Nine Days Of Christmas: Seamus Tartan Ties And Special 20% Off Discount Code

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As we near Christmas day the gift recommendations are now strictly about buying yourself something Rusty the dog, who drew you in the family pool, would never buy.

Last year the craftsmen and women of Seamus Golf kindly offered a Christmas discount to readers of this site. And after noticing their dapper new ties I reached out to company co-founder Akbar Christi who kindly offered a holiday discount for all purchases. Enter code RUSTICCANYON to get 20% off.

Everything by Seamus is made with care, thought and class, but I'm digging their new ties in fabrics sourced from the best (Loch Caron, House of Edgar). They come in both skinny and regular sizes and the website notes the lineage of the patterns so that you can do your best Smails impersonation at your next cocktail party.

Personally, I love a good tartan tie because nearly all look good with a navy blazer, they are guaranteed to liven up an otherwise cookie-cutter outfit, all while giving you a fun story to tell about the tie's inspiration.

Pictured to the right is the granite, cream and black Dornoch Tweed Tie that harkens to the ancient days of the Scottish Highlands, home of the great Royal Dornoch (whose club tartan is a colorful design invoking all colors of the course in its gorse-blooming days).

So head to Seamus and scoop up a few ties or headcovers at 20% off (code: RUSTICCANYON) and encourage them to keep making cool stuff.

Also, this way I can lobby for a much-needed Musselburgh tie!

Nine Days of Christmas: The "Swing The Club" Glass Tray

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After listening to Sam Weinman and Marty Hackel discuss the classification of gifts on the Golf Digest podcast, procrastinators may have a little more last-minute holiday gift buying-clarity.

I was especially glad to hear Marty single out a multi-purpose gift from Digest.com's annual slideshow of products: the Golf Sketch Swing The Club Decoupage Glass Tray from BensGarden.com.

Besides the cleverness, originality and versatility of this tray subversively laden with every swing thought imaginable, this classy piece could serve as an intervention tool. A glass tray that saves lives!

Hear me out.

We all know the golfer who carries a list of swing thoughts in their back pocket. Or, in more 21st Century fashion, typed into a Notes file on their mobile phone. These troubled souls wils stop total strangers and ask them to record a swing. Or worse, ask the stranger to analyze before putting headphones back on to listen to Bob Rotella.

But who wants to tell these sufferers that they need help? Especially when you can do it passive-aggressively in the form of a gift?

This six-by-six-inch decoupage tray is a tad steep at $56, but this could save lives! Or paper clips.

Nine Days Of Christmas: Links Candles

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Yes, Saturday Night Live did their best two weeks ago to ruin the candle as a gift, even throwing in a little jab at 1980s music and hair to scare you into gifting something besides fine-smelling wax.

But let's ignore that classic bit of satire and focus on the product of 12-year-old, Shark Tank-inspired entrepreneur Lily Green. She has created a line of golf candles evoking scents based on the game, including a special edition sold by Seamus Golf, and her candles are all lovingly packaged with Josh Smith-art of Cabot Links' 16th hole.

So in maintaining the annual Christmas gift guide theme here, buy yourself a golf candle or be bold and gift a collection of candles at a better price. And support a young entrepreneur.

Nine Days Of Christmas: Best Layering Option For Golf

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While the kids love their compression shirts and pants, there is a reason most golfers are not flocking to some of the amazing tech fabrics on the market: they are too tight for golf.

There is a fine line between snug and cutting of circulation. Over five hours on the course, golfers need breathability, a little give, just enough support, and a layer that will cover their arms.

We used to have turtlenecks for that but I think most would rather suffer frostbite than join the fleeting movement to make them cool again.

That's why you should treat yourself to Athletes Collective's $25 Long Sleeve.

If you've heard me talk about them on ShackHouse, you know I love their stuff because it's logo-free, ridiculously-priced, well-made, great-fitting and perfect for many uses. I wear the large Long Sleeve for working out and the more snug medium as an undershirt to still freely hit a golf ball in.

So go to AthletesCollective.com and enter the promo code HOUSE to receive 15% off your first order. Throw in some gym shorts while you're at it. Or you can get three of the long sleeves for $66 thanks to their bundling option.

All orders include free shipping and returns to the US or Canada. And 100% satisfaction is guaranteed, as a few ShackHouse listeners have confirmed in emails reporting great follow up service from the AC folks.

Arizona Golfer With Down Syndrome Plays In High School Championship

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Richard Obert catches up with Sandra Day O'Connor High School golf coach Steve Casey about Amy Bockerstette, one of his starting five before last week's Division I girls at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen, Arizona.

Bockerstette is a 4-foot-9-inch junior with Down syndrome who has inspired her teammates by moving into the lineup.

This is her second year competing in high school matches.

Bockerstette was granted allowance from the Arizona Interscholastic Association to have a caddie during match play.

She has qualified with the team to compete in the state tournament, which runs Wednesday and Thursday for Division I girls at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen. Bockerstette is the team’s fifth golfer, shooting a best nine holes of about 50 this year.

Her swing coach, local pro Matt Acuff, who works with some of the top local juniors, will be on her bag and in her head as he steers her through the biggest tournament of her life, a journey that nobody but Bockerstette, her coach/caddie and those closest around her ever thought possible.

“It’s awesome,” she said.

The story goes on to detail how she got into golf and it's pretty inspirational stuff. Enjoy!

Special Olympics Golfer Has His (Plainly Marked) Clubs Stolen

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Good spot by Kevin Casey at Golfweek.com to get your blood boiling, as we learn that Special Olympian athlete Keith Kee had his clubs and Special Olympics-marked bag stolen at a Bartlett, Tennessee golf course. Kee was there to play golf with his coach John Sprott.

“With Special Olympics on the bag, whoever stole them must have known who they belong to. For me, that’s more egregious than just stealing someone’s set of clubs,” Sprott told WMC Action News 5.

The full WBTV report from Chris Luther includes a full description should you live in the area and spot the heathen who committed this act.

Oy Vey Brawl: Golfers In Pastels, Anklet Socks

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Nice spot by Justin Abrams to show that men in pastels, anklet socks and driving a buggy around a Colorado colf course can still get into a fight over something very, very important.

Mute the audio for the less-than-savory play by play.

 

Hole-in-One, Double In Same Round Files: Mason Nome Edition

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Congrats to University of Texas golf commit Mason Nome (2019), who made an ace and double eagle in the same round. It was John Wooden's feat and that of only a handful of others many decades ago.

Nome posted this scorecard of the round, which also featured a double bogey just a hole after teh two on a par-5. The Golf Gods waste little time setting us straight!

Hole in one and double eagle in same round!

A photo posted by Mason Nome (@masonnome) on


Mason also posted a tremendous trick shot many weeks ago that I hadn't seen...

A video posted by Mason Nome (@masonnome) on