2014 Holiday Gift Guide

By: Joel Zuckerman

The connection between golf and skiing runs deep, well beyond the outdoor nature of the pursuits, the relative expense of the equipment and the fact that participants must "pay for play" when they stride to the tee box or glide towards the chairlift.

There are certainly professional skiers who are golfers - this is pure fact. I have shared the fairway with World Cup stalwart Fabienne Suter in Italy, and if she hit as many trees with planks on her feet as she does with errant golf shots, she's likely to have seen her last podium.

But big-time golfers who slide on snow? That's an easier list to compile. Years back, Phil Mickelson famously broke his leg while schussing at the Arizona Snow Bowl. David Duval was well-known for his Colorado-based snowboarding habit; less known is that Davis Love III spends time in Idaho's Sun Valley doing the same thing. And this correspondent has personally visited with a Gore-Tex-clad Bernhard Langer hanging out at the base of Park City Mountain Resort in Utah. When expressing surprise at the incongruity of seeing the two-time Masters champ at the base of a ski hill, the German eyed me coolly from beneath his ski cap, replying, "I've been skiing my whole life."

So in the spirit of Langer, we present a golf-and-ski-themed Holiday Gift Guide:

Rossignol Skis are an industry benchmark - much like TaylorMade drivers, the Titleist Pro-V or Ping putters. Their Experience 88 sets a new standard in all-mountain versatility and performance for confident all-mountain skiers. If you can traverse a ski hill without fearfully consulting a trail map at every fork in the road, these are the skis for you. This high-performance carving machine features a rounder tip profile and longer, more progressive rocker for enhanced float and control, delivering elevated all-mountain performance across all terrain and snow conditions. www.rossignol.com

The Epic Pass might be the most aptly named product since the Heavy Putter. For the price of about seven days on the hill, lucky pass-holders have unlimited, season-long access to a dozen of the most iconic resorts in the west: Vail, Breckenridge and Beaver Creek in Colorado; Park City and Canyons in Utah; Heavenly and Northstar in the California Sierras, and many others. It is an unprecedented bargain. The Catch: Act Fast! - the Epic Pass disappears for the season as of November 23rd. www.epicpass.com

Mountain Khakis are not ski clothing; no Gore-Tex, Velcro or neon colors involved. However, they are top-notch apres ski clothing, none better than their Peaks Flannel button-down shirt. This is a casual-fit, wool-poly-Lycra blend for next-to-skin comfort, quick-dry performance and maximum range of motion. With antique silver-reinforced buttons and two chevron chest pockets, it's appropriate for dinner in an elegant mountain lodge, or just to throw on after an extended hot-tub session. www.mountainkhakis.com

Bobby Jones, a true son of the South, was never known as a snow-sports aficionado, unlike some of the famed modern golfers mentioned earlier. But some of his ultra-high-quality casual clothing doubles down as winter wear. Perhaps there is nothing more appropriate for sitting by the fire than the Bobby Jones Double Closure Windbreaker/Sweater, made with an 80 percent lamb's wool exterior and 20 percent nylon interior. Classic on the outside, modern on the inside, soft to the touch, and providing warmth and added protection on those brisk winter days. www.bobbyjones.com

Sun Mountain has nothing to do with mountains, but everything to do with some of the best golf bags money can buy, or golfers can carry. Though its niche has long been walker-friendly bags, their C-130S is a hybrid of the Montana company's top-selling cart bag, with the addition of legs for those who play cart golf but enjoy a stand-bag on the practice range, or to walk a short loop. From the dedicated purist to the legions of "cart-ballers" among us, Sun Mountain has all bases covered. www.sunmountain.com

Mission Belts have no holes, and therefore no unsightly lines emblazoned in the leather, imprinted over time, showing the vagaries of weight gain and weight loss. Their ratchet system (in lieu of holes) is sleek and smooth, and the belts are colorful, functional and ultramodern, with a simplistic design and intuitive functionality. What's more, the company donates a dollar to fight global hunger each time a belt is sold. You don't put up with holes in your socks, and after wearing one of these for a short while you'll no longer want holes in your belt. www.missionbelt.com

UV Skinz were created by a clever and driven woman whose husband lost a battle to skin cancer in his early 30s. This unique brand of sun-resistant clothing is perfect for sunny days on the course, or in a long-sleeve version, for spring skiing, when the temps are high and the UV rating higher still. Their Half Zip Sun Shirt is made from a lightweight, breathable-knit pique fabric and flatlock-stitched seams throughout for ultimate comfort. Certified UPF 50+ for the best sun protection available. www.UVSkinz.com

Swany Gloves are durable, supple, breathable, good-looking, insulated and, most importantly, warm as a campfire. The downside is they are much more expensive than a typical golf glove. The upside is you won't get that annoying hole in the palm from improperly holding your ski pole that oftentimes occurs with a golf glove on the first or second wearing when you improperly grip your golf club! www.swanyamerica.com

Green Sleeve is a doohickey you never knew existed, but serves to make life around the green a bit easier. This tube-like ball and wedge cleaner is pocket-sized, and eliminates the need to carry a damp towel to the green. It is a hollow, fabric-covered hose, and the microfiber technology inside the sleeve works best when slightly damp. It cleans the golf ball and wedge grooves quite efficiently, removing dirt, mud or sand particles. It comes in a wide range of colors, styles and with a myriad of customization options. www.greensleevegolf.com

Joel Zuckerman, called "One of the Southeast's most respected and sought-after golf writers" by Golfer's Guide Magazine, is an award-winning travel writer based in Savannah, Ga. His seventh and latest book, entitled "Pro's Pros - Extraordinary Club Professionals Making Golf Great!" was released in June 2013. This is the first-ever golf book to shine the spotlight on the beating heart of golf - the unsung, yet hard-working club professional. Joel's course reviews, player profiles, essays and features have appeared in 110 publications, including Sports Illustrated, Golf, Continental Magazine and Delta's Sky Magazine. He has played more than 800 courses in 40-plus states and a dozen countries. For more about Joel, or to order this unique new book, visit www.vagabondgolfer.com.

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