With the holiday season behind us, there’s a chance that Santa and his nondenominational elves might not have delivered everything you were asking for, at least in terms of your golf and travel needs. Unless you had the biggest stocking ever knitted, you probably didn’t find a new PXG Lightning driver in your holiday sock, but if you do have a large enough stocking, well, I tip my Palm cap to you. 

I hope you received everything you could have wanted for the holidays, but the “big stuff” is always a lot to ask for. Now, if you have some gift cards burning holes in your digital pockets and you’re prepping for when this winter madness passes and it’s time to hit the local links again, let’s focus on some smaller items that will give your game a little boost in 2026.

Rise and shine… and remain shining

For the longest time, I have been a golfer who loves to play first off the tees, which means I always need to have my bucket o’ cold brew ready. Otherwise, it’s going to take me several holes to get going and what’s the fun in struggling when I’ve spent between $100-400 for a round? Normally, I am weary of powdered drink products, but I constantly try them because people I genuinely like and trust tell me this or that is their go-to. (Golfers love nothing more than pretending like they discovered that one thing that will totally revolutionize your game, right?)

When I recently visited Colonial Williamsburg, I brought a box of Roundhouse Morning Kick packets because A) a friend told me they are the best he’s ever tried, B) the packets are light and convenient for minimalist travelers, and C) they’re brought to us by Chuck Norris, which means you can resurrect the entire arsenal of jokes you used to tell ad nauseum years ago. However, there’s nothing funny about a product that doesn’t work, so I was keen to replace my morning cold brew with a well-shaken water bottle with the lime flavored mix.

I ended up using two packets for back-to-back rounds, and not only did I feel rejuvenated and alert, but the Roundhouse mix didn’t boast the same crash that comes with a big cup of cold brew, nor did it make me feel jittery and gross like other hydration supplements. Honestly, I didn’t even need the second packet, but it tastes good and delivers an all-around great energetic vibe, so I just wanted more. And now I’m happy to say that I have a packet almost every day for those first off the tee mornings and afternoon car line duties.

Bottom line: No one wants to feel like a slug on the first tee, and no one wants to deal with the jitters of questionable powders and supplements. Try for yourself, but chances are you’ll feel pretty darn great with this stuff.

Looking good, on and off the course

If ever I’d felt the need to become a TikTok influencer, I probably could have carved out a spot for myself in the sunglasses niche (if that’s a thing… I’m sure it is). I currently have 40 pairs and counting in my personal inventory, with several pairs for nicer occasions and roughly three dozen brands/styles that are good for “all of the above.” That obviously includes golf trips, as I am constantly searching for the best of the best when it comes to what looks and feels nice from the airport to the course to the beach to the resort and back to the airport again.

Vallon has been a mainstay in my sunglasses collection for several years, as the first time I laid eyes on the Howlin style, I knew my vibes were matched. However, I lost that pair on a trip to the Dominican Republic (a common problem I have), so ordering a new pair had been at the top of my list for some time. Then, as if the gods of sunglasses heard my prayers, Vallon released a new look in my favorite color, green, which is also the perfect shade for golf. Win-win. 

Bottom line: This is a lightweight style that goes well on and off the course, and comes with an equally stylish leather pouch that’ll protect your sunglasses very well if all you’re carrying is a backpack on your journeys.

There’s no failure to launch

I’ll have more on the 2026 PGA Show very soon, but I won’t ignore the fact that Shotscope’s subtly named LM1 launch monitor was one of the most buzzed about products on the floor this year. And believe me, when golf writers won’t shut up about new items, that usually means they’re extremely good. But what matters about the LM1, first and foremost, is the thing that I have loved about this brand since the moment I started wearing my V5 GPS watch and using my Pro ZR range finder: affordability.

In the past, when I have looked at buying a launch monitor, I have typically balked at prices because it often seems like a product that isn’t developed for the average golfer. The LM1 flips that on its head, as the price point is expected to be far more in line with our budgets than the bigger brands. Adding to that is the fact that Shotscope’s GPS app is free, as opposed to those other guys charging monthly and annual fees for the same intel. With the LM1, you’ll enjoy ball and club speed tracking, real time “smash factor” (just sounds cool), and the satisfaction of total carry and distance stats that let you know you’re getting a little bit better each time.

Bottom line: I have a very good feeling that this device will be a fixture in many golfers’ bags very soon, and we’re all going to be thankful for the ways in which it makes our game better.

Go big or go home

I have a confession to make about this one: I first bought my Hyperice Venom Go a couple years ago, and I very hastily left a pretty darn negative review, because I really didn’t give it much of a shot. I had been dealing with a nagging shoulder issue and I suppose I expected this to be a miracle cure instead of something that would, you know, make me feel a little better with proper stretching and fitness. Hey, stop judging me.

Anyway, about a year passed and the shoulder pain was lingering — perhaps even worse — and I found the Venom Go in my bathroom vanity drawer and decided to give it another go (pun intended). It has since become one of the most important recovery items in my arsenal, and I use it after every round and range session for multiple areas of concern: shoulder, back, and even my calves. It exceeds at providing quick pain relief and comfort with the combination of heat and vibration —  controlled by a convenient app — and the only problem that I have with it now is that my wife keeps stealing it for her back.

Bottom line: Those of us who rely on THC- and CBD-based creams and lotions know well that they don’t make for good travel accessories, so it’s very nice to have this lightweight device that fits well in a toiletry kit or even one of the slots on my golf bag.

(Important editorial note: I write about products that I use and sincerely recommend. I don’t make any money off this stuff, so every word that I have written is genuine.)