Equipment

2015 GolfWRX Holiday Gift Guide

Published

8 years ago

Nov 27, 2015

The GolfWRX Holiday Gift Guide was created to ensure that our readers give (and receive) the very best golf gifts on the planet.

Whether that special person you’re buying for is into apparel, equipment, technology or cool accessories, our Holiday Gift Guide has you covered. These gift ideas will suit any budget, and each item was hand picked by our staff.

Forward it on to drop a not-so-subtle hint of what you really want this holiday season.

Stocking Stuffers (Around $50)

PGA Tour Pro Sport (3.4 oz): $58

The Tour’s first ever signature fragrance. A cologne is always on the stocking stuffer menu, and what better choice for a PGA Tour fan than a PGA Tour cologne, right? And what does the eau de Tour smell like? Pro Sport opens with an energizing burst of juicy citrus, followed by fresh mint and a blend of masculine woods. Buy it from TruFragrance.

Sunfish leather headcover: $44.99

Leather headcovers have made a comeback in recent years. And there’s no better example of the classic club covering on the market than Sunfish’s. Available in seven colors, we like the stylish green and white because, well, the Masters. Buy it from Sunfish.

Personalized Titleist golf balls

The No. 1 ball-maker in golf is still running its traditional holiday promotion: free personalization.

The option to add names, nicknames, initials and special messages, as well as social media usernames and hashtags to a dozen balls adds a personal touch to the gift, rather than looking like you stopped off at a big box store and snagged a box of balls off the shelf. Learn more from Titleist.

Superstroke Slim 3.0: $24.99

The fastest-growing grip on the PGA Tour, the 1.30’’-diameter Superstroke Slim 3.0 is a gift that can improve your gift recipient’s putting by minimizing hand action and tension in the putting stroke. Also, consider the Flatso 1.0 —the model used by some guy named Jordan Spieth.

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Don’t break the bank ($75 to $300)

Arccos Golf: $299.99

As our John Lahtinen wrote in his excellent review of Arccos, the company “created a GPS golf shot tracking system that automatically tracks your round and gives real-time feedback as you make your way around the course.” The Arccos package includes virtually weightless sensors for the butts of all your clubs and putter, as well as access to a stat-tracking web interface. If you’re looking to give a truly game-changing (and eye-opening) gift to a golfer in your life, look no further.

[wrx_buy_now oemlink=”http://www.arccosgolf.com/products/the-1-performance-tracker-in-golf” oemtext=”Learn more from Arccos” amazonlink=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OZDGLCY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00OZDGLCY&linkCode=as2&tag=golfwrxcom-20&linkId=2URD36JGVPR2PXVW”]

ECCO BIOM Hybrid 2: $195

Wear them on the course or off, these spikeless kicks combine comfort, performance and durability with several fashionable styles. The BIOM Hybrid 2’s are good for any age-bracket, providing the “cool” factor for younger golfers and ultra-comfort and performance for the older crowd. Our review.

[wrx_buy_now oemlink=”http://us.shop.ecco.com/golf-men-biom/ecco-mens-biom-hybrid-2-151514.html?dwvar_151514_color=59031#cgid=golf-men” oemtext=”Learn more from Ecco” amazonlink=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JJ33GYQ/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00JJ33GYQ&linkCode=as2&tag=golfwrxcom-20&linkId=QSVKNAN7Q6GTUTPT”]

FootJoy DNA: $220

And if you’re looking for a spiked shoe for a golfer on your list, the FootJoy DNA is the route to go. The DNA (DryJoys Next Advancement) features cutting-edge athletic design, comfort, and traction. As Tim Gavrich said in his review of the original DNA golf shoes, “These are serious shoes with a modern sensibility, both in their heft and waterproof nature and the obviously high amount of technology.” Learn more from FootJoy.

The Players Championship Ticket Packages

From now until Jan. 3, The Players Championship is offering some special holiday ticket offers so that your golf fan in the family can look forward to the PGA Tour’s signature event in 2016 (May 10-15):

$95 – (2) Stadium Passes for use on Thursday or Sunday
$115 – (2) Stadium Passes for use on Friday or Saturday
$330 – (2) Stadium Passes for use any day
Stadium Pass allows access to tournament grounds and nearly 20 on-site public venues

All packages include unlimited youth tickets (18 and younger) as well as a limited-edition Players 2016 calendar – all sent with free shipping. The packages save shoppers anywhere between 21-26 percent over the items if they were purchased individually. Now, that’s a good deal. Packages ordered by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, Dec. 21 are guaranteed to be delivered by Christmas Eve.

Oakley Flak 2.0 XL Prizm sunglasses: $170

If you’re looking for a great pair of shades for the golfer on your list: We offer you the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL Prizm. Prizm lens technology is specifically designed for sport and the outdoor environment while offering enhanced lens coverage and specialized lens curvature. These aren’t ZZ Top’s cheap sunglasses, and they’re optimally suited for the golf course.

[wrx_buy_now oemlink=”http://www.oakley.com/en/mens-golf/flak-2-0-xl-prizm-golf/product/W0OO9295XLPZG/?skuCode=OO9188-05&categoryCode=mens-golf” oemtext=”Learn more from Oakley” amazonlink=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UT4ED9Q/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00UT4ED9Q&linkCode=as2&tag=golfwrxcom-20&linkId=KOIM6YRHI343V5CH”]

Spoil Them Rotten ($300+)

Golfbreaks Scotland trip: $5,985

Money no object? As far as golf vacations go, this one takes the cake: Golfbreaks St. Andrews, Carnoustie & Gleneagles trip.

The suggested 7-night vacation package includes:

7 nights B&B at Old Course Hotel St Andrews.
5 rounds of golf at St Andrews Old Course (GUARANTEED tee time), St Andrews New Course, Kingsbarns Course, Carnoustie Championship Course, Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course.
Lunch at St Andrews Clubhouse when playing Old and New Courses.
Lunch at Kingsbarns.
3-course dinner in hotel on one of the nights.
Souvenir group photo taken on first tee of the Old Course.
Chauffeur driven ground transportation for entire vacation.
All local taxes.

Learn more from Golfbreaks.

Bushnell Tour X Jolt: $499

Easy to use. Perfect for gear heads and tourney players. Bushnell’s new Exchange Technology, which allows users to switch the rangefinder from a slope-and-distance device to a tournament-legal, distance-only device. The Tour X offers precise, easily obtained distances and elevation information. Our review.

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TaylorMade M1 driver: $499

As we pointed out in our M1 driver review, the M1 460 and M1 430 are:

“TaylorMade’s best work. The M1 460 and M1 430 are two of the longest drivers available, merging meaningful adjustability with a new level of forgiveness that allows them to work for nearly any golfer.”

In short, if you’re going to buy a driver for someone on your list, you’ve got to go with something adjustable and with plenty of curb appeal and buzz. This is the play.

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

5 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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