Unless your golfer gives you specific instructions, giving golf clubs for a Christmas present is probably not a good idea. Golf clubs these days are so much a matter of individual taste and fit that your present is just as likely to end up in the garage as be used.

But one larger-ticket item that nearly every golfer could use is a golf club bag travel cover. I don’t just use them when I travel; my spare clubs are kept in old golf bags in my shed, and putting them in a travel bag keeps the mice, chipmunks and squirrels from moving in.

A cover like the Sun Mountain ClubGlider Meridian Travel Cover (pictured at left) or the Mizuno Staff Bag Travel Cover
may be your best be if you’re planning to travel. But a cheaper model like the TOUR TREK Stratus Travel Cover is just $40 and should work well for just sitting in a garage or shed.

In case Mrs. GolfBlogger is reading, I really need another bag cover.

CALLAWAY Golf Pouch

One of the basic principles of backpacking I learned in Boy Scouts (I’m an Eagle Scout) is to pack bags within bags. It helps to keep things organized. So naturally, I’ve applied the same principle to stuffing my golf bag. Within my bag, I have separate smaller bags for tees, first aid supplies, sunscreen and bug spray, ball markers and divot tools, and so on. Some are in ziplocks; others in old Crown Royal bags.

These Callaway bags look nice, though. I particularly like the drawstring closure and the clip. The different colors would help me identify at a glance which one I need.

Z TECH Two Sided Brush

What we have here is the classic golf club brush, with wire bristles on one side, and plastic on the other. While it works well enough for the cleaning of brushes, I’ve found a serious flaw in the design: I continually get poked by the wire bristles. And not just a little—those wires can produce a very deep wound.

So I propose that what the world needs is a better brush design—one with retractable bristles. Further, it would have a hollow handle for storing water. And finally, it’d have a sharp pointy thing for scraping out grooves. I can’t be the first one to think of such a thing, but I’ve never seen it in the wild.

OGIO Syncro Cart Bag

Ogio backpacks are a favorite among the students at the school where I teach; they also seem to be a favorite among the guys in my golf league.

They do make good stuff. I have an Ogio bag for my “Up North” set of clubs; it fits perfectly into my Sun Mountain cart and has more pockets than any other bag I own. And now that I’m looking for another bag, I think an Ogio is tops on my list.

The Synchro is one I’m thinking seriously about. It’s designed to look a bit like a carry bag, but work as a push-pull-electronic cart bag. Ogio says it’s a

6.9-lb. design classic delivering the look of a performance stand bag with the personality of a pull-friendly cart bag. Engineered to accommodate both walking and electronic carts, the Syncro is outfitted with a 10” United 15-club, Torq Strap, Ball Silo, integrated putter tube for easy, protected storage, umbrella containment for pull carts, the “Isolation Chamber” wet/try pocket, and nine zippered pockets, all of which face forward and are easily accessed from the back of a cart.

Other neat features: an easy access divot tool and pen sleeve; a weatherproof fleece lined valuables pocket; top scorecard and pencil sleeve pockets; umbrella containment for pull carts and an insulated hydration pocket.

I like the black/plaid version.

Remember the Giant’s Super Bowl win with these NFL golf accessories.

TEAM EFFORT NFL Divot Repair Tool

TEAM EFFORT NFL Windsheer II

TEAM EFFORT NFL Hat Clip

Swing Reminders

Grade: A
Teacher’s Comment: Simple and effective

Swing Reminders are a brilliantly simple way to help keep you focused during a round. The product consists of a box of wooden nickels imprinted with tried and true golf swing tips: visualize, slow takeaway, tuck your right elbow and so on. Before a round, you pick a reminder or two and stick them in your pocket. Then, whenever you reach for a tee or ball marker, you’ll also pull out the wooden token and refocus on the tip.

It’s a neat idea; I wonder why no one has thought of it before.

Thanks also to the folks at Swing Reminders for their donation to the South Arbor Academy charity auction.

Celebrate the Giants and the most stunning Superbowl victory of all time with these official NFL logo golf accessories.

TEAM EFFORT NFL Neoprene Headcovers

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TEAM EFFORT NFL Mascot Headcovers