This summer, I had a golf trip planned with my dad to play a course significantly nicer than my golf game had any business being on.
Naturally, I decided that the best way to prepare was to spend the better part of two months consuming an absolutely unreasonable amount of golf content.
Swing tutorials, equipment reviews, training aids, Reddit threads debating things I didn’t even know existed three weeks earlier. You name it.
All because I was determined not to spend a small fortune on a round of golf just to embarrass myself in front of my father.
Did this turn me into a scratch golfer? Absolutely not.
Did I develop some incredibly strong opinions about golf accessories along the way? You bet your ass.
And that brings me to golf gifts.
Buying gifts for golfers is a dangerous game. We tend to be particular about our equipment, and there’s an entire industry dedicated to selling people stupid golf-themed merchandise that nobody actually wants.
I’m looking at you, novelty golf ball whiskey glasses (I hope my mother-in-law is not reading this).
So here are three things I actually own and use that I’d be genuinely happy to receive as a gift.
1. Magnetic Golf Cart Phone Holder
For the golfer who has reluctantly accepted that technology has invaded the golf course.
Golf used to be a way to disconnect from the world for three to five hours. Enjoy nature, drink some ice-cold beers, and attempt to hit a tiny white ball with a stick.
Those days are apparently over.
Technology has infiltrated practically every aspect of golf. We’ve got GPS apps, digital scorecards, swing trackers, rangefinders, and Bluetooth speakers.
And yet, somehow, golf carts are still living in 1997.
If you’re anything like me, the routine between shots involves grabbing your phone, checking your score, looking up the distance to the green, changing the song on the speaker, maybe responding to an email because you should technically be working.
Then you toss your phone into the abyss that is the golf cart storage cubby.
A mysterious compartment filled with broken pencils, scorecards from 2016, and approximately three pounds of miscellaneous sand.
And every time you make a sharp turn looking for your ball in the woods, you hope your phone doesn’t launch itself into another dimension.
Enter the magnetic golf cart phone holder.
It’s such an incredibly simple solution that I’m genuinely annoyed I didn’t buy one sooner.
It attaches to compatible metal surfaces on the cart and keeps your phone right where you need it. Suddenly your GPS app becomes significantly more useful because you can actually see it without digging through the cart every 30 seconds.
It’s small, portable, and doesn’t take up valuable real estate in your golf bag.
Which is important.
That space is reserved for beer.
Who’s it for? Golfers who use GPS apps, keep score on their phones, or enjoy having their phone accessible between shots.
Skip it if: They’re strict about keeping their phone away during a round. Also, check compatibility with their phone and golf cart before buying.
Check out the Magnetic Golf Cart Phone Holder on Amazon
2. GolFix TempoFix Swing Trainer
For the golfer who practices their swing everywhere except the driving range.
Can someone explain why golfers are physically incapable of standing in an open space without taking an imaginary practice swing?
Waiting for the microwave? Practice swing.
Walking through the living room? Practice swing.
Standing in line at the grocery store? Little takeaway, check the wrist angle, imaginary follow-through.
It’s like a nervous tic that only develops after you’ve spent enough money on golf equipment.
I’m guilty of it myself.
The problem is that taking imaginary swings isn’t necessarily accomplishing anything. And while we all tell ourselves we’re going to spend an hour at the range working on drills, we all know that’s not happening nearly as often as it should.
That’s where the TempoFix comes in.
It’s a compact swing trainer that gives you something to actually swing without needing a full-length golf club.
The weighted mechanism provides a click as feedback during the swing, helping you work on tempo and timing.
The biggest benefit for me is convenience.
I can pick it up, take a few swings, and put it down. No range balls. No driving somewhere. No convincing myself I have enough time for a proper practice session.
And because it’s compact, I’m considerably less likely to put a seven-iron-shaped hole in my living room ceiling.
Not impossible, mind you. I’m sure I could find a way.
Is this going to magically fix your golf swing? Of course not. If a $55 training aid could do that, golf instructors would be unemployed.
But it gives you a practical way to work on something between rounds, and for someone who spends way too much time thinking about their golf swing, I appreciate that.
Who’s it for? Golfers who enjoy practicing, tinkering with their swing, or working on their tempo at home.
Skip it if: They have absolutely no interest in practice or expect a gadget to replace actual instruction.
Check out the GolFix TempoFix Swing Trainer
3. Kirkland Signature V3.0 Golf Balls — 24 Pack
For the golfer who enjoys nice equipment but also spends an unreasonable amount of time looking for lost balls.
Okay. I know.
Putting golf balls on a list of golf gifts that golfers actually want is a controversial decision.
Hear me out.
No, Mom, I do not want the 15-pack of Spalding golf balls you found at Marshalls while waiting in line to check out.
First of all, since when does Spalding even make golf balls?
Second, golfers tend to have very particular opinions about their golf balls.
Unfortunately, I’m also not nearly good enough to confidently tell you the performance difference between a Pro V1 and a Chrome Soft.
What I am good enough at is losing them.
Which brings me to Kirkland.
Ten years ago, if you told me I’d be recommending Costco golf balls to people, I probably would’ve laughed at you.
But let’s be real. Costco is having a moment.
It’s cool to wear Costco merchandise now. Hell, I own a Costco hoodie myself.
And Kirkland has developed a reputation for producing surprisingly legitimate alternatives to expensive name-brand products.
So naturally, after doing an unreasonable amount of research into the best golf ball for my money, I landed on the Kirkland Signature V3.0.
They’re three-piece balls with a urethane cover, sold in packs of 24.
For me, that’s the sweet spot.
I’m not paying premium-ball prices, but I’m also not playing with whatever unidentified piece of rubber I found buried next to the cart path.
And as someone who occasionally sends a perfectly good golf ball approximately 75 yards into the woods for absolutely no reason, buying 24 at a time is a substantial benefit.
Losing a ball still sucks.
It just sucks a little less when you’re not mentally calculating how much money you donated to the local wildlife.
Who’s it for? Recreational golfers who want a solid value and don’t feel the need to play a premium-priced ball.
Skip it if: The golfer is fiercely loyal to a particular ball. Some golfers take their ball selection very seriously, and buying them something different might be a declaration of war.
Check out the Kirkland Signature V3.0 Golf Balls at Costco
The Bottom Line
Here’s the thing about buying gifts for golfers.
You don’t need to buy us something that has the word “GOLF” printed on it.
We know we golf.
We’re reminded of it every time we spend four hours outside questioning our athletic abilities.
Get us something that makes the experience more enjoyable, more convenient, or slightly less expensive.
And if all else fails, ask what golf balls we use.
Just please, for the love of God, stop buying us novelty golf mugs.
We’ve got enough mugs.
Disclosure: The product links above are currently ordinary retailer links, not affiliate links. If that changes, this disclosure will be updated.
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