Golf has become more than a sport or recreational pursuit. It’s a lifestyle, not to mention a technology playground for manufacturers and players alike. Golfers’ lives have changed, and they need apparel, gadgets, equipment and products that look as good and work as well on the course as they do off. Here are some items that caught our eye in 2016:
TaylorMade M1/M2 drivers
Multi-metal construction makes these drivers light and forgiving because of a monstrous sweet spot. A nice selection of shafts and an adjustable loft sleeve – with 12 positions to dial up – also gives golfers the feeling of control and confidence because of the possibilities. Still not sold? How’s this? Dustin Johnson and Jason Day have it in their bag. Just sayin’. Visit taylormade.com
Bushnell Tour V4 Slope
Need a JOLT? Then this rangefinder is for you. The Bushnell Tour V4 Slope not only takes into account a slope’s incline or decline when measuring yardages, it gives golfers a short vibrating pulse (JOLT) to confirm that the laser has locked on to the flag or target. Tour players and their caddies swear by it for their practice rounds, so it has to be good for your regular rounds, right? Visit bushnell.com
Carpe lotion
Sweaty palms and skin can have an adverse impact on people who spend time in the heat. Most golfers wear a glove on one hand, but if the other can’t get a firm grasp on the grip, things could get slippery. Plus, moisture-wicking shirts can only do so much, right? Carpe lotion comes in a 1.6-ounce bottle and absorbs quickly into your skin with no greasy or chalky residue. Stay dry; play well. Visit carpelotion.com
GolfBoard
Golfers can “surf the earth” on a GolfBoard that holds you and your bag while going from shot to shot and hole to hole on the course. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the GolfBoard is an easy-to-ride, fully electric vehicle that adds a level of fun to a round of golf, not to mention a swifter pace of play. Several courses in the Southland have a few on hand. Check the website for locations. Visit golfboard.com
ClubGlove Caddy Towel
These colorful microfiber golf towels are 17 inches-by-40 inches, plush and gentle enough to use for cleaning or polishing glasses, plastic, chrome and other delicate surfaces without scratching. A Caddy Towel can hold up to 400 percent of its weight in water, and it’s washable and lint-free. A matching pocket towel comes with each purchase. Visit clubglove.com
Aveo
Big and tall men face long odds when shopping for golf apparel that looks good and provides the latest in technology and comfort. Aveo can help, with stylish polos in XLT, 2X, 2XLT, 3X, 3XLT and 4X, along with shorts and slacks with flex waistbands and the perfect drape for larger men. Aveo’s pants are designed to minimize pocket flare, and the shorts give a slimming look from the side. Visit aveogolf.com
Boa Technology
The Boa closure system of steel lace, nylon guides and a mechanical reel addresses deficiencies often found with laces on golf shoes. From laces and buckles to ratchets and loops, Boa products can be found on FootJoy, adidas and Mizuno golf shoes, among other products. A quick turn of a dial gives you a precise and customizable fit for extra comfort – and less hassle – on the course. Visit boatechnology.com
Golden Tee Home Edition
Let’s face it: retro is cool. And if you spent part of your youth (OK, adulthood, too) playing Golden Tee in a bar, you’re in luck. The Golden Tee Home Edition is the same game as that, minus the coin slot. It has the same programming, look and identical trackball that made it the most successful arcade game in history. The purchase of a Home Edition also includes a cabinet, the marquee identifying the game and an HDMI cable to connect it to your TV of choice. A 42- to 48-inch flatscreen fits the setup, and illuminated marquees and keypads are available for purchase. Visit home.goldentee.com
BioMech putters
You know there’s technology involved when the developer is a doctor and scientist. Such is the case with the BioMech AccuLock ACE putter that uses scientific principles to produce a more natural and consistent stance and stroke. BioMech founder Dr. Frank Fornari designed the putter so the grip can rest against the leading forearm’s inner surface to stabilize the hands, arms and shoulders. Using the core muscles and a stance that lets you see the target line and ball reduces or eliminates hand, arm and shoulder movements. Visit biomechsports.com
Callaway Chrome Soft ball
Not only have Callaway Chrome Soft balls been updated in terms of technology for better performance, they also come in a couple soccer ball-like Truvis patterns. Golfers will get a firmer outer core and a softer inner core to improve distance and spin. And speaking of spin or roll on the greens, the Truvis pattern really lets golfers see the ball’s rotation on their shots or putts. Visit callawaygolf.com
ThermaCELL Lantern
If you’re tired of getting attacked by mosquitoes and biting insects, a simple device in your golf cart can help. The ThermaCELL lantern can be hung or placed in your cart storage compartment, is odorless, creates a 15-foot-by-15-foot invisible protection cell around your cart and runs on a butane cartridge that heats a repellent mat and releases allethrin, a synthetic copy of the natural repellent found in chrysanthemum flowers that these bugs hate. Whew! Visit thermacell.com
TomTom Golfer 2
This new GPS watch from TomTom makes you want to wear a watch on the golf course. It shows you the best approach to the green and how best to avoid all of the hazards on more than 40,000 courses worldwide. It not only offers automatic shot detection but provides post-round analysis so you can make swing tweaks on the range. The Golfer 2 is remarkably accurate with yardages and also lets you review your shot history. Visit tomtom.com
Zero Restriction
It never rains in Southern California, but it does elsewhere. If you’re going on a golf trip or other journey where outdoor activities are planned, Zero Restriction gear is easy to pack and good to have along for the ride. The secret sauce here is the ZR Packable Shell that allows it to slip easily into a suitcase or your golf bag. Zero Restriction products also have GORE-TEX, which makes them durable and moisture-resistant. Visit zerorestriction.com
Oakley Green Fade Collection
Oakley is going back to its roots with a one-time eyewear collection that its athletes have been wearing this year. Each unit in the Green Fade Collection is hand-painted in its iconic green color, that was first rolled out in the 1980s, and each style, including the Radar Lock Path model, comes with Oakley’s Prizm lens technology that provides precise color tuning for specific environments. Visit oakley.com
ECBC travel bags
ECBC bags and travel gear are designed for the discerning golfer on the go. From backpacks to carry-ons, ECBC’s high-tech bags have a FastPass System that lets users unzip the electronics compartment so the bag lays flat on a security conveyer belt so you don’t have to unpack your laptop, tablet and cables at the airport. Another handy item – the Hercules Backpack – weighs less than 3 pounds but can hold up to a 17-inch laptop as well as your phones and accessories. Visit ecbc.com
Stance socks
Over the past few years, Stance has put life into something that had been overlooked – socks. Stance features anatomically correct designs for each foot, a refined fit and an Advanced Cushion Support System that places a denser weave in strategic areas. The socks’ Quik Wick fabric and mesh also vent hot air out and let cool air in, all through the stylish or playful Stance designs. Visit stance.com
Arccos Driver
The next time someone asks you how far you hit your drives, pull out your Arccos Driver and let them see. The device also is a performance tracking and live competition system that’s easy to use and delivers requested data. See your tee shot distances, fairways hit and even advice on your fairway positions. The sensor delivers information to your smartphone in a non-obtrusive manner, and the Advanced GPS system works on nearly 40,000 courses worldwide. There’s also new driving games you can play based on distance and accuracy. Visit arccosgolf.com
Hugo Boss
You won’t necessarily play like Henrik Stenson, but you can look like the Swede when out on the course – as long as you’re tall, wiry and handsome in a Scandinavian sort of way – by rocking Hugo Boss attire. The company’s Hugo Green line was formerly known as Hugo Sport, and it’s becoming synonymous with soft fabrics, moisture-repelling technology, style and functionality. And, yes, some of the shirts, slacks, jackets or shorts come in green. But if you really want to be like Stenson, go with black. Visit hugoboss.com
Miura MG hybrid
Miura is becoming known for setting the standard in hybrid technology, and the MG line upholds that tradition because of the hybrid’s Circle Cut sole shape that creates a stepped tier and optimal center of gravity for good ball trajectory. Quite simply, golfers at address can think of the MG hybrid as an iron and hit the ball the same way as when using an iron but get the added benefits of swinging easier and standing taller because it’s a hybrid. Visit miuragolf.com
Golf Pride measuring tool
Grips are often a neglected item with golfers, so Golf Pride came up with a measuring tool to see if you have the right size grip on your clubs. Go online (golfpride.com/fit), use the company’s tool and get a suggestion as to which grip will fit you best. The CP2 Pro and CP2 Wrap grips would be good choices, since both use Golf Pride’s exclusive Control Core technology, which reduces torque. Visit golfpride.com
Eyeline Spot On Laser System
Most of us think we’re lined up properly but then roll a putt way off the mark. Perhaps an Eyeline Golf Spot On Laser System can help. The practice device gives you precision in your alignment by shooting a green laser dot at the Spot On Target so you know exactly where you’re aiming. The dot is bright, even on the sunniest of days, so now there are no more excuses for not working on your fundamentals. Visit eyelinegolf.com
Golf Weather App
Golf Weather crunches data for each golf course to obtain accurate forecasts, and a GPS-based “Near Me” feature is a good way to check on your regional outlook. In addition to temperature and weather conditions, such as cloudy or rainy, Golf Weather breaks down wind speed, direction, chances of rain and amount of rainfall for each day. Available at App Store or Google Play
ZEPP Golf 2
Building on the success of previous ZEPP products, the ZEPP Golf 2 is a handy sensor that clips onto a glove or the top of your club and tracks your swing in 3D. You can see it from all angles in real time or save it to view later. A handy tip is to use the glove mount so you don’t have to keep switching out the sensor whenever you change clubs. Visit zepp.com
Knuth Golf
Dean Knuth knows numbers. The man who recorded a perfect 800 score in the SAT math test worked for the USGA for 16 years as senior director of handicapping where he also developed the course-rating system. Today, when he’s not serving as a defense adviser, Knuth is creating golf clubs, such as a High Heat driver, 3-wood and hybrid that have attracted attention because of their lower and deeper center of gravity that suits the typical amateur’s swing. The Optimal CG Changer and Fire Zone Face technologies also have been designed to provide more distance and forgiveness compared to traditional steel-faced clubs. Visit knuthgolf.com
Biion shoes
Give your feet and wallet a break with high-tech Biion shoes. The light and flexible Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) material keeps Biion shoes comfortable and functional throughout the round. EVA’s nano-molecular structure also provides a feeling of smoothness, and the form-fitting EVA moves with your body with every step to give you a solid connection to the ground. The fact that several of its brands are works of art is an added bonus. Visit biionfootwear.com
Goze
Germs and chemicals are everywhere on a golf cart or course. A self-cleaning, anti-microbial cell phone case from Goze can eliminate a bit of that problem. The Goze case has a coating the company claims kills bacteria and microbes you come across on a daily basis. (Been to the gym lately?) And as an added bonus, the case is designed to amplify your phone’s speaker sound by up to 250 percent. Cases are available for Apple and Samsung model phones, and styles include Slim, Theater and Original in red, light blue, green, dark blue and black. Visit gozezone.com
Rolflex
Even if you primarily ride a cart when golfing, there are plenty of muscles that get sore and stiff after a round. If you have a Rolflex at home, no worries. The device is touted as being able to replicate up to 40 massage techniques to naturally relieve pain and muscle tension after a run, round or workout. With its ergonomic design, Rolflex can amplify pressure in trouble spots to help people feel and perform better. And you don’t have to leave the comfort of your living room to start feeling better. Visit irolflex.com
ATLETO
We get dates, order food, make tee times and socialize online. So why not find a golf buddy online? The sports app ATLETO was created to do that, with a format that connects golfers to expand their network, find someone close by to tee it up with or get swing or practice tips. Players are paired based on interests, location and skill level, and ATLETO is also good for a traveling golfer looking to play a round in an unfamiliar place. After playing, golfers can grant each other “knuckles” for their effort and sportsmanship so other players know they’re good playing partners. Available at App Store or Google Play
