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Is Golf Equipment on your Holiday Wish List?

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Some golfers love receiving golf equipment as gifts, while others prefer to purchase their own clubs; balls; etc. Take our poll and let us know what your preference is!

Are golf items under your tree this year?

Every year around the beginning of December, my wife asks me what I want for Christmas. This season, I asked for a forged set of…wait for it…J.A. Henckles. In case you’re not familiar with this German company, they make forged culinary knives, not forged golf clubs.

The funny thing is, I’m not much of a chef. I do make a mean salsa, but it’s not like I blog about my cooking skills. Golf, on the other hand, I do blog about. But the thought of asking my wife for golf clubs, or even a new golf bag, has never even crossed my mind.

To go a step further, I don’t even remember a year in which something golf-related was on my wish list! I’ve never really thought about it until now, but I guess most of this boils down to two reasons: First, I’m very particular about what I buy myself for golf. I have to get certain clubs, certain balls, etc. But secondly, I guess I’ve always thought of golf as my personal hobby.

My wife doesn’t play golf. So when I make a golf-related purchase, it’s something I’ve researched, tried-out and saved up for. Golf equipment has never been something I’ve left up to others to get for me.

Thus, my Christmas list has always consisted of things like a new watch; new shoes; or like this year, forged knives – not golf stuff. Oh don’t get me wrong, I’ve received golf gifts that I haven’t asked for – some of which have been helpful and others that you simply won’t believe!

Anyway, what about you? Are you receiving fabulous golf gifts from your significant other this holiday season? Or like me, would you rather buy your own golf stuff? Take the poll below and let me know. Who knows, maybe I’m missing out!

Is Golf Equipment on your Holiday Wish List?

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A Holiday Gift Guide for the Average Golfer

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Stinky Golfer Chris on the golf course (photo by Greg D'Andrea)
Your average golfer will love these gifts! (Photo by Greg D’Andrea)

Need to shop for a golfer this holiday season? Well, don’t waste your money on golf clubs, apparel or even golf balls. These items can be pricey and besides, most golfers are very particular about their golf equipment and clothing choices. Plus non-golfers have a hard-enough time deciphering between a putter and a driver, let alone a Pro V1 and a Top Flite. Our two-cents is to just steer-clear.

Game-improvement items are also not a good idea. Swing gadgets and gizmos will only increase the average hack’s frustration out on the links, causing them to rue the day they received your gift.

So, what should you do?

Well, we here at GolfStinks suggest you buy things to help them relax instead. Allow them to appreciate the golf lifestyle they love and forget about their wretched play during the season. And with that in mind, we’d like to present a more realistic golf gift guide…

  1. LIQUOR
    Golf and the hard stuff go together like bacon and eggs. Nothing will let ’em forget about that bulging handicap like Scotch whiskey (or bourbon, or rum, or…). Flaviar is our go-to for home liquor delivery. Gift your golfer a year’s worth of tasting boxes (see HERE) and watch their mood increase exponentially as soon as that first bundle of joy hits the doorstep! Flaviar does it right – each box arrives handsomely packaged with a flavor-tone card and tasting instructions. A GolfStinks team favorite – you can gift your membership HERE.

    tastingboxflaviar
    Flaviar.com/sample-tastingset
  2. SMOKES
    If golf and liquor go awesome together, then golf and cigars aren’t far behind. And since Flaviar is already providing the libations, Famous Smoke Shop can help you match your spirit with a cigar. Their Cigar Pairing Guide (see HERE) needs answers to just three questions before suggesting a perfect cigar/drink pairing.  And yes, it works with beer too. Your golfer’s swing might not be getting any better, but their sophistication-level sure will be!

    https://www.famous-smoke.com/cigar-pairing
    Famous-smoke.com/cigar-pairing
  3. BOOKS
    Forget about books teaching swing technique or how to stay “in the zone” – those will leave your golfer feeling more confused and frustrated than ever. Instead, we here at GolfStinks recommend the following two books:

    • How to Quit Golf; A 12-Step Program
      From the GolfStinks review: “How to Quit Golf is a wonderfully hilarious and disturbingly accurate critical analysis of both golf and golfers – especially those who take the game too seriously. And while some of the imagery contained in the book is slightly exaggerated (purposely and for effect), it is nonetheless one of the most well-constructed and unabashedly genuine compositions about the realities of being a golfer.” (See our full review HERE and purchase it on Amazon.com).

      How to Quit Golf
      How to Quit Golf
    • Psych-Out Golf
      From the GolfStinks review: “[The Authors] have brilliantly put together countless ways to get the best of your opponent on the links – from making subtle yet mentally debilitating statements to getting them a bit tipsy, Psych-Out Golf is packed with ways to win a hole or round without actually playing well yourself!” (See our full review HERE and purchase it on lulu.com).

      Psychoutgolf.com/
      Psychoutgolf.com
  4. THERAPY
    Trust us, every golfer needs some sort of therapy. We play (and enjoy) an excruciatingly frustrating game that is mastered by only a very small group of elite players. But your run-of-the-mill shrink isn’t going to help here – what you need to get the golfer in your life is a membership to the GolfStinks Newsletter (subscribe HERE)! Our #enjoygolf ethos helps take the frustration out of the game and it’s far cheaper than a visit to the psychiatrist (it’s free). Why not give the gift that reminds them why they love this game in the first place?! (See below to print, cut and present to your golfer).

Cut along line and present to your golfer!So when considering a gift for the weekend golf hack in your life this holiday season, remember: Relaxation over frustration!

Golf…Under The Tuscan Sun

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golf tuscanyNow that summer is here we can focus on the important stuff – golf and vacation! Whether it’s a trip to the shore for a couple days or to the other side of the world, the good news is that there’s probably a  course  not that far away. As golf has developed and grown in popularity you would surprised as to where you would find a golf course.

A few months ago I had the opportunity to travel to Italy for a couple weeks and wouldn’t you know it, I actually saw a couple golf courses. It’s not something I would normally think when in the Florence area. You know, the statue of David, the Duomo, the Tuscan Hills …Golf Club Toscana Il Pelagone. What a great golf holiday!

Now, here’s another little something to think about when doing a little golf travel in Italy: The 19th hole. Man, that has got to be some of the best food you will ever come across at a club house. The heck with the hot dog and soda, I’ll take the Bistecca Fiorentina (an oversized aged porterhouse) paired with a nice glass of Brunello…fuhgeddaboutit!

That’s it, time to save up for another trip. And by the way, to all us hacks out there, you don’t have to be good to play good courses, anywhere.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

How Golfers Look at Holidays

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Is it just me, or do all of us golfers look at holidays a little bit differently than everyone else?  For instance, many people look at Memorial Day or Independence Day as a day for get-togethers with friends and family.., cookouts, parties and fireworks.  Many look at Christmas as a time of giving, sharing and, again, gathering with family.  Golfers look at these days and times this way too.  However, they look at it other ways as well.

For starters, any holiday that gives us a day off from work is instantly thought of as an opportunity to play golf.  Sure, a Memorial Day cookout or Fourth of July party are great!  But maybe we could squeeze at least nine holes in before the party starts, right?  And being that this is Labor Day weekend, what do you think was the first idea that came to mind for having Monday off?  Obviously, golf.  This weekend however, was quickly shut down by the wife due to my choosing to attend a baseball game on Sunday.  Now, some yard work is on the docket for Monday.  Yard work…it gets you every time.

When Christmas time rolls around here in the northeast, obviously, playing golf is not an option for the next few months, at least.  So our attention shifts from playing golf to preparing to play golf.  What does this mean?  It means we ask for gifts pertaining to golf.  Forget the things we need.  We want golf gear.  We put together Christmas lists all related to golf.  We want….no…we need a new putter.  We need a new driver.  We need a new pair of golf shoes.  See what I’m getting at?

We golfers love to spend time with our families.  We love to have a get together, a party or cookout and spend time with others.  We just hope that part of that holiday off from work includes golf.  We love non-golfers.  We just have a little different way of showing it.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

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