Summer birthdays are the best. No competition from holidays. And you can take your golf gifts straight out to the course to use them. No waiting around for snow to melt before breaking out the new shirts, balls, clubs, etc., etc.

But even if you don’t have a summer birthday (or anniversary, or whatever), there’s nothing saying you can’t give – or get – gifts just because. Heck, you can even give yourself a gift. It’s a free country. (For now, anyway.)

We’ve gathered together a truckload of golf gifts that have made our summer rounds even more fun.

Dune Jewelry and golf accessories

More than once in my life I’ve been on a vacation or playing golf on a bucket-list course and wished I could take a little bit of it home with me as a keepsake. But what would I do with a handful of sand from, say, the Hawaiian beach where my wife and I were married nearly 25 years ago?

Dune Jewelry has taken the simple idea of taking a pinch of sand and turned it into an elegant line of jewelry and accessories, including ball markers and divot repair tools for golfers. Dune has a “sand bank” of sand from over 3,500 sites around the world from which you can choose to fill everything from earrings to pendants to ball markers. You can even send in your own sand to be made into a unique memento of a time or place or event.

As I say, my wife and I were married on a beach on the Big Island, so I found sand from Hapuna Golf Course in Waimea on the Big Island in Dune’s “Golf Bank,” which includes dozens of golf courses around the world. Every time I use the poker-chip-sized marker filled with that sand, it reminds me of that happiest of days.

Golf Bag Beer Glass

No matter your handicap, some days the best hole of your round is the 19th Hole. If you know a golfer whose round isn’t complete without a cold beer (or are one such golfer yourself), check out the Golf Bag Beer Mug ($16). It’s a fun, functional vessel for your favorite post-round libation.

Puma Golf Shoes

My son is 14, and he’s preparing to go out for his high school golf team his freshman year. He needed some golf shoes, but sort of blanched at the idea of wearing “golf shoes.” Then I showed him the Puma IGNITE PWRADAPT ($150) shoes, and he changed his mind. The PWRADAPT are ultra-lightweight with a breathable mesh upper that is still waterproof. The foam insole cradles your foot from heel to toe. And, especially importantly for juniors, they look cool.

Once he tried them on, my son was even more enthusiastic. “These are the most comfortable shoes I have!” he said. “I can walk and carry my clubs, and my feet feel great. In fact, the only good part about my game today was that my feet feel amazing!” A ringing endorsement, indeed.

CEP compression socks

If you want to kick the comfort level of your feet up even higher, put on a pair of CEP Compression Socks ($16-$60). These socks are designed to promote circulation in the feet and legs, pushing blood back up towards your heart. They come in all lengths, but I’m partial to the “no-show” style. I’m not sure whether or not I can feel any difference in circulation, but they are great at wicking away moisture and protect against blisters and hot spots.

KINŐNA Golf Wear

My daughter will be turning 20 in a week or so. Hard to believe, really. She’s not a “golfer,” but she does play a couple times a year with friends and actually has a great swing. She’s majoring in non-profit management and marketing at the University of Minnesota, and my secret dream for her someday is to work with a PGA Tour event to raise funds for one of the many great causes benefited by the Tour.

In preparation for those days, I like to give her stylish golfwear that can double as dressy sportswear or casual office wear. My new favorite source for this sort of apparel is KINŐNA Golf Wear. Everything in their inventory looks like it would be just as fashionable on a casual Friday or relaxed work environment as on the golf course. My daughter is particularly fond of the skorts ($119), which receive the ringing endorsement of being both “super-cute” and “super-comfortable.”

Alchemi Labs headwear

Being “sun smart” doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. Alchemi Labs offers reflective headwear ($32-$39) that blocks 99.8% of UV rays and up to 80% of the sun’s heat. Now, the hats are a little “sparkly,” due to the reflective material. But if you’re sensitive to the sun, you won’t find more protective head wear.

Under Armour polos

Within a few short years, Under Armour has become one of the hottest, trendiest, highest-profile apparel companies in the golf market. Their styling tilts towards young, athletic colors and cuts, but they use fabrics that still stretch and fit more experienced, more rotund guys like me. The CoolSwitch polo I got earlier this summer (on sale NOW for $56) is one of my favorite shirts. The whiz-bang fabric wicks away sweat and cools my skin even in the recent heatwave. Best of all, Under Armour seems to be one of only a few companies that has figured out how to make a shirt collar that doesn’t curl up after the first wash.

Galvin Green polos

Speaking of golf shirts that hold their shape and also move and stretch with you, Galvin Green is a Swedish apparel company that might just be at the top of its class. As a European company, their clothes are sleek and sharp yet understated, generally with a slimmer fit. My Milo polo ($84) is obviously designed with muscular flatbellies in mind, but the flexible material ensures that even my “Molson muscle” (Canadian for “beer belly”) is comfortably accommodated. Heck, I walked into the house after my round this morning and my wife said, “That shirt makes you look thin!” Sold!

Zero Friction golf balls

Several years ago, I wrote one of the first reviews of Zero Friction Golf tees. Now Zero Friction has come out with Spectra golf balls ($20/doz.). These budget-friendly balls come in multiple eye-popping hues and a matte finish that combine to make them easy to see both in the air and in the rough (I mean, if you ever happen to hit them there). I’ve played several rounds with them, and they are plenty long and also have reliably soft feel around the greens.

UA Golf Bags

Maybe you want to match your new Under Armour polo and your UA Spieth golf shoes with your golf bag. Now Under Armour has you covered with their new line of golf bags, made by venerable golf bag company Sun Mountain. The UA Storm Match Play 14-Way bag ($235) is ideal for players who like to walk, ride, or push. 14-way full-length dividers protect your clubs and built-in lumbar support and padded straps protect your back and shoulders. The carbon-fiber legs are lightweight yet super-strong. My son is going out for his HS golf team this coming year, and he’s enjoying having the nicest bag on the team. And if you prefer a cart bag or an ultra-light carry bag, UA now offers those, too.

Cleveland Junior Wedges

As an incoming HS freshman, my son is at an age when he’s tall enough for adult-length clubs, but not quite strong enough for adult-weight clubs. He’s not the only kid in this situation, either. Cleveland Golf is helping young golfers like my son with their Junior Spec Wedges ($100). These wedges come with all the top-shelf tech of Cleveland’s normal wedges (RTX-3, CBX, and Smart Sole 3 models), but with shorter and/or lighter shafts. My son’s CBX gap wedge is perfect for those “tweener” shots within from 50-100 yards, and it’s the perfect weight and balance for his swing.

Of all the summer gifts I ever give my kids, I hope the one they remember is afternoons hitting golf balls with me in the yard or range, and walking around Lake of the Woods Golf Course in our little town.

I know these hours together are the best gift they could ever give me.