How we recommend
We recommend gear by category and use, not by brand, and do not quote prices. We may earn a commission on purchases at no cost to you.
Before you buy: what the rules say
Most small gifts sit comfortably within the rules, but a few have limits. The 2023 Rules of Golf, in effect from 1 January 2023, and the Equipment Rules set them, and the R&A says the next edition of the Rules is due on 1 January 2028. Three to know:
- Tees may be no longer than 4 inches and must not indicate the line of play (Equipment Rules Part 6).
- Ball-markers count as banned alignment devices if, among other things, they can measure slope or green speed, have optical or electronic parts, or stand more than 1.0 inch tall (Part 6).
- Training aids are for practice only; Rule 4.3a does not allow them during a round.
Nothing on this page says a product conforms or is legal for competition.
Our picks by category
Golf balls
Find out what the golfer plays now if you can, because constructions differ. Equipment brand Lynx Golf says two-piece balls are durable and suit beginners and higher handicaps, and that four-piece balls, usually with urethane covers, suit better players with consistent strike and enough speed; those are a maker's descriptions. A golfer who plays in events where Model Local Rule G-3 is adopted must use a ball on the current Conforming Ball List. See the golf ball guide.
Best for: Every golfer, since balls get lost
Tees
Part 6 limits a tee to 4 inches long, and it must not point out the line of play, so avoid novelty tees with aiming features.
Best for: A stocking filler for any golfer
Ball markers and divot tools
A plain marker is the safe gift: Part 6 treats markers that measure slope or green speed, contain optical or electronic parts or stand more than 1.0 inch tall as alignment devices, which are not allowed in a round. Rule 1.2a counts repairing ball-marks as part of taking care of the course; see etiquette.
Best for: Any golfer who plays on real greens
Golf towels
Rule 4.3a allows a towel or handkerchief wrapped around the grip.
Best for: Any golfer, any season
Golf umbrellas
Rule 10.2b(5) lets a player hold an umbrella over their own head, but not make a stroke while a caddie, another person or an object is deliberately positioned to shelter them.
Best for: Golfers who play in rain or strong sun
Waterproof jackets and trousers
Rule 10.2b(5) lets players protect themselves from the elements with protective clothing. Clothing needs a size, so check it first. See weather gear.
Best for: Golfers in wet climates, if you know their size
Putting mats and aids
Keogh and Hume's 2012 review suggests frequent short sessions of blocked practice may suit novice putters, which a mat at home allows. It is a practice tool only. See the training aids guide.
Best for: Golfers who want to practise at home
GPS watches and devices
The USGA's guide says distance-measuring devices have been allowed since 1 January 2019, provided prohibited functions such as slope-adjusted distances are not used during the round, and a Committee can ban them by adopting Model Local Rule G-5. See the rangefinders and GPS guide.
Best for: Golfers who do not already have a distance device
Golf books
Instruction, rules and history books need no fitting. If you buy a rules book, check the edition: the current Rules took effect on 1 January 2023, the R&A says the next edition is due on 1 January 2028, and when the 2023 edition was announced the R&A said it would promote digital access and cut printed rule book production by more than four million copies.
Best for: Readers, and golfers moving into competition
Gifts to think twice about
Clubs
Fitters match clubs to the player. Tim Briand of True Spec Golf told GOLF.com in 2020 that junior fitting should go by height and clubhead speed rather than age, and warned that hand-me-down or cut-down adult clubs can shape a child's swing. Left-handed golfers face fewer choices: LPGA instructor Dr Greta Anderson says many makers still do not offer some models in left-handed versions. If you want to give clubs, a fitting session is the safer gift. See club fitting.
Gloves
Retailer American Golf says a glove should fit tightly, sizing varies by brand, and it is usually worn on the lead hand, the left for a right-handed player. Unless you know the size, make and hand, a glove is a guess.
Shoes
Shoes need a size, and Model Local Rule G-7 lets a Committee prohibit traditional or metal spikes, where it adopts that rule. See shoes and gloves.
For a new golfer
Briand also says a beginner does not need 14 clubs. Our beginner set guide and getting started page explain where to begin, and lessons with a professional are a gift that does not need a size.
Sources
- The R&A, Rules of Equipment, Part 6: Devices and Other Equipment
- The R&A, Rules of Golf (2023 edition), Rule 4
- The R&A, Rules of Golf (2023 edition), Rule 1
- The R&A, Rules of Golf (2023 edition), Rule 10
- The R&A, R&A and USGA announce 2023 Rules of Golf update
- The R&A, New and updated Model Local Rules for 2026
- The R&A, Conforming Ball List
- Lynx Golf, 2-piece vs 3-piece vs 4-piece golf balls
- USGA, Understanding the Rules of DMDs (2023 update, PDF)
- Danish Golf Union, Official Guide to the Rules of Golf 2023, Model Local Rules section G
- Keogh and Hume, Evidence for biomechanics and motor learning research improving golf performance (Sports Biomechanics, 2012)
- American Golf, Golf gloves
- GOLF.com, 6 things junior golfers need to know about golf equipment (23 December 2020)
- Women's Golf, Dr Greta Anderson on left-handed golf