Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, the holidays inspire a spirit of giving. So with that in mind, MetroGolfMag.com would like to offer a few gift ideas for the golfer on your list this year.
Bushnell's Tour V4 Slope Edition range finder would make a perfect gift for any serious golfer.
One of the most useful gifts you can give any golfer is a range finder. But don’t pick just any range finder. And if the golfer on your list is serious about the game, avoid range finders that are linked to a watch, mobile phone or take their yardages from GPS readings. (I mean, how does GPS know where the flag is from one day to the next?) Do what the pros do; get a laser range finder that is not target-specific – i.e. doesn’t have to ‘shoot’ fixed reflectors – so you shoot not only the pin, but bunker lips, creek banks and anything else in straight-line view.
One of the best on the market is the Tour V4 Slope Edition from Bushnell, the brand used by more touring pros (or more likely their caddies) than any other. Normally $400, Edwin Watts has the Tour V4 Slope priced at $350 though the holidays. (The V4 without the slope feature is just $275). This handy unit is compact, so it’s easy to use with one hand, and when your laser hits the flag, it vibrates to let you know you’ve locked onto the target. And by simply changing the faceplate, the slope feature can easily be disabled, making the Tour V4 legal for tournaments that allow range finders.
If $300 is a bit more than you planned to spend on your favorite golfer, let’s lower our focus a bit, from the eyes to the feet.
No avid golfer ever has too many shoes, which makes footwear a perfect holiday gift. A relative newcomer to golf, Skechers has been making popular active footwear for decades. And since entering the golf arena, the company has been airing some of the most brilliantly creative and entertaining commercials on TV. You know, the ones featuring mostly Matt Kuchar, but, at times, other touring pros, including Colin Montgomery and Belen Mozo. Take it from someone who’s tried (and owns) at least one pair of golf shoes from just about every brand out there; Skechers’ comfort and performance match the brilliance of their commercials.
Best of all, the flagship of the Skechers line, the Go Golf Pro 2 (left), is just $150 at most golf shops and on-line retailers. And the styling of the Go Golf Pro 2, as well as all the shoes in the Skechers line, like the Golf Golf Elite 2 ($100) and the Go Golf Fairway($85), strikes a balance of both contemporary and classic looks, making Skechers appealing to golfers of all ages.
The Golf Golf Pro 2 features replaceable soft spikes. The Golf Golf Elite 2, with uppers similar to the Pro, and the Go Golf Fairway, which has more of a running shoe look, both feature spikeless sole designs.
And while we’re talking about shoes, let’s not forget the socks. And the best socks we’ve found come from right here in the Carolinas, home to MetroGolf, as well. Based in Greenville, S.C., Kentwool is offering specially priced “holiday bundles” (left) at its website, kentwool.com.
For $99, get six pairs of either the popular Tour Profile (ankle length) or Tour Standard (full length) socks in a zippered pouch. You can even select the Tour Profile Game Day bundle – featuring the colors of college and professional sports teams – for the same $99 price. The socks alone would normally cost $120, and the pouch can make a handy travel items, as well.
Thinking outerwear? Consider the Quarter-Zip Fleece from Under Armour. This lightweight, yet warm pullover is being offering now on the UA website, underarmour.com, at the special price of $41.24 (regularly $55). It comes in 17 colors, in sizes from XS – 4XL.
Cut fuller for comfort and mobility, the UA Fleece (right) is made from 7.0-ounce polyester, with a soft inner layer that holds in heat, yet is breathable. And should you get a little too warm, UA’s Moisture Transport System wicks moisture away from the body and dries fast.
In addition to Fleece items, Under Armour is offering 25 percent off its UA Base Layer, UA Waffle Collection and UA Bottoms as part of its special Holiday Offers on the website. And UA is including free standard shipping on all orders.
As always, we have not suggested any clubs here. Unless you know all the specs pertinent to your favorite golfer, including shaft length, weight and flex; lie angle; grip model and size and so on, you’re better off buying a gift certificate at your local pro shop. It will most likely save someone the hassle of going back to the shop and trying to swap an ill-fitted club for one with the proper specs.
However, if the golfer on your list is considering new clubs, why not treat them to a club fitting? Whether it’s for a driver, a putter or every club in the bag, a session with a reputable club fitting professional is one of the best investments of time and money any golfer can make, in that the rewards keep coming round after round.
If you don’t know the best club fitter in your area, ask around or check the internet. One national magazine publishes a list of the top 100 club fitters in America, a list that includes the Dana Rader Golf School in Charlotte and David Ayers’ Lowcountry Custom Golf in the Charleston, S.C., area – just two of eight “top 100” fitting professionals in the Carolinas. So finding someone in your area shouldn’t be too difficult. Simply google Top 100 Club Fitters and scroll down to your state.