Hole-in-One Advice: 10 Golfing Accessories You Need This Year

Before you know it, your favourite golf course will be open for your first tee time of the season. To get you back in the swing of things, here’s a roundup of some of the latest in gear, equipment and apparel for golf enthusiasts.

Adidas Ultimate 365 Solid Short

While the pros can’t wear shorts in tournaments, they’re definitely my preferred golf attire. And there’s no sports pair more comfortable than this offering from Adidas. Fashionable on or off the course, these shorts offer mobility and breathability, featuring moisture-wicking fabric and a water-resistant finish.

Nike Air Jordan 1

Yes, you read that right—pair your casual shorts with a pair of iconic sneakers. Targeted to a younger demographic, these shoes are trending upward. Footwear once deemed not fit for the fairways is now acceptable, thanks to the likes of this popular model.

TaylorMade M1/M2 Drivers

The new 2017 M1 and M2 drivers deliver extra distance and forgiveness through multi-material construction. The redesigned moveable weight system in the sole—with 27 grams of moveable weight—gives golfers more adjustability and more ball-flight control. Put this one in your bag today and you’ll see fewer drives go astray.

TaylorMade FlexTech Crossover Stand Bag

Weighing only 2.5 kilos, the Crossover Stand Bag makes transitioning from the golf cart to the course a breeze, thanks to the quick-release, dual-density strap. Other notable features include a 14-way top with a slot for every club; water-resistant valuables pocket with microsuede lining; large internal insulated cooler pocket; and easily accessible insulated water bottle pocket.

Dormie Golf Workshop Headcovers

This Nova Scotia startup, founded by brothers Jeff and Todd Bishop, now sells custom leather golf-club headcovers around the world. Handmade, with original designs, some beyond anything you’ve imagined, these super cool accessories will not only protect your clubs, but they’ll also look good doing so.

Nikon Coolshot 80 VR Laser Rangefinder

The world’s first laser rangefinder with optical vibration reduction puts precise, rock-solid distance measurements into your hands. Locked On technology helps to quickly acquire distance to intended targets rather than to background visuals.

Arccos Driver

An inexpensive, entry-level version of the full Arccos 360 system, the Arccos Driver offers distance and accuracy data for every drive hit, in every round. Supported by full GPS capability for more than 35,000 courses worldwide, the single sensor fits into the top of the driver and gives golfers a full complement of tee-shot statistics and analytics through a free smartphone app.

Zero Friction DistancePro GPS Glove

Powered by Bluetooth, these gloves have a half-ounce GPS device inside the top flap that gives a golfer the distance to the front, centre and back of greens on the 35,000 courses that are programmed into it. It’s the perfect GPS solution for those who appreciate having yardages, but don’t like wearing watches or reaching for their smartphones.

TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x Balls

More than a decade of research led to the creation of these two new premium offerings from TaylorMade. Their hard work paid off: these balls deliver more distance, a higher flight and more spin control around the greens, thanks to the new two-material cover. If you are normally a Pro V1 fan, I suggest you give these a try.  

Snell Golf My Tour Ball

After 28 years of experience working in research and development for companies like Titleist and TaylorMade, Dean Snell took this knowledge to develop his own brand. Snell claims his golf balls deliver “tour-level performance at a fraction of the price,” and tests show that this ball performs well. Fast off the tee, it can compete with some of the leading brands when it comes to spin and ball flight, too.