Affordable, Unique Golf Gift Ideas

It happens every year at this time; we all procrastinate and then scramble for Christmas gifts for friends, family, and colleagues.  And there is no shortage of gift ideas for the golfer on your list.  And while a gift card to Golf Galaxy will certainly be used, there are more unique, thoughtful, and inexpensive ideas that will make a lasting impression for your favorite golfer, or at least earn you some points with your boss or father-in-law.

First, a brief story about the best golf gift I ever received.  I used a Ping Pal putter from junior high until after college, and never used anything else.  When I discovered a crack in the hosel, I was devastated.  I retired the putter and reluctantly moved on.  Years later, my wife gave me a Ping Pal putter in brand new condition for Christmas.  She found an old one on ebay, and then sent it to Ping to be refinished.  It's beautiful.  She got the idea from an old college friend of mine, and did a little leg work to find the putter on ebay, but overall, this was an inexpensive gift (less than $50) that was a huge hit with me.

Find out from golf buddies if there are any old clubs, courses, etc. that have sentimental value, and search ebay or sites like www.callwaygolfpreowed.comto find replacements.  All major club manufacturers have the ability to refinish, repaint, or repair their clubs, so that's a great gift idea as well-have your golfer's favorite clubs refurbished.  Most companies charge about $30 per club for this service + shipping both ways.  Check with your local PGA Professional staffed golf shop for more info and a price quote.

Gift Idea #2-Every golfer has a dream course, the one that's on their bucket list.  If you find out what it is, you can send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the course, with a letter requesting a scorecard.  Most public and resort courses are happy to accommodate, and many private courses will also.  The scorecard can be framed, and have a nice gift.  Many public / resort courses also have yardage books available for sale, so don't hesitate to call the Golf Shop.  Most will also be happy to sell logo shirts / hats / balls, etc. over the phone.  I've worked at high end resorts in the Midwest, and at this time of year courses are looking for any business they can get, so they should be happy to help.  Don't exclude private clubs from this-they're certainly worth a phone call.  The worst thing that can happen is to be told "no".

So what do you do if you're getting a gift for someone that you don't have personal info about (co-worker, in-laws, etc.)?  Most serious golfers are picky about the types of equipment they use, so I would shy away from buying clubs, balls, etc. for someone I don't know well.  Here's an idea for these people:  tickets to a Tour event.  If you have a PGA, LPGA, Nationwide, or USGA event nearby, tickets can make for a unique, memorable experience.

These are all low cost ideas, that mainly focus on experiences and not products, so you know they gift won't be duplicated. 

Finally, a thought about lessons.  (As a PGA Professional, I'm obligated to talk about this, right?)  While it's no secret that proper instruction is needed to improve your game, use caution when buying lessons as a gift for others.  I've seen people interpret this gift as a criticism of their ability.  So if you buy lessons as a gift, hopefully this won't happen, but beware!  Fortunately, I've seen many more positive examples than negative, so a lesson certificate can be a great way to get someone who otherwise would not take a lesson the instruction they need. 

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 20 
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Disclaimer:   Mr. Kasbohm is not affiliated with, nor is compensated in any way by any of the companies listed in this article.