For golf fanatics, The Masters counts as a holiday. Like, a MAJOR holiday (pun intended). And for golfers who live in northernly climes, it also marks the start of the golf season. Or close to it anyway, depending on how far north you live.
Given this auspicious time of year, when hope for lowered handicaps, personal best rounds, and holes-in-one springs as eternal as bentgrass overseeded with rye, I think we deserve a Season Opener Gift Guide. If you can’t convince your family to buy you presents to kick off the season, you should buy them for yourself. Here are a few ideas for swag that will help your 2025 golf season get off the tee.
Bushnell Golf’s New A1-Slope Laser Rangefinder
When I was a wee lad, my grandpa took me to a Minnesota Vikings game – back when they played outside. I remember two things from that game: The Vikings blanket he brought with him that had a zipper pocket for a flask and his Bushnell binoculars that provided a crystal-clear view of the players despite cheap seats and steady snow. I’ve still got both of those things, and they both still work great. The Bushnell A1-Slope Laser Rangefinder ($300), which debuted just this February, is a worthy descendant of those binoculars. It is by far the smallest and lightest rangefinder I have ever used. Pinseeker and JOLT technology provides instant tactile feedback when the target is locked, the slope yardage is easy to see and read, and the BITE magnetic skin is great if you don’t want to take it in and out of the sturdy case. A final innovation that is rare in the market is the rechargeable battery (cord included). This might be the last rangefinder I ever use—if my grandpa’s binoculars are any indication, the A1-Slope will never wear out.
TRUE Golf Shoes
If you’re never heard of TRUE, you’re missing out. I have four pairs of TRUE golf shoes, and I get more compliments on them than any shoes I’ve ever worn (golf or otherwise). The combination of styling, attention to detail, and comfort are tough to beat. Some of my TRUE shoes have metal aglets. Others have eye-catching sole designs that also provide outstanding traction. All of them have excellent padding and support. At the 2025 PGA Merchandise Show, TRUE launched a number of new models, including the OG PRO and LUX2 Player ($195 each) and the LUX2 Maven ($325). An unexpected luxury of TRUE shoes is that every pair comes in its own mesh and canvas carrying case, which is great for golf trips. My only advice in ordering TRUE shoes online is to order one size larger than you think, as they do run a little small.
Sun Mountain Ridgeline 3 Push Cart
Once you’ve got yourself some comfy TRUE golf shoes, you need to take them out for a good walk. The exercise potential for golf is enormous – if you walk. And what makes walking more fun is a good push cart. The Ridgeline 3 push cart by Sun Mountain ($350) opens and folds easily, with just one lever and one latch. It’s fully adjustable to every golf bag thanks to a bracket on the main vertical handle support. It rolls smooth as silk yet is extremely stable. I’ve used a lot of push carts, and this one might be the best all-around I’ve ever tried.
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. My current favorites are the Marvel Comics Series grips – Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Man – great fun for superhero fans! Additional big news from SuperStroke is that it has acquired the legendary Lamkin Grips – the favorite grips of Arnold Palmer. SuperStroke has some innovative plans for new Lamkin grips for the clubs all through your bags this season. Be honest – your clubs probably need new grips to start the season. Treat yourself to Lamkins and SuperStrokes!
Witch Way Ball Markers
At the 2024 Valspar Championship, eventual winner Kevin Streelman had 10 one-putts in a row at one point in his final round. He attributed at least part of that efficiency to a prototype ball marker he had put in play, a Witch Way ball marker. The Witch Way ($10 each, $30 for 5-pack with carrying case) is a bit over-sized, with a bold alignment line. The innovation is a longer spike on the bottom, allowing you to rotate the marker and adjust your line without removing it from the ground.
Sub70 Sugar Skull wedges
Sycamore, Illinois is home to Sub70 Golf, one of the most well-respected boutique golf equipment companies in America. Unlike every major equipment company, and most of the other smaller ones, Sub70 doesn’t release new clubs every year just to create buzz. Sub70 only puts out new equipment when their painstaking research and testing confirms that the new sticks actually perform better than the old ones. Heck, they even offer free clubfitting in their homey HQ in Sycamore, where they tell me that sometimes they do fittings and determine that the player’s current clubs are best for them, even if they aren’t Sub70s.
So believe me (and them) when I recommend Sub70’s fan-favorite Sugar Skull wedges ($125). Ranging in loft from 46-64 degrees, these beauties feature a black finish and custom laser engraving – either the Sub70 Sugar Skull or something more personal. In short, they look great and play even better!
Bridgestone e12 golf balls
On February 14, 2025, Bridgestone released three new e12 ball models: the e12 HiLAUNCH, e12 STRAIGHT, and e12 SPEED ($35/doz.). Painstaking in-house research has shown that approximately 85% of golfers would benefit significantly from playing a ball that was optimized for their typical launch conditions. The e12 HiLAUNCH model, which is aimed to help golfers increase their launch angle and overall trajectory, features the lowest compression of the three new e12 models. This causes the ball to stay on the clubface longer and launch higher for added carry distance. The e12 STRAIGHT, which is designed for players that need reduced sidespin for less hooks and slices, features a soft, low compression core, sidespin reducing mantle, and Contact Force dimples. The e12 SPEED, aimed at players who launch the ball too high and need a hotter, more boring trajectory, features the firmest compression of the three models for a more penetrating launch.
Early Season Golf Getaways!
OK, you’ve got new shoes, wedges, balls, maybe a new driver (this one is HOT!), ball markers, range finder, etc., etc. Now you need to get out and use them ALL! How about a road trip to someplace sunny, warm, and magical – like Cabo? Solmar Golf Links is located just fifteen miles north of Cabo San Lucas. The Greg Norman Signature Course was designed with a “least disturbance” approach and traverses three different ecosystems along the breathtaking Pacific Ocean. Guests at the resort can enjoy private beach cabanas, a cutting-edge fitness center, hiking and biking trails, and concierge services. Stay and play package includes one round of golf per adult (and discounts on multiple rounds), shuttle service, food and beverage while on-course, and access to the practice facility before the round.
If you’re looking for something a little closer to home, you have exactly ONE DAY after this gift guide goes live (so you just book by March 17!) to lock in a sweet deal at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA. Stay five nights in a riverfront Cottage and receive a $1,000 resort credit to use however you choose—whether it’s towards a waterfront dinner, a spa day, or an afternoon of golf on our championship courses. Kingsmill is familiar to many golf fans as the former long-time venue of one of both PGA and LPGA Tour events. In other words, this is some world-class golf—so lock in this deal while you still can!
There you have it, golf fans. The 2025 Season is upon us – and I for one cannot wait!
Midwestern Golf 