"Dad" and "duffer" both begin with D -- Father's Day gift ideas

My father has never set foot on a golf course. He doesn’t wear ties, either. As a result, I have no idea what to get him for Father’s Day. Fortunately for me, he tells me every year that he doesn’t want anything.

If your own dear old Dad isn’t as low-maintenance as mine, however, here’s a shortlist of fun and functional Father’s Day offerings.

SKLZ SimStix Golf

If Dad is a gamer as well as a player, he can be found on rainy days or through the off season playing any one of a number of golf video games. One thing that’s irritating about these games, though is that the game controller just doesn’t feel like a golf club. So get him a SKLZ SimStix Golf ($40) for all game consoles (e.g., Wii, PlayStation). Dad clips the controller into a somewhat truncated club shaft, and, although the weight is still a bit off, at least he can work on his grip and swing plane while battling virtual PGA Tour stars.

Etonic Difference golf shoes

Although the “golf is like life” meme is now cliche, that doesn’t mean it isn’t true in many respects. One example is that in both golf and life, if your feet feel good, you usually feel good. So treat Dad’s feet with some TLC by giving him a new pair of golf shoes. Etonic’s Difference Golf Shoes ($145) feature breathable yet waterproof uppers, removable antimicrobial inserts, heat-reducing linings, and inside-out spike placement for stability and power.

Sector Expander 90 watch

Make sure Dad is never late for a tee time again. Sector has recently expanded its flagship Sector 90 watch line ($150-$195), with bright, bold colors and large, easy-to-read faces with several different functionality and feature configurations. I like them because the synthetic, rubber, and nylon straps repel sweat and wear really well even if you keep the watch on throughout your rounds.

Butch Harmon About Golf DVD

Maybe Dad could use a little work on his game? The Butch Harmon About Golf DVD ($80) is an exhaustive 2-DVD compendium of instruction, drills, and tips from arguably the most influential golf instructor of our time, Butch Harmon. Topics covered range all the way from set-up basics to specialty shots to analyses of PGA Tour player swings to selecting the right clubs for your swing and game.

Personalized golf lessons on SwingFix.com

Perhaps Pops needs more personalized instruction, but it’s hard for him to work live lessons into his schedule. The Golf Channel and SwingFix.com have teamed up to provide the world’s best instructors online. Dad can pick out an instructor and send videos of his swing to receive input and personalized drills and tips. After practicing for a while, he can re-record his swing and send it back to the same instructor for further analysis and instruction. This is possibly the most convenient and cost-effective way to take lessons.

Father’s Day Weekend Las Vegas Men’s 2-person Shootout

Consider taking the old man to Sin City for the Father’s Day Weekend Las Vegas Men’s 2-Person Shootout. This two-person scramble takes place at Royal Links and Desert Pines Golf Club, the same time as the U.S. Open.

The cost is only $219 per team, and it includes club rentals, lunch at Desert Pines during the final round, prizes and discounted rates on resort accommodations. Click here for more info.

Make Dad a tee time!

Top off Father’s Day with a day on the course. Make him (and you) a tee time and spend the day doing what he loves best – chasing a little white ball around a big, green field.

As a golfing father myself, I think that sounds as close to perfection as one can get.

And to my own non-golfing father, happy Father’s Day, Dad!