Father's Day lands on 21 June and the golf-mad dad is the easiest man on earth to buy for, if you know what's actually good. So here it is, laddered by budget. Under £15: the gag gifts and stocking-filler consumables that get a laugh on the day and still get used, from the exploding balls to plant on his mates to the glove and balls that are the safest gifts in golf. £25 to £60: the sweet spot, the putting trainer every pro on Instagram uses, the beer-can headcover for the tee-box photos, the gift-boxed flask and the decanter set that photographs like it cost triple. And if the kids are chipping in together: the budget rangefinder he'll use every round for years, the GPS watch, or golf beer pong for the garden. Every pick is something I'd genuinely be happy to unwrap.
The FootJoy WeatherSof is the default all-rounder glove, a mostly synthetic (FiberSof) build with leather patches on the thumb and palm, aimed at anyone who wants a grippy, sweat-proof glove that lasts without paying leather money.
What's great
This is the one I reach for on hot, sweaty rounds and it just works. The synthetic shell shrugs off moisture and stays grippy when a full-leather glove would go slick and crispy, and it genuinely outlasts cabretta, often by a fair margin. The leather patches on the thumb and palm give you proper hold where it counts, the all-weather versatility is the real selling point, and as a multi-pack it is daft value. Reviewers and owners back this up, it is the world's biggest-selling glove for good reason.
Worth knowing
It is not for purists, the feel through the fingertips isn't as pure as a full-leather glove like the StaSof and you will notice if that's your thing. Two real gripes from owners, not nitpicks: sizing runs small, so size up if you're between, and there's a genuine batch-quality wobble where the top layer can start peeling around the fingers after only a few rounds, with some saying recent gloves feel thinner and stretch out of fit faster than the ones from a few years back. Quality control feels like a lottery.
The verdict
I rate it as the smart everyday and wet-weather pick, buy the multi-pack, size up, and rotate them. Just don't expect buttery leather feel, and accept the odd dud.
Novelty funny golf socks: a cotton-poly crew sock with a cheeky print (angry golfers, "hole in one" gags, course scenes) aimed squarely at the gift pile. This is a stocking-filler for the mate who has every gadget already, not a performance bit of kit.
What's great
As a laugh, they nail it. The frustrated-golfer and rude-caption designs genuinely raise a smile, and owners consistently buy them as gifts that land well. The common blend (roughly 70 percent cotton with a bit of poly and elastane) is soft enough for a full eighteen, has decent stretch so they hold their shape, and the ribbed cuff stays up reasonably well during a round. For the money they punch above their weight as a bit of fun, and most reviewers rate the print quality and the fact each figure on the better sets is different.
Worth knowing
These are novelty first, sock second. The knit is thin with little to no arch support or cushioning, so anyone wanting proper performance or plantar support should look elsewhere. Sizing is the big one: a lot are sold as one-size or a wide range (UK 9-12 style), which runs loose and slides down on smaller feet. Printed designs can fade or bobble if you tumble dry hot rather than wash cool and air dry, and the thin fabric means they wear quicker than a dedicated sports sock. Buy for the gag, not the green.
The verdict
I rate these as a gift, not as golf gear. Get them for the laugh and the wrap, wash them gently, but if your mate actually wants comfort over four hours on the course, pair them with a proper performance pair.
A golf ball turned into a bottle opener, either a real ball machined onto a steel opener plate (the BeerWedge type) or a moulded ball with a magnet built in. Aimed at the golfer who wants a daft, on-brand way to crack a beer at the 19th or on the fridge.
What's great
The good ones are genuinely satisfying. A real golf ball machined onto a stainless steel plate has proper weight in the hand, and owners consistently say it feels like quality rather than tat. The carabiner versions clip straight onto your bag, so you have got an opener with you on the course instead of hunting for a lighter or a buddy's tee. The magnetic fridge versions double as a cap catcher, which is a nice touch for the man cave. As a stocking filler or fourball gift it lands every time, because it actually works and it makes people grin.
Worth knowing
It is a novelty, so judge it as one. The cheap moulded ABS versions feel hollow and light, the magnets are often weaker than the listing claims, and a thin pressed-steel lip can flex or bend if you lean on it. The carabiner is a keyring clip, not climbing gear, so do not trust it to hold anything heavy. The standout real-ball ones (BeerWedge from Buffalo BottleCraft) drift in and out of stock, so you are often left choosing between generic Amazon clones of varying quality. And let's be honest, it opens a bottle no better than the opener already on your fridge.
The verdict
A proper grin of a gift that does the one job it claims. Spend a bit more for a real-golf-ball-and-steel version, skip the hollow plastic clones, and do not expect it to be the best opener you own, just the most golf one.
A novelty bathroom golf set, the classic gag gift: a thin putting mat that wraps round the base of the loo, a tiny extendable putter, a couple of balls, a cup and flag, and usually a "Do Not Disturb" door hanger. Aimed squarely at white elephant, Secret Santa and stocking-filler territory for the golf mate in your life.
What's great
For what it is, it genuinely lands the laugh, and that is the entire job. Setup is nothing, you drop the mat round the toilet, plant the cup and you are putting in seconds, and it fits most standard loos fine. Owners consistently say it is a reliable crowd-pleaser at parties and gift exchanges, and the kids tend to love it too. As a cheap, low-effort gift that gets a proper chuckle on the day, it does exactly what it says.
Worth knowing
Do not mistake this for actual putting practice. The putter is a flimsy bit of extendable plastic, the mat is thin with no real roll, and the balls are too light to behave like anything resembling a golf ball, so it teaches you nothing about your stroke. Novelty wears off within a few uses and then it lives in a cupboard. Quality is hit and miss across the many near-identical listings, and a recurring gripe is parts (usually the putter or balls) turning up missing in the box, so check the contents before you wrap it.
The verdict
I rate it for exactly one thing, a cheap gift that gets a laugh, and nothing more. Buy it as a gag, not as a present someone will actually use twice, and give the box a quick check for missing bits before you hand it over.
A set of magnetic enamel ball markers in rude or funny designs, sat on a hat clip, aimed at the golfer who likes a bit of banter on the green and treats their kit as part of the joke. Classic stocking-filler and impulse buy.
What's great
For what it is, it does the job a plain marker does with a lot more personality. The hat clip is the genuinely useful bit, the marker lives on your cap peak and snaps off when you need it, so no patting your pockets on the green. They get a laugh off the first tee, they photograph well, and the rude designs are exactly the sort most polite club shops won't stock. As a cheap gift that actually gets used rather than shoved in a drawer, it's hard to fault.
Worth knowing
This is a generic import, so quality is a lottery and the magnet is where it bites. Owner reviews repeatedly flag weak magnets that drop the marker mid-round, sometimes after one wear, so look for a set with a chunkier (12mm) magnet. The enamel can chip if it rattles loose in a pocket, and the hat clip doesn't grip every cap brim equally well, thinner peaks can let it slide. Buy it for the gag and the convenience, not as a precision bit of kit.
The verdict
A proper cheap, cheerful win that earns its place as a gift or impulse buy. Just go for a set with a strong magnet and recent decent reviews, because the weak-magnet versions genuinely do fall off.
Cheap novelty balls that puff into a cloud of white powder when someone smacks them, aimed at anyone wanting a laugh on the first tee or a stocking-filler for a golf mate.
What's great
When they go off properly, they genuinely deliver. A full-blooded driver swing turns the ball into a satisfying cloud of white "smoke" and the reaction is usually worth the few quid on its own. The better ones (Laughing Smith get singled out for this) look close enough to a real ball with proper dimples that your mate won't twig until it's too late, and the powder is harmless and washes straight off clubface, clothes and grass. Dirt cheap, no setup, and they make an easy gag gift that always lands a laugh.
Worth knowing
Two real catches. First, the "explosion" is hit and miss: plenty of owners report a feeble little puff instead of a proper cloud, and a soft or mishit swing barely sets it off, so the prank can fall completely flat. Second, they are strictly one and done, they can crumble in the bag if knocked about before the big moment, and despite the marketing they are NOT loud, so do not expect a bang. Cheaper or oddly logo'd ones can also be spotted on close inspection. Not for anyone wanting a reusable or guaranteed gag.
The verdict
A proper cheap laugh that's worth a punt for the gift or the wind-up, just go in knowing it's single use and the big cloud is a coin flip, not a certainty. Hand it to someone you know swings hard and you'll get your money's worth.
The Srixon Soft Feel is a low-compression, two-piece ionomer ball aimed at moderate swing speeds (think under 95mph), and it's pitched squarely at the weekend golfer who wants soft feel without paying premium-ball money.
What's great
For the cash, I rate this as one of the best value balls going. It genuinely feels soft off the putter and short irons, and the low driver spin keeps it flying dead straight, which is gold if you fight a slice. Reviewers who put 17 rounds through it found greenside spin better than they expected for a two-piece (one of the higher-spinning ones in that class), and the ionomer cover holds up well, so you're not binning balls after a few holes. Solid, predictable, easy to play.
Worth knowing
Be honest with yourself though, it is not a premium ball and it doesn't pretend to be. Low compression costs you ball speed, so faster swingers (95mph plus) will leave yards out there versus a firmer ball. Greenside spin is fine but nowhere near a Z-Star or even a Q-Star, so if you like to nip wedges and stop it on a sixpence, this won't do it. A couple of testers also found it a touch mushy off the tee and on full iron shots, so if you prefer a firm, clicky strike, look elsewhere.
The verdict
If you swing under 95mph and want a soft, straight ball that won't empty your wallet, I'd happily put this in the bag. Quick swingers and spin chasers should spend up to a urethane ball instead.
A novelty boxed gift set built around a small stainless steel hip flask, usually with a funnel, a few tees, a divot tool and a ball marker, aimed at being the easy birthday or Father's Day present for a golfing mate.
What's great
As a gift it nails the brief: it looks the part in the box, it raises a smile, and the funnel plus tees plus pitchmark repairer are genuinely usable bits and bobs that end up living in the bag. Most of these flasks hold around 170 to 200ml, which is plenty for a couple of warmers on a cold round, and a decent one with a screw cap (not a hinged lid) actually seals well enough to chuck in a pocket. For the money it is a lot of stuff and a tidy presentation, so it ticks the thoughtful-but-affordable box.
Worth knowing
Be honest about what it is: budget kit dressed up nicely. The faux leather wrap is plastic, the divot tool and tees are flimsy and often the first things to get binned, and a brand new cheap flask usually needs a vinegar-and-water rinse to shift the metallic taste before anything drinkable goes near it. Leave spirits sitting in it for days and they'll taste of the tin. Watch for hinged or push-fit lids rather than a proper screw cap, because those are the ones that leak in a pocket and go walkabout on the course. This is a gift item, not a flask a serious flask person would buy for themselves.
The verdict
A solid, crowd-pleasing present for the golfer who likes a nip at the turn, just don't expect heirloom quality. Buy it as a bit of fun, give the flask a vinegar rinse first, and check it's a screw-cap model.
A driver headcover shaped like a beer can, pure novelty kit for the lad who treats the 19th hole as the best hole. It protects the driver while making your mates grin on the first tee.
What's great
The good ones (Foretra, Shanker and similar) are not the tat you'd fear. Owners consistently rate the build: thick PU leather shell, soft velour or felt lining, tidy embroidery, and a centre-elastic that genuinely grips so it does not ping off in the bag. It does the actual job of a headcover, stops your crown getting dinged, while looking properly funny on the bag. Cheap as chips compared to a posh leather cover, and it makes a cracking gift that gets a reaction every single round. For the money, the quality on the better-known brands punches above its weight.
Worth knowing
It is novelty first, so know what you're buying. The barrel shape can be a faff to wrestle on and off compared to a normal sock cover, and on a chunky 460cc head it sits snug, so check it actually fits yours. There's no number tag or club-ID slot, it's just a can. And the bargain-bin versions are where it goes wrong: peeling decals, loose stitching, fabric like a carrier bag. Stick to a brand with real reviews. Also worth saying, the joke wears thinner the more serious your playing partners are.
The verdict
A genuinely decent novelty cover that protects the club and earns a laugh, just buy a reputable one and check it fits your 460cc head. I'd rate it as a gift or a bit of fun, not as a serious bit of gear.
A novelty barware gift set: a glass golf-club-shaped decanter (usually holds a full bottle, around 750ml to 1000ml) paired with two to four golf-ball-shaped tumblers, often on a little wooden stand. Aimed squarely at the golf-mad bloke who has the clubs sorted and now wants the bar looking the part.
What's great
As a talking point it genuinely delivers. The club-shaped decanter and dimpled ball glasses look the business on a shelf or a home bar, and across listings it's one of the most reliable "he loved it" golf gifts going. The borosilicate glass on the better versions is clear and properly weighty rather than flimsy, the ball glasses sit nicely in the hand, and for a milestone birthday, retirement or Father's Day it lands every time. If you're buying it as a centrepiece ornament that occasionally pours a dram, it does that job well.
Worth knowing
It's a novelty first, a decanter second, and the honesty bit matters here. The ground-glass stopper on a lot of these does not seal tight, so it's no good for long-term storage, your whiskey will go flat and lose its nose over a few weeks, decant only what you'll drink soon. The ball glasses are small and round-bottomed, so they hold less than you'd think and are easy to knock over. Breakages in transit are a common gripe, so check it the second it arrives. The club neck and round glasses are a pain to clean and dry, and quite a few turn up with a chemical or dusty smell that needs a good rinse before first use.
The verdict
Buy it as the fun, look-at-this gift it is and it's a winner. Just don't expect it to keep good whiskey in good nick, it's a showpiece that pours, not a serious decanter.
A pocket-sized putting aid: a parabolic ramp with a micro-target that catches dead-perfect putts and rolls everything else back to you. Aimed at anyone who wants to practise short putts at home or on the range without chasing balls all over the carpet.
What's great
The genius is the maths. The ramp returns a "made" putt the same distance it would have rolled past the hole, so it quietly drills pace control on those knee-knocker 6-footers. It's daft simple, sets up in seconds, packs into a bag pocket, and the no-faff ball return means you actually keep practising instead of bending down every five seconds. Reviewers and owners alike (Plugged In Golf, Golf Monthly) rate it as the training aid they keep coming back to, and it's genuinely addictive chasing that "perfect putt" that sticks in the micro-target.
Worth knowing
It only trains line and pace, nothing about your actual stroke mechanics, so it won't fix a wonky path or face. It's short-putt only, no use for lags. The micro-target is brutally hard and some folk find that more demoralising than motivating. Biggest real-world gripe: it needs a true, flat surface. On lumpy carpet or a cheap mat the returns wander and the feedback turns to mush, so a decent putting mat is almost mandatory.
The verdict
For the money it's a cracking, honest little tool that makes short-putt practice fun and builds real pace control. Just know it's a supplement, not a swing doctor, and pair it with a flat mat to get the most out of it. I rate it.
A retractable clip-on golf brush from Frogger with a dual-bristle head (nylon plus a bronze/nylon combo) and a flip-out metal groove pick, aimed at anyone who wants caked mud and grass out of their face and grooves without faffing about.
What's great
The actual cleaning is the bit I rate. The bristles shift thick mud, sand and wet grass off the face with a couple of quick scrubs, and the pop-out bronze tine genuinely digs grime out of the grooves rather than just smearing it. The chunky rubberised handle is comfy and easy to grab one-handed, and the 2 and a half foot retractable cord reaches the club and snaps back without snagging your trousers. Reviewers at The Sand Trap both treat it as a cut above the bargain-bin brushes, and plenty of owners report years of service.
Worth knowing
The weak link is the hardware, not the bristles. The retractable cord reel and the plastic clip that fastens to your bag are the most common gripes, with owners reporting the cord coming apart or the mount snapping, especially if you keep unclipping it. A few have had the body split from a knock in the bag. The brush heads also wear and roughly once a year you may be buying a replacement, which adds up on something this small. Not for you if you want a buy-it-once-forever tool.
The verdict
A genuinely good cleaner let down by so-so plastics. Clip it on, leave it on, treat the cord gently and it earns its keep. I rate it, just go in knowing the reel and clip are the bits most likely to give up first.
The GoGoGo Sport Vpro is the budget laser rangefinder that punches way above its price, aimed at club golfers and weekend hackers who want yardages without remortgaging the house. Slope is toggleable on the slope models, which keeps it legal for comp days.
What's great
For what you pay, the accuracy is genuinely silly good. Testers like Plugged In Golf had it within a yard of lasers costing four times as much on flat readings, and the pin-lock is quick with a proper buzz when it grabs the flag. The 6x optics are clear, it runs on cheap AAA batteries (no faffing with charging cables), and the built-in magnet for sticking it to your trolley or cart frame is one of the strongest I've come across. Slope toggles off cleanly so it's fine for your medal.
Worth knowing
It's not flawless. Push past roughly 150 to 180 yards on a tree-lined hole and it'll happily lock onto a trunk or post behind the pin and hand you a duff number, so you'll re-shoot now and again. Slope-adjusted figures drift by up to 5 yards at long range versus premium units (internally consistent, just a different formula). The body feels a touch plasticky and it's only IP54, so it's splash-proof, not monsoon-proof. Glasses wearers may find the eye relief a bit tight.
The verdict
If you want 90 percent of a premium rangefinder for a third of the cost, I rate this highly and happily recommend it. Just accept the odd dodgy reading at distance and don't treat it like a tour-grade tank.
Garmin's entry-level golf GPS watch, built for the bloke who just wants accurate yardages on his wrist without dropping a small fortune or fiddling with a rangefinder.
What's great
For the money, the core job is nailed. Front, middle and back yardages are accurate and quick, and it loads your course automatically from 43,000 preloaded maps with free lifetime updates. Battery is the standout: I've seen it knock out four or five rounds on a charge, so it never dies mid-back-nine. The monochrome screen sounds naff but it's dead easy to read in bright sun, and there's a Big Numbers mode if your eyes aren't what they were. Light enough that it won't put you off your swing.
Worth knowing
It's a one-trick pony, and that's the point, so don't expect steps, sleep or any smartwatch nonsense. The four-button setup takes a few rounds to learn (no touchscreen here) and feels fiddly at first. Greens are a basic half-circle and you're estimating the pin, not lasering it, so it'll never match a rangefinder for pinpoint shots. The charger is Garmin's own oddball cable, so losing it is a faff. A few owners also report Bluetooth app sync going walkabout.
The verdict
If you want simple, reliable distances and bombproof battery without paying silly money, I rate it. Just go in knowing it's a pure golf tool, not a do-everything watch.
It is a Bluetooth speaker with built-in GPS that barks out front, middle and back yardages on the cart, aimed at riders who want tunes plus distances from one gadget on the buggy rail.
What's great
For the money the sound genuinely punches above its weight, full and warm with a proper indoor/outdoor mode toggle, and reviewers like Breaking Eighty and PlayBetter rate the audio highly. The upgraded BITE magnet is so strong testers reckon you need two hands to pry it off the cart frame, so it is not bouncing off on a bumpy path. Bluetooth range is solid and build quality is a clear step up on the original. One click of the remote and a caddie-style voice reads your yardages, which is genuinely handy when you are driving.
Worth knowing
This is the one to think hard about. There is no screen, so for not much more cash the Wingman View or Blue Tees Player+ give you visual yardages too. The remote has no volume control and won't pause music in Golf Mode, so you're walking back to the speaker to fiddle. Bushnell dropped the carabiner hook, so walkers have nothing to clip it to. Owner reports flag inconsistent GPS callouts (off by several yards), batteries fading faster than the claimed 14 hours over time, dodgy charge ports, and patchy customer support if it goes wrong.
The verdict
A cracking cart speaker with a useful talking-GPS bonus, but if you walk or want numbers on a screen, your money's better spent elsewhere. I rate it for buggy riders, I'd avoid it if you carry your bag.
PutterBall is golf crossed with beer pong: a fold-out 2x12ft putting green with six holes in a pyramid each end, two mini putters and two balls. It's a party and back garden game, not a serious practice tool.
What's great
As a party piece it genuinely delivers. Sink all six holes before the other team, cap each hole as you go, exactly like beer pong but with a putter, and it pulls people in fast. It folds down accordion-style with a handle so it's easy to lug to a barbecue, tailgate or mate's garden, and setup takes seconds. The reviewers I read rate it well (one hands-on test gave it 8.5/10), and most owners say it's good for adults and kids alike. It's a great laugh and a proper crowd starter.
Worth knowing
The flaws are real and consistent. Because it folds, the seams leave ridges that act like speed bumps and throw the ball off line, and it can take a good 15 minutes laid flat to settle (some turn up wrinkled or bubbled and never roll true). The mini putters are putt-putt cheap and too short if you're over about 5ft11, so bring your own. Worst of all are the durability reports: edges lifting and glue letting go after a single summer. Leave it out in heat or rain and it warps, so store it flat indoors. It's not cheap for what is a novelty either.
The verdict
A genuinely fun party game that earns its keep at gatherings, just don't expect a true roll or a tour-grade build. Treat it as a novelty, store it flat indoors, and use your own putter if you're tall. On that basis, I rate it.
