Golf Gifts for the Holidays. What to give? What to wish for?

If you’re a golfer, and you probably are because you are reading this blog, or you know golfers, and of course you do, the big question this holiday season is to find the perfect gift to give to that special someone, or if someone asks you “What do you want for a gift?, what should you wish for this holiday? What gift would be just the thing to help you improve your game?

. . . . .

Looking for something special…?

Another idea you might consider is getting fitted for new clubs. Visit your local pro shop to purchase a golf gift certificate for a fitting. You or your “giftee” may not need an entirely new set of clubs, but taking the time to meet with a professional club fitter to evaluate your present equipment and determine what you might need to add to your bag could be just the ticket to a great next season of golf.

Here’s some advice on club fitting.

1. First, and some experts might disagree, you should get fitted in person. There are a number of online sites that promise to fit you for clubs. They ask a lot of questions and rely on your responses to recommend the right equipment. But your answers are necessarily subjective. One of our advertisers, Pinemeadow Golf, does a good job. Check out their website. But if you can, meeting face to face with a professional fitter is the best option.
2. Be sure the fitter is certified. Fitting players for clubs is more than just measuring your height and grabbing a club off the rack that seems to be the right length. A good fitter will carefully evaluate your club swing speed, your comfort with different types of club shafts, club heads, lofts, the weight and balance of a club. The young salesperson in the discount store may not have the expertise to help you.
3. If you’ve been playing with a complete set of clubs for a few years, your happy with them and you are looking to add just a club or two to your set, be sure to bring your current set with you when you get fitted. You want the new club to feel the same as the others, with the same flex in the shaft, the same balance, etc. You don’t want to buy a new club that is totally different. This suggests that buying the same brand of club that you already have in your bag would be a good idea.
4. If you are unhappy with your current set of clubs and are looking for a new fresh start, try every brand the pro has to offer and once you settle on a club that feels “right” make a commitment to build your new set around that club. You may not want to splurge on an entire set all at once, but determine which one or two clubs should be a beginning and then plan to add to that set with the same brand and flex going forward. (Hint: this is also the information you want to tell that “special someone” who wants to give you a gift.)

Note: If you go to a professional fitter there is usually a charge for their service. This charge is often waived if you purchase a club through the pro at the time of the fitting.

For more information on how your equipment can make or break your success on the golf course, check out this article from Brent Morrison.