Why golf outing merch is worth getting right
For most players, the gear in the gift bag is the part of your outing they take home. A good hat gets worn for years. A tumbler ends up on a desk. A golf towel stays clipped to a bag every round. That's a lot of free reminders of your event, your cause and your sponsors.
The flip side: generic swag goes straight into a drawer. The goal of custom golf outing merch is simple: pick fewer, better items that players actually use, and put your logo on them.
Step 1: Start with headcount and budget per player
Two numbers drive everything else: how many players you expect and how much you want to spend per player. A 144-player charity tournament and an 18-person member-guest need very different plans.
Here's what common budgets get you, using our current price ranges (actual pricing depends on quantity):
| Budget per player | A bundle that works | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Under $25 | A custom hat on its own, or logo golf tees for every player | $5–$30 |
| $25–$50 | Custom hat + golf towel, or hat + tumbler | $30–$52 |
| $50–$100 | T-shirt + hat + a dozen logo golf balls | $51–$75 |
| $100+ | The full bag: tee, hat, balls, towel, tees and tumbler | $89–$128 |
Not sure where to land? Use the ballpark calculator on our home page: slide to your player count and it adds up each item for you.
Step 2: Pick items players actually use
These six cover almost every golf outing. You don't need all of them. Two or three great pieces beat six forgettable ones.
$15–$30 per hat · See it on the gear page →
Hats are the most-worn outing item, period. Structured caps with an embroidered logo look premium and work for every age group.
$18–$25 per shirt · See it on the gear page →
T-shirts are perfect for casual outings, fundraisers and anything with an after-party. A small chest logo with a big back print gives you two places for branding.
$18–$20 per dozen · See it on the gear page →
Logo golf balls get used on the course that day, which makes them a natural fit. Srixon Soft Feel is a ball golfers of every level enjoy playing.
$18–$22 per towel · See it on the gear page →
$5–$9 per pack · See it on the gear page →
$15–$22 per tumbler · See it on the gear page →
Need something else, like polos, quarter-zips, koozies, ball markers or umbrellas? Ask us. Our catalog goes way past the six items on our site.
Step 3: Figure out how many to order
- One per player is the baseline for each item.
- Add extras for volunteers, sponsors, staff and the people who sign up the week before. A cushion of 5–10% is common.
- Check minimums. Ours are 48 dozen for golf balls, 50 pieces for hats, towels, golf tees and tumblers, and 60 for t-shirts. If your group is smaller than a minimum, the extras make great sponsor thank-yous or prizes.
- Apparel needs sizes. See our golf outing apparel guide for how to collect them without the chaos.
Step 4: Get your logo ready
Send whatever you have, but here's what helps:
- Vector files print sharpest. AI, EPS, PDF and SVG files scale to any size without getting blurry.
- A high-resolution PNG or JPG works for most items. Avoid screenshots or logos pulled from an email signature.
- Think about sponsor logos early. If a sponsor is paying for the gift bag, decide whose logo goes where before you order.
- Simple logos embroider best. Very thin lines and tiny text can get lost on a hat. Full-color printed items like towels and tumblers handle detail better.
Step 5: Work backward from your date
Production lead times run 2–4 weeks depending on the item: towels are quickest at about 2 weeks, and tumblers take about 4. Add time for decisions and shipping, and here's a timeline that keeps you out of rush territory:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks out | Set your budget per player and rough headcount. Pick your items and send your logo for a quote. |
| 6 weeks out | Confirm the order: quantities, colors and logo placement. Collect shirt sizes if you're doing apparel. |
| 2–5 weeks out | Your gear is in production. |
| 1–2 weeks out | Gear arrives. Sort sizes and pack gift bags. |
| Event day | Hand it out at check-in and watch the hats go on. |
Reach out anyway. Tell us your date and we'll tell you which items can still make it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ordering too late. The number one problem. Start at least a month out; earlier if you're ordering several items.
- Guessing on shirt sizes. Collect sizes at registration whenever you can.
- Too many cheap items. Five throwaway trinkets cost about the same as one great hat that gets worn all summer.
- Forgetting the extras. Volunteers and sponsors deserve gear too.
- Logo placement as an afterthought. Decide where each logo goes before you order, especially with multiple sponsors.
Want more gift ideas? Check out our golf tournament gift bag ideas.
Ready to gear up?
Tell us your date, headcount and what you're thinking. We'll get back to you within 24 hours with a full quote. No commitment.
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