Something for every male golfer, new and old

By Tim McDonald and Kiel Christianson

updated 7:11 p.m. ET Dec. 5, 2006

Shopping for Christmas gifts for male golfers is both simple and difficult. Simple in that there are a million products out there; difficult in that there are a million products out there.

How to choose? Here are some suggestions to help narrow it down:

Golf clubs
What, your husband or boyfriend doesn't have any hybrids in his bag? That won't do. Hybrid golf clubs are one of those recent inventions that actually live up to the hype. They're easier to hit, and many top manufacturers are making good ones. Check out Adams (adamsgolf.com), which has just come out with a new set of Pro hybrids to go with its earlier A2 and A2 OS models.

Alpha Golf's V5 Hi-COR line (www.alphagolfclubs.com) is another safe place to turn if you're just getting used to these clubs (or buying one for someone else). The V5s, priced at around $100 each, feature a titanium face that is deeper than many hybrids, as well as a pronounced draw-biased face-angle.

Golf balls
Titleist Pro V1 golf balls are still a can't-miss stocking stuffer, the old reliable.

Or cash in on the cool cachet of Nike by giving the gift of the new Juice 312 golf balls ($28/dozen), which promise "ginormous" and "hugantic" distance, dude.

Golf apparel
Nothing is more tedious than trying to jam all of your gear into your golf bag. Sun Mountain's Micro J wind jacket ($54) actually comes in a jar, and can be rolled back up and stored in the tennis-ball-can-sized container to save on space and tedium.

There's a bit of a fashion war brewing among golf shoe makers who are racing to replace the old-fashioned saddle shoes with designs you might wear out in the evening. Ecco is the leader in stylish golf footwear. The New Classic City (www.ecco.usa.com, $150) and World Class City GTX ($400) lines are the dressiest.

Nike's SP-8 TW Tour shoe (www.nike.com, $220) is the pinnacle of the company's new SP line, all of which feature the Power Platform technology. The sole is partitioned into quadrants to allow it to flex and bend with the foot as the golfer moves through various positions during the swing. In addition, the sole is a bit wider in the heel, to promote increased stability and balance.

Accessories
Go ahead, laugh — but how many times have you headed to the wrong cart? The trick is to get head covers that are instantly noticeable and recognizable but not ridiculously embarrassing, like, say, chocolate zebras with light pink backgrounds. Check out the Corona or St. Andrews logo head covers from Only Golf Gifts (onlygolfgifts.com, $20).

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Ogio has been redefining the dour golf bag for a decade now, and the new Vision SS carry bag with the Schling carrying system (www.ogio.com, $200) is both functional and radical. The Schling replaces traditional shoulder straps with a sort of semi-circular yoke that rests around your shoulders. After you get used to it, it's surprisingly comfy and convenient.

The Sun Mountain Superlight 3.5 carry bag (www.sunmountain.com, $150) is the absolute lightest golf bag on the market, perfect for young, still-growing backs. Yet at just 3.5 lbs., it still has all the pockets, bells, and whistles you need to stow your gear, along with some of the sturdiest flip-out stand legs in the business.

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