My email inbox often serves as a clearinghouse for the PR reps of every crackpot, half-baked, trivial, ridiculous and downright unnecessary golf contraption known to mankind. Time and space constraints prevent me from any sort of comprehensive listing, but rest assured, there are people out there this minute trying to trumpet a new improved tee, glove, divot repair tool, “magic pendant,” ball marker, fake-driver-that-doubles-as-urinal, and a hundred other harebrained golf-oriented schemes. Silly.

Once in awhile though, something comes down the cyber-pike well worth one’s time and attention. Tin Cup is a clever name, and a brilliant concept. Cover your golf ball with this half-circle stencil, color in the design of your choice, and voila! You have a “custom imprinted” golf ball at a sliver of a fraction of the price of custom-imprinted golf balls.

If you don’t like any of the whimsical designs offered in stock, (Rhino, Shark, Shamrock, Cross, Crown, Dog, Martini, horseshoe, etc.) they’ll create one for you to your own specs.

In short, it’s a perfect golf gadget—inexpensive, useful and innovative. Visit www.tin-cup.com to see what I mean.