A recent article in the sports section of the New York Times made this disconcerting point: during this past winter, roughly 95% of the United States was not hospitable to golf.

Whether it was snow, freezing rain, torrential rain, or howling winds, golfers everywhere stayed indoors and looked longingly at their unused golf bag, cleats, and bucket of balls.

So with golf season upon us, eager players everywhere are looking forward not just to the game itself, but the subtler moments that make the sport so wonderful, such as the first tee-time of the year, that first successful putt, or that booming drive that clears away winter’s cobwebs.

This urge among golfers to hit the greens after a brutal winter makes a spring golf tournament a great idea. Players will be excited after months of inactivity, and when coupled with good weather, cool golf awards, and great camaraderie, your early-Spring charity tournament could be the event people are talking about all summer.

In today’s day and age where entertainment is synonymous with non-stop action and the occasional explosion, golf continues to defy conventional wisdom.

Think about it.

Golf is the slowest game imaginable. There is no physical contact between players. Golfers don’t wear helmets and aside from Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, most Americans cannot name a single player.

Yet golf is more popular than ever, especially among men. Men, in fact, comprise of 80 percent of golfers in America, and despite major inroads among women, the percentage of female golfers has remained relatively stagnant.

The sport is so male-dominated, commentators have coined a term for it, called “the golf gene.”

Only by talking to a golfer can one know what truly attracts them to the sport. The odds are that you know one personally, and if the data is to be believed, they are male.

So with Father’s Day coming up, why not consider a host of golf products for the perfect gift?

We are all familiar with traditional golf gifts that are presented to tournament winners: trophies, certificates, plagues – all great and wonderful gifts to commemorate an eventful day.

And there will always be a time and place for traditional gifts like trophies and certificates. They’re regal and honorary, and when hung on a wall, will always remind the winner of their accomplishments.

But that’s precisely why other companies and sponsors are looking at other golf gift options: some prizes shouldn’t be hung on walls. Some prizes should be used by the recipients in their daily lives, to not only remind them of their win, but promote the sponsor.

In other words, some prizes should save the winner time and money by providing them with something they’d probably buy anyway.

So if you’re a golf tournament planner looking to think outside of the traditional golf gift “box,” we’d like to suggest other options, like leather card cases, beer mugs, beer steins, leather golf shoe bags, and leather trimmed canvas golf shoe bags.

With spring upon us, more and more golfers are hitting the links after a long, cold winter.

May enthusiasts may be fortunate enough to practice on their own property. For these lucky individuals, spring also brings with it ongoing maintenance of their personal fairways.

One of the most common maintenance issues is repairing divots. To the golfing neophyte, the divot is the area in the turf that has been dug up by the shot.

While without a doubt an eyesore, divots are a necessary part of golf – after all, players will need to “dig out” a shot, and often times, it means exacting a toll on the turf itself. Not all divots need to be harmful to the turf – if executed properly, a divot can shear the grass cleanly without digging deep into the turf.

Of course, we don’t live in a perfect world, and often times divots are deep and damaging, which is where where divot repair tools come into play.

You have the clubs, the shoes, the golf bag, even the golf divot repair tools. What you don’t have is someone to teach you the fine art of playing golf. What should you look for in a golf instructor?

A great golf instructor will teach, guide and educate you on how to have fun playing a round of golf and, using the best advice, will help you to improve your golf swing.

You need to feel that your golf instructor understands your problem areas and you need to be comfortable with his style of coaching. You don’t want a blanket or one-size-fits-all education. Your guidance should be specific to your problems.

Make sure your instructor has an education in the golf industry, has great communication skills, is patient with this clientele, has a great reputation and attitude. With many years of experience, he needs to have the results to back up his credentials. Get recommendations.

A lot of golf clubs offer lessons and you may have to go through a few instructors before you find one whose voice resonates with your style.

The golf shoe of the past is no more! If you don’t own a pair of these golden oldies surely you remember them. They had leather soles, spikes on the bottom and no padding on the inside. They were anything but comfortable, but function won out over form. That was then.

Today athletes are demanding of a proper, well-fit, comfortable shoe that will not detract from their game. Price, comfort and style are all factors that one can consider when purchasing these very much improved golf products. There are so many choices that it comes down to personal preferences.

All golf shoes need to have excellent traction as they are designed to aid in a golfer’s grip and stability on the ground. This will translate to better distance and accuracy. Once a golfer’s foot is firmly planted, they are able to concentrate on their swing.

The golf shoe has now joined the ranks of other athletic shoes in terms of padding, arch support, lightweight material and flexibility. You want to also make sure your golf shoes are waterproofed before heading out. Experiencing rain and bad weather on the golf course is, well, par for the course.

Golfers have a lot ot think about and concentrate on when heading out to the greens. The comfort of their shoes should not be one of them.

Everybody loves a good golf fundraiser. It brings together people, facilitates personal networking, and with a good deal of planning, organizers can raise an impressive amount of money for a good cause.

Sponsors, for example, can sponsor a hole or make a one-time donation; participants, meanwhile, can play a flat fee for entry into the tournament. In both cases, these donations are tax-deductible.

Tournament planners should reward their sponsors accordingly; they can display the sponsor’s name at the tee box, for example, or engrave it in all promotional materials, such as personalized golf mugs, awards, and trophies.

Effectively promoting your tournament’s sponsors is a win-win for all involved parties. Sponsors themselves get valuable publicity in return for their tax-deductible donations, while organizations receive much-needed dollars to make the event a success.

And by properly rewarding sponsors through these generous advertising opportunities they’ll be more likely to return to future events – and open their wallets in the process.

If you want your silent auction item to really speak loudly, donate a basket of promotional golf gifts with your company’s logo proudly displayed on each one.

If you have ever been to a golf tournament then you know one of the things they do to raise money, typically during the cocktail hour or dinner, is host a silent auction. Folks put down what they want to bid for (using a bid number instead of their name) and they watch as the bidding rises when more people bid. They can also rebid if it’s an item they really want.  It’s a lot of fun with a lot of great prizes.

If you are donating a gift as a silent auction item, think about donating a basket full of golf gifts. You can place golf mugs, golf divot repair tools, golf t-shirts, golf gloves, a golf bag, even golf clubs; the possibilities are endless. A great marketing idea is to have each of those gifts furnished with your company’s logo. Now the winner of this terrific gift will always remember the generosity of your company’s donation.

Great promotional golf gifts always have the individual recipients in mind. If you are planning a golf tournament or a corporate give away and you know your clientele loves to golf, an insulated cooler bag makes amazing golf gifts.

Playing a full 18 holes on a golf course can take a solid three-hours. Keeping oneself hydrated is not only important it is imperative. Packing iced cold refreshments to enjoy while on the green can be the difference between staying in the game or having to leave.

These insulated bags come in a variety of colors sizes and styles so finding one that will fits your corporation’s image or the individual’s for which it is intended will be simple. They are useful and valuable and also convenient. Most cooler bags come with outside pockets to carry cell phones, pencils, keys or other important items.

A promotional insulated cooler bag has your golfer in mind. They keep drinks cool and food fresh for the entire time. Emblazoned with your corporate logo and marketing message, you will be strategically communicating your corporate brand on a product that will be recognized each time the golfer takes to the green.

When properly executed, golf fundraisers are one of the most lucrative ways to raise money for a charity or other non-profit organization.

A golf event brings people of the community together and helps to develop personal relationships and invaluable business connections. A golf fundraiser also provides a positive public relations platform, essentially advertising the organization to untapped customers.

As with any event, the critical first step is getting the word out. Work with local newspapers, magazines, and businesses to promote the event. Of course, there’s online marketing as well. The event should have its own Web site or more specifically, its own Facebook page, where people can “Like” it. This page should be the main source of communication to attendees.

In fact, by relying on the Web as your main marketing channel, you can likely offset costs normally associated with traditional marketing, such as poster printing and mailings. The savings can then be used to fund other key aspects of the fundraiser, such as buying one-of-a-kind golf gifts, paying for food and wine, and other logistical costs like transportation.

An employee who has been with a company for 10 years needs to be celebrated and honored. Loyalty and hard work set these employees apart and a special gift as a thank-you, really shows a company’s appreciation.

Good employees are hard to find and sometimes even harder to keep. The employee that has worked for 10 years and has always been a valuable asset to the company is worthy of the company’s recognition.

Presenting this employee with a gift should be done with the entire company watching. It can be held at a corporate event, a company picnic, the Christmas party or any other special celebration. It will make the employee feel special and will also let other employees know that with hard work, dedication and commitment they too can achieve this status. It also reminds all employees that longevity in the company is still attainable.

A corporate gift for a 10 year anniversary needs to be extra special. A manager needs to take the time to understand what this employee truly enjoys. If they enjoy golf, a  personalized golf gift, such as beautifully engraved crystal golf clock will be striking!

When an employee proudly displays their gift on a shelf or on their desk, a client will be able to see that this company cares about its employees and values hard work and dependability. This will foster a continued relationship with clients and customers.

This anniversary symbolizes security in a time where that is exactly what is lacking in the marketplace.

For many companies, a golf tournament can be one of the most important events of the year.

After all, it is an extension of the company’s brand and can go a long way in boosting name recognition. Tournaments can also attract existing and potential clients, so creating a professional and highly memorable event is paramount. Lastly, should the event be held for charitable purposes, a successful golf tournament can positively impact the community and bring added attention to your company.

And like any event or product offering, you want participants to be satisfied. You want them to come back next year. And there’s no better way to cap off a successful golf tournament than providing unique and personalized thank you gifts and golf tournament awards to participants.

Whether beer mugs, leather card cases, shoe bags, or shot or pub glasses, these awards promote your brand by carrying your company’s logo, while also providing recipients with a useful and memorable gift.

If golf is the “sport of business,” then it is important that the entire experience is worthwhile for participants from beginning to end. Whether a charity event or all-out competition, this means creating comfort for players before tee-time and tastefully recognizing the winners afterwards with high-quality golf awards.

Golf awards can come in different forms, be it crystal, plaques, trophies, plates, or large banners. Given the multitude of available options, event planners should carefully consider which type of award is most applicable to their event.

Trophies are generally made of glass and marble, and can come in multiple sizes, while plaques, a traditional favorite, can incorporate a specific image in its design, like a golf ball. Banners, meanwhile, effectively function as a promotional device, honoring the event and its sponsors.

No matter which type of award the event planners choose, the awards should be customized to properly commemorate the participant’s accomplishments

Golfers are easy to shop for. The world is full of wonderful personalized golf accessories that are as much fun to buy as they are to receive. If you have a golfer on your gift list you will have a wide world to choose from.

Some people have really weird esoteric hobbies like collecting manuscripts from lost civilizations. Even if you want to buy a manuscript from Atlantis where would you find one? And if you did, the price would probably be astronomical.

This is not a problem with golfers. In truth they may not need all that much. Some of them can be perfectly happy with a bag of clubs and balls and some spikey shoes. But then you give your lucky golfer a set of monogrammed balls and a monster awakes.

There is no end of cool accessories a golfer can live without but shouldn’t have to. For example if you really wanted to make an impression you could buy your golfer a custom made electric cart that looks like a little pick-up truck. You could, but that is definitely high end and you don’t have to go there to give a gift that will thrill and delight.

Start with clothing. Golf shirts come in a variety of styles and colors and they can be monogrammed. Caps are essential to the golfer and they also can be personalized.

Golfers wear shoes. They usually prefer to buy their own shoes but you can get them an electric shoe and spike cleaner. Or a sturdy personalized bag for storing and carrying the golf shoes.

In the wonderful world of golf everything needs a cover. Golf bags can wear smart looking protective personalized covers. Each club can have a cover with the owners name or initials prominently feature. Some golf club covers are made to look like animals. A set of monogrammed club covers and one of the gift getter’s favorite wild creature would make a nice set.

Golf balls have tremendous gift potential. They can be purchased in elaborate personalized gift boxes. You can even get “prescription” balls in a big pill bottle.

Of course prescription golf ball might seem too practical for a gift. Maybe you would prefer something more whimsical like a crystal golf ball that can be used for a paper weight. Or maybe you should consider a box of chocolate golf balls, a gift that might especially please the lady golfer. Ladies and gentlemen who play golf will most certainly appreciate golf related jewelry. Golf tee ear rings or a golf club tie bar in gold or platinum are sure to please.

Before you buy any golf gifts make sure you check Wealthwood Gifts for personalized golf accessories. Unique and special personalized golf accessories

Tags: golf accessories, Golf Gifts, golf stores, personalized golf accessories, personalized golf gifts, womens golf

Good thing do come in small packages. If you are considering golf products for a give away or a gift, think about the golf tee. These small, but very necessary items cost very little but are always greatly appreciated.

Golf tees are not required in the game of golf but most golfers use them. They are very effective when hitting the golf ball from the teeing ground. Because golf tees are very small, there is little money to invest. But effective advertising is the result. Companies put their logo or even a message on the little stand. And because most golf tees are always getting broken or lost, any golfer would appreciate that your company handed them a promotional golf gift in the form of a golf tee.

Any company can use these promotional golf gifts to maximize brand recognition. They make a great thank-you or recognition for a job well done, a holiday gift or trade show give-away.

Tags: promotional golf gifts

The promotional golf gift is a great marketing idea especially if you give a gift you know your recipient will always use. If your company is trying to impress an executive client and you know they love the game of golf, a promotional golf umbrella is a great gift.

Those that love the game of golf are not going to call the game on account of a little drizzle. If they are committed to the game, they will play. If they have a golf umbrella they most assuredly will play. If the golf umbrella happens to be a promotional golf gift that was give by your company, your logo will be seen and your gesture appreciated.

If the golf umbrella is of the highest quality it will be one that the golfer takes with him. They know it will be dependable incase that little drizzle turns into a shower. Giving a quality gift is always in your best interest for the client you hope to assure is important.

Messages that are presented on a promotional item will have a great impact and not only will your executive see it, so will all those they encounter on the greens. A well made umbrella will stay the course, literally, for many years and golfers understand the value of quality equipment. If you are considering promotional golf gifts to a well-respected client who plays golf, consider the umbrella.

Tags: promotional golf gifts

Think your golfing practice has to end just because it’s winter? Think again. Indoor golf centers are the answer to the winter blues!

Being able to practice and improve in the game they love, has golfers heading out the door with their golf bag and “into” the golf game during the off-season.

The indoor golf center can provide the seasoned golfer or newbie with something that you just can’t get on the green – technology. Being able to see the angles, trajectories and speed all computerized with calculations that allow you adjust your swing and make improvements to your putt will ultimately improve your game.

Finding ways to exercise is no longer a challenge. People tend to become sedentary during the cold months because their sport or activity of choice can only be enjoyed during the nice weather. With an indoor golf center, you not only get the benefit of practicing, you achieve the health benefits from the exercise.

With golf trainers at the ready to help at indoor golf centers, golfers receive individualized attention from coaches without the added fee of hiring a personal trainer.

Being able to focus on fine-tuning your golf game, with the latest technology, with one on one attention from trained professionals, will without a doubt give you the edge next Spring. Oh, and one more thing….you can leave your golf divot repair tools at home.

Do you know someone who is having a hard time putting? This crucial part of golfing is, for most golfers, the most challenging. Having to get that little ball into that little hole, while people are waiting behind you takes lots of concentration and a steady, skillful hand.

A great way to improve your concentration is to take to a mini golf course. Practicing hitting a putt with all the distractions at mini golf is actually a great way to improve your focus when it comes to your putt. Many golfers spend lots of time on the driving range and neglect the putting green. Practicing this skill will definitely improve your game.

Visualizing goes hand and hand with concentration. Visualizing the path that you feel your ball is going to take involves practice, focus and concentration. It’s not easy to do and a lot of new comers to the game, take visualizing for granted. When you are practicing putting, take a few practice shots to see if you were correct in your assumption of the path the ball would take. Take into account ridges and creases in the green that could make your ball slow down, speed up or alter its course. After a while, you will be able to “read” the green and you’ll see your putting improve.

If you’re thinking about great golf gifts for someone who is having trouble with their putting, consider giving them a putter with either some lessons to go along with it or a day a the mini golf course…your treat!

Tags: Golf Gifts

There is a commonly-held notion that golf is a pastime and sport of big shot entrepreneurs and businessmen. It also has the reputation of being an exclusive, elite sport that is not accessible to regular blue collared employees. However, this is not really the case as modernization and commercialization have brought this so called elite sport into the reach of the common worker.

This is because you don’t need to get hold of expensive equipment to play. Unlike big game fishing and polo which require a lot of resources – a boat and a horse respectively – golfers just need a set of golf clubs, which are reasonably affordable these days. Bearing this in mind, retirement gifts for golfers and aspiring ones are more easily thought of.

Personalized retirement gifts to personalize golfing equipment is very simple. You could easily make personalized gifts by embroidering such items as golf club pouches or caddy covers. These can be knitted, if you are a knitter or by any similar craft which may use other materials.

Another good idea is to think about the apparel fashion of golfing which means to look at the clothing worn by golfers. You may even be able to establish a new fashion in golfing apparel by using your imagination to create an interesting design.

Common gifts. The most usual method of buying a retirement gift for golfers is to go to the nearest sports shop and get your retiree one of the things sold there. It may sound a little impersonal to just get the retiree a commercially available gift, but then this may actually prove really useful, if the retiree is still a beginner golfer. Maybe you might want to get him a set of golf clubs as it is the basic requirement to be able to play golf.

Moreover, you may find some more accessories there that your retiree golfer still needs, but then perhaps you could also use your imagination to think about what things can be made to enhance the golfing equipment he may already have.

Commercially available golfing equipment is also useful, if you want to make your retiree feel professional. You could give him a famous set of clubs, making him look like a pro.

Gags and Jokes The fun part of choosing to give a joke present instead is the humour these items can invest. It also adds to the lighter side of the golf-playing retiree’s party and his friends will be able to take part in with smiles, laughs and jokey comments too.

The gag present should be bought quite carefully as the joke present may represent a sensitive matter for the retiree, especially if he is still a beginner. Gag present for golfers may be misunderstood and discourage their golfing education if they are disturbed by the idea emphasized by the gag present you have given to them.

However, to veteran players who already know the game inside out, the gift of a good gag gift on their retirement day would be very funny because they would already see golfing not only as a way to reduce their stress and get some exercise but to actually just have some fun too.

It’s a good idea to see retirement presents for golfers as just a easy way to make your golfer friend see the funny side of life after his working life is over.

Good luck if you are going to or planning a Golfer’s Retirement Party, but if you want to get a deeper understanding of retirement, please go to our web site Retirement Planning.. Free reprint available from: Appropriate Retirement Gifts For Golfers.

Tags: careers, enjoyment, family, fitness, gifts, golf, Golf Gifts, old age, other, outdoor, party, pension, retirement, seniors, sport

Most men have an interest in golf. If you are considering offering your groomsmen a gift for being a part of your wedding day, choosing a golf gift will certainly be a hit.

The groomsmen gift is traditionally given from the groom to his closest friends or family members in appreciation for participating in his wedding. The price is, of course, dependent upon what the groom can afford. Simple thank you gifts are often the best and when this small gift is personalized, it carries with it the sentiment of the day.

Choosing simple personalized golf gifts is very simple. They can include golf ball markers, golf shirts, golf balls, golf ball display cases, golf tie clips, cuff links or money clips and even chocolate golf balls. If it is possible to purchase more expensive items, the groom may consider purchasing picture frames, watches, or a golf club.

With your groomsmen’s name, initials or monogram imprinted on the item, they will know how much thought went into this gift, how very thankful the groom is, and it will certainly be treasured and remembered always.