Gifts for Golfers That Won't Mess With Their Swing
By the Giftruly editorsUpdated 21 hand-picked ideas
Golfers are generous with advice and stubborn about equipment. The person you're buying for may have spent an afternoon on a launch monitor choosing a driver shaft, and plays one particular ball because it spins the way they like around the greens. That's why the golf aisle is full of gifts that end up in the garage: the wrong ball, the wrong glove size, the gadget that promises to fix a slice.
The good news is that plenty of golf gifts don't depend on their swing at all. This page starts with upgrades that make a round easier, explains how to handle the fussy gear if you really want to, then moves to practice at home, personal touches and the cheap things every golf bag eats. The short list underneath is there if you're in a hurry.
Shopping for a golfer who's about to have a lot more free time? Our retirement gifts for him guide has more ideas, and the gifts for father-in-law page covers plenty of golf-loving in-laws.
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Quick picks for the golfer
Gear that makes eighteen holes easier
These are the things golfers tend to admire in someone else's bag and never buy for themselves. None of them depend on how they swing, so you can buy without asking a single technical question.
If they play most weekends, start with the rangefinder. If they walk the course or play in all weather, look further down.
- Our favorite1
Golf Rangefinder
~$150
Knowing the exact distance to the flag takes a lot of guessing out of club choice, and most golfers who get one wonder how they played without it. Slope readings adjust for uphill and downhill shots, but they aren't allowed in most competitions, so if they play in club events, make sure the model can switch slope off. Skip it if they already own a GPS watch they like.
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Golf GPS Watch
~$200
The alternative to a rangefinder: distances to the front, middle and back of the green on their wrist, with no aiming needed. It suits golfers who play fast, ride in a cart and hate pulling out gadgets. It's less precise to the pin than a laser, and it doubles as a regular watch, which is either a bonus or a problem if they already love the one they wear.
- 3
Three-Wheel Golf Push Cart
~$150
For the golfer who walks. A push cart carries the bag so their shoulders and back don't have to, and it's often the thing that keeps an older player walking courses instead of switching to a cart for good. Check that it folds small enough for their trunk, and only buy it if they actually walk; cart riders won't need it.
- 4
Double Canopy Golf Umbrella
~$40
A proper golf umbrella is far bigger than an everyday one and has a vented second canopy so a gust doesn't fold it in half. It keeps the golfer and the bag dry while they wait out a shower on the tee. A dull gift on paper, but a very welcome one in a rainy spring.
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Leather Golf Driver Headcover
~$40
The driver is usually the most expensive club in the bag, and a padded cover stops it banging against the irons. Headcovers are also where golfers show some personality, so a classic leather one or something in their team colors both work. Make sure it's sized for a driver, not a fairway wood.
Clubs, balls and gloves: the gear to leave alone
Most serious golfers have been fitted for their clubs, which means the length, lie angle, grip size and shaft were chosen for their height and swing speed. An off-the-rack club, however nice, is often worse for them than what they already carry. The same goes for golf balls: many players stick to one model and notice the difference in spin and feel. Gloves are sized, and right-handed golfers wear theirs on the left hand.
If you want to put money toward this side of the game, do it in a way that leaves the choice to them. A gift card to the pro shop at their course, a club fitting session, a lesson package with a local PGA professional or a round at a course they've been wanting to play are all gifts golfers love. If you do buy balls, take a quiet look in their bag first and buy a dozen of exactly the model you find there.
For practice in the garage or backyard
Golfers who want to improve rarely get enough time at the range. These let them work on the game at home, from a few putts on the carpet to full swings into a net with real numbers.
Short game tools are the safest bet; that's where most strokes are lost, and they need little space.
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Portable Golf Launch Monitor
~$550
A small unit that sits behind the ball and reports carry distance, ball speed and launch angle to a phone. Paired with a net, it turns a garage into a practice bay, and on the range it shows them their real yardages. It's a big gift for a committed golfer who likes data; a casual player will use it twice and forget it.
- 7
Golf Putting Green with Return Ramp
~$55
A roll-out green with a ramp that sends the ball back after each putt. It suits the golfer who loses strokes on the green and can spare a hallway or a strip of office floor. Ten minutes a night of short putts adds up, and the ball return means they don't have to keep bending down.
- 8
Golf Practice Chipping Net with Target Zones
~$44
A foldable net with target pockets for chipping practice in the yard. Chipping is where many weekend golfers waste the most shots, and this makes practice feel like a game. It also gets the kids or grandkids involved, which is half the appeal.
- 9
Golf Swing Tempo Trainer
~$35
A weighted practice club for rehearsing a smooth, unhurried swing. It's a good fit for the golfer who knows their rhythm falls apart under pressure, and it can be swung in the backyard as a warm-up. It won't fix a technical flaw on its own, but it helps them feel what a consistent tempo is like.
- 10
Golf Alignment Stick and Putting Mirror Set
~$25
Alignment sticks are the cheapest training aid most coaches recommend, and a putting mirror shows whether their eyes and shoulders are set up square. A modest gift that a golfer who takes lessons will put to use right away.
Personal touches for the golf bag and the wall
Golf is full of small rituals and specific places, which makes it easy to personalize. These work especially well for milestone birthdays, retirements and the golfer who's been at the same club for twenty years.
- 11~$55
Custom Golf Course Hole Map Print
An illustrated print of their home course, a dream trip or the hole where they finally made an ace. Framed, it's a gift with a story.
GolfersHomebodiessentimental - 12~$40
Personalized Golf Balls
Balls printed with initials or a short message. Choose the model they already play so these go in the bag, not on a shelf.
Golferspersonalized - 13~$35
Personalized Leather Golf Scorecard Holder
A leather wallet that keeps the scorecard dry and flat, with their initials. Nice for anyone who keeps score properly.
GolfersFashion Loverspersonalized - 14~$24
Personalized Golf Bag Name Tag and Club ID Set
An engraved bag tag plus club labels. Useful for golfers who travel or play in group outings where bags get mixed up.
Golferspersonalized - 15~$18
Golf Ball Monogram Stamp Kit
A custom stamp for marking any ball with their symbol, so it works with whatever model they buy next.
Golferspersonalized
Pocket-size extras golfers burn through
Towels go missing, divot tools fall out of pockets and drinks get warm by the twelfth hole. These are cheap, useful and fine to give even if they own one already.
16.Magnetic Divot Repair Tool and Ball Marker ~$18
A metal pitch-mark tool with a magnetic ball marker that clicks into place. Every golfer should carry one; most have lost theirs.
17.Waffle Golf Towel with Clip ~$18
A fresh towel for the side of the bag. They get grubby and wander off, so a new one is never wasted.
18.Golf Bag Cooler Sleeve ~$25
An insulated tube that slides into the bag and keeps a few drinks cold for the round. Walkers in hot climates will love it.
19.Rechargeable Hand Warmer ~$25
For the golfer who plays in November and March. Slip it in a pocket between shots and their hands stay loose.
20.Harvey Penick's Little Red Book ~$15
Short, wise golf lessons from a legendary teaching pro. Easy to read one chapter at a time, and kind to every skill level.
21.Telescoping Golf Ball Retriever ~$25
A long pole for scooping balls out of ponds. Funny at a gift exchange, and secretly useful on watery courses.
Shop this guide by price
Under $25
$25–$50
Before you buy for a golfer
Look in their bag before buying anything that touches the ball. Note the ball model, the glove size and which hand the glove is for.
Don't buy clubs unless you're paying for a fitting. A pro shop gift card or fitting session lets them choose properly.
Ask how they get around the course. Walkers will love a push cart and a cooler sleeve; cart riders won't need either.
If they play competitively, check that any distance device can turn its slope feature off.
Still not sure what kind of golfer they are? Describe them to our gift finder and get a shortlist.
Golf gift questions
What is a good gift for a golfer who has everything?
Give an experience or something personal. A round at a course they've always wanted to play, a lesson with a well-regarded local pro or an illustrated print of their home course all land well with golfers who already own the gear.
Are golf balls a good gift?
Only if they're the model the golfer already plays. Many golfers are particular about their ball, so check their bag first. Personalized balls are a nice touch once you know the model.
Rangefinder or GPS watch: which is better as a gift?
A laser rangefinder is more precise to the flag and suits golfers who like exact numbers. A GPS watch is quicker to use and shows the front and back of the green without aiming. If they already own either one, choose a different gift.
What is a good cheap gift for a golfer?
A magnetic divot tool, a new towel, a putting mirror or a copy of Harvey Penick's Little Red Book all cost under $25 and will actually get used.