Written by Scott Kramer
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Clubs and balls you’ve got covered. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have all the tools to get the most from your golf game.
SkyGolf’s new SkyCaddie SGXw GPS unit ($399.95, skygolf.com) is Wi-Fi-enabled, allowing you on-the-go convenient access to the latest, most accurate and updated course maps and distances. Like many other handheld GPS units, this unit’s pre-loaded with basic green distances for 30,000 courses. However, this system uses available Wi-Fi to ensure that you perpetually have up-to-the-minute accuracy the moment you bring up a course on display. Plus, when you buy the nominal annual membership you get detailed and proprietary information to all points on any golf hole that makes this device absolutely indispensable to golfers.
No matter your shirt and pants, a stylish belt buckle can really catapult your ensemble to another level. And that’s why many Tour pros, such as Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn, turn to buckle maker Druh for that extra style push. You can create your own waist art ($125, druhbeltsandbuckles.com) by selecting a belt, buckle color, infill and personalization. The leather belts are made of the highest quality, handmade by a craftsman who produces sleek-looking leathers in various embossed styles, from crocodile to ostrich effect. The interchangeable buckles come in brushed nickel, polished silver or gold.
You can’t always get to the course to finesse your game. These days, you don’t need to. A top-notch aboutGolf indoor simulator ($35,000-$68,000 depending on system, aboutgolf.com) may set your wallet back but will advance your game to new heights -- several PGA Tour pros even own these for training (both one and three-screen surround wrap units are available). Not only can you play 50-plus virtual-yet-realistic versions of the world’s top courses right in your home, but you can also track your ball flight and swing data on its built-in diagnostic tools. One setback: you’ll need at least a 10-foot-high ceiling.
The front wheel of Bag Boys new TriSwivel push cart ($269.95, bagboy.com) swivels 360 degrees for effortless maneuverability on the golf course. That wheel can also be locked in place when you’re negotiating hills and long distances. The cart – offered in four colors -- is packed with convenient features, including a one-step handle adjustment, upper bag bracket that accommodates both cart and stand bags, handle-mounted parking brake, built-in oversize storage bag, scorecard clip, umbrella cord and integrated beverage holder. All of the cart’s wheels are oversized so they roll easily. Best part: A simple three-step folding process leaves the 16-pound cart in a 72”x14”x18” size for compact storage.
For the good of your own health, consider golf-specific sunglasses a necessary accessory these days. Not only do they help save eyes and prevent skin cancer, today’s sport advanced lenses enable you to better read the greens and course contours. Enter Tifosi’s featherweight Tempt ($89.95, tifosioptics.com) that features fully adjustable, non-slip rubber nose pad and temples for a comfortable, customized fit. Lens ventilation eliminates fogging.
One of the coolest, easiest-to-use new devices out is PING’s putting cradle ($30, pinggolf.com) that works in conjunction with its free app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The cradle clips onto your putter shaft just below the grip and uses the snapped-in mobile device’s accelerometer to record your putting stroke consistency, tempo, acceleration, impact angle, arc, and length – all to help you improve your stroke. It also keeps track of what the company calls your putting handicap. And you can compare your stroke to previous sessions, your friends’ stroke, or that of PING Tour pros’; it’s even set up to integrate with Twitter.
