Golf bags, shoes, and apparel are all items that a golfer may want and need, but they may have a personal preference when it comes to these items as well. Your best bet here may be a gift certificate at a golf store or proshop.

Stay away from any of golf gadgets, trinkets, items to hang on their bag, silly golf hats, etc. They probably have received similar items in past, and may no longer find these items as cute, or as humorous, second time around. Also avoid things like instructional books, videos, and swing trainers. They have already been exposed to most of these items, and not knowing their level of play, you really can't be sure if any of these items would even benefit their game.

So, what do you get them? A gift certificate for a round of golf at a course they would like to play, or regularly play, is a good gift. A gift certificate at a golf or pro shop that they can use for either lessons or equipment (balls, clubs, apparel, gloves, etc.) A golf trip to a well know resort is a great gift. Tickets to PGA event is also a great gift. They might also enjoy a good book on golf courses, golf history, golf stories, or on any one of many great players of game.

Of course, it all depends on your budget. The potential for gift ideas is endless. Golf is an extremely popular sport, and golfers worldwide are spending millions playing game. Any gift, appropriate for experienced player, would be welcomed, used, and enjoyed. (If it's RIGHT gift!.) Remember, it is thought that counts.

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Since most golf equipment was handcrafted it was, therefore, quite expensive and golf was dominated by wealthy. Once metal club heads and shafts and gutta percha balls (1848) began rolling off production lines, average person was able to afford golf.

The growth of golf as an organized competitive sport in United Kingdom was paralleled abroad in India and United States. In 1894, United States Golf Association (USGA) was established to regulate game in U.S. and Mexico.

By 1900 there were more than 1,000 golf courses in U.S. Chicago was first to sport 18 holes. Importantly, American golf courses were specifically designed like parklands unlike those in U.K., which were typically links courses.

The beginning of 20th century brought several technological innovations to game of golf. The one piece rubber-cored ball appeared in 1900, and grooved-faced irons were introduced in 1902. In 1905, William Taylor invented first dimpled ball and in 1910, steel-shafted clubs first appeared. Within a decade, golfers could hit further and with more accuracy than ever before using equipment which was mass produced rather inexpensively.

While there have been thousands of unbelievable golf shots throughout centuries, most famous golf shot must surely belong to Alan Shepard who hit a ball on moon in 1971, watched by an audience of millions around globe. Golf--the first sport is space! The club he used can be viewed in USGA museum in Far Hills, New Jersey.

As prize money grows, so does sport of golf itself. Millions of people around world now play sport, and other millions watch game religiously on television. Golf is a game for young and old, short and tall, thin and hefty. Golf is truly a "people's game," and continues to grow in popularity.