The 10 Best Gifts for Every Kind of Golfer
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One Tool to Rule Them All
For Skipping the Scorecard
For Cruising the Course in Style
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For Keeping Beverages as Icy as Your Putting
Why do we golf? We may never get good at it, and even when we cross some self-imposed pinnacle of proficiency we face near-infinite new challenges to conquer, and a better-than-average chance of the dreaded backslide. Yet once you catch the bug, driven by the euphoria of the perfect shot and the temperance to conquer your own emotions, you're hooked for life.
The good news is there's an ever-evolving bounty of gear and gadgets offering new ways to improve, enrich, and enhance the game we hate to love. To help you hone your search, we've rounded up the best golf gifts for every player and budget. Whether you're a hacker on the hunt or a loved one shopping for the afflicted, you'll find the perfect gifts for every golfer below.
WIRED's Gear team has personally tested and vetted everything that appears in our gift guides. Also, be sure to check out gifts for outdoorsy people, dads, and travelers.
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On Sustainability
It's well known that golf isn’t the most sustainable game, using plenty of resources to create sculpted greens and a lovely landscape to explore. That doesn’t mean you can’t lean toward more environmentally friendly ways to play. In my Pacific Northwest home region, where the rain is aplenty, we have several courses that target sustainable ways to maintain their beauty.
That’s not always possible, especially in desert climates, but if you’re after geo-certified courses, this site can help guide you toward the best options in your area around the world. You'll find plenty of other resources elsewhere online to help out, and it's always nice to feel good about where you play in more ways than one.
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
One Tool to Rule Them All
Callaway Golf 4-in-1 Golf Divot Repair ToolThere's not much I want in my pocket while playing a leisurely round, but Callaway’s handy 4-in-1 divot tool makes the cut. It’s light, easy to use, and works well. The magnetic ball marker pops out with a quick click on the side (and doubles as a fidget tool), while the tough bristles keep club faces sharp. God willing and you actually hit a few greens, it fixes those up, too—much better than the car keys I’ve employed for the last few years. Every golfer needs a divot tool, making this an excellent stocking stuffer for the novice golfer or those who, like me, long ago lost their last one.
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
For Skipping the Scorecard
Garmin Approach S12 GPS Golf WatchGarmin’s baseline golf watch may look like a glorified Casio from the ’80s, but there’s brilliance in its simplicity. Its rubberized band is light and comfy, its monochromatic screen easy to read, and its tactile buttons on both sides foolproof. It’s easy to set up with the Garmin app for Android or Apple, and GPS data for over 43,000 courses lets you quickly find and track nearly any course on your wish list.
The S12's system works well for recording your score and more basic data. Its range-tracking for greens, bunkers, and other hazards is relatively accurate and super handy, especially on new courses. You’ll get up to 30 hours per charge in GPS mode (much longer at rest) and you can upgrade for swing analysis with Garmin Club Sensors. Those with an Apple or Android smartwatch will find many of the same features in apps like 18Birdies, but especially for the less technically inclined, the S12 is a slick single-use device.
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
For Cruising the Course in Style
Bag Boy Nitron Push CartI don’t often use the word “ingenious” when describing product design, but Bag Boy’s Nitron is worthy. It’s light, durable, and collapses and expands instantly, making it utterly packable and a snap to use even if you’re late for your round. I love the layout of the headstock handle which, unlike my aging Sun Mountain cart, locks perfectly in multiple positions and stays in place.
The cubby on top and bag below are convenient, and Bag Boy offers additional attachments like a tack-on cooler at a reasonable price. The initial assembly takes just minutes, although the “star” you’re supposed to look for to attach the front wheel was nearly invisible for me, so if it doesn’t lock in, just flip it. The plastic wheels, while more convenient than inflatables, are also liable to wear down over time. Those are my only critiques for what is otherwise a practically perfect push cart.
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
For Keeping Beverages as Icy as Your Putting
Yeti Hopper Flip 8 CoolerYeti’s cute little Flip 8 isn’t the last word in coolery as the price might suggest, but it does a great job keeping your beverages cold in a light and incredibly durable design. Everything about this cooler feels premium, including the airtight zipper, though it takes real effort to open—Yeti actually includes lubricant to loosen things up while keeping an airtight seal. I was able to bring plenty of bee… I mean water on the course, saving serious cash, and the Flip 8’s comfy strap makes it a perfect choice for those who also partake in the other type of golf played with discs. This is a real investment, but it’s sure to delight and comes with a three-year warranty.
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- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
For Yard Game Aficionados
Durarange Pop-up Golf Chipping Net SetThis affordable chipper net is fun, frustrating, and extremely addicting. There’s not much to the pop-up design, but it comes with everything you need, including both regular and foam practice balls, and two practice pads so you won’t chop up the grass. The pop-up design travels well, though I had to employ my origami-loving wife to get it back into folding position the first time. As a lover of yard games like ladder ball, I found the Durarange’s triple net fertile ground for competing with friends with a three-point scoring system. Your short game is the toughest obstacle to conquer in this sport we hate to love (or love to hate?), so anything that hones it is a win.
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
For Water Hazard Heroes
Bag Boy IGOTCHA Jawz Compact RetrieverI didn’t think I’d be using this telescopic tool in my first round with it in my bag; the water hazards on my local course are more like the Dead Marshes from Lord of the Rings than picturesque ponds. As chance would have it, I shanked my first drive left and over a small chainlink fence. The IGotcha ball retriever made nabbing my sparkling new ball a cinch, easily extending from its 20-inch frame up to 14 feet, while the squishy ring at the tip provided the perfect grip. I love its solid mix of stainless steel construction and sheer simplicity in design, which should make it an indispensable part of any golfer’s arsenal for many rounds to come.
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
For Taking the Driving Range Virtual
Garmin Approach R10 Portable Golf Launch MonitorGoing to the range is fundamental to improving your game, but I don't always love the experience. If you’re impatient like me, it’s easy to overdo it, which messes with your swing and nullifies the whole point. I wasn’t sure how much Garmin’s pint-size launch monitor could help, but one trip to the range and I was sold. Pairing it to my phone took seconds, and once I figured out the basics of the app, I was swinging away in no time. The device tracks your ball automatically and (mostly) accurately, even in twilight. You can set it to take a video of each swing, while the included phone mount makes it easy to monitor each shot and adjust your camera angle.
The real fun comes with the virtual games, which provide a mobile simulator experience reminiscent of Top Golf, if more limited (and without the doughnut holes). The free service is fun, but avid players will want the subscription to unlock thousands of virtual courses and store videos in the cloud. You can even expand to a projection-based simulator with third-party apps such as Awesome Golf. Like the game itself, the R10 isn’t a cheap enterprise, and its micro USB charging port is archaic and takes forever. Otherwise, this little kickstand is a killer add-on that makes practicing nearly as fun as the real thing.
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
For Hitting the Ball and Keeping It Too
Chromax Golf High Visibility Distance Golf Balls 6-packFinding your ball can be one of the biggest pain points in a game full of potential frustrations. I’m not going to lie and tell you you’ll never lose the Chromax on the course—they’re not magic—but they do provide a clear advantage, reflecting in sunlight to positively gleam in the grass. The gold color I tested stands out a bit less amid fall foliage, so you may want to go for silver or green late in the season, but even during a late-October round I never lost one.
Most golfers already have their ball of choice–I prefer a TaylorMade Noodle or Titleist Pro-V1 for sheer distance–but the Chromax is a great add-on, especially handy for those tricky holes or long doglegs. It’s the perfect gift for golfers with eyesight issues or anyone who has trouble keeping their ball in sight; i.e., every golfer ever.
- Photograph: Ryan Waniata
For Bringing the Putting Green Home
PrimePutt Standard Putting MatI was initially reticent about the PrimePutt based on its high price. Frankly, I wasn’t sure what it could do that a cheapo putting green couldn’t. After testing it for a few days, I started to get it, and gained a real appreciation for going big. The way the ball rolls true, the way it stops and slows, and even how the green breaks with little changes in the topography all come together for an experience that feels a lot like the real thing. I prefer the full size to the Compact so you can stand on the grass, but there’s also a Standing Pad for those with less space.
The PrimePutt’s value became increasingly clear on a dark and dreary autumn day in Portland, Oregon, as I putted to my heart's content while the rain beat down just outside my covered patio. Especially for those in regions with a long off-season, this pricey putting pal is a sweet splurge.
