Gift Bag for a Newbie

[Harry Longshanks]

I have a female friend (semi-professional relationship) who was dragged to the golf course recently and she thinks she likes it.

She picked some used clubs from a friend and is planning on some lessons.

I would like to encourage her, and so I am putting together a small gift bag. (Small and very inexpensive is key. Anything bigger would be inappropriate for the type of relationship we have.)

So far I have:

• An Ecco "free gift" - a small nylon zipper pouch and carabiner with some Ecco logo tees, an Ecco divot tool, and some plastic Ecco ball markets.
• A couple of the inexpensive metal divot tools.
• An extra (generic) golf towel I had (unused).
• I club brush I bought, but never used.
• Some extra 2-ball sleeves I got from demo days that I will never use.
• A folder with print-outs of basic rules and etiquette information, some golf catalogs, and information about a few local courses that are good for beginners.

Does anyone have any suggestions for something else I can throw in. Again, this is a very nice girl, but anything "not small" would be weird considering our relationship.

Also, from the beginner ladies (or significant others, brothers, fathers, "uncles", etc of beginner ladies), can you recommend a good inexpensive ball for a brand new lady player.

I've seen Pinnacle Ribbon and Noodle Lady. Anything above $15/dz. isn't really appropriate for someone who will be losing a ton of balls. In fact, I'd like to see something that can be had for around $10 a box, whether that be regular price, or on sale. (Obviously, they don't have the be a "lady specific" ball, but soft and low-compression is key for the slower swing of a newbie.)

Thanks!

[M2R]

Do you happen to have one of those swing sequence photo pages of a decent swing that you could pull out of some golfing magazine?

I used to carry around a reduced photocopy of Annika's sequence that I folded around the outside of my scorecard and I would glance at it every time I wrote down a score as part of my preparation for teeing off on the next hole. Looking at her swing sequence for some reason usually produced a calming effect.

[Monty_Ryder]

Ben Hogan's Five Lessons

[dave s]

A visor! Wife never heads out to play without it!

Balls? My wife, (2nd year player) only buys 'sale' and 'closeout' balls. But it's funny, if she finds a Pro V1 on the course, she plays it!

dave

[shredfit]

I've seen Pinnacle Ribbon and Noodle Lady. Anything above $15/dz. isn't really appropriate for someone who will be losing a ton of balls. In fact, I'd like to see something that can be had for around $10 a box, whether that be regular price, or on sale. (Obviously, they don't have the be a "lady specific" ball, but soft and low-compression is key for the slower swing of a newbie.)

I've known a few ladies that just start golf. It is in my experience that a ball is a ball to them(they lose tons). The more balls they have the better(used balls are usally a non-issue).

Therefore, I have been to some local places(courses) and ask if I could get some used balls(nothing fancy). Many times, $10-12 maybe less, will get you an ice cream bucket full of older Top Flight/Pinnacle/Precept/Intech/Wilson balls. Oh yeah, tell them they are for a beginner.