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The Rife TwoBar Hybrid women's putter is new for 2008. (Courtesy of Rife)

Mother's Day golf gifts - because we owe her big-time!

By Kiel Christianson,
Equipment Editor and Senior Writer

From golf gear to books and fashion, WorldGolf.com offers a few gift ideas for your golfing mom this Mother's Day.

It's been a long, cold, flu-bitten winter, and many mothers spent it nursing their children and spouses back to health. Time for Mom to take a little "me" time and reward herself with sun and fun on the links. For those of us walking this earth today thanks to our mothers (and for those of you who failed biology, that would be everyone), here are a few suggestions of ways to bring golfing moms everywhere a little joy on Mother's Day, May 11.

The basics

Sometimes, it's the basic necessities in life that bring the purest joy. And what, pray tell, could be more basic than tees and balls?

The epoch golf tee is the newest in a breed of tees designed to reduce friction with the ball, improving distance and direction. The materials are biodegradable, mower-friendly and far more durable than wooden tees. And they've been used by the winners of 99 professional Tour events since their introduction in 2004 (MSRP $7/50 tees).

Crospete Sports has introduced the Neutron Chromax golf ball (MSRP $19/half-dozen). These little beauties are metallic-hued and multi-colored.

They don't just look good, either. They perform as well as any of the low- to mid-range plain old white balls on the market, and they'll give Mom some pizzazz on the links.

Golf fashion

With new golf fashions finally catching up to off-course fashion trends, Mom will want a new outfit or two for her weekly round with the girls.

Is your mom more of the sporty type or the frilly type? If the former, she might just be mistaken for Annika Sorenstam on the course in Callaway's line of women's wear. Black and aqua are big colors this year.

If she's more of a girly-girl, LIJA by Linda Hipp brings the runway to the fairway. Bold colors and very feminine, form-fitting lines are the hallmarks of Hipp's designs.

Off the course, there's hardly a mom alive who doesn't appreciate a snazzy handbag, and keri golf has a new line of stylish totes (MSRP $115), like the Neopolitan Stripe Tote, that can be matched with their fashion-forward golf bags.

On the greens

What would make Mom more happy than running in a few more long putts and shaving some points from her handicap? Rife Putters have a brand new women's putter, the TwoBar Hybrid (MSRP $200), which features adjustable weights, eye-guiding alignment aids and a pink putter face and striped sole-plate. With loads of Tour success to its credit, Rife is possibly the best putter you've never heard of.

Off the course

For those rainy days - or simply those nights soaking in a hot bubble bath with scented candles and a glass of chardonnay - some reading material would be ideal. And what could be more ideal to relax with than a book about how to relax on the golf course? Michael Shingleton's Peace and Par: Enjoying Golf in the Here and Now is a reflective, easily accessible self-published guide to staying in the now on the course (and in life) and enjoying the beauty of the moment ($13, booksurge.com).

Spa & golf escapes

Does Mom deserve more pampering than her own bathtub? If so, golf resorts across the country are adding spa facilities to cater to both golfing and non-golfing women (and men, but that's a whole other gift guide).

From the Oak Terrace Resort & Spa in tiny Pana, Ill. (www.OakTerraceResort.com), to the Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort in Cumberland, Md. (www.rockygapresort.com), less than 100 miles outside our nation's capitol, there's a golf and spa destination within reach.

Thanks for everything, Mom, and enjoy. ('Cause we're going to need you to take care of us next cold and flu season!)

More photos

May 7, 2008

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.