This year, Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 16. There are no hard rules to gift-giving for Father’s Day, but if there had to be one, it might be: Don’t get Dad a golf-print tie. Combining the most predictable dad accessory (tie) with the most predictable dad hobby (golf) and gifting novelty golf-print neckwear might be the most predictable Father’s Day present of all time. (In fact, back in the 1930s, Father’s Day was literally invented to sell neckties.)
Instead, to find the best golf gifts for Father’s Day, we asked nine golf-loving dads what they actually want, combed through our archives to find expert-recommended golf gear, and threw in some cool-looking suggestions of our own. Order any of these today, and they’ll arrive on his doorstep on or before June 16 (though you might have to pay for expedited shipping). And if you’re looking for other gift ideas for Dad, check out our Father’s Day hub, where we’ve compiled all of our favorite picks.
For the golf dad who’s always tracking flights to Europe
Tim Townsend, a PGA senior professional at the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers and a father of three, said, “The best golf-related Father’s Day gift I ever received was an awesome book of hidden-gem golf resorts to visit while vacationing.” Stunning photography of courses around the world will get dad dreaming of future golf trips.
For the golf dad who’s also a bit of a sneakerhead
This pair of Sambas has the same classic three-stripe design of the ubiquitous soccer trainer, but with a grippier outsole with deeper lugs for better traction on the green. It’s a favorite of Will Porter, a freelance writer and avid golfer who predicts the shoe will sell out soon.
For the golf dad with a minimalist aesthetic
For a golf shoe that could easily double as a sneaker, these Adidas come recommended by Aaron Flink, EVP and chief strategy officer at Pebble Beach Resort in Pebble Beach, California. “The softer knit top makes it kind of like a sneaker, with a beautiful profile and super comfort,” he says. “It gives me the structure I need while playing, but I can then throw on jeans and go out to dinner and they are still fairly classy. They do it all.”
For the golf dad who geeks out on analytics
Two golf dads we spoke with were excited about the high-tech Arccos system for tracking their performance. Joe Ostrowski, director of instruction at the Concession Golf Club, says that the 14 sensors that attach to club heads paired with the accompanying app collect information in the round such as greens in regulation and how far your shots go. “Using all the information it gathers and utilizing artificial intelligence, it will help improve your course management,” Ostrowski says. Ideal for busy dads who want to make every shot count, it also topped the wish list of a golf-loving father of two.
For the golf dad who buys the same stuff in different colors
Strategist contributor Adam Reeder owns six of these polos that feel “richer and smoother to the touch” compared to cotton ones. Reeder says they haven’t stretched out or faded in four months of wear.
For the golf dad who’s focused on his form
Scott Reid, former tournament director for the PGA Championship and father of two, admits that the best gift he’s ever received was a surprise trip to the world-famous, scenic Pebble Beach Golf Links. But in lieu of figuring out how to whisk dad away for an epic golf weekend, he suggests gifting a Swing Caddie launch monitor that measures swing speed, ball speed, and tracks stats for every club in dad’s bag.
For the golf dad who’s (really) focused on his form
The SC4 is Voice Caddie’s newest model, and it comes with improved data accuracy (compared to previous models) and the ability to tell you your launch direction.
For the golf dad who will only wear a dad cap
These colorful six-panel dad caps have small elastic bands to hold tees (or pencils).
For the golf dad who nerds out on gear
Porter recommends this simple button-up from London-based golf-apparel brand Manors, which, he says, makes “apparel that’s stylish and technical. It kind of feels like And Wander or Arc’teryx for golfers.”
[Editor’s note: Manors lists its prices in British pounds, so the price shown is an approximate conversion to U.S. dollars.]
For the golf dad who wants to fine-tune his putting
For a more customizable putting set, here’s a three-holed putting mat that John Rotunno (who happens to be the dad of a former Strategist editor) used to turn his living room into a mini-golf course. “By playing each hole twice, that became an 18-hole, par-54 course — which, while far from Augusta National, allowed my wife and I to play for hours together on a recent Saturday afternoon,” he writes.
For the golf dad who loves Larry David
In honor of Curb Your Enthusiasm’s final season, golf-apparel brand Malbon created this screen-printed shirt, featuring (on the back) each episode in which David plays golf.
For the golf dad who also follows men’s streetwear blogs
This screen-printed shirt from the golf brand Metalwood Studio features a cowboy with a saddle and golf bag.
For the golf dad who runs hot
Strategist senior editor Chelsea Peng gifted these polo shirts to her dad, who likes to golf, after hearing that they’re made from jade and crab shells — a combination that supposedly feels cool against the skin. “He confirms that the fabric is super-smooth and lightweight and stayed wrinkle and loose-thread free even after he emerged from a thorny hazard,” Peng says. Her dad rates it a 9.5 out of ten, taking into account the nice cut and his claim that the shirts lowered his handicap dramatically. “He can be prone to hyperbole but is still a Chinese dad, so I’ll take the compliment.”
For the beginner golf dad
For the dad who’s just getting into golf, these FootJoy gloves are a reasonably priced gift that will help improve his game. Dan Schwabe, PGA Class A golf professional and golf instructor at Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco, recommends these for beginners specifically. He explains that golf newbies tend to “hold the club too much in their lead palm and too far to the end of the club, so it acts like a little knife high up in the heel of the hand.” This glove helps prevent that by being “a little thicker overall, and there is a thicker pad in the palm,” he says. Plus, synthetic gloves like these last longer.
For the golf dad with a monochrome wardrobe
“Golf gloves do not have to be boring,” Porter says. “Barnaby’s is a new brand that was started by some of the coolest dudes in the game and they make gloves that are peak IYKYK cool and actually perform better than most pro shop gloves.”
For the golf dad who prefers a more retro look on the course
FootJoy is one of the most recognizable brands in golf for its classic footwear and apparel, and its Premiere Series shoes are a testament to that timeless look. The full-grain leather Field might look like a dress shoe, but it has a supportive OrthoLite insole that will allow Dad to play all day.
For the golf dad who constantly checks the course map
Built for golfers who want to track every part of their game, this Garmin GPS watch is preloaded with maps of more than 42,000 golf courses around the world. It auto-detects how far your shot went, displays the shape of the green, locations of water hazards and sand traps, and your yardage from any point on the course. It’s also available as a handheld device.
For the golf dad who wants laserlike precision
Ron McDougal, head pro at Golf & Body and father of a teenage daughter, says his ideal gift would be a good range finder: a GPS laser device for measuring distance from a flag or hazard on the course. Joe Ostrowski of the Concession Golf Club calls this one from Garmin the most technologically advanced range finder on the market.
For the golf dad whose putter is older than him
If Dad needs a new putter, Porter recommends this buy-it-for-life Scotty Cameron putter. “This is expensive, but no golfer on earth would be upset if you bought this for them. Scotty Cameron putters are the crème de la crème of golf equipment,” he says. “They will last a literal lifetime.”
For the golf dad with bad knees
These shoes take inspiration from Nike’s cushioned running shoes for comfort and responsiveness while adding golf-specific traction.
For the golf dad who always needs a charger
Steve McMillan, founder of product-review site TheGolfingDads, recommends this clever bag that includes a solar-powered phone charger, a Bluetooth speaker, and room for up to six cans of his beverage of choice. Even with all these features, McMillan says the bag “weighs almost next to nothing” and is surprisingly comfortable to carry.
For the golf dad who’s always sore
After a round of golf, a massager alleviates any muscle tension and soreness. The Hypervolt is “great for personal use to massage sore muscles,” according to chiropractor David Perna of Back & Body Medical, who adds that it’s “used a lot by therapists, masseuses, chiropractors, and athletes alike.”
For the golf dad who’s also a cool dad
A favorite of fashion-conscious golfers, these lightweight straight-leg pants might be a step up style-wise from what dad would pick on his own.
For the frequent-flier golf dad
“I use this all the time and it’s just plain awesome,” says Dan McCracken, director of golf at Golfzon Leadbetter, who uses it every day while traveling to and from teaching lessons. He says the bag is “super-spacious and dynamic,” and the ideal accessory for stylish golf dads who travel for business or weekend getaways. It’s versatile enough that it can be used as a weekender or unfolded and used as a garment bag. “And for those frequent fliers, it easily fits in the overhead bin of the airplane compartment.” Plus the bag can be personalized with your dad’s initials.
For the gold dad who wants to make a statement
A favorite of McMillan’s, these bright checkerboard towels are “made to not match anything,” and that’s kind of the point. “It’s a fun conversation piece that people always comment on,” he says, perfect for dads who want to stand out. The moisture-wicking microfiber on the reverse side will last longer — and smell better — than dad’s old terry-cloth towel.
For a golf dad who appreciates a one-of-a-kind gift
A personalized, etched ball marker is a better option for dads who are often “misplacing” balls in water hazards or penalty areas. McMillan, fan of the one-of-a-kind personal gift, recommends Liberty Ball Markers for copper or aluminum markers that can be customized with any phrase or design that’s meaningful for dad.
For the golf dad with his own specialty cocktail
With tees, ball markers, and a divot tool included, this handsome and handy leather-wrapped flask is more than just a discreet way for dad to turn that Arnold Palmer into a boozy John Daly.
For the golf dad who loves to (backyard) party
“This is for the dads who love tailgates, office, and clubhouse fun,” says Golfzon Leadbetter’s McCracken. Chippo can also be set up during a backyard barbecue or beach day. By combining elements of golf with the popular game cornhole, it is “an easy way to work on your short game while having fun with friends and family.”
For the golf dad with a spotless garage
Strategist contributor Alex Olivo utilized a golf-bag organizer as an at-home-gym storage space, but we think it’d be an ideal gift for dads looking to declutter their gear. This one from the Container Store is more heavy-duty since it’s made entirely of steel and has plenty of storage. It features enough space for two golf bags, plus three shoe shelves, a catchall bin for golf balls, and four accessory hooks for caps or gloves.
With additional reporting by Karen Iorio Adelson and Arielle Avila.
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