Gifts for Golfers

If you are looking for a gift for a golfer this holiday season, you have many new products to choose from. Here are some helpful ideas:

The Stick

For instant muscle tension relief without getting a massage, try the Stick. Composed of various circular beads on a two-foot rod, the Stick helps massage the iliotibial, or IT band in the back of the legs. Simply grab the Stick by the handles on both ends and run it over the desired muscles, about 20 progressively deeper passes over each muscle group for roughly 30 seconds each. This amazing tool rolls knots out of muscles, inactivating trigger points, better known as kinks or pressure points. For golfers who love to walk the course, the Stick is a perfect complement to a pre- and post-game stretching routine. It’s effective either on skin or through clothing, and can be used with or without a partner. Clinical research on the product began in 1989, and the Stick was introduced two years later to healthcare professionals. The Stick was selected as an official training device at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials for track and field. Since then, athletes in nearly all major sports incorporate the Stick into their warm up or warm down routines. The company motto is, “The Stick is like a toothbrush for your muscles.” You will be amazed with the immediate results. The website, thestick.com, offers lots of details and research about the product, along with suggestions for use.

Miura Tour Bag

This high-end golf tour bag with the slogan, Miura Pride on Every Side, was introduced last year and is still a hot item with golfers. It is just like the ones pros favor on tour. It is made of tough, leather-looking vinyl in jet black with attractive red accents. The wide, six-divider top easily holds clubs and training aids. The bottom is strong, with a rim that’s solid enough to sit on. Multiple pockets have ample room for balls, rain suits, sweaters, snacks and other supplies. The front panel is removable for personalized embroidery. Every detail has been considered, from the soft lining of the valuables pocket to the sturdy zipper pulls. Suggested retail is $675, shipping included, at miuragolf.com.

Nike Golf’s Aeroloft Jacket

Developed by Nike designers, with help from the Nike Explore Team Sport Research Lab, Aeroloft allows the body to maintain its core temperature without overheating. Its unique blend of lightweight insulation and perforated ventilation is designed to retain just enough heat while allowing excess heat and moisture to escape, helping athletes remain in their optimal performance zone. The poly fill also helps keep athletes dry when rain showers the course. “Aeroloft technology allows us to produce excellent insulation with minimal weight,” explains Eric Schindler, Nike global apparel product director. “We utilized stretch knit fabrics in conjunction with the Aeroloft padding to maximize movement and thermo-regulation.” The Aeroloft poly filled jacket features engineered laser-cut holes between panels of insulation. An inner knit sleeve and back add warmth. The women’s jacket also utilizes a poly fill and features stretch knit construction on the side panels and underarm for maximum mobility. The men’s version comes in black, photo blue, and midnight navy, while the women’s version is available in black and summit white. Both styles are available at nike.com and select retailers.

Golf Buddy WT5 GPS Watch

It may not give you the perfect swing, but the Golf Buddy WT5 GPS watch will remove the guessing element when faced with a fairway shot. The WT5 provides all the information you need, and it’s right there on your wrist. From a data bank of 40,000 courses, the WT5 uses satellites to determine which golf course you are playing, and offers measurements for front, middle, and back of the green as well as distances to hazards and other targets. If you know how far you hit your clubs, the WT5 will help you stick the ball close to the hole. It also has advanced features like pin placements, eliminating one excuse for missing the green. The Golf Buddy WT5 GPS watch retails for $199.99, and is available at golfbuddyglobal.com.

“Stuff Every Golfer Should Know”

This 144-page book by Brian Bertoldo packs a lot of pertinent golf information inside its attractive tartan book cover. It covers a wide variety of topics, including areas like golf etiquette, apparel, playing in bad weather, history of the ball, golf exercises, best golf movies and jokes, how to read greens, and how to calculate your handicap. For such a small book, Stuff Every Golfer Should Know really lives up to its title. It would make a great stocking stuffer for any golfer. Quirk Books published the book in May and retails it for $9.95. It’s available at amazon.com.

Adidas Adipower Boost Golf Shoe

Providing as much cushion and comfort as some running shoes, Adidas Adipower Boost golf shoes are available now for both men and women. While traditional foam in a shoe hardens and softens dramatically when temperatures fluctuate, Boost foam retains consistent cushioning and is incredibly responsive in both hot and cold conditions. Combined with a lace-in saddle, fit sleeve tongue wrapping, external heel counter, and a fit foam sock liner, Adipower Boost delivers a precise, comfortable fit for all golfers. For the first time, Adidas Golf has placed what it calls gripmore spikes of varying sizes, strategically locating them on the outsole of the show to deliver improved and more efficient traction and stability where it’s needed most—during the swing plane. The spikeless sole provides plenty of grip and is more stable than most soft spike shoes, so walking in the parking lot or pro shop is just as comfortable as out on the green. The Adidas Adipower Boost golf shoes retail for $149.99. You can find them online at adidasgolf.com.

I know it’s only November, but have a very Merry Christmas!

Rick Stedman is an avid golfer, RVer and writer. Rick writes a weekly golf blog, “The 19th Hole,” which is published every Saturday at rvlife.com. He can be reached at rstedman@gmail.com.

Rick Stedman