If you have a novelty gift for the golfer in your life in your basket, you may want to think twice before checking out.
It’s a lovely thing that people recognise our passion for the game when it comes to gifts, but we beg you please do not spend your cash on a naff desktop organiser or heaven forbid a putting game designed to play on the toilet (if you’re not familiar, count yourself lucky).
I speak for all golfers when I say there are far better, more useful things that we’d like to find under the tree when the big day comes.
After all, there’s always something we need – whether it's replacement gloves, a new pair of shoes, or a new box of balls after shanking another brand-new Pro-v1 into a lake.
Clothing, too, is always very well received. We’ve included a number of different options below, appealing to more traditional tastes as well as adding statement pieces for the golfer who likes to be seen.
Best gifts for golfers at a glance:
- Best for smartening up any wardrobe: Crew classic golf trousers - £85, Crew Clothing
- Best for lending a helping hand: GX gloves - £28.99, GX Golf
- Best for remembering a great Ryder Cup victory: Glenmuir Ryder Cup Sweater - £90, Glenmuir
- Best for a bag made to stand out: OGIO stand bag - £269, Ogio
- Best for the realist: Blunt sports umbrella - £125, Amazon
- Best for the football-obsessed golfer: Club Golf polos - £42.99, Club Golf
- Best for the personal touch: Torro scorecard holder - £29.99, Torro
- Best for game improvement: Arccos smart sensors - £179.99, American Golf
- Best for the shared experience: Old Course Hotel voucher - £75, St Andrews Old Course Hotel
- Best for the practical gift giver: Victorinox golf tool - £63, Victorinox
- Best for peacocking on the course: J Lindeberg Tour tech polo - £80, American Golf
- Best for the golfer that loves to accessorise: Adidas accessories - £15, Adidas
- Best for quenching thirst on the links: Yeti Rambler - £30, Yeti
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Crew classic golf trouser
Best for: smartening up any wardrobe
Quality staples will always be welcome in a golfer’s wardrobe, and Crew offer some of the best we’ve tested.
The brand is relatively new to the world of golf, but they’ve come out of the blocks in fine fashion. The classic golf trousers are some of the best we’ve worn on the course. They come in a flattering slim fit, smart enough for the poshest courses (they helped us look the part for a recent bucket list trip to play Wentworth), but they’re still comfortable enough to make them everyday wear. They’re versatile, too, and the three colour finishes will work with a wide variety of golfing attire.
We were also impressed with the Fairway golf half zip sweatshirt and the performance polo, but every golf wardrobe would be improved with the trousers, offering a practical, stylish gift a golfer will appreciate every time they’re worn on the course.
Buy now £85.00, Crew Clothing
GX gloves
Best for: lending a helping hand
Golfers are always after things they want, of course, but in reality, there are only a few things that they really need. Golf balls are one of those things (read our round-up of the best ones on the market for all budgets here) and gloves are another.
Now, premium gloves are naturally a little more expensive than the cheaper alternatives – but they don’t always have to be. GX is a direct-to-consumer brand that offers premium cabretta leather gloves for more affordable rates than many more mainstream brands.
The standard package includes three gloves for less than £30, and we challenge anyone to find gloves of this quality, offering a feel as soft and breathable as the GX models, for less than £10 a glove.
It’s worth noting that players are advised to go up a size up if their regular glove size fits them tight.
Buy now £28.99, GX
Glenmuir Ryder Cup Sweater
Best for: Remembering a great Ryder Cup victory
The Ryder Cup, as well as being the greatest sporting tournament going in our opinion, also inspires some quality clothing pieces – and none more so than this Team Europe design from Scottish golfing stalwarts Glenmuir.
No one could have seen it coming after the thumping at Whistling Straights in 2019, but the likes of Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland and Jon Rahm inspired Europe to an incredible win in Rome this summer. There’s no better way to commemorate one of the most incredible Ryder Cups of recent years than this eye-catching sweatshirt in the colours of Team Europe, finished with an embroidered emblem of the tournament. It comes in a flattering fit with quality manufacturing evident in every aspect of the garment.
The brand is known for making signature items inspired by the traditions of the game. Glenmuir’s 1891 collection is also home to a number of retro-inspired designs, all of which work just as well on the course as they do off it and will add classy investment pieces to any wardrobe.
Buy now £90.00, Glenmuir
OGIO stand bag
Best for: a bag made to stand out
It’s no good treating yourself to shiny new clubs if you’re going to keep them in a tatty old bag. Help the golfer in your life look smart out on the course by giving them an OGIO bag. A good golf bag will stand the test of time unlike anything else, and the OGIO All Elements Hybrid stand bags are designed with both function and fashion in mind.
They come in a range of bold colours – perfect for making a statement out on the course - as well as simpler, cleaner designs that will suit every golfer.
It comes with a unique organisation tool, with the eight-way moulded WOODÄ top stand helping players separate your clubs into individual casings and avoid damage during everyday use. The bag is also kitted out with plenty of pockets for unparalleled storage and it’s waterproof too, having kept our valuables dry during a number of soggy afternoons on the course during testing. Thoroughly recommended.
OGIO also offers an impressive range of premium travel cases, with a number of patterns and designs that will ensure you’ll never miss it on the baggage carousel.
Buy now £269.00, OGIO
Blunt sport umbrella
Best for: the realist
Sadly, rain is never far around the corner for UK golfers, and a dependable umbrella is always needed on the golf course in the UK just in case.
Affordable golf umbrellas are 10 a penny, but they can often let you down with poor build quality. Add a worthy investment to every golf bag set up with Blunt, and you can guarantee protection on the course even in the worst of the British weather.
Straight away, it’s clear just how heavy-duty the Blunt sport model is, with an ergonomic design on the handle offering real comfort too. There’s a tasteful curved design on the canopy and the sturdy fibreglass shaft contributes to the excellent overall quality and durability of the item.
It’s easy to use, even when carrying a bag, and every Blunt umbrella comes with a standard two-year manufacturer’s warranty for extra reassurance. In our testing, we found that it offers excellent protection even in high winds – essentially, it means you’ll never fear heading out in the rain again and that’s an awfully useful thing.
Buy now £125.00, Amazon
Club Golf polos
Best for: the football-obsessed golfer
It’s not often you come across brands doing something entirely their own in the golf space, but Club Golf is definitely one of them.
Now, you won’t get away with wearing football shirts at posh courses (that’s still a big no-no at most places) but you’ll always look the part with a Club Golf polo. The brand has developed a cult following over the last few years for its designs, which consist of tasteful reimagining of iconic football shirts throughout the years.
One of their most popular designs interpolates England’s classic third kit from Italia 90 into a new breathable polo, taking the inspired blue pattern and turning it into one of the coolest, most eye-catching designs for a golf shirt we’ve seen.
Other designs include fresh versions of classic Arsenal, Aston Villa, Celtic, Chelsea, Everton, Leeds, Liverpool, Man Utd, Newcastle, Rangers, Spurs and West Ham shirts, as well as other international teams like Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The brand’s midlayers and snazzy towels are well worth checking out too.
Buy now £42.98, Club Golf
Torro scorecard holder
Best for: the personal touch
It’s always nice to give the gift of something personal, and Torro’s customisable scorecard holders might be the best chance to do just that.
Scorecards often get tatty and ripped during rounds, so a cover is a great thing to have – but at the same time, it’s something that players aren’t likely to buy themselves. That’s one of the reasons that makes the personalised scorecard holder from Torro such a good option.
The supple leather holder keeps the card secure and looking stylish, and there’s a sleeve at the back for bank cards and valuables. The magnetic closure to keep the holder shut is a nice touch too. Crucially, there’s also the option to add custom initials for the additional price of just £2.95. A lovely thing.
Buy now £29.99, Torro
Arccos smart sensors
Best for: game improvement
Having used it for the entirety of 2023, I truly believe the best thing a club golfer can spend money on to improve their game – aside from paying for regular lessons – is Arccos.
A number of different packages are available, but £264.98 will get you the starter bundle, which includes 14 sensors, an Arccos Link wearable, shot tracking software and 12 months membership to the Arccos Caddie app. Lots of new clubs come with in-built Arccos sensors these days, too, so it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for.
Once you’ve applied the Arccos sensors to the handle of your clubs (an easy process), the intuitive app can map out thousands of courses on your phone and allows shots to be tracked automatically in real-time. I reduced my handicap over the space of six months with its help, allowing me to see which areas were letting me down and costing me shots, before addressing them in my practice.
The whole process of using the app has never resulted in any faff-inducing stoppages during play in my experience of using it extensively. For a stat-nerd like myself, it’s also hugely satisfying to pore over all the distances and shots gained data that the app offers.
Buy now £179.99, American Golf
Old Course Hotel voucher
Best for: the shared experience
If you’re looking for an experience-based gift this year for the golfer in your life – ideally one you can share together – then look no further than the Old Course Hotel.
The home of golf is a special place, and St Andrews is about more than just golf too. The St Andrews Old Course hotel is a historic site, found just off the 17th hole of the Old Course - the most famous golf course in the world - offering a mix of tradition and modern luxury. Read our full review here.
The hotel is also home to superb in-house facilities in the Kohler Waters Spa, and guests can treat loved ones to treatments and other experiences through the hotel’s voucher system.
It’s a chance to combine unforgettable golfing experiences at the place where the sport was first played on the east coast of Scotland with a top-end spa and wellness retreat. What’s not to love?
Buy now £75.00, Old Course Hotel
Victorinox golf tool
Best for: the practical gift giver
You see so many cheap versions of the golf marker tool everywhere, which golfers are more likely to misplace or discard than use regularly and cherish. Instead, this multi-functional tool from Victorinox is a chance to invest in real quality and gift something genuinely useful to the golfer in your life.
It contains no fewer than 10 components, all well-placed to help players out during rounds. Perhaps most importantly there’s the two-pronged repair tool for fixing ball marks on the greens, which slides out with the help of a golf ball-shaped button. The groove tool is ideal for sharpening up wedges and helping to get a little more control and spin out of them. Elsewhere, there’s a bottle opener (you never know when you’re going to want to open a cold one on the course, after all) as well as a tee punch, a nail file, a toothpick, scissors, tweezers, a ball marker and a blade.
The item itself feels pretty bulletproof and will last an awfully long time, we’re sure. Personalisation options are available too, which is always a good way to add something extra to the gift-giving experience.
Buy now £63.00, Victorinox
J Lindeberg Tour tech polo
Best for: peacocking on the course
There are statement pieces, and then there’s the Tour tech polo from J Lindeberg.
Status items are everywhere in the golf game, from flash new irons to top-of-the-range drivers, but when it comes to premium clothing it’s Swedish luxury brand J Lindeberg that we’d argue is most synonymous with status in the world of golf.
There’s any number of prints available in the brand’s extensive golf range, but we’re particularly fond of the Estate Blue Diamond (which is also available in a short-sleeved resort shirt, a blade mid layer and pants - just in case you feel like going head to toe).
As well as looking the part, the piece is incredibly comfortable and the breathable material offers a flattering fit around the arms and chest.
It’s our favourite piece the brand offers, although most of the designs in the J Lindeberg gold range will appeal to players who like to make an impact out on the course.
Buy now £79.99, American Golf
Adidas accessories
Best for: the golfer that loves to accessorise
A golfer, more so than any other sportsperson, will always appreciate a hat. That much is true. So, help them swap out that tatty old number and treat the golfer in your life to something new.
Adidas has some of the most pleasing designs in the game when it comes to golf headwear, from the three-stripe logo cap to the showerproof bucket hat. While standing out on its own, the simple, impactful block logo on the black cap will go with anything. It also fits comfortably and represents the perfect staple for finishing off outfits.
Belts, too, are a sure way to smarten up any golfing wardrobe, and Adidas is well kitted out in this department. The golf braided stretch belt offers fantastic comfort and adaptability, while the reversible web belt offers the chance for players to inject a bit of colour into their collection with six finishes available. They all come at reasonable prices, with the reversible web belt costing £15, as well as ensuring quality in every department of the golfer’s set-up.
Buy now £15.00, Adidas
Yeti Rambler
Best for: quenching thirst on the links
A good water bottle is one of the essential things a golfer needs during a round of golf. The Yeti range offers a wide selection, helping players stay hydrated on the links.
The Rambler from Yeti is a versatile, rugged option to add to the golf bag, doing everything you’d expect from a great drinks flask. It features double-wall vacuum insulation and the “chug cap” makes for a pleasant drinking experience. It’s dishwater-safe too, which makes it all the more practical.
The insulating properties really come into their own in both the height of summer and the depths of winter. Keeping a warming coffee hot can be priceless during chilly rounds – and ice-cold drinks are essential when working up a sweat in the summer.
There are plenty of options available, with customers able to choose from sizes of 532ml, 760ml, 1065ml, 1.4L and 1.9L, as well as 11 colour options.
Buy now £30.00, Yeti
