Everyday Items Golfers Swear By On and Off the Course

It’s often been said that golf is a reflection of life. Golfers love their gear, but the obsession with the game goes deeper than clubs, balls, gloves, shoes. etc. Every player has a few everyday items that follow them from the house to the range to the first tee. Some are practical, some are quirky, some barely make sense to anyone else, yet they end up being the things we trust the most. In this guide, I’ll walk you through some the essentials golfers swear by both on and off the course, the overlooked pieces that make all of our games better.

A Great Sweater

Everyone looks better in a sweater. Seriously, I mean everyone. A great sweater is a staple in A LOT of players’ bags, and it needs to be one in yours, too. Easy to go on and easy to come off, a sweater fits easily into your golf bag and wardrobe, and can make the difference in a number of situations and climates. A sweater is the Swiss army knife of your game (and life) and can take you from the office, boardroom, course, clubhouse, and just about anywhere else in style. If you’re looking for one, the Sully 1/4 Zip Pullover from Johnnie-O is a fantastic option.

Classic Sunglasses

JFK. Cary Grant. Audrey Hepburn: enough said. Whether you like it or not and whether you know it or not, just about everyone is defined by how good their sunglass game is or isn’t, and look, everyone has sunglasses. That being said, everyone deserves a sick pair of sunglasses. For far too long, golf has been plagued by the now ubiquitous way-too-sporty (hideous) Oakleys, and it’s time for them to go. You need a pair of sunglasses that are going to do more than fit your game, you need a pair that fit your life— sunglasses that take you beyond the game. I speak from personal experience, my sunglasses go with me everywhere, and I always feel a little cooler with them on. Worn on and off course by JFK himself, the American Optical Saratoga is a solid pair of frames for a variety of face shapes.

Leatherman

I mentioned a Swiss Army Knife earlier but who needs a Swiss Army Knife when you can have a Leatherman? Growing up, my dad was a lineman at a large utility company and on the job and around the house, his Leatherman was on him at all times. Let me tell you, it’s the same for me. This thing does everything and more. I wish I could tell you how many times this has come in handy on the course (it’s more than you think) because you genuinely never know when you might need it. The leatherman holds a permanent place in my golf bag and life.

Backpack/Carryall

Your golf bag can’t carry everything and you don’t need to carry everything with you on-course. The beauty of golf is that oftentimes we’re traveling to beautiful places in beautiful parts of the world. When traveling, whether for work or pleasure, you’re going to bring stuff with you, and for that, you need a good backpack or carryall. Seen in pro shops all around the country, I can’t think of a better option than the Jones A2 Backpack.

Snacks

We all need to eat. One of life’s simplest and greatest pleasures is having a great snack. I don’t think much needs to be said here except snacking is even better when it’s tasty and healthy. For a great snack whether you’re golfing or not, I can’t recommend the Quest Barbecue Protein Chips enough. These things are delicious and pack 19 grams of protein per bag at only 140 calories a serving. Improve your game, get your gains.