Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Gifts for Golfers
Perfect presents that will suit golfers to a tee, from $99 to $9.99 million
Holiday gift ideas for golfers go well beyond a new set of clubs: from books and collectibles to lessons, a golf-inspired Tiffany keyring, smartphone apps, or even an estate with exclusive access to a professionally designed golf course, there are options bound to delight at every price point.
Estates With Private Golf Courses
For the golfer who has almost everything, an estate with access to a championship golf course is the ultimate gift. This spectacular home in Pebble Beach enjoys ocean views and is situated right next to the Cypress Point Golf Club, home to one of the greatest courses in the world. Over 7,000 square feet of light-filled living space includes three bedrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows, and at the center of the house sits a lovely courtyard for outdoor entertaining with privacy. $9,995,000.
The exotic plants and flowers of Paradise Island in the Bahamas set the stage for Cascarilla House, a luxurious residence designed by renowned architect Roger Ferris with interiors by Suzi Azadi. This tropical oasis is a golfer’s dream: part of the Ocean Club Estates, Cascarilla House has its own golf cart and access to the Ocean Club’s superb course. The Spanish-style courtyard leads to a gracious interior with four bedrooms, and a serene pool toward the back is surrounded by palm trees and flowers.
Lessons and Accessories
18 Greatest Golf produces limited-edition books and prints capturing the beauty and history of the game in collectible books and works of art. Their hefty tomes, 18 Greatest Scottish Golf Holes and 18 Greatest Irish Golf Holes, were both produced in limited-edition runs of 3,000 and 5,000 copies, respectively, each one hand numbered and lavishly illustrated. These books feature specially commissioned photographs by John Kernick featuring the dramatic Scottish and Irish landscapes that surround the superb courses they highlight. Each edition is hardbound and available on their website for $199.
These days, every sport seems to have its own app for the Apple Watch, Fitbit, or iPhone. Golf may be a historic game, but this digital performance tracker by Arccos brings it comfortably into the 21st century. The Arccos Golf Tracking System uses practically weightless sensors attached to the end of each club grip to help map the precise movements of every stroke. Its analysis helps golfers at any level refine their swing, learn to more accurately judge distances and obstacles, and compare stats with their favorite competitors. The full Arccos system including 13 Standard Sensors, 1 Putter Sensor, Starter Guide, and the iOS App & Dashboard is $299.99.
Time for a master class? A week at the renowned Pebble Beach Golf Academy is like golf boot camp, only its setting on the spectacular Monterey Peninsula makes it feel like a sunny getaway. The instruction at Pebble Beach is serious and focused: three studios inside the Golf Learning Center include complete swing analysis technology, stroke analysis, and club-fitting systems, helpful for those who may have been struggling with the wrong equipment. 3D motion-capture technology and an innovative robotic swing trainer make guests feel as though they’re visiting the set of a Pixar movie, and the 4,500-square-foot outdoor putting green is a lovely setting in which to test out newly honed skills. Rates are $900 per day.
Golf Collectibles
True golf aficionados love to play, but they also love the aesthetics of the game, from vintage gear and equipment to prints, posters, and the design of a great professional course. Christie’s recently offered some exceptional golf-related works on paper, including a rare and important complete run of The American Cricketer: A Journal Devoted to the Noble Game of Cricket, printed in 1891. These charming journals feature illustrations of the games of cricket and golf, and included commentary from American and English writers.
These two French lithographs from the 1930s are wonderfully atmospheric and graphic. An anonymous design advertising the golf resorts of Lausanne, Switzerland depicts the Alps in the distance with a beautifully rendered green valley ideal for a challenging course. And this colorful print by Roger Broders (1883-1953) produced by Vaugirard, Paris promotes golf in the former French colony of Tunisia.
