Top 34 Innovations in Golf (SUPER GALLERY)

When thinking of gifts for dads, golf tends to be one of the first things that comes to mind. In time for father’s day, the bookstores display merchandise related to teeing off and other retailers flaunt wares pertaining to good times on the green. Golf isn’t just about regular put-put anymore though. There are a range of unique innovations, from fashion to virtual golf simulators and even underwater golf tournaments, that are sure to impress anyone, not just dad. This Super Gallery examines some of the most cutting edge golf-related innovations we’ve featured on Trend Hunter.

Solar Innovation

Solar-Powered Vending Machines - Golf Balls & Drinks

Considering that vending machine are popping up all over the place (see below), and recognizing the booming trend to go green, it was only a matter of time before the first solar-powered vending machines were designed. The solar-powered machine installed at a US golf course is on the first of its ki… [More]

Beach Golf - Sand No Longer a Hazard

Ever heard of playing golf in the sand ? The Sand hazard is every golfers nightmare, but not in this new sport. Beach golf takes the traditional game of golf from the lush greens to the sandy beaches of the seaside. Although along with the game so do the mechanics change. The game uses a redesigned … [More]

Japanese Golf Balls that Change Color in the Sun

The only thing I don’t like about golf is that my balls don’t change color in the sun. (Yes, that reads funny).  Finally, that problem has been solved by Henkaq, a Japanese company that has invented golf balls that change color when exposed to the sun.  The balls are treated with a photochromic comp… [More]

Tech

Radar Golf - Affordable Golf Ball Tracking System

RadarGolf has laucnhed a “Ball Positioning System” which enables golfers to track their golf balls with and LCD gizmo.  Save your golf balls, reduce your frustration, reduce your penalty strokes.  I would have always expected golf ball positioning to be the next big thing, but would have expected th… [More]

Hi Tech Golf Putter - DiXX Digital Putter Has Built-in Swing Analysis

No matter the level of your golf game, your putting could always improve. The DiXX Digital Putter has the capability to make big changes in your scores. The putter has an computer to monitor your swing, keeping track of where and when the putter hits the ball. It monitors the motions you use to putt… [More]

Mobile Golf Simulator - Dutch Golf On Tour

Dutch Golf on Tour has created the world’s first mobile golf simulator. The rental units became available in September, and can be booked for a few hours, or up to a day. The single set has one golf simulator and is 14 x 9 meters, and the double set is 14 x 14 with two simulators. Whereas regula… [More]

Bar Games in the Home - Golden Tee Television Golf Game

Now you can play Golden Tee, the hit bar sensation, in the comfort of your own home and for about $60 or 1.5% of the price of the arcade game. Simply plug this officially licensed gaming system into your television and roll the familiar trackball forward to crush the ball 300 yards. Want to seamless… [More]

Fusion Controllers - Play Golf or Throw a Football in Next Gen Video Games

Next year you’ll be able to pick up Fusion Controllers for $56.  The controllers let you actually ‘play’ your video games by recognizing your raquet strokes and clever sword fighting moves.  Computer and Video Games reports, “Comparisons to the Nintendo Wii are inevitable, but after going hands-on w… [More]

Virtual Golf at Home

The new Real World Golf game for PlayStation 2 lets you play a round of golf in the comfort of your own living room. With a foot-long plastic club attached to a motion capture unit, your swing will be mirrored by an on-screen player. According to the BBC, “Real World Golf offers a completely novel … [More]

Ballfinder Scout - Find Your Balls With a Video Ball Finder

Lost your balls?  The Ballfinder Scout uses a digital video camera with a color recognition system to find your ball in the rough. From Sanderson Golf: One of the first things that comes to most people’s minds when they hear about the development of the new Ballfinder SCOUT™ is that it must fin… [More]

Golf Clubs & Other Gear

Urinal Golf Clubs - The Uroclub

Attention male golfers! The game of golf is full of gadgets: gadgets that increase your distance; gadgets that straighten your drives; gadgets that hide your beer. The list goes on… Now, you can add a club that doubles as a toilet to the list. The Uroclub is a golf club with a hollow shaft that ho… [More]

Golf In Space - Star Wars-Inspired Golf Gear

It would be interesting to watch the golfer who carries this Storm Trooper golf bag. I would expect a light saber ("7-iron") battle with his partner by the 2nd green. To be released in Japan, this official Star Wars Golf bag will cost about $500 USD. There is also a Darth Vader version. I would have… [More]

Ultra Luxury Golf Gear - Diamond Encrusted Putter & Ball

Diamonds are the mark of luxury. Golf is the game of luxury. Golf and Diamonds together are just weird. The Platinum Guild International had a platinum putter and golf ball made and studded with white and pink diamonds that total over 22 carats. The ball has over 25 carats. For more girly golf gea… [More]

Pink On The Green - Birdie Girl Golf Rethinks Breast Cancer (GALLERY)

Birdie Girl Golf is an retailer that sells all sorts of golf equipment for those women who enjoy a good round on the greens. They’re donated $50 from each $150 Rethink golf stand bag sold towards the Rethink Breast Cancer fund. The limited edition set includes the pink stand bag, a set of tour headc… [More]

Bejewelled Sports Accessories - The Diamond Studded Golf Ball

Golf is the game of the rich and famous and fittingly, the Diamond-Studded Golf Ball fits in nicely with that demographic. This nifty luxury item was designed by Bernard Maquin, the creator of the $500,000 diamond-studded chess set. [More]

Persistance of Vision Golf Clubs (VIDEO)

In the category of ‘useless inventions that won’t make you golf better’, you’ll find the persistance of vision golf clubs.  Persistance of Vision technology basically means that images of light will stay in your retinas after you’ve been exposed to them.  Accordingly, you can stream a message while … [More]

Homeless Move to Golf-Carts in Palm Springs

Cost of living is rising… Accordingly, it’s possible to own a golf cart, but be homeless in Palm Springs.  I think it’s ingenius. [More]

Golf Carts

Robot Golf Partners - Shadow Caddy

Fond of playing golf? With this robotic caddy, you will surely start loving golf even more. The Shadow Caddy is the first robotic golf caddy that follows the player anywhere on the golf course. There’s no need for remote controls or joysticks. It works using only a small sensor worn by the player… [More]

Luxury Golf Carts – For Those Who Really Love the Game (GALLERY)

Would you like to impress your friends on the links? Get one of these luxury golf carts and you can ride the course in style. The carts are priced from $14,500 to over $22,000, depending on whether you opt for the Hummer or ’57 Chevrolet. “Complete with leather seats, custom paint and complete st… [More]

Solar Golf Cart - Sunray Cruize Car Makes Golf Greener

The Sunray Cruize Car is a golf cart that replenishes its own power supply via a rooftop of solar panels. Solar panels help out the environment by conserving energy and the government thinks you should be rewarded for doing your part by giving you a tax credit for buying solar. [More]

Golf Cars are the New Golf Carts - Hummer in the Field

We had always known that Golf is an expensive sport. If it is already expensive, why not making it fancy? That same question was made by Dominik Jackson and Chris Kirk when they were watching a Hummer’s race near Los Angeles in the US. Inmediatly they started to work on getting the comercial rights … [More]

Segway Golf Carts - Now Available at Tiburon

Now you can drive a Segway Golf Cart at Tiburon!  The press release describes, “On the eve of the 8th annual Merrill Lynch Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club, the new Segway(R) x2 Golf debuts at Tiburon Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Fla. The Segway x2 Golf features a bag carrier, a… [More]

Golf Shoes & Other Fashion

Eco Friendly Golf Shoes - Enviro Brings Green to the Green

These stylish shoes are actually the world’s first eco-friendly shoes intended for golf, allowing the wearer to wear green on the green. The Enviro shoes are made from 99% environmentally sustainable materials and look very sophisticated too. They use chrome-free, organic vegetable-tanned leathers… [More]

Gold Footwear On The Green - Puma Golf Shoes

There’s no other reason to buy these gold golf shoes other than you just wanting to show off. Anybody can have the latest humongous driver, but show up at the clubhouse with these babies, and you will get notices. Puma made the Concorde Gold shoes that really are meant to wear on the course. Wet or … [More]

Random

World Ice Golf Championship (GALLERY)

This is not the first time for the the World Ice Golf Championship. “The world championship has taken place since 1999 in Uummannaq, Greenland. “ The World Ice Golf Championship is held almost 600 km north of the Arctic Circle, on the west coast of Greenland in the little town of Uummannaq. From Dec… [More]

Underwater Golf Tournaments

Remember Underwater Hockey?  Well, now China has staged what is believed to be the world’s first underwater golf tournament.  The event took place at the Zuohai Aquarium in Fuzhou city which is in Fujian.  The game involved five players who golfed around in a 50ft deep tank. [More]

Golfing Guns - Air Force Golf Ball Launcher

This air pressured rifle could be the greatest gift you ever give someone. It enables handicapped people incapable of swinging a club the chance to participate on the green again. The designers of the Air Force Golf Ball Launcher created this product after his own father had a stroke and was left … [More]

World’s Largest Golf Course - Nullarbor Plain, Australia

The Australian government is offering startup funds to build the world’s largest golf course. The fairways will cover a span of about 750 MILES in the Nullarbor Plain, a desert region in the south of Australia. The course is planned to have 18 holes, each at a small town along the Eyre Highway. I do… [More]

Long Distance Golfing - Man Golfs Across Mongolia

Do you have to yell fore if no one is around to hear it? Ask Andre Tolme. Although he completed this feat in 2004, it isn’t old news to those of us who didn’t hear about it. He spent 90 days hitting 12,170 golf balls a total of 1,234 miles across Mongolia. To learn more, read his aptly titled book, … [More]

Tiger Woods & Other Celebs

Golf Ball Painting - Tiger Woods Paints Buick “Art Rivera” Campaign (VIDEO)

The talented Tiger Woods stars in this new artistic “Art Rivera” spot for car maker Buick. Woods carefully shoots color-filled golf balls at a white canvas. The campaign highlights the attention to details, thought and care coming together to create something beautiful: in Wood’s case an artistic p… [More]

Celebrity Branded Drinks - “Gatorade Tiger” Combines Tiger Woods and Gatorade (VIDEO)

Tiger Woods inked a deal with Gatorade to launch his own branded sports drink in 2007. This is believed to be Tiger’s first beverage endorsement and licensing deal. The “Gatorade Tiger” campaign was rolled out about 2 days ago to be followed by other products, all with flavors reportedly selecte… [More]

Tiger Woods Flips His $38 Million House

Jupiter Island, Florida, is the scene of the most expensive tear-down ever. Tiger Woods and his wife bought their $38 million home two years ago. Now, they are tearing it down to build one even bigger and better. “Tiger’s architects have created a 10,000-square-foot two-story home with a glass elev… [More]

$2.1B Scottish Golf Pasture - The Donald’s Greens (VIDEO)

The Donald gets his way again. He will be building a golf course costing $2.1 billion north of Aberdeen Scotland. The local council had been holding up his plans but they gave him the green light. There will be a super luxury 450 room hotel, 950 luxury homes, 36 luxury golf villas, and 500 luxury ho… [More]

Celeb DUI Blunders - Bill Murray “Borrows” Swedish Golf Cart (VIDEO)

Here’s a lesson to the young celeb generation from Bill Murray: Tip One: If you’re going to DUI, do it in Sweden, and do it in a golf cart—but not your golf cart; take the display golf cart from your hotel—they won’t mind. That’s because this isn’t LA; this is friggin’ Sweden, and … [More]