s more than worth the add-on this time of year to experience the site of the 2024 U.S. Open (and 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047).
