PGA Merchandise Show: Five Simple, Cool Ideas for Golf

I used to go to the PGA Merchandise Show when it fit on the upper lobby of the Contemporary Hotel at Disney.

Now it fills the Orlando Convention Center. Even in these tough economic times, it's still a huge display of everything that is the golf industry.

I spent two days there last week, mainly to see what's new and to find old friends. In the process, amidst the expensive drivers, irons, putters, lavish clothing, and everything else that could test Derek Jeter's budget, there were some new, simple items that you might find interesting.

You can have your own logo thanks to a new company called Tin Cup. These guys out of Arlington, Va., have a small shield you can place over your ball and have an instant logo with the help of a Sharpie.

Pictured above is one of their favorites, titled "It's 5 o'clock somewhere." I don't know about you, but that's a motto with about 99 percent of the golfers I know.

You can check out their other creations at: www.tin-cup.com .

Don't you wish you had a buck for every golfer you've seen with a bad grip?

Henry Bruton is a PGA Master Professional and coach of the Canadian national team. He invented the Grip Rite, which snaps on to any grip and places your hands in the proper position.

The Grip Rite is simple and incredibly useful: snap it on, snap it off. You put your hands on it and your grip improves. It's not rocket science.

You can check it out at: www.griprite.com .

I've seen a lot of players who'd rather not pull of their shoes after a round of golf. I'm one of them. I'll drive my car with 'em on. Enter Cleatskins. Now you can go anywhere without pulling off your golf shoes. They consist of a molded rubbed, non-slip sole that fits right over your golf shoes, allowing you to head for the grocery store or the nearest watering hole without changing shoes. See 'em at: www.cleatskins.com .

Perhaps this is a woman thing, but I've seen some female players out on the course in flip-flops. "I want my feet to be tan," I was told. Okay, here is your answer: First there were sandals with spikes, now there are flip-flops with spikes. You can see them at www.golfgators.com . They go perfectly with the "It's 5 o'clock somewhere" theme.

I really don't want to hang a brush off my golf bag to clean the grooves of the irons. Now there's something easier. It's a plastic piece the size of a ball marker with a brush built into the side. It's quite handy and fits in your pocket. They are coming up with a divot tool that holds the "d-brush." It's also quite easy to use as both a ball marker and a brush for those grooves. Incredibly simply, inexpensive, a great golf idea. You can check it out at: www.dbrushgolf.net .

I found these new products to be simple and functional. You see, there aren't too many new ideas in golf. It's a copycat industry and always has been.

As for the worst ideas of the show, I saw pink tees in the shape of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You peg 'em upside down and tee the ball on them. They cost $10 for a set of four. After seeing them, I thought to myself, "They can't be serious!"

The guys hawking them came all the way to Orlando from Paris, France.

Come on, man!