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The Madison golf shoe by Sandbaggers will brighten up even Mom's darkest day on the course. (Courtesy of Sandbaggers)

Keep Momma happy with these golf gifts this Mother's Day

By Kiel Christianson,
Senior Writer

Golf can make your day or completely ruin your week. A great round will put you on the top of the world. A bad one will deflate your day like a sad, withered balloon.

So the way I figure it, the nicest thing we can do for the golfing moms in our lives is to help ensure that they play as well as possible this season. As the old saying goes, "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

Here is a collection of golf gifts for this Mother's Day that will help Mom play better and feel better - and by extension, make all of our lives a little brighter.

"A Girl's On-Course Survival Guide to Golf" and PowerSwing Trainer

In very few sports are the physical, psychological and social elements of life so intricately interwoven as in golf. Author Christina Ricci's "A Girl's On-Course Survival Guide to Golf" ($20, www.golfsurvivalguide.com) steers women golfers through the complex, male-dominated maze that is golf.

With women who carry a 10+ handicaps in mind, Ricci has also developed instructional DVDs, one of which, "I Want More Distance Now," is available for free with the purchase of the Golf Gym PowerSwing Trainer ($40, www.golfgym.com). This is one gift that will give Mom the edge in body, mind, and spirit.

Women On Course

For many golfers and women in particular, golf is not only a sport, it's a social event. The conversation and camaraderie found in golf are afforded by precious few other activities.

Women on Course (www.womenoncourse.com) is an online golf community just for women, whether they are new to the game or experienced golfers. For a yearly subscription fee of $125, members receive access to and information about golf fashion shows, wine tastings, playing tips, discounts/deals on golf outings and invitations to golf events around the country.

Sandbaggers Show Boutique

Not only does golf allow for great fellowship, it also allows players to express their own personal style more so than in any other sport. Shoes might not quite make the golfer, but a cute pair of new golf shoes will take the sting out of Mom's next bad round and make her next good one even more fun.

Sandbaggers Shoe Boutique (www.hersandbaggers.com) offers a range of styles and colors that are so eye-catching and comfy Mom will not want to take them off after her round (most styles $135).

Shaft Skinz

Staying on the style train for one more stop, we get to Shaft Skinz (www.shaftskinz.com). These adhesive designs fit any club shaft and come in dozens of styles and colors ($16/pack of 4), allowing Mom to completely personalize her clubs.

And if you think these are pure gimmicks for rank beginners, think again: Players on the LPGA and PGA Tours have adorned their sticks with Shaft Skinz.

RoboCup practice aid

For most golfers, just looking good on the course isn't enough, though. If you want to give Mom a gift that will have lasting effects on her game, make her practice easier and more fun.

RoboCup ($50, www.finetunegolf.com) is a practice aid for the green that fits into any hole and automatically pops the ball back to you to eliminate bending over. RoboCup was named Best New Product at the 56th PGA Merchandise Show.

Armand de Brignac Champagne

Does Mom like a glass of bubbly now and then? If so, score extra points with her by splurging on a bottle of Armand de Brignac Champagne ($300).

Armand de Brignac is produced by the award-winning Champagne Cattier chateau of Chigny-les-Roses, France, where the Cattier family has owned and cultivated vineyards since 1763. And this year, they produced a limited-edition green bottle in honor of the 75th Masters Championship, the first of which was presented to 2009 Masters Champ Angel Cabrera.

Yes, that's right. If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

So that we can all be happy this Mother's Day, help her feel better, look better, play better and have more fun on the course.

And if none of that works, get her tipsy.

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May 4, 2009

Kiel Christianson has lived, worked, traveled and golfed extensively on three continents. As senior writer and equipment editor for WorldGolf.com, he has reviewed courses, resorts, and golf academies from California to Ireland. Read his golf blog here.