The 19 Best Golf Gifts for Every Kind of Golfer

I don’t often use the word “ingenious” when describing product design, but Bag Boy’s Nitron golf cart is worthy. It’s light, durable, and collapses and expands instantly, making it utterly packable and a snap to use even if you’re late for your round. I love the layout of the headstock handle which, unlike my aging Sun Mountain cart, locks perfectly in multiple positions and stays in place.

The cubby on top and bag below are convenient, and Bag Boy offers additional attachments like a tack-on cooler at a reasonable price. The initial assembly takes just minutes, although the “star” you’re supposed to look for to attach the front wheel was nearly invisible for me, so if it doesn’t lock in, just flip it. The plastic wheels, while more convenient than inflatables, are also liable to wear down over time. Those are my only critiques for what is otherwise a practically perfect push cart and one of the best golf gifts you can grab.

It’s been a while since I’ve relied on golf shoes. I never seemed to find the right fit and eventually just decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. Boy, was I wrong. When golf newcomer Heathlander reached out, it seemed like a good time to give it another go, and I instantly fell for these shoes.

The navy version looks fantastic, and I found myself really enjoying the pink soles for both their style and grip. The fit seemed nearly bespoke when I put them on, and they've become increasingly comfy over time. Just as important, I immediately started striking the ball better, dropping a few strokes in my first outing. They're well constructed with shock-absorbing soles and weatherproofing, and your purchase includes a canvas case and bag, so you don’t have to drag around an increasingly beat-up box. It’s no wonder these shoes are already winning awards.

I love vacation golf. There’s something special about a crisp morning round on an unknown course, but without your own clubs a lovely day can turn into a minor disaster. Bag Boy’s Freestyle Travel Bag makes it easy to take your clubs along. I toted this bag on a recent trip to Montana and found its mix of four wheels for standup and a spare pair of rollers for dragging it along indispensable—especially since I was taking way too much baggage for a four-day journey. There are multiple pockets and plenty of space inside for extra gear, and you can get a handy extender to place inside your bag for extra topside security. The bag got a lot of “love” on its cargo rides but kept on ticking. It even folds down for storage, though its stout design requires some effort to compact it.

I used to (mildly) scoff at golfers who rely on fancy rangefinders, but taking the highly affordable Shot Scope Pro L2 on Oregon backcountry courses where range data is often inaccurate—if available at all—made me a believer. Now I never golf without one. This little beauty is light, compact, and brilliantly simple to use, even for beginners.

I love the thoughtful extras like a powerful magnet to stick it to your cart or golf bag, and support straps in the case so you can leave it open for easy access. The single multi-key lets you tap it once for a quick read or hold it for a vibration to lock onto your target, while the slope switch helps account for elevation, saving me a good stroke or two per round. The sweet mix of performance and value makes the Pro L2 a great companion for golfers of all skill levels who just want a good read on the course to hone their game.

We all know this golfer. He always gets a riding cart. He’s in his fifties or sixties, retired, and just wants to have a laid-back day on the course while partaking in a few nips and/or tokes. If you’re shopping for one of these chill souls, the Wingman HD GPS speaker is a sweet gift. The overall sound quality is just OK, especially in the bass, but its solid clarity even at low volume is all you really need on the course. When combined with its bright 3.5-inch touchscreen and the Bushnell app, it’s a slick ride that spits out cool jams while adroitly keeping the party on track and on task.

The GPS readout is accurate, usually landing within a few yards of the pin when compared to the best rangefinders in my testing. It’s surprisingly intuitive to use, automatically swapping to the next hole as you roll. The powerful backside magnet keeps it glued to the cart, so all you’ve got to do is pair it up, slap it on, and let it guide you toward the golfing equivalent of Margaritaville. For any golfer who’s as interested in a good hang as a good score, the Wingman HD is a fun accessory that stands out.

Garmin’s baseline golf watch may look like a glorified Casio from the ’80s, but there’s brilliance in its simplicity. Its rubberized band is light and comfy, its monochromatic screen easy to read, and its tactile buttons on both sides foolproof. It’s easy to set up with the Garmin app for Android or iOS, and GPS data for over 43,000 courses lets you quickly find and track nearly any course on your wish list.

The S12's system works well for recording your score and more basic data. Its range-tracking for greens, bunkers, and other hazards is relatively accurate and super handy, especially on new courses. You’ll get up to 30 hours per charge in GPS mode (much longer at rest) and you can upgrade for swing analysis with Garmin Club Sensors. Those with an Apple or Android smartwatch will find many of the same features in apps like 18Birdies, but especially for the less technically inclined, the S12 is a slick single-purpose device.

There’s nothing like celebrating a great shot with a little sip of ol’ grandpa’s cough syrup. I’ve been using this go-anywhere flask for years, and it’s still a top choice in my collection, right next to my water bottle. Whether you’re pregaming before you hit the clubhouse, out on a fishing expedition, or enjoying an outdoor event or concert, its rugged design is ready for adventure. Even outdoor thrill seekers will dig its aesthetic, though which sticker you decide to slap on its translucent exterior is a daunting decision.

The Shot Scope L2 is the best rangefinder I've tried on a budget, but if you've got more to spend, the Nikon Coolshot Pro III Stabilized elevates the experience to luxury status. The keyword here is stabilization, which provides a silky smooth vantage point to effortlessly zero in on hazard distances, shot elevation, and pin-tracking. Using it on the course almost makes me feel like Luke Skywalker tracking that Imperial probe on Hoth, but with a crystal-clear view (and without the Tauntaun).

Holding the tracking key induces a handy buzz when you find the pin, seeming to almost guide your hand, while the intuitive menu makes it easy to scroll through four different slope modes, including a tournament mode to keep you legal. There's no magnet for sticking it on your golf cart, and the accessories include just a battery and the soft carrying case, but if you're after a professional experience that takes the work out of rangefinding, the Coolshot is an easy choice.

I’m a Hawaiian shirt guy, so Sunday Swagger‘s retro island-meets-Kramer vibe appealed to me from the get-go. They’ve got a rainbow of colors and styles, including both polos and button-downs, for when you want to take your vibe off the course and into the tiki bar. The “swagger” is only part of why I love these shirts, which add plenty of substance to go along with their style.

The breathable and stretchable material is effortlessly comfortable and wrinkle-resistant, and it provides a mix of sweat-wicking and UPF 40 sun protection. The shirts work brilliantly on the course, keeping me cool even during the hottest part of the afternoon on a recent round. Not for nothing, I've gotten compliments on multiple versions, and the brand is constantly adding new “drops” to its collection. There’s something for just about every type of golfer here, as long as they like their style a little loud and fun.

Yeti’s cute little Flip 8 isn’t the last word in coolery as the price might suggest, but it does a great job keeping your beverages cold in a light and incredibly durable design. Everything about this cooler feels premium, including the airtight zipper, though it takes real effort to open—Yeti actually includes lubricant to loosen things up while keeping an airtight seal.

I was able to bring plenty of bee… I mean water on the course, saving serious cash, and the Flip 8’s comfy strap makes it a perfect choice for those who also partake in the other type of golf played with discs. Frankly, this goes beyond golf gifts as I've come to take this thing everywhere I bring beverages, especially during barbecue season. This is a real investment, but it’s sure to delight and comes with a three-year warranty.

There's not much I want in my pocket while playing a leisurely round, but Callaway’s handy four-in-one divot tool makes the cut. It’s light, easy to use, and works well. The magnetic golf ball marker pops out with a quick click on the side (and doubles as a fidget tool), while the tough bristles keep club faces sharp. God willing and you actually hit a few greens, it fixes those up, too—much better than the car keys I’ve employed for the last few years. Every golfer needs a divot tool, making this an excellent stocking stuffer for the novice golfer or those who, like me, long ago lost their last one.

My friend from Houston complains constantly about the heat in summer, and a recent trip I took to Austin for an August wedding confirmed his struggle. Texas-based golf brand Juniper & James designs apparel specifically to combat those brutal conditions, and the gear lives up to the hype. The polo feels ultra-soft to the touch and looks great, both at home and on the course. With wicking and UPF50+, it keeps the sweat away better than any such synthetic sports shirt I’ve tried, which the company says is due to its proprietary “brrr” jersey fabric with “cooling minerals” woven into the yarn. Whatever they’re doing, it’s working.

The shorts sit a little high for my taste when seated, but they’re crazy-comfy on the course, with a light and sporty fit that stretches as you move, and deep pockets to hold balls and other accessories. You’ll feel agile and athletic, even in tough conditions, and they work just as well for a tough game of tennis as they do for a long round on the links. They sport some novel features like a loop for your golf glove and a microfiber cloth built into the back pocket for cleaning your shades. Both the polo and shorts are on the pricier side, but they’re excellent performers, and frankly, anything that gives you an edge in this game is worth trying—especially in hot and humid conditions.