Opinion & Analysis

The Gifts Serious Golfers Actually Want

Published

10 years ago

Dec 8, 2016

With Kris Kringle’s arrival just around the corner, we’re going with a slightly different approach relative to past gift guides. Instead of tiered offerings tailored to specials offered this particular Christmas season, we’re going to present the presents, as it were, serious golfers really want.

Of course, given the cost of some of these items, you may have to coordinate with other gift-giving parties. For example, instead of you and your two siblings buying dad socks and two golf instruction books he’ll never read, pool your resources for a driver fitting. Trust us, he’ll thank you.

You can’t go wrong with a dozen tour-level golf balls, either. They’re sort of like the nut roll or Hickory Farms basket for the serious golfer: The Titleist Pro V1x, Bridgestone B330S, Snell My Tour Ball, TaylorMade Tour Preferred X, Callaway Chrome Soft and Srixon Z-Star XV are a few of our favorites.

Here are nine other gifts serious golfers actually want.

A Case of Their Favorite Grips

Sure, when a serious golfer buys a new weapon, he’ll opt for his preferred grip at purchase. Of course, that’s not always possible, depending on manufacturer offerings and the obscurity of his preference. And if he has a preference for different amounts of tape under the left and right hand or simply likes gripping clubs himself, a case of grips makes a great gift. WholesaleGrips.com is a good bet with great volume pricing.

A Premium Full Bag Fitting

If you’re an equipment enthusiast, chances are you’ve been through a full bag fitting. And if you haven’t, well, now you know what to ask Santa for. If you can’t afford a full-bag fitting, consider an individual driver or putter fitting, which cost much less.

Mitchell Steelclub Signature Loft and Lie Machine

The industry standard in angle machines, Mitchell’s most popular loft and lie offering is a dream inclusion for any amateur club builder or tinkerer. Mitchell’s Steelclub Angle Machine was an industry depth charge in 1988, and the Steelclub Signature Loft and Lie Machine is the company’s current best seller. MSRP: $1,799.99

Big Moss Super G Putting Green

If you’re a golfer and you have a backyard, you want a backyard putting green. Period. But if you aren’t ready/able to install a full-scale natural or synthetic dance floor, consider one of Big Moss’ portable putting greens. $161.70 for “The Original.”

SkyTrak Launch Monitor

You can’t put a price on being able to practice at home. Or rather, maybe you can, and that price is the cost of a launch monitor. There is no shortage of options in this space, which GolfWRX readers are abundantly familiar with. Unless money is no object (in which case, hello TrackMan), SkyTrak is the way to go. MSRP: $1,995

Young Brothers Stamp Letter Set

Wedge and iron stamping is having a moment on the PGA Tour right now. For the golfer looking to add personalization to his (or her) own wedges and irons, a Young Brothers stamp set is the route to go. Of course, if you’re a novice, you’ll want to check out one of the tutorials in the club building forum before you start hammering away.

GolfTEC Package

The largest indoor practice and PGA Professional lesson chain in the business and one of the easiest routes to swing video and analysis. If you’re not lucky enough to have a GolfTEC facility near you, we’re sorry.

JET Multitool 4×48 1hp Belt Grinder Bundle

There’s probably a Home Improvement joke in here somewhere, but a Jet Multitool Belt Grinder will set any club building enthusiast’s heart aflutter. And if you’re not experienced, well, let’s just say it’s a slippery slope once you go the grind-and-polish route on your own wedges. MSRP: $658.95

Vintage Hickory Shafted Golf Clubs

Bear with us on this one: There are few serious golfers who wouldn’t like a couple of hickory clubs either to mount on the wall as decoration or whack at the driving range. And of course, hitting a 100-year-old Spalding on a launch monitor is a nearly irresistible draw. Check eBay for lots of three or four, but beware, your golfer may be wearing plus-fours and tweed caps in short order.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

30 Comments

Ryan

Dec 17, 2016 at 11:07 pm

Why so many shanks ? He nailed most golfers dream gifts.

Reply Report comment
Dill Pickleson

Dec 12, 2016 at 6:18 pm

i’ll take a belt sander to your shoes, Schmaels

Reply Report comment
Desmond

Dec 10, 2016 at 10:21 am

I like the Mitchell Loft Lie, but when you only use it twice a year…

Reply Report comment
- McPickens
  
  Dec 13, 2016 at 3:49 pm
  
  buy a MR3 true blue, better machine and better value
  
  Reply Report comment
Bert

Dec 10, 2016 at 9:29 am

“FAKE” story, really just advertisement in disguise.

Reply Report comment
Jdog

Dec 9, 2016 at 11:44 pm

Golftec? And their Windows 95 PCs processing Security Camera footage from the 90s? Ha! No thanks.

Reply Report comment
knoofah

Dec 9, 2016 at 3:57 pm

I wish I had friends that could afford to give me a full bag fitting!
“That’ll be $700, please.”
“On second thought, I’ll just go with the 2 dozen KSIGs.”

Reply Report comment
Rene Goulet

Dec 9, 2016 at 3:37 pm

I’d like the loft and lie machine followed by a grip changing station. Just the sort of thing a novice tinker would love to have in his secret lab behind the furnace.

Reply Report comment
RJ

Dec 9, 2016 at 11:29 am

I hear that!

Reply Report comment
Tom McCrary

Dec 9, 2016 at 10:58 am

love the hickory clubs, there are some remakes out there now Tad More golf

Reply Report comment
Travis

Dec 9, 2016 at 6:48 am

Golftec is a complete joke. You’d get a better swing analysis having your drunk buddy in your golf cart record your swing with your stupid smartphone. All these Golf lesson establishment’s and swing coaches are a bunch of money making brain washing pieces of garbage. If you want to make yourself better go out and practice and trust yourself. Dont waste thousands of dollars on un-proven theory’s that will not all of a sudden make you a scratch golfer. Bubba Watson has done just fine for himself

Reply Report comment
- Dat
  
  Dec 9, 2016 at 1:03 pm
  
  They’re the scientologists of the golf instruction world.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Al
  
  Dec 19, 2016 at 2:31 pm
  
  I can think of two golfers on tour without coaches (Watson and Matsuyama), but the other 98% have swing coaches.
  
  My experiment to figure out my swing by going to the range every day led to some nasty swing habits leading to duck hooks on the course. Had about 8 lessons (once a month) and at first my handicap went the wrong direction, but once I got the hang of the new swing I spend more time in the fairway, putting for birdie, and significantly more time enjoying myself on the course. Worth every dollar spent.
  
  Reply Report comment
Mat

Dec 9, 2016 at 12:44 am

I’d be a lot more interested in that SkyTrak if they didn’t arse you over on the $99/year additional subscription. That’s horsepoo.

Reply Report comment
- Dill Pickleson
  
  Dec 12, 2016 at 6:16 pm
  
  and, they admittedly ‘over estimate’ spin. so, you’re gentle draw looks a like a serious problem…..it will drive you crazy
  
  Reply Report comment
Mort

Dec 8, 2016 at 10:42 pm

Golftec can die

Reply Report comment
Michael K.

Dec 8, 2016 at 10:05 pm

Jet grinder? No way. Get what every manufacturer has in their Tour Vans, Baldor Grinders.

Reply Report comment
The dude

Dec 8, 2016 at 8:55 pm

How bout a gift from my wife……a day of golf…followed by a non resentful look when I walk in the door…

Reply Report comment
- Mat
  
  Dec 9, 2016 at 12:42 am
  
  I’ll pay for the golf if I can avoid that look. 🙂
  
  Reply Report comment
- [email protected]
  
  Dec 9, 2016 at 11:26 am
  
  I hear that!
  
  Reply Report comment
Golfer

Dec 8, 2016 at 7:49 pm

I second that.

Reply Report comment
- Dat
  
  Dec 8, 2016 at 8:02 pm
  
  Third. Go to a PGA pro, not an as-seen-on-TV pro.
  
  Reply Report comment
Phil

Dec 8, 2016 at 1:38 pm

You’ve missed the hottest item out right now – Kirkland Signature Golf Balls – KSIGS!!!!!

Reply Report comment
- new stuff!!
  
  Dec 8, 2016 at 2:29 pm
  
  umm no – not knocking KSIGS but they said gift – if someone gave you something as a gift you’re telling me you rather get Kirkland Signature Balls then some other premium Brand name ball e.g. Titleist Pro V1.
  IMAO Golf balls as a gift = Pro V1 personalized with their name on it. Don’t be a value gift giver.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Andrew Rivera
    
    Dec 8, 2016 at 4:10 pm
    
    what about 2 boxes of ksigs?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - new stuff!!
      
      Dec 8, 2016 at 5:15 pm
      
      well… in that case, sure… but only if you take out all 48 balls and hand write their names on the balls with a sharpie /s
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Dave C
        
        Dec 9, 2016 at 8:10 pm
        
        Two dozen = 24 golf balls
        
        Reply Report comment
    - Double Mocha Man
      
      Dec 9, 2016 at 12:49 pm
      
      What about 2 boxes of Cohibas?
      
      Reply Report comment
  - Brian
    
    Dec 9, 2016 at 11:57 am
    
    Personally, I’d rather someone spend $30 on two dozen balls, or better yet $60 for four dozen, than get a box of ProV1, as a gift.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Travis
  
  Dec 9, 2016 at 6:53 am
  
  1 box of KSIGS Golf Balls would be a much better gift than a box of Prov1’s that will probably get cut just by opening a box. The KSIGS perform just as good and last soo much longer on the course it’s not even funny. You want to give somebody a gift that last’s Prov’s are the disposable razor of tour level golf balls. Personalized golf balls are stupid unless your a pro golfer anyway. Waste of money and Id much rather get 2 box’s of KSIGS
  
  Reply Report comment

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Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

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6 days ago

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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

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