12/17/2020 - By Geoff Johansen and Tyler Otero

With the Thanksgiving turkey in the rearview and less than two weeks until Christmas, it is officially the holiday season. As many of your traditions begin to take place, one of the most hallowed traditions is gift giving. As we scour the stores or spend time shopping online to find the perfect gift, it becomes a task to figure out that one present that will be unique. When it comes to picking out gifts for people in the golf industry (golf course superintendents), the endeavor can become overwhelming.  If you’re in the market for rewarding yourself for another successful season or your significant other keeps bugging you about what you want, we’ve got a list of ideas to help you out.

Please Note: Harrell's is not selling, giving, or endorsing these products.

Industry-Related Gifts

• Drones – The popularity of using drones for golf course maintenance is increasing every month.  There are a few services out there that you can hire to fly your course, or you can experiment on your own.  There are thousands of options out there, so some research is required, but a popular one for a golf course is the Mavic 2 Pro Quadcopter from DJI.  Please check your state and local regulations on flying drones before purchasing.
• Waterproof Work Shoes – Standard work boots are still very popular within the industry, but we have noticed a shift to some of you looking for a more comfortable, sneaker-like shoe that can withstand the elements.  Take a look at brands such as Adidas, Keen, Merrell, Salomon, The North Face, or Oboz for comfortable and dry options.
• Noise Cancelling Earbuds/Headphones – This is still a hot-button topic amongst superintendents, but for those who allow earbuds or headphones, be sure to check out ones such as Apple AirPod Pro, Bose QuietComfort, 3M Worktunes, or any in the ISOtunes lineup.
• Work Gloves – Here is an item that you can treat yourself and/or your entire crew with.  Online sources like Galeton or Amazon have a broad offering of styles of work gloves.  They typically offer volume pricing as well.  Latex palm coated ones are always popular with crew members.
• Clip-on Photo Lenses for Smartphone – We are seeing more and more superintendents having a passion for photography.  Why not upgrade the already high-quality photos our phones can take?  Look at brands such as CoPedvic, Olloclip, or Moment for quality lenses at affordable prices.

  

Gifts for Free Time

We realize that golf course superintendents don’t get an abundance of free time to spend outside of work, but if you do manage a few days away here and there, check out these ideas to help you out:

• Running shoes – If getting into shape or staying in shape is one of your New Year’s resolutions, then check out one of the top-rated running shoes on the market.  The Reebok’s Forever Floatride Energy II is an amazing, budget-friendly option that delivers for runners of all levels. The retail cost of this shoe will not break the bank, but this lightweight shoe offers plenty of protection and bounce thanks to foam made from steam-molded thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) beads.
• Unique Bluetooth Speaker – Infinity Orb is offering a levitating Bluetooth speaker. The magnetic levitating speaker is a stunning Bluetooth 4.0 speaker that suspends in mid-air and projects different colors when activated. The sphere can also be used as a standalone speaker without a base, and the base illuminates continuously with different-colored LED lights. The speaker retails for under $100 and provides a gift that will satisfy any tech-gadget aficionado.

  

• Fly Fishing Rod and Reel – If you are looking to pick up a relaxing new hobby or want to upgrade your current setup, pick up a Sage Foundation Outfit.  This company is not the oldest around, but they have been making high-quality rods and reels for 40 years right here in the USA.  This combo set is made to last.
• New Golf Clubs – The number one set of irons in 2020 is the Taylor Made P790 Irons. These irons rate at the top of many of the 2020 lists, including the Golf Digest Hot List. The P790 irons retail for around $1300.00 for the set, but pack powerful performance into a clean, classic design to deliver breakthrough distance in a player’s iron.  Talk to your pro and maybe he can get you an end of year discount.

The Holiday Season is the greatest time of year. It allows families and friends to celebrate each other and to give and receive gifts. If you are giving gifts to the golf course superintendent in your life or treating yourself, these are some exceptional ideas to satisfy anyone’s tastes.

Happy Holidays from everyone at Harrell’s!!