Counting today, we have 11 shopping days before Christmas, and you have yet to buy the golfer on your list that special gift.

I’m here to help.

You can go to any number of places in Central Oregon to take care of your procrastination, from retailers large and small, to the pro shops at area course (and, of course, online) — all of which can set you up to get that “Wow, I love it!” response from the golf nut you are shopping for.

Last week, I paid a visit to one of those local shops, Pro Golf of Bend, where owner and PGA professional Andy Heinly took the time to show me some of the newest and coolest golf equipment on the market.

I hope you find an idea or two here that will solve your golf gift predicament.

New clubs

At the top of any golfer’s list — new clubs.

While many manufacturers wait until January each year to reveal their new clubs, according to Heinly, coinciding with the annual National PGA Show in Florida, some have already rolled out their designs for 2016.

But some, including TaylorMade (the M1 series) and Callaway (Big Bertha) have already introduced their new lines of drivers,fairway metals and hybrids. Heinly said the TaylorMade M1 drivers, which retail for $500, have been moving since the shop got them in November.

“We’ve sold probably a half dozen of those right away, the drivers, at full retail,” Heinly said. “Now they’re back-ordered and we can’t get them until January, so they’re moving quickly.”

Cobra also came out with its new drivers and fairway metals in November, called the King LTD, which features a “spaceport” design. The port allows golfers to see inside the club and was inspired by the International Space Station’s observation platform, according to the company’s website.

TaylorMade, Callaway and Cobra also released their new iron sets in November.

Wedges and putters are another option for those who would prefer to keep the gift in the $100 to $200 range. Heinly noted that the new Callaway Mack Daddy, Ping Glide and Mizuno wedges are now available.

“Guys are always going through wedges and putters,” he said. “It’s not a $500 purchase, it’s a $125 purchase for wedges and $150 to $200 for putters, so players have a tendency to change those a little faster than drivers.”

If new clubs are out of your price range, Heinly suggests fixing up the golfer on your list with new grips, making any set of clubs feel new.

“It’s always great to have new grips, because that’s where all the feel is,” Heinly said.

Other options

Besides clubs, Heinly said other popular ideas for holiday giving include golf balls, bags, and electronic devices such as laser range finders and GPS devices for the course.

“Electronics are big, the GPS, the watches,” Heinly said. “A wife will come in and spend $200 or $300 to buy a GPS system for her husband, or vice versa. Garmin has been popular across the board, SkyCaddie has also been real popular, and the laser finders, Bushnell and Leupold, are typical ‘gifty’ items.”

If you are not quite sure what to get, gift certificates are a viable option and are commonly available for merchandise, lessons and, at golf courses, for rounds of golf.

For the golfers who get out on the course during the offseason, Heinly suggests giving them the cold-weather gear necessary to play in winter conditions.

“In the Central Oregon Winter Series, those guys all play no matter what,” he said, adding that good gift ideas include HotHands, gloves, layered shirts and the rain gear to fight off the cold.

Deals at Pro Golf and other golf outlets can also be had on 2015 clothing and golf shoes, both of which will be transitioning to the 2016 designs at the turn of the new year.

Gift certificates for lessons are also popular, according to Heinly, who noted that for golfers working on their swings, the winter is a good time to work on any changes.

— Reporter: 541-617-7868, kduke@bendbulletin.com