If there’s one thing golfers can never get enough of, it’s first-class golf balls, and gifting them personalized balls with their name and a message is always a special touch. Golf Galaxy offers this feature for the 2024 Callaway Chrome Tour ball, which is growing rapidly in popularity among better players thanks to its soft, solid feel at impact—an irresistible feature that’s largely driven by the ball’s soft urethane cover. The four-piece-construction Chrome Tour is also renowned for its consistent, high-level performance from tee to green. It flies with low spin on tee shots, which helps maximize carry distance (particularly for fast swingers), yet still produces maximum spin for finesse shots around the green. The added control and the aerodynamic dimple design contribute to a stable, repeatable flight and a high degree of workability. The personalization options include up to three lines of text (17 characters max per line) and can be printed in blue, brown, green, orange, pink, purple or red. Minimum order is one dozen.

The Rapsodo MLM2PRO is a prime example of the launch monitor category’s rapid technology leaps in recent years. Launch monitors, which measure a golfer’s stats at impact, are now so compact and nimble that you can fit many of them in the palm of your hand and simply sync them to an app on your phone. The very portable MLM2PRO also provides the measured performance data you’ve come to expect in large, high-tech units at a fraction of the cost. Thanks to its two-camera system and Doppler Radar, you’ll get immediate readouts for clubhead speed, launch angle and ball speed, plus calculated readings for shot type, shot apex, descent angle and more. In addition, the MLM2PRO (which can be used both indoor and outdoor), enables golfers to see their swings on video, watch their ball flight with shot-tracer technology, and even view slow-motion GIFs that show the precise impact location. Not to be outdone, the unit also doubles as a golf simulator. Simply select the “Range” function or play any of the 30,000 courses whenever, or wherever, you choose.

Does your favorite golfer like the idea of having separate compartments for each club in their bag but still prefers a stand bag over a cart bag? Then the Honors 14-Way Stand Bag is for him. This lightweight carry bag, which weighs in at a nimble 5 lbs., comes fully loaded with practical design features but still has the walker—and wallet—in mind. It offers molded handles around the top of the bag that you can grab onto while you’re carrying it across your back using the foam-padded dual carry strap, and the hinged base flexes when you set it down on the ground so the stand kicks out without any extra effort. The Honors bag is also very sensible on a push cart or the back of a riding cart. A small elastic strap holds the stand legs in place so they won’t flop around, and the 14 club slots have full-length dividers so the heads and shafts won’t bang into each other. There’s ample additional storage in this bag as well: five zippered pockets, plus three compartments for a rangefinder, water bottle and valuables. Choose from 10 color options, including camouflage, red-white-and-blue and pineapple floral.

Golf shirts make for popular gifts, and no matter the age, personal style or golf ability of the person you’re gifting to, you can’t go wrong with the TravisMathew brand. There are few clothing companies as unanimously liked across all golfer types because they’ve managed to combine great fit and look with superior softness and comfort. The Heater polo is made from lightweight performance materials that stretch as you swing, and the breathable fabric blend (70% recycled polyester/23% cotton/7% spandex) wicks away moisture, which allows you to perform your best even on uncomfortably hot days. Another innovative design feature is the durable collar with built-in stays, which keeps its shape even after repeated washes. With the Heater, you’ll look crisp and fresh both on the course and off. The shirt comes in a full range of sizes from small to XXXL, in 10 color choices including indigo/black, light blue, black, heather blush, purple and light red. 

The legendary Walter Hagen was a champion golfer (his 11 major titles trail only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods) and impeccable dresser, and the Performance 11 family of clothing is chock full of polo golf shirts, quarter-zip pullovers, golf hoodies, lightweight vests, golf jackets, pants, bucket hats, caps and shorts that would have made Hagen proud. These shorts are made from a wrinkle-resistant tech fabric to keep you looking neat and clean all day long—it also wicks away moisture from the body so you stay comfortable, even in humid conditions. In addition, a rubber-like substance lining the inside of the waistband “grips” the shirt so it remains tucked in. You have plenty of color options to choose from, including solids in black, gray, khaki, light mint, navy blue, pale yellow, raspberry and sky blue, and fun patterns such as crossed clubs, golf carts, palm leaves and stars.

As business attire and golf-course dress codes have become more relaxed, the golf shoe companies have followed suit by widening their selection of informal, sneaker-like options for men and women golfers. At less than $100, the New Balance 574 Greens v2 golf shoe is also great value, and it delivers the classic fit, look and feel that have made New Balance sneakers so popular across generations. The lightweight shoe weighs just 11.9-ounces and is packed with cushioned support in the insole and soft midsole. The microfiber leather is waterproof (comes with a two-year guarantee), so there’s no need to worry about your feet getting soaked when you’re playing in the early-morning dew or if you get caught in the rain. Meanwhile, the angled nubs on the spikeless rubber outsole provide stability and traction during the swing. The shoe comes in several colors including green, navy blue, light grey, black/gum, white/grey and white/black.

As much as the game’s evolved through the years, at least one thing’s remained unchanged: players grip the club with both hands. It’s why the connection between the hands and golf grip is so crucial. One of the ways to ensure you have a proper hold on the club is to use a fresh, new Cabretta leather glove. In the case of the Callaway Tour Authentic glove, the leather is infused with a special treatment called Griptac™, which creates 20 percent more grip tackiness, for more control, than previous models. The ultra-soft glove also has a moisture-wicking material that lines the cuff so your wrist stays dry, even when you’re sweating. The Tour Authentic comes in medium, medium/large, large, XL and XXL sizes, all in both regular and cadet finger lengths.

Sharp-looking golf shoes never go out of style, and with the added technology behind FootJoy’s flagship shoe, neither do the performance benefits. The textured look and feel of the calfskin leather gives the FootJoy Premiere Series Field shoes a timeless elegance. Beyond its appearance, the model is quite comfortable as well, thanks in large part to the Laser Street last (rounded toe, standard fit in the instep and forefoot, and slightly narrower heel section), cushioned footbed and heel cup that pamper the feet during the round. Meanwhile, the outsole provides plenty of gripping power due to multi-directional, thermoplastic nubs and low-profile spikes. FootJoy takes things a step further by using nubs of differing hardness to suit various playing surfaces. The shoe has a two-year waterproof guarantee and is available in all-white or white with navy blue accents, in medium width (D) or wide (2E). Sizing runs from 8 to 14, with half sizes available.

Have you read the 2024 Golf Digest Hot List? Then you’ve seen the buzz about Callaway’s new A.I.-infused driver technology and how well it performs. In developing the innovative Paradym Ai Smoke family, Callaway’s R&D team captured driver swing data from 250,000 players and ran those numbers through the company’s A.I. supercomputer. Through this extensive testing, they learned a lot about how golfers of all abilities swing the club, which allowed them to develop the Max driver’s “smart face,” which is designed to complement a wide range of swing types or attack angles. In other words, shots that miss the center of the face will perform similarly to center strikes in terms of ball speed and forgiveness. As part of the larger Paradym Ai Smoke family, the Max driver features a moveable weight along the back of the clubhead that allows players to dial in the best setting for their particular swing tendencies. Callaway’s robot testing reveals up to 19 yards of shot-shape difference between the sliding weight in the extreme heel and extreme toe position.

One of the greatest things you can give a golfer in addition to new gear is expert advice from a trusted advisor on how to utilize all the new technology and fine-tune their swing. The PGA and/or LPGA instructors at your local Golf Galaxy store work with people of all abilities, from beginners to scratch-level players.  These Golf Galaxy pros use top-of-the-line Trackman launch monitors, which provide uber-detailed swing and ball data, to help analyze their students’ swings and deliver great results. Instructors can help the player with their short game and putting, too. Individual lessons are $80 and golfers can also save on 3-, 6-, or 10-lesson packages. Golf Galaxy gift cards start at just $5, never expire and can be used online or in-store toward the purchase of products or services!