It's Christmas in July For Golfers ~ I love Golf

Two holiday season ago, I awoke to find that some items on my Christmas wish list were not under my tree. There was no $20,000 golf cart in my living room, nor were the $5,000 golf shoes I was looking to slip on. But that was my own fault. I waited way too long to get my Christmas list to my wife.

But fret not golfers. This year, I'm going to help you get your Christmas list started early. This way, you'll have plenty of time to get your wish list to the people who matter and, hopefully anyway, you won't feel the same disappointment I did. Let's get started!

Right off the bat, we'll start at the top of the list - the golf cart. A year-and-a-half ago, my list included a $20,000 Hummer (to which the Tiger Woods jokes were flying). But that's old news now. The new chariot of the golfing kings looks something like this:

That would be the Garia LSV. With its hand-stitched seats, digital instruments, stereo and refrigerator, the driver would want for nothing. But that's not all. The Garia, available in over 100 different colors, is also street-legal! Not that you would want to take its 25 MPH top speed onto your busy city streets, but for a mere $62,000...you can!

But with the extra money sunken into the cart, you'll probably have to suffer cutbacks somewhere else. Since you'll be riding, it makes most sense that it's the shoes that get cut back. So, we're going to skip the $5,000 John Lobb's in lieu of these:

These are the Royal Albatross golf shoes, retailing for the bargain basement price of only $750. OK, so they're not custom fit like the Lobb's, but they do have a leather sole, fast-twist cleats and they're waterproof. Plus, they come with two shoe bags and a ball marker. You know, I was a little iffy on the $750, but since they're throwing in the ball marker...

But let me show you this one. Now, it's the not the most expensive piece of golf equipment you'll ever see. But it certainly may be the most unique. Brought to you by William Henry Studios, a company more well-known for making heirloom quality knives which take over seven months to produce (as well as some beautiful writing instruments), is the D-3 Fairway; a divot tool of unimaginable beauty.

What is it that makes these divot tools so unique? Well, to start the handles are made from either hand-forged Damascus steel or mokume gane. The inlays can be made from either wood, coral, mother of pearl or...get this...fossil mammoth tooth! Included with this piece as well is a stainless-steel ball marker that can be personalized. But quite possibly the coolest feature about this tool (outside of the mammoth tooth inlay) is that it is spring-loaded. This means it works like a switch-blade knife. A little bit of old-school street thug is brought to the golf course! And for a mere $1,200, you too can feel like the Dutch Schultz of your local club.

So if you don't want to be let down on Christmas morning this year, take this list and pass it along to your significant other. Let them know that they still have just over five months to figure out the best way to say "Happy Holidays" using the list above. Need some more choices? Don't be afraid to revert to the original. Of course, don't be afraid to sneak your own items onto the list. There is still, after all, the $53,000 set of Honma golf clubs...

Swing 'til you're happy!