The products mentioned in this post were gifted to us at Cars Bars & Pars. All opinions are those of our staff.

My wife will tell you…I’d rather do almost ANYTHING than shop. I’ll cook dinner and even clean up after myself, I’ll take the dog for a walk in a storm. I’ll even sit through a Lifetime movie with her if it means that I don’t have to go into a store.

I hate to shop!

As an avid golfer (yes, THAT I’ll do any time, any day of the week) I do love having great equipment, looking good on the course, and being stocked with plenty of balls, tees, and gloves, but I usually either grab something while I’m checking out in the pro-shop or just ask my wife to pick them up for me while she’s out (she is the complete opposite of me, she could spend all day going from store to store). Did I mention that I don’t even like shopping online (except for cars…I like to look at old cars online).

When I learned that there are subscription boxes that send a monthly box of great golf apparel, gloves, balls, tees, and other equipment I knew that I HAD to check them out. With the holidays on the horizon, these make a great gift for ANY golfer, but for someone like me who hates to shop, it makes the BEST gift.

Today I’m showcasing THREE very different subscription boxes for golfers. I realize that everyone likes something a little different, and I found that all three of them offered options that I really like.

Short Par 4

Short Par 4 is that triple eagle you’ve been searching for. 

• 3 Questions
• 3 Membership Options
• 1 Winning Subscription Box to your door every month

What I LIKE about it.

I tried the Fairway Membership Box and I like the fact that not only do they ask the usual questions like – right-handed vs left-handed, how often you play and what’s your handicap, but Short Par 4 gets to know you a little better by asking you to choose from various STYLES to see just what type of style is your most comfortable. It’s funny that a conservative dresser like myself (I’m a button-down shirt and khaki pants kind of guy) picked over-the-top colors and came out with a “Loud & Wild” style. But somewhere inside of me, I think that there’s a part of me that WANTS to be THAT GUY.

Questions they ask:

• Shirt Size
• Pant Size
• Shoe Size
• Hat Size
• Glove Size
• Glove Hand
• Putter Type
• and series of clothing photos where you choose your favorite colors & styles

My first box included a RED, WHITE & BLUE polo by 1764. Now, I’m not a small man. I’m almost 6’2″ and an XXXL (yes, I need to get my weight down), but Short Par 4 carries not only MY size but I found that the shirt they sent was LONG enough. The bag (everything arrived in a branded mailer bag) also included an oversized branded Short Par 4 golf towel and oversized tees (the only type that I’ll use).

Memberships include:

• Fairway Membership – $54.95 per month with a $110 value
• Executive Membership $109.95 per month with a $220 value
• Magnolia Membership – $99 per month with a $200 value (my wife would LOVE this)
• They also offer the first of its kind GOLF GLOVE MEMBERSHIP!!!

Tee up at: ShortPar4.com to learn more.

Get 20% off with code: CBP20

Mullybox

Mullybox is like hitting an 89 when you never break 100.

What I like about it

Of the 3 boxes that I received, Mullybox not only had the most products, but it also seemed to be extremely high quality. TNO MULLIGANS NECESSARY!

Mullybox claims that whether you are a scratch golfer or a beginner, you want to play better (don’t we all). So, they strive to make golf easier for you by carefully selecting gear that helps you develop what you need to look, feel, and play better. I know for a fact that using better equipment can absolutely help you be a better golfer and this subscription box is a straight shot and will make a great gift this holiday season.

While there is one subscription option vs. multiple by some of the other brands, this box just seemed to offer so much more.

Questions asked

• Gender
• Glove Hand
• Glove Size
• Shirt Size

The box that I received had a leaf-patterned LinkSoul short-sleeved shirt, a pair of no-show Pro-Dry golf socks by Swinger in the Mullybox colors, 2 sleeves of OnCore elixir golf balls, a Coral Golf Co glove (with a fun wrist pattern), tees, a bottle of Go Low Supplement and some Golf Impact Recorder Tape that I can’t WAIT to put on the head of my club to see if helps me to address the ball a little better.

Membership

Your Mullybox is delivered every 3 months at a cost of $111.11 with a value as high as $250 and is seasonally curated and delivered 4 times per year!

Tee Up at Mullybox.com to learn more.

Swinger Box

I’m almost embarrassed to say that I first learned about Swinger Box from my wife. She co-hosts a show and often has former New York Giants wide receiver Stephen Baker on when they talk about golf and other men’s interests. He is one of those guys who plays a LOT of golf (charity events, etc.) and he was excited about the box. I’ll also admit to raising my eyebrows when she told me (incorrectly) that the Swingers Box arrived. LOL – it’s the SWINGER BOX (we had a good laugh over that one).

Swinger Box calls itself the”Golf subscription box for any season” and offers the most economical entry of the three boxes. At $49 for a Starter Special and comes with a performance polo & 2nd apparel item as well as a leather glove & tees, it’s easy to check out what you’d get each month without making the commitment UNTIL you know that it’s something you’ll like. The Gear Box is their regular monthly subscription an offers a variety that might include apparel, outerwear, accessories as well as balls, tees & gloves.

Questions

• Set a style – classic, modern or bold
• Lefty or Righty
• Waist Size (48 W is the largest)
• Pant Length
• Shirt Size (they go up to a 4XL!!!)
• With the option of getting an off-season (more apparel will ship) or in-season box (balls, gloves, tees, will ship)

The box I received included not one, but TWO very nice polo shirts (one in pink and one in gray) with one of them in size 5XL (so they may have these sizes occasionally as well), branded tees, and no-show socks, a Birdie golf cap, and club wipes.

Membership

Of the three boxes this one offers a $49 starter box so that you can check it out before subscribing. The regular Gear Box membership is $69 per month

Tee it up at: SwingerBox.com

Do you get a golf subscription box that we didn’t mention? Let us know and we’ll try to review it as well.

This post has been sponsored by iLive, all opinions are strictly my own.

I’m putting it ALL out there…

I am overweight. I am not just a little (as in 10-20 lbs) overweight, I am REALLY overweight. I have tried a lot of things from liquid diets to weight loss surgery, and while they all worked temporarily, each time I gained the weight back and more. My wife on the other hand took off almost 50 lbs this year and she made it look easy.

I have always looked for the quick fix

And while I was living on shakes or having my stomach turned into a sleeve, she was going for walks with the dog and eating when she was hungry and stopping when she was full. She made it look so easy, and if you ask her, she’ll tell you that it was. Why? Because she didn’t diet, didn’t go crazy in spin class, and didn’t do anything drastic. She just made a couple of lifestyle changes.

At 70 years old, I can be a slow learner

But, watching her made a bulb go off in my head. I needed to do something similar. I realized that the journey begins with one step and that I was self-sabotaging myself by doing things that weren’t sustainable.

So a year ago I began walking

Walking can be a challenge for someone with extra pounds, and I realized that listening to music as I walked helped me. I could happily listen to my favorite artists and not think about how far I still had to go, how I was getting tired, or that my body was beginning to ache. I could push through with the help of my favorite albums.

Music became the push that I needed

And, listening as I walked meant that I needed a set of wireless earbuds. I began using iLive Truly Wireless Earbuds on my walk. Compact and comfortable, these earbuds connected with my music easily with no cords to get in my way, no reminder that I was exercising, and no outside noise to distract me from my goal. I could walk, forgetting that I’ve got them in (they are incredibly comfortable) with James Brown telling me to “get on up” and I was the “eye of the tiger.” I could push past block #1 and got to measure my distance by songs as my iLive’s connected seamlessly via Bluetooth to my phone.

iLive makes listening to music easy

Sweatproof for those long walks or shooting hoops, they stow away easily to bring on a hike, a walk on the beach, or back home relaxing after my walk. The simple to use one-key control allows me to access Bluetooth, play, pause, phone, on and off with no complication.

A pair of sneakers, my iLive earbuds, and a place to walk

Exercise has become simpler, easier to do every day, and uncomplicated. This is something that I can stick with forever.

If you’re like me and have been struggling with taking the first step toward fitness

Why not try what I have?

More about iLive Truly Wireless Ear Buds

FEATURES: 

• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
• TWS – True Wireless Stereo
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Sweatproof design
• Works with Siri and Google assistants
• Built-in microphone
• USB-C port for recharge
• Charging case
• Wireless range 49 ft.
• Charging time: 120 minutes
• Battery life: 5 hours at 50% volume with ANC off

INCLUDES:

• Charging case
• USB-C cable
• 90-day Limited Warranty
• User’s guide

Hmmm…someone stole my iLive Truly Wireless Earbuds

Priced under $70

• Available in both BLACK and WHITE
• Available for purchase at iLiveelectronics.com

As usual, I am so proud of my wife for taking on the magazine along with her partner on The Compass Girls, Rachel. Each issue is better than the one before and this summer edition is chock full of great articles, drinks (which she may have gotten from yours truly) and more. I hope that you find something in this issue of value.

Happy reading!

We received products to facilitate this post. All opinions are those of the staff at Cars Bars and Pars.

Father’s Day has come and gone with a fun round of golf with my son (he hits the ball over 250 yards). We spent the day trying out some of the latest equipment because when you’ve got multiple golfers in the family, get-togethers always mean at LEAST 9 holes and sometimes 27 holes (if it’s not too hot out), and adding some golf gear that can save time and strokes off of your game.

Blue Tees Series 3 Max Rangefinder

Ben checked this one out. He’s more of the tech-lover and he also was cranking the ball over 270yards on this outing. Having the Blue Tees Series 3 Max Rangefinder made pinpointing his yardage easy. With a simple push of a button as you look through the lens, we were able to check the yardage and position of the ball. My 153 yards seemed pathetic next to his, but then again he’s a LOT younger (38 years old) and a LOT more fit than I am (I turn 70 this year).

Before using this Blue Tees Rangefinder, I had been under the impression that taking the time to check yardage would dramatically slow down our game, but because it’s a simple point-and-shoot technology there was no time factor involved. I do like the fact that it offers the latest slope technology that accounts for elevation change to provide the exact yardage needed for any shot on the course.

For those of us who are older, with more shaky hands, the option to LOCK on the flag was extremely helpful and the signal (vibration) that it found and locked on it meant that it was QUICK and easy to use. The lens is clear with no haziness.

The Blue Tees Series 3 Max Rangefinder is available in 3 colors (black, navy, and pink) and is outfitted with 2 strong magnets that make it easy to secure to the cart as you move from tee box to ball to hole. Pricing is so much less than other rangefinders, with all of the features (and more) of the more expensive brands.

• Price at this posting –  $239.99
• Shop at: BlueTeesGolf.com 

Check out their bundle deals for even more great products and savings

Duca del Cosma Golf Shoes

Aside from your clubs, the ONE thing that can make or break your game is a good pair of golf shoes. Not only is comfort a factor (especially on those days that you want to walk the course), but your shoes need to give you the traction, balance, and stability for a longer, more accurate swing. Think about what happens if your shoes slip (maybe you shouldn’t). Over the years, as with most other golfers, we’ve transitioned from the traditional golf shoe to the sneaker style, but what I had found is that since switching to spikeless shoes, the ability to grip has been diminished. One look at the bottom of the Valderama’s by Duca del Cosma and you can see and feel the difference that the Airplay IV is Duca’s first fully recyclable and spikeless outsole provides. The functional nubs across the sole help generate progressive stability and optimal grip, while its slightly elevated heel height provides the perfect stance.

Duca del Cosma vs the golf shoes I’d been wearing.

Made of quality Italian leather, these shoes reduce the foot fatigue that happens when you’re spending a full day on the greens. Late-round fatigue affects my game (which is why I often go play 9 vs. 18), but I found that the Duca Del Cosma Valderama‘s molded to my feet and allowed me a secure stance. Normally, I switch out the inner soles of my golf shoes with a high-end one that cups my feet better, but the waterproof sock system with OnSteam® recyclable microfibre, and  ARNEFLEX® insole memory foam that’s covered with OnSteam® recyclable microfibre did a great job all on its own.

Not to be dismissed is the great LOOK of these shoes. They are a combination of the saddle shoe look that I missed wearing coupled with a sophisticated sneaker styling that looks sharp ON the course as well as in the clubhouse over drinks and lunch. It’s rare that you find both cutting-edge technology, AND looks in a golf shoe and I for one appreciate what they’ve done with this shoe model.

• Price at this posting – $229
• Shop at: Duca del Cosma

Based on the quality of these golf shoes, I would also check out their gloves because NOTHING beats great Italian leather.

Campbell Caddie

We’ve all done it….walked away from the hole, only to leave our club behind. Not only have I done THAT numerous times, but how many times have you set your club down in the grass only to pick up a WET, GRASSY GRIP? With the Campbell Caddie, you won’t leave that club behind OR have to wipe off your grip, because this golf accessory takes care of all of that AND the backache bending down to pick up your clubs hole after hole after hole.

The Campbell Caddie will help you enjoy your rounds and slips into your golf bag in between uses. There will be no more wet, grassy, or sandy grips, clubs left behind, or the aches and pains of excessive bending or stooping over. You simply put it into the grass and lean your putter, wedge, or iron into the caddie. There’s nothing that bothers me more than having to circle back for a club left behind. The vibrant colors stand out so that WON’T HAPPEN and is available in bright blue, yellow, red, and black.

FYI – my wife takes it with her to the beach to hang her pocketbook so it doesn’t get sand in it.

• Price at this posting – $24.95
• Shop at: CampbellCaddie.com

These make a great gift as well!

What’s on your “MUST BUY” list for golf this season?