It’s Father’s Day again! Seems like the last one was just a year ago. Time flies like a McIlroy drive, as they (should) say.
Let’s get right to the point: The best gift you can give to old Dad – or any father-figure or mentor in your life who happens to love golf – is to play a round with them. But if time or opportunity don’t allow, here are a few of the best Father’s Day gifts I’ve run across this year.
Upper Deck Golf Trading Cards
I’ve been collecting sports trading cards since I was 10 years old. I’ve just recently gotten back into the hobby, and based on the prices of cards on eBay and the thousands of “card twitter” accounts, it appears I’m not alone. I’m a much bigger golf fan than I am baseball fan these days, so I was thrilled to find sleek tins of Upper Deck Golf Cards ($35) on the shelves of my local card hot-spot. They’re printed on high-quality stock and the photography is excellent; however I was somewhat disappointed with the inserts and parallels. For example, the tin touts “Young Gun” inserts, one of which in my tin was…Billy Horschel. Huh? Guy’s been on tour for 15 years. And the “Dazzlers” inserts are shiny and sparkly, but Joel Dahmen and Ashleigh Buhai are “Dazzlers” (despite Buhai’s 2022 Women’s Open victory)? Nevertheless, it’s cool to have a few Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam cards, and I appreciate the inclusion of plenty of LPGA players. If your dad finds himself reliving the childhood thrill of opening packs of trading cards, this is a fun gift.
Arcade Belts
At a certain age, belts become a “must” for men. Weight redistributes, backsides turn into bellies. I don’t know why. It’s just a thing. But belts can be a pain: wrong size, metal buckles that set off airport metal detectors, expensive leather that stains and warps. Arcade Belts ($35-$40) are revolutionary, futuristic belts that solve these problems. These fabric belts are woven from 85% post-consumer polyester. They stretch and are adjustable precisely to any size. The buckle is plastic, so you can leave it on for TSA. They’re so light, you don’t even know they’re on. The only caveat is that the plastic hardware is slightly bulky, and if your beltloops are narrow, it’s tough to thread the Arcade through while your shorts are on. It works better to put the belt through before you put the shorts on. And once the belt is threaded through the loops, you can leave it in your pants when you do laundry, as it’s machine-washable!
GolfLogix Green Books
GolfLogix has custom green books for over 15,000 courses worldwide. Books ($50) contain hole overviews and heatmaps of greens with directional arrow for the breaks. Dad will feel like a Tour Pro pulling out one of these…until he misses the 5-footer for par anyway. Seriously, every time I show these to people at my home course, they all want one. Your Dad will, too!
adidas Sport SP0070 Sunglasses
Is Dad looking to elevate his game on the greens? Adidas Sport eyewear has sunglasses tailored specifically for golf enthusiasts. The adidas Sport SP0070 sunglasses ($78) boast advanced lens technology that enhances clarity, color, contrast, and surrounding light, allowing you to read the greens with unparalleled precision. The impact resistant, ultra-lightweight frames ensure maximum comfort throughout your round, while the ergonomic design guarantees a secure fit, even during your most powerful swings. I don’t wear a lot of sunglasses, but these light and aerodynamic frames with aeration slots contoured to my head, and the flexible temples with a rubberized inside stayed snug without sacrificing comfort. And adjustable nose pads with sweat draining lines stayed put on my (usually sweaty) nose, too.
Balls, glorious balls!
If there’s anything you can get Dad that he will (a) use, and (b) lose, and (c) need plenty of replacements for (aside from sunglasses), it’s golf balls. Just last week, I was playing with a guy who sliced a brand-new pearl into the pond on the first hole and said, “There goes $5.50 in one swing.” And he was a 3-handicap.
The trick is finding balls that work for ol’ Pops. What does he like? What fits his game? There are more and more choices every year!
Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide
The Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide ($40/doz) are the half-and-half colored balls you have likely seen around and thought, “Why?” Well, I’ll give you three good reasons: One, they are EASY to see in the air, even with old-man eyes on overcast days. Two, they have a built-in alignment line for putting. If Dad is one of those players who draws a line on his ball to line it up with the hole when he putts – just skip the Sharpie. Three, even if Dad doesn’t want to play them, they are AMAZING for practice: the split-color design provides immediate feedback in putting and chipping – line, rotation, spin. (And then he can play with the white version, also $40).
Honma TW-S and TW-X
Honma, the biggest golf equipment company in Japan, has introduced a pair of Tour-quality golf balls to the US market in 2024: The TW-X and TW-S ($36/doz). Both sport a premium cast urethane cover that provides amazing spin performance on short irons, increased durability, and an extremely scratch-resistant surface. The TW-X and TW-S deliver exceptional feel shot after shot. Honma’s 326 Dimple construction was developed over a rigorous three-year design process. The 326 dimples are intentionally aligned with a certain size to withstand strong winds with mid/high trajectory. I’ve tested both of these extensively this year and love them. The S is softer and spinnier around the greens, with a higher ball-flight. The X has lower spin off the driver, and a more piercing ball-flight. Both are very responsive around the greens, but if I had to pick one for my game, it would be the X.
Bridgestone – so many options!
There is one golf ball company that is sort of the current heavyweight champion of the world. We all know its name, and we all know why. Its balls are outstanding. But there are plenty of challengers, including Srixon (above) and upstarts like Honma. If this were boxing, though, there would be one ball maker that would be ready to enter the ring for a title shot: Bridgestone. Bridgestone has multiple offerings at all price points for golfers looking for all sorts of features: Tour-grade performance, softness, distance, fun, budget, ladies – you name it, there’s a Bridgestone. I was able to test out all the 2024 Tour B ($50/doz) prototypes this year and was impressed by every one. Spin, control, distance – almost hard to tell them apart. Another big favorite of mine is the e12 Contact ($30/doz), whose dimples are designed to allow more clubface to contact the ball at impact. I can’t say for sure it’s not a gimmick, but I can say that every time I play the e12, I hit nearly every fairway. Could be coincidence, but it does build confidence!
TRUE Golf Shoes and Apparel
I’ll be honest: Golf apparel is really the best clothing and accessories I own. More thought goes into what I’m going to play golf in than into what I’m going to wear for a nice dinner out (much to my wife’s dismay). In fact, if I can wear the same clothes for golf AND for everywhere else, that’s ideal. TRUE Linkswear caters to golfers like me. From finely crafted shoes to hoodies to pants to flip-flops, TRUE carries just about everything for both men and women who want to look stylish on the links AND out and about before or after a round. I’ve got two pair of TRUE shoes (LUX OG Tour ($143-$205), LUX G ($175)), and I get more compliments on both than any other shoes I have. The detailing, down to the metal-capped aglets on one pair, is impeccable. The website has a shoe sizer for ease of reference, but they do run a tad small, so I’d recommend going up ½ a size. The Limited Edition Members Only collection includes a range of on- and off-course apparel and accessories that mix and match seamlessly no matter the occasion – perfect for that anniversary dinner! (Right, honey?)
Dead Golfer Bourbon
Just this year, TRUE Linkswear has partnered with Washington state’s Pursuit Distilling Co. in creating a hand-selected, limited-edition, bottled-in-bond, 100-proof bourbon called Dead Golfer Bourbon. They’ll make just 438 bottles of this wonderful elixir, aged carefully for more than six years in American White Oak barrels. The Mash Bill is 72% yellow corn, 24% rye, and 4% specialty malt barley. You can order it directly at the link above for $105 a bottle.
The Payne Stewart Collection
Golf has its share of style icons, but few can match the late, great Payne Stewart. A new eponymous apparel line, the Payne Stewart Collection, will be debuting June 8, 2024, just in time for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst #2 (where Stewart won 25 years ago). Polos, quarter-zips, wind shirts, shorts and slacks, and, of course, the ubiquitous plus-fours and Hogan cap are part of the new collection. This line will be featured in the merch tents at the U.S. Open, but you can order yours online earlier!
SuperStroke Putter Grips
Perhaps the best feeling in golf is feeling comfortable – and confident – on the greens. An essential part of achieving this blessed nirvana-like state is your putter grip. Your putter should feel so natural in your hands, that it’s like an extension of your body. SuperStroke Putter Grips ($30-$40) have in a very short time become ubiquitous on greens everywhere from local municipal courses to the PGA Tour, where it seems like the winner every week plays them. (By the way, SuperStroke just acquired the illustrious Lamkin Grips company, so if you play Lamkins, look for more innovation from that line, too.)
Bushnell Wingman View
If Dad likes music on the course, there is one accessory that has become essential: The Bushnell Wingman. Bushnell’s newest version of the their revolutionary yardage-provider and speaker, the Bushnell Wingman, is the Wingman View ($200). The View incorporates visual yardages and music information on an integrated LCD screen, so if you want to play in silent mode, you can still get your yardages. And even if you don’t want music (or yardages) on the course, the Wingman serves as an excellent Bluetooth speaker anywhere (it’s not just for golf!).
Life on the Green by Ann Liguori
Iconic sports and golf broadcaster Ann Liguori works in the medium of the long-form interview like van Gogh worked in oil paints. Her award-winning cable series is called Sports Innerview precisely because of her ability to delve deep into the hearts and minds of athletes. Golf, being the mental game that it is, produces many deep thinkers, and Liguori’s interviews of golfers are some of her very best. In her new book, Life on the Green: Lessons and Wisdom from Legends of Golf (Hatherleigh Press, $18), she shares 12 interviews with some of golf’s all-time greats, from Jack Nicklaus to Annika Sorenstam. Each chapter is distilled down to a central lesson in the table of contents (e.g., Nancy Lopez: Stay positive and play happy golf), and the contents of each one make you appreciate both the interviewee and golf itself even more with every page.
You know, my kids give me a hard time because I tend to turn everything into a lesson. I love Liguori’s book because it reminds readers that, in fact, everything can be a lesson. And after individual memories and names fade, we can all hope that the lessons, at least, remain.
So happy Father’s Day, and may your lessons be passed on for many generations to come!
Midwestern Golf 