I’m a traditionalist when it comes to playing the game of golf and as such I have not been of the belief that music should be played on speakers during a round. I’ve played golf with a few who have done so in their golf carts and kept the volume down so as to not bother anyone else, and I suppose that’s fine. I’m trying to accept listening to music on the course in the “grow golf” perspective. So perhaps it is acceptable, so long as it does not ruin the experience of other golfers. With that said, please keep the barftastic Kenny G, Hootie and the Blowfish, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, and James Taylor the hell away from me.
On the golf bag: Boom Swimmer Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
If you want to play some metal or progressive rock, lets talk. Perhaps some Lamb of God, Meshuggah, Sevendust, Porcupine Tree, Tool…
The Boom Swimmer Bluetooth speaker is your ticket for listening to some fabulous metal on the course. It comes in a small and waterproof package but cranks up nicely, with some surprising bass response. Not enough to rattle my bowels loose like I prefer, but not bad given the size.
The Swimmer (as one might gather from the name) is waterproof. So if you’re golfing in the rain, the unit has no problems with that. Also, you can hang it in the shower (pic below) and listen to tunes while scrubbing behind your ears.
A little speed metal in the morning shower does the body and mind good!
Here are the basic features and highlights:
- 100% waterproof with an IPX7 rating
- Bluetooth wireless connectivity
- Durable shock-proof and dust-proof design
- Two-hour charge time for up to eight hours of playback at maximum volume, or 16 hours at half volume.
- Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery
Setup is very easy. A couple of button pushes on your iPhone, Android Phone, iPad, tablet, computer or any bluetooth device and you’re sending a signal to the unit. I even used the unit on Halloween to play scary sounds and music on my front porch. No wires. Great.
Conclusion
The Swimmer can be used in so many applications other than just golf. It would make a great Christmas gift!
Below are my top golf apparel Christmas golf gift suggestions. Each item below has a link and image which you can click for the full Hooked On Golf Blog review. I cover a golfer’s wardrobe from head to toe, including underwear. Enjoy!
Undies
Dunning Merino Wool Boxer Brief Base Layer
Dunning makes amazing merino wool sport underwear. Can undies shave strokes off your game? Why take the chance of not wearing these and never knowing?
Shorts
Tattoo Golf Shorts
Tattoo Golf shorts
Tattoo Golf makes a fantastic line of golf shorts. Very sharp, classy, and yes they do have skulls on them. Rock it.
Socks
kentwool tour golf socks
Kentwool makes the best golf socks on the planet. I just gave away about 25 pairs of cotton socks because I refuse to wear crappy cotton socks anymore after wearing Kentwools. Simply the best golf socks anywhere.
Golf Shoes
FootJoy DNA Golf Shoes
The new FootJoy DNA golf shoes are fantastic. These have been my gamer golf shoes for ALL of 2014, and they’re still going strong.
Sweater
Bobby Jones Baby Alpaca 1/4 Zip Sweater
I’m in love with my new Bobby Jones 1/4 Zip Baby Alpaca Sweater. The fur on this piece is so soft, does not itch, and it is stunningly attractive.
Bobby Jones himself would love to wear this piece.
Golf Polos
I’ve reviewed so many great polos by so many different manufacturers it was hard to pick just one. So here are three below.
Bobby Jones XH20 Aero Polo
Greg Norman ML75 Polo
Nike Golf Innovation Color Men’s Golf Polo
Outerwear
Sunice Tornado Bollon Jacket
Sunice makes some incredible outerwear, 100% waterproof but won’t compromise your comfort or golf swing. Check out the Tornado Bollon Jacket.
Belt
Mission Belt
I’ve been digging my all-red Mission Belt, especially when supporting my Utah Utes football and basketball. To make it even better, I put a Ute logo on the buckle.
Hat
Bridgestone Golf hat with Utes logo = beautiful!
Speaking of my Utes, Bridgestone Golf is now making Collegiate Team Logo hats. Winner.
CarveOn is a company based in County Kildare Ireland which makes handcrafted personalized leather goods like wallets, books, purses, keychains, and more. CarveOn also makes a few golf related leather goods. Today we are looking at their yardage book cover, which can also double as a golf scorecard holder.
Carve On Yardage Book Cover
With its fine leather and combination of old school and modern construction, the CarveOn yardage book exudes class. Add the Hooked On Golf Blog skull logo and it goes beyond classy to a realm beyond imagination.
The yardage book cover has several customizable areas. First you can see on the front cover of the first image that there is the HOG logo, plus at the bottom you can see my name. On the inside top of the cover (image below) you can see more custom text.
Carve On Yardage Book Cover Inside
I wondered how the HOG logo would translate to this unit and I’m very impressed. The logo and customization look to be laser etched from the leather with very high precision and superb quality.
The leather itself is very plush and soft. I pet it occasionally…
The packaging CarveOn put into this is quite amazing as well (image below).
Carve On Product Box
The outside of the box is also laser etched, and the inside sports some very cool protective and artistic layers. The packaging along with the actual product would make this a fantastic holiday, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthday, or Christmas gift.
Conclusion
This is not an everyday inexpensive yardage book cover. At about $125 USD (79 pounds) the CarveOn is no for everyone’s budget. If you have the dough to spend for yourself or as a golf gift, and want the highest quality and classiest yardage book cover you can get, this is the one for you. Customization makes it even better.
Related
Hooked On Golf Blog CarveOn Image Gallery
There are so many great golf apparel companies which make some fantastic threads. Here are a few quick gift suggestions for the golfer on your Christmas list. Each short description includes a link to the original Hooked On Golf Blog review.
Tattoo Golf Clubhouse Collection Polo – $49
Tattoo Golf Clubhouse Collection Golf Polo
Tattoo Golf’s Clubhouse Collection Polo is a very comfortable and sharp looking golf polo. The fabric, 100% woven polyester, is high on comfort and low on management. The fabric resists wrinkling and doesn’t need to be ironed if you take it right out of the dryer.
Not only is the polo very comfortable and high performance, it is adorned with the timeless signature Tattoo Golf skull and cross club bones.
Brilliant.
Dunning Base Layer
Dunning Merino Wool Boxer Brief Base Layer
Staying warm on the golf course is imperative for comfort and playing well in cold conditions. If I’m not warm, my back tightens up and the swing goes bad. Very bad.
The Dunning Golf base layer is a system you wear under your normal golf threads. The base layer system can include a long or short sleeve merino wool undershirt as well as merino wool boxer-briefs.
My personal experience with the Dunning base layers has been nothing short of fantastic, on and off the course.
Nike Golf Hyperadatpt Storm-FIT Jacket – $280
Nike Storm Fit Jacket
If you were to give this $280 jacket as a gift, you’d be telling someone they’re very special. This is the same jacket the likes of Rory McIlory and Tiger Woods had in the bag at the 2013 British Open.
The Nike Hyperadapt Storm-FIT Jacket is an amazing performance golf jacket which a very stylish design. Most importantly, this jacket can hold off even the worst of Scottish rain and wind.
FORE!! Axel & Hudson Golf Apparel for Boys and Girls
FORE!! Axel & Hudson
Got a baby or youngster who could use some very classy golf apparel? Back on October 21, 2013 I posted a review of some of the products from FORE!! Axel & Hudson, makers of very stylish and classy golf apparel items for ages 12 months to 12 years.
Included in the review: Crinkle Plaid Driver Cap, Poncho Stripe Shorts, two Golf Polos.
OGIO Groove Shorts – $90
OGIO Groove Golf Shorts
2013 marked the year that the very cool company OGIO started to offer golf apparel to go along with their killer golf bags and accessories.
I’m thrilled with the comfort and style of my OGIO Groove golf shorts. These are made from 94% polyester and 6% spandex. The end result is mega-comfort, no wrinkles and easy care.
Greg Norman ML75 Golf Polo – $69
Greg Norman ML75 Polo
Here’s one you may find in your local apparel store or golf shop, the Greg Norman ML75 golf polo.
The ML75 is a very sharp looking polo which comes in some really great color combinations. The polo is made from a super fine microfiber polyester yarn which is so soft and smooth that the shirt feels like it is made from silk.
Switch Belt – $29
Switch Belts – click for HOG review
I’ve raved about Switch Belts many times. These are so cool.
Switch Belts are made from plastic. They come in one size and the wearer cuts them down for a tailored fit. There are 14 colors available in both the belt and buckles, which are interchangeable. That makes 196 different color combinations. Better budget some extra time for getting dressed in the morning.
Since the belts are made from plastic, they can be washed in the dishwasher. Yes, the dishwasher.
Each year I write a holiday gift guide around Thanksgiving. I usually include many random items from golf equipment to golf apparel. Those articles feature a comment or two about the item, plus a link to my original product article or review.
I’m going to do something a little different this year. Rather than putting a bunch of random items into one post, I’m going to post a few more focused golf gift guides. This one will be shoes.
Holiday Golf Gift Guide – Golf Shoes
FootJoy M:Project
FootJoy M:Project Spikeless
When looking back the the shoe reviews I’ve done this year, and there are many, I’d be inclined to give FootJoy’s new M:Project the best golf shoe of 2013. The M:Project is a departure for the normally conservative FJ in its appearance, in a good way. Not only are these shoes very stylish, they’re perhaps the most comfortable golf shoe from FJ I’ve ever worn.
The M:Project comes in spiked and spikeless flavors. Check out the Hooked On Golf Blog FootJoy M:Project golf shoe spiked review and the M:Project spikeless golf shoe review.
GoBe Prodigy Golf Shoes
GoBe Golf Prodigy-Black/Red Golf Shoes – click for more images
GoBe is a new player in the golf shoe market.
The new GoBe Prodigy golf shoe is a hybrid street/golf shoe with great comfort, performance and best of all, a very cool look.
The GoBe Prodigy shoes are 20x more water resistant than treated leather golf shoes.
Puma Faas Lite Mesh Golf Shoes
Puma Faas Lite Mesh Golf Shoe
I really dig Puma golf shoes. They’re always very stylish and trendy, with all sorts of great innovations.
The Puma Faas Lite Mesh golf shoes are the lightest golf shoes on the planet (currently). They’re like wearing super-light sneakers, only more comfortable and better looking.
The treads are very innovative with their “SmartQuill” pattern and flex grooves. Great traction.
Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip
Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip Golf Shoes – click to see more
I’d have to say the best looking shoe I’ve reviewed in 2013 is the Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip. You could wear this shoe to a wedding, then run out to the adjoining golf course to squeeze in nine holes between the ceremony and the reception.
Not only are they fantastic looking, the Ecco Tour Hybrid Wingtip is as comfortable as wearing a pair of fuzzy bunny slippers.
Conclusion
Whether you’re going for comfort, performance, style or a bit of each, the list above has you covered for great holiday golf gifts!
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