The Loop
5 gifts the avid golfer wish they got and still can (on sale)!
With no disrespect intended toward the ones you love, gift cards cannot cover some of the more nuanced treasures available to the avid golfer. Furthermore, several online deals make it just a bit easier to buy yourself the craft gift you did not get for Christmas.
1. Topping the list and very much not on Amazon.com is the long-awaited re-release of Tom Doak's Confidential Guide To Golf Courses. The cult classic has been re-imagined into a five-volume set, with only the first (Great Britain and Ireland) released to date. The entire set is discounted to $280 right now, or $60 if you want to buy them individually. (You will only be charged as the books are sent.) Considering the original went for as much as $1,000 in recent years, it's a steal.
Doak has enlisted a team of like-minded analysts (Ran Morrissett, Darius Oliver, Masa Nishijima) to cover even more of the world with even better course photography and more courses included. The only downside is the book's size. Like the last, it's more coffee table than pocket guide, so you won't take this on trips to read reviews after you've played the courses.
2. Donald Ross, Discovering The Legend, is Cobb Carlson's admirable portrayal of the master course architect. With interviews from everyone imaginable who has something wise to say about the designer or Pinehurst No. 2, the film makes for inspirational viewing before you play a Ross course. Currently offered for just $20 at DonaldRossFilm.com, where there are also special offers for bundles for continental and international golf shop purchasers who want to stock the film. Here's the trailer:
3. Two of golf's stylish clothing brands are offering stellar sales right now, with Linksoul posting some of its better shirts and pullovers from 2014 at 50 percent. The John Ashworth-helmed label is worn by Geoff Ogilvy and John Merrick on the PGA Tour and features a surf-culture-inspired line perfectly melding classic cotton style with enough performance fabric that you won't have to break out an iron every time you put on a shirt. Linksoul also features some killer t-shirts and accessories. Don't hesitate to enlist its size advisor, I've found it to be precise.
4. Another SoCal staple, Johnnie O, is offering a 30-percent discount when you use the coupon code Snowball at checkout. Distinctive in the use of a surfer-with-his-board logo, the clothes are inspired by scratch golfer John O'Donnell. The slightly looser cuts work on any body type or age group. That's right, even non-millennials look cool and feel groovy in Johnny O's stuff. Even better, the timeless designs wash well and will age gracefully.
5. If a golf bag was on the wish list and you're of a certain generation, you will be thrilled to see the triumphant return of Jones Golf Bags. The simple looking carry bags often featuring white canvas trim were the go-to bag for high school and college teams until stand bags came along in the early 1990s. The re-imagined Jones bags maintain the old aesthetic but weigh much less and feature some added design touches. Jones even has a stand bag now, on sale for the holidays at its website. So whether you want to rekindle memories of high school or you're a youngster looking to stand out with some highly functional vintage style, Jones bags now appeal to all sensibilities.