As the legendary golfer Hale Irwin once posited, ‘’Golf is the loneliest sport. You’re completely alone with every conceivable opportunity to defeat yourself.’’
That said, if your golf obsessed friend listened to that ominous warning and still decided to head for the green for another round, then you may as well do all you can to make them feel a little less ‘completely alone’.
And you know what? Your golf obsessed friend might just be onto something. Because rather than it being a good walk spoiled, golf is actually a great way to get some exercise, breathe in some fresh air, and unwind a while. That’s something to be encouraged, don’t you think? So, here are 10 great gifts for your golf obsessed friend.
A Good Set Of Golf Clubs
If you’re serious about playing golf, you’ll need a good set of golf clubs. This is perhaps the most crucial piece of gear for any golfer. A good set of golf clubs will help you hit the ball farther and straighter, making the game more enjoyable and keeping you coming back for more of those physical and mental health benefits.
If your friend is just starting out, you may want to buy them a basic set of clubs. These will usually include a driver, a few irons, and a putter, as a minimum, or a full club set, which consists of a driver, 3 wood, 3 Hybrid, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 Irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and a putter.
If they’re more experienced, consider a gift of more specialised clubs, such as a set of fairway woods or a hybrid club.Read: 5 IDEAL places to play golf in the South-West UK
A Budget Golf Launch Monitor
The perfect gift for any golfer has got to be a golf launch monitor. These devices have gained popularity within the golfing community for their portability, making them suitable for use at the driving range, golf course, or indoors. What sets a launch monitor apart from other golf gifts is its ability to provide golfers with real-time analysis of their swings.
As golfers are constantly looking to improve their game, opting for a launch monitor can save them a significant amount of money compared to hiring a coach. Not only does it help them save on costly lessons, but it also enables them to practice golf effectively on their own.
A Golf Simulator
Does your friend struggle to find the time to actually get out on the green for a round? Do they live in a climate where the weather doesn’t allow year-round play? Are golfing holidays a little out of their budget?
If so, then a golf simulator may be perfect for them. These sophisticated golf swing systems enable you to play golf virtually from the comfort of your own home, allowing you to choose different courses and landscapes and even compete against other players online.
Whether your friend is an experienced golfer or just starting out, a simulator is brilliant for improving their swing, posture, and ultimately, their game. These advanced systems come in a huge range of styles and price points, and understanding the full financial commitment beyond just the equipment is key.
Golf Swing Systems offer valuable insights into the pricing of setups from beginner-friendly to professional-grade. For those on a tighter budget, the Garmin R10 offers excellent value at around £500, providing basic ball tracking capabilities perfect for casual practice. Mid-range options like the SkyTrak+ (approximately £2,000-£4,000) offer enhanced accuracy and comprehensive shot analysis, whilst at the premium end, professional-grade systems like the TrackMan 4 can cost upwards of £20,000 and deliver the same accuracy used by touring professionals.
Don’t forget that you’ll also need to consider simulator software to complete the experience – popular platforms like GSPro and E6 Connect can transform these golf swing systems from basic training aids into immersive golfing experiences that mirror playing an entire course. It’s up to you to decide just how much you love your golf-obsessed friend!
Golf Balls
What is golf without the balls? Nope, this isn’t an existential question, but rather, a prompt for the perfect gift or a golf-obsessed friend.
Small, manageable and affordable, golf balls come in different types: practice balls, tournament-grade balls, and novelty balls, to name but a few. You’ll want to choose the type of ball that’s right for your friend’s preferred game type. For example, if you’re practising at the driving range, you might want to use a practice ball.
It can be pretty confusing to a beginner to identify what the best golf ball is, let alone a novice gift buyer like yourself. While Vice golf balls are the newest trend, engineered in Germany and using the latest technology for a direct, focused flight, there are other more traditional balls that are also failsafe in terms of gift ideas.
A few we rate include the Taylormade Tour Response, the Titleist Pro V1, and the Callaway Chrome Soft X.
Golf Gloves
A quality golf glove is an often overlooked but essential piece of kit that every golfer needs. Not only does a proper golf glove provide crucial grip and control during swings, but it also prevents blisters and calluses from forming during longer rounds or practice sessions.
Golf gloves come in various materials, from traditional leather to modern synthetic fabrics, each offering different benefits. Leather gloves, such as those from FootJoy or Titleist, provide excellent feel and durability, whilst synthetic options often offer better breathability and weather resistance. For the golfer who plays year-round, consider gifting a pair for different conditions – a lightweight option for summer and a more robust, weather-resistant glove for those brisk autumn and winter rounds.
What makes this gift particularly thoughtful is that golf gloves are consumable items that need regular replacement, so your friend will genuinely appreciate having a quality spare to hand.
Golf Shoes
Golf shoes are designed to give you traction on the golf course, providing support and stability, which is essential when swinging a golf club.
As a symbolic gift to a friend, of support and stability, and in terms of great gifts for your golf obsessed friend – full stop – there couldn’t be a much better option. The good news is that golf shoes can also be super stylish, with the Puma Ignite Fasten8 Pro and the Adidas Codechaos our favourite pairs for bringing that much needed swagger to the golf course.
Golf GPS Subscription
Golfers have been using golf GPS technology to improve their golfing by giving you accurate yardage information for many years now. While many different types of golf GPS units are available on the market, they all share the same goal: improving accuracy and distance while playing.
Golf GPS units come in the form of wearable devices that you connect to an app, which uses mapping data and satellite imagery to give players distances to various points on the course and pin positioning information. This information can help make club selection decisions, improve shot accuracy and generally provide data on all manner of aspects of a golfing getaway.
If you really want to spoil your friend, you could buy them a golf GPS watch and subscription to an app. Perhaps the most popular watch is the Bushnell NEO, and this pairs efficiently and simply with the adjacent app, Bushnell Golf.
Golf Training Aids
There are many different types of golf training aids available on the market. Golf training aids can help you improve your swing, grip, and even your mental game, and they also represent a more affordable, humble gift compared to some of the other present ideas on our list.
If your friend struggles with their drive, then you might want to consider a golf swing trainer. If they’re having trouble with their putting, you might want to buy a practice mat. Whatever their needs are, there’s a training aid that can help you improve your game.
Golf Apparel
Golf apparel shouldn’t be reserved for those themed university socials we’ve all attended at one time or another. In fact, the fashion side of the golf world has become increasingly trendy in recent years, with brands like Lacoste, Adidas Golf and Lululemon being worn by celebrities and fashionistas alike.
No longer the pursuit of middle-aged men who like to gossip about real estate, golf carries a more stylish air these days. Help your friend fit in by gifting them some top quality golf apparel.
Golf Bag
A golf bag will help your friend carry your gear more easily, without them having to struggle under the weight of all those clubs you bought them last year.
The golf bag comes with straps that will distribute the weight evenly across your body, making it easy and comfortable to carry. Or, you could invest in a caddie, of course.
The Final Hole
For golf lovers the world over, there are gifts to suit all budgets. We hope you’ve found something suitable for your golf-obsessed friend today.
