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For a sport as rooted in access as golf, finding the right gift for the golfer in your life can feel like a tough task. (Scott Reid, a former tournament director for the PGA Championship, admits that the best golf-related gift he’s ever received was a surprise trip to the world-famous, scenic Pebble Beach Golf Links.) But you don’t have to shell out for a trip or fund a country-club membership to fuel your giftee’s love of the sport. To make the hunt easier for you, I rounded up plenty of thoughtful gift ideas below, all recommended by golf experts (including Reid), that will satisfy your giftee, whether they’re a beginner golfer (a good pair of gloves is perfect) or a seasoned vet (they might appreciate a good golf book or a personalized ball marker). And to help you shop according to your budget, I’ve included products at a range of price points.
Gifts under $25
For the person who’s just getting into golf, these FootJoy gloves are a reasonably priced gift that will help improve their game. Dan Schwabe, a PGA Class A golf professional and golf instructor at Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco, recommends these for beginners specifically because of their generous padding in the palm that makes holding a club easier on the hands.
When your golfer is rained out, a good golf book can be almost as good as a good round. Thomas Bopp, the golf-academy manager at the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers, says these titles are “must-reads for a golf fan who wants the inside story of some of the most important events in the history of golf.”
If you’re looking to upgrade your giftee’s glove game, go with this thin model from Taylormade. It’s the go-to glove of four golf-glove experts we spoke to, including Aaron Flink, EVP and chief strategy officer at Pebble Beach Resort in Pebble Beach, California, who calls it “the glove that I love and I won’t play without.”
Golf gloves don’t have to ruin your giftee’s manicure. Dawn Mercer, director of instruction at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, recommended these gloves, which have holes for rings and long nails.
Gifts under $50
Golf brand Metalwood Studio has a refreshing take on golf apparel: a mix of modern streetwear and retro-inspired sportswear as seen on this dad cap.
Strategist contributor Adam Reeder owns six of these polos that feel “richer and smoother to the touch” compared to cotton ones. Reeder says they haven’t stretched out or faded in four months of wear.
This is the three-holed putting mat that golfer John Rotunno used to turn his living room into a mini golf course. “By playing each hole twice, that became an 18-hole, par-54 course — which, while far from Augusta National, allowed my wife and I to play for hours together on a recent Saturday afternoon,” he writes.
A bold gift for the person who wants to stand out on the golf course, these fun microfiber checkerboard towels are a favorite of McMillan’s, who calls them “fun conversation pieces.”
This book by a Columbia Business School professor — who brings statistical insights onto the links — is for the golf fanatic who geeks out on analytics. Richard Swette, a usability analyst, calls it a “masterpiece.”
This book of international golf courses will get your giftee dreaming of their next trip. Tim Townsend, a PGA senior professional at the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers, says it’s filled with “hidden-gem golf resorts to visit while vacationing.”
Steve McMillan, founder of product-review site the Golfing Dads and fan of the one-of-a-kind personal gift, recommends these Liberty Ball copper or aluminum markers that can be customized with any phrase or design that’s meaningful to the golfer in your life.
Gifts under $100
If your giftee is looking for a golf shoe that could easily double as an everyday sneaker, opt for a pair of these Adidas. “The softer knit top makes it kind of like a sneaker, with a beautiful profile and super comfort,” says Flink, who also throws these on with jeans for dinner after playing.
Golfers can always use more balls. Bopp says the Titleist Pro V1 is the “best ball in golf by the most prestigious golf-equipment brand.”
The monthly box includes seasonal men’s and women’s golf apparel from brands like Puma, Under Armour, and Callaway, so they can get a consistent delivery of useful gear. McMillan says it takes the guesswork out of your giftee’s particular golf style.
Gifts under $200
For golfers looking to improve their game, this series of sensors will track every shot to give you a better picture of each round. Joe Ostrowski, director of instruction at the Concession Golf Club, says these sensors will “help improve your course management.”
By combining elements of golf with cornhole, Chippo is “an easy way to work on your short game while having fun with friends and family,” says Dan McCracken, director of golf at Golfzon Leadbetter.
Strap this tiny yet mighty portable speaker to your golf bag or cart and you’ll get “powerful, crisp music all round,” says Alex Schiff, operations shift manager at Golf & Body.
This polo shirt made from jade and crab shells feels cool against the skin — ideal for golfers who play in the heat. Strategist senior editor Chelsea Peng gifted these shirts to her dad, who likes to golf. (He called them “super-smooth and lightweight” and said they “stayed wrinkle and loose-thread free” after emerging from a thorny hazard.)
These shoes (one of Pine Hollow Club first assistant Nick Patti’s gift picks) take inspiration from Nike’s cushioned running shoes for comfort and responsiveness while adding golf-specific traction.
Gifts over $200
A range finder — a good gift for any serious golfer, according to Ron McDougal, head pro at Golf & Body — helps measure distance from the next hole or a hazard on the course. Ostrowski of Concession Golf Club calls this model from Garmin the most technologically advanced range finder on the market.
Scott Reid, former tournament director for the PGA Championship, suggests gifting this launch monitor that tracks every stat of your giftee’s swing. It measures swing speed and ball speed and tracks stats for every club in their bag.
This feature-rich bag has a solar-powered phone charger, Bluetooth speaker, and room for six cans of their beverage of choice. Bonus: McMillan says the bag “weighs almost next to nothing” and is surprisingly comfortable to carry.
With additional reporting by Katy Schneider and Karen Iorio Adelson.
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