Father's Day Gift Guide from a pain-in-the-ass-to-shop-for Dad.
Golf gear, men's apparel and accessories that he'll actually want, trust me, I'm picky.
Finding a gift for Father’s Day is always a balancing act between utility and luxury, mostly because dads are famously impossible to shop for and at my age, kind of just get the things we need for ourselves. My testing lab, for golf, gear and menswear, has been a revolving door of gear lately, and I’ve narrowed it down to the things that actually earned their spot in my rotation (or in my golf bag). Here’s the stuff that’s currently winning and what your guy might love to get, because I know he’s not giving you much to go on.
Mack Weldon x Shane Bacon. One of my favorite menswear brands, Mack Weldon, partnered with golf commentator Shane Bacon for his kid’s book The Golfer’s Zoo, so buy any polo and get a copy of the book. It’s super cute, perfect for any dad of younger kids trying to justify getting back out onto the course and getting them into the game. Coming your way, Jack!
Zero Restriction is currently hosting a Father’s Day event; save 20% when you buy any two or more men’s styles by using the code DADZR20 at checkout. It’s the perfect opportunity to snag the best outerwear and performance layers I’ve ever tested, and they have some cool US Open gear in there!
B. Draddy, who have my favorite lightweight golf shirts, are running a Father’s Day sale too. 20% off when you get two or more items from their gift guide, using the code GIFTS. The promotion runs through June 22, so it’s the perfect time to grab some of their luxe, lived-in essentials for dad.
VESSEL makes some great, premium golf bags, and until June 21 they’re offering $100 off all Player V Pro Stand Bags, plus additional savings on select styles and accessories. The Player V Pro is fantastic, I’ve tested it and it’s premium and minimal, with solid club protection and expanded storage for those wanting a high-performance upgrade.
TRUE Linkswear do golf shoes right, from their new zerogravity line, to the minimalist All-Day 4s to the “take no shit” year round OG High. If you spent $100 you get a free pair of slides, which for the sandal-averse like myself are great post-round. Also don’t sleep on their killer polos, pants and Dead Golfer design line.
Turtlebox Ranger Speaker is my new favorite non-Sonos speaker. It’s a rugged, waterproof powerhouse that is the ultimate companion for my golf cart or a weekend at the beach. Waterproof, strong magnets, and killer sound. I have a feeling this one will last.
Mileseey GeneSonic Go GPS is designed specifically for attaching to your bag as a carry golfer. It’s a “handheld” GPS without the hassle of a phone app, that’s sleek in design, almost Apple-like in simplicity. The Pro version comes with a dock for the handheld that is a powerful bluetooth speaker itself, with magnets for the cart.
Callaway USA 250 Balls. Look, this sestercentennial is going to be a weird one with how the country is trending, but Callaway Supersoft balls are great, and this is a fun design (on the heels of their cool Azalea and Retro collection, too). Other great gear, and you can’t go wrong with Opus wedges either. Every guy needs new wedges.
Herschel Supply’s Watt Sunday Bag, as I wrote about before, is shockingly well-constructed and incredibly light. As a walking golfer who prefers a minimalist setup, they kind of nailed it. With a stylish, modern aesthetic and enough storage for my essentials, I’m really loving their new line for golf.
OGIO Featherlite Travel Cover. My current carry is the OGIO Featherlite, and it has a performance travel cover that manages to be both heavy-duty and surprisingly light. It’s a little different than other travel bags for golf clubs, with this unique “reinforced wall” you velcro into the top instead of a stability rod, but I really like how it sits upright and how much room it has for being more compact than my Ghost Golf AWOL.
Payntr Golf Shoes are engineered for comfort and stability with no break-in or fuss needed. They aren’t casual though, these are golf shoes not sneakers, so they’re for a golfer who walks a lot and doesn’t want to think about their footwear at all (the set-it-and-forget-it of golf shoes). I love all the varieties I have tried, from 001 to the 005, and especially the Moving Days; they combine a technical, performance-driven design and are just handsome and somewhere between classic and modern.
Boast Tennis, but also for Golf. And to clarify, it’s a Japanese Maple Leaf logo, but it definitely looks like that other one and I can’t wait to turn heads with it when I eventually take my wife up on learning tennis. The fresh irreverence, modern and retro, that Boast brings to classic country club style is really cool, and their technical material workout-ish gear is just as good for golf or weekends as the clay court. Start with a polo but don’t sleep on some of the more fashionable items.
Stitch Fix Personal Styling. Give Dad the gift of time by letting a professional stylist curate a “Fix” specifically for his body type and taste. It’s an effortless way for him to refresh his wardrobe with high-quality pieces. I’m in the middle of a trial and will report back soon.
HyperNatural Cooling Polo is a new brand to me, and they sent me a shirt to try out. Crafted from a unique plastic-free, cooling fabric, these shirts offer a sustainable and incredibly soft alternative to synthetic performance wear. So far they’re insanely comfortable, we’ll see this summer how they hold up to the humidity on the course.
Mizzen+Main Helmsman Pants are 5-pocket pants are already joining the rotation with my beloved G/FORE 5 pockets, and seem a little bit more structured overall for those who want stretch but fabric integrity too.
Proof 72-Hour Merino Polos from Huckberry is built to withstand humidity and multiple wears without losing its shape or freshness, and I’m going to test that this summer but it fits great so far and I love the feel. Proof makes some awesome stuff over at Huckberry, and they have a full Father’s Day shop of curated stuff I love.
Weatherman make THE best umbrellas and a top-tier one for golf (and hell, for commuting). A gift no one will buy themselves but changes everything. Seriously the best in the biz, and on Amazon!
Bandit Running. Another thing your man won’t buy himself but you should is quality workout gear. Founded in Brooklyn, Bandit is running-forward but I love their stuff for yoga, active days in the sun and the gym. A must-have few items for a cool dad no matter what his mile time is.
Brunch Slippers. I got sent a pair of these to try out and loved them, even on my giant feet (the 14’s fit me well!). They give me that hotel feeling even when I’m stuck at my desk.
Radmor Golf is awesome, their polos just don’t fit me as well as other brands. As a tall guy, it’s mostly in length, but I love their stuff, the design is for a discerning eye with subtlety and minimalism.
[Editor’s Note: There may be affiliate links above. Be cool.]