Father's Day Gift Guide

By: Joel Zuckerman

As it so often does, Father's Day coincides with the final round of this year's U.S. Open. Our most prestigious national golf championship will be contested at Chambers Bay near Tacoma, Wash., a modern links-style golf course that few of the contestants have ever seen, and many golf fans have never heard about.

By the same token, what are the odds of you getting your dad a Father's Day gift that he's never seen, or heard about? Any old U.S. Open can be held at Oakmont, Winged Foot or Pebble Beach. And any routine Father's Day gift can be a tie, a wallet or a pair of cufflinks. Check out some of these unusual items, interspersed among the tried-and-true. Your dad (or granddad) will appreciate both the thoughtfulness and the imagination.

Here's my expertise regarding blenders: Last month I made a kale smoothie. For dinner. Five nights consecutively. No kidding.

Blendtec is the Ferrari of the field, its pulverizing power unmatched, durable, unbreakable, with an ultra-high-speed motor. Easy to clean, easy to use and will reduce ice-block-consistency ice cream into a creamy milkshake in no time flat. Or in my case, macerate the kale, green apple, protein powder, ice, almond milk and walnuts in my proprietary blend into something resembling a McDonald's St. Patrick's Day shake, but a concoction that is actually nutritionally sound, and good for you. www.blendtec.com

Sun Mountain is the gold standard for easy-carrying golf bags, state-of-the-art push carts and stylish outerwear. They also produce a dynamite club carrier for air travel called the ClubGlider, which is the most matter-of-fact and accurate product name since the Heavy Putter. This is the only golf travel bag that offers extendable and retractable legs and wheels to support 100 percent of the weight. Wrestling with these rolling coffins is one of the downsides of dragging your sticks to the far corners of the game. But this innovative product makes walking from baggage claim to rental car or taxi as effortless as a two-inch tap-in. The extendable legs also eliminate the need to set the bag down and pick it back up every time the check-in line moves three feet. www.sunmountain.com

Speaking of packing for a golf trip, no matter how spacious your travel bag might be, it's always nice to keep things light and flexible. Ecco Golf makes a wonderful hybrid, a golf-lifestyle shoe appropriate for the course, the 19th hole, dinner at the pub, even on the overseas, overnight journey. Their Casual Hybrid combines trend-setting silhouettes, premium materials and advanced technologies. The shoes are highly water-repellent and include the option for extra width through a special leather inlay sole. www.eccousa.com

Speaking of traveling overseas, for those who've never made the trek, it can be cold, windy and rainy. Furthermore, cart girls, even halfway houses, are as rare as cloudless, balmy days. For those needing a bit of "fortification," mid-round, perhaps one of these unique flasks from Tattoo Golf will fit the bill. Nearly 50 styles, several of which are golf-themed (many more are booze-or-bawdy-themed) are available. Stainless steel, slim profile for the lightest golf bag, waterproof and laminated are just some of its attributes. Just add firewater and celebrate (or commiserate) during that great (or god-awful) round. www.tattoogolf.com

Speaking of god-awful overseas rounds, here's one thing you don't want to do: Buy golf balls in the UK. If you're spraying pellets hither and yon, be sure you've packed enough ammo to avoid the unnecessary expense of paying premium prices for premium balls. Just like your American Express card, don't leave home without a couple dozen Bridgestone balls. Their B330-RX is the original Tour-level ball designed for amateur swing speeds. Offering premium urethane feel on and around the greens, but optimized with a core that is easier to fully compress at moderate swing speeds off the tee, they offer optimum distance off the tee and incredible feel and control in the short-game. www.bridgestonegolf.com

Only those readers compelled to propel themselves forward on two wheels can understand this dilemma. Bicycling, either on the road or the trail, is both great fun and great exercise. It can be even more enjoyable with musical accompaniment. However it's courting danger to have an iPod or any type of ear buds piping music into one's head, compromising the ability to hear vehicular traffic. That's where the Scosche Boom Bottle comes in. This is a sturdy, weather-proof, high-quality Bluetooth-capable speaker, about the size and weight of a flashlight, which fits in the water bottle cage of any bike. Just pair it with the music app on your Smartphone, and enjoy the tunes while still remaining cognizant of cars, trucks, other bikers and any wildlife you might encounter. www.scosche.com

I know that Mother's Day was last month, but here's a twist for that golf-loving wife of yours. While fatherhood status allows you to reap the bounty on June 21st, perhaps turn the tables a bit and give your better half a brand new pair of New Balance Golf Shoes. Women generally love to get new shoes, and if you're lucky to be married to a stick swinger, a light (less than seven ounces) colorful pair of NBGW1001 shoes might really brighten her day. They feature a breathable, water-resistant mesh upper with no-sew synthetic overlays. Great cushioning and premium responsiveness while an Ortholite&® insole provide cool, dry comfort close to the foot. Spring a pair on her, and with all the goodwill you'll accrue, maybe she'll give you permission to skip the yard work, and head out for a late-afternoon nine. www.newbalance.com

Talk about all the right moves. Under Armour hit the jackpot when they signed Jordan Spieth as the face of their golf line, inking a four-year deal when he turned pro in 2013. When they did so, it was likely that eight of 10 avid golfers had very little or absolutely no idea who he was. Then the company had the prescience to extend the deal this past January for an additional decade, just a few months before he turned the golf world on its collective ear at Augusta National. Now, virtually everyone who plays the game is familiar with and impressed by this gentlemanly prodigy, our reigning Masters champ. None of us will ever get to wear a Green Jacket, but the high-tech, colorful, innovative and stylish golf shirts (and presumably the shorts he wears when away from the PGA Tour) are available to the masses. www.underarmour.com

If it wasn't for Bobby Jones, young Mr. Spieth wouldn't be the darling of the golf world today. Among his numerous accomplishments as a scholar, a statesman, a golf champion and a gentleman, not to mention his founding of both Augusta National and the Masters, Jones was also a snazzy dresser. That ethos continues some 45 years after his passing, with the Bobby Jones Spring 15 1930 Collection of woven shirts. These are the epitome of style and class, offered in a luxurious linen construction that make them suitable for the course, clubhouse or boardroom. Vivid gingham and plaid patterns lend a modern yet sophisticated style to any wardrobe. It's doubtless that Jones himself would have worn these quality garments with pride and panache. www.bobbyjones.com

Here's a fun fact: Maui Jim Sunglasses are mostly manufactured in Peoria, Ill. But don't think because the sun isn't constantly shining at this Midwestern location means the shades they produce are anything but first-rate. Their Frigate model's rimless frame is designed with a consumer favorite feature called MauiPure - extreme lightweight durability and scratch-resistant. Maui HT lens technology is best in full sun to overcast, with the highest useable light transmission for distance viewing. Like all Maui Jim sunglasses, Frigate offers the highest performing optics available with patented PolarizedPlus2 lens technology. www.mauijim.com

Finally, if you're styling with cool shades, high-tech golf togs, classy button-downs and the like don't mar the image with a worn-out belt. Too many individuals show the vagaries of their expanding (rarely contracting) waistline with those telltale "notches" on a traditional belt. Mission Belts alleviate that situation entirely, because they don't have holes! These are genuine leather belts, available in dozens of eye-catching colors that are adjustable every quarter-inch with a unique ratchet system so you get the perfect fit every time. Look good and feel good currently, because a dollar from every belt purchase goes to fighting hunger and poverty worldwide through micro-lending (KIVA). www.missionbelt.com

Joel Zuckerman is an award-winning travel writer based in Savannah, Ga., and Park City, Utah. He is the only two-time winner of the Book of the Year Award as bestowed by the International Network of Golf. His most recent Book of the Year winner is titled "Pro's Pros - Extraordinary Club Professionals Making Golf Great," which took this prestigious honor in January 2014. This is the first-ever golf book to shine the spotlight on the beating heart of golf - the unsung, yet hard-working club professional. His next project, slated for release in early 2016, is titled "Golfers Giving Back," which will be an unprecedented look at some of the nation's most exceptional charity golf tournaments. 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 any of his books, visit www.vagabondgolfer.com.

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