Get ahead, get a headcover!

Tiger headcover by Daphne's

I was asked the other day by a non-golfer to recommend a novelty Christmas gift for under £25, for the golfer who has just about everything.

The person concerned was heading to their local pro shop and didn't want to be intimidated by a minefield of products they knew very little about. Balls, gloves and caps were suggested as possible options but I responded that these are all items personal to each golfer and, though acceptable, might not always be appreciated.

For example, a golfer who plays a Titleist Pro V1 ball, would be unlikely to use a box of Hippo Titaniums or one who is committed to TaylorMade or Mizuno clubs, wouldn't necessarily wear a Wilson or Callaway cap or glove - and vice versa.

I recalled an email I had received recently from Jane Spicer, founder of Daphne's headcovers in Phoenix, Arizona, flattered by my enquiry about the products her company makes for some of the world's leading golfers.

Ernie Els headcover

Jane's company, incidentally, was started when her mother Daphne challenged her, aged 16, to start a business by selling the animal headcovers she made at local craft fairs.

Now the company has a growing distribution worldwide and from an original range of six creatures now has 175. Her customers include Tiger Woods (Tiger), Ernie Els (Lion), Craig Stadler (Walrus) and Kelli Kuehne (Bulldog).

Poulter headcover

Many of these headcovers can be obtained from several of Golfmagic's commercial partners like onlinegolf.co.uk while elitegolfonline, includes in its wide range of Winning Edge headcovers, a £19.99 likeness of Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter.

Tell us about the distinctive headcovers you carry on your bag, on the forum.