June 2012

RLX RLX's classic-fit Feed-Striped Polo ($89-$99) comes in a lightweight jersey fabric and offers superior performance and stretch for comfort and ventilation on the course. Features a self-fabric collar, three-button placket and open sleeves. 92% polyester, 8% spandex.

BACK 9 USA _È_The 2012 U.S. Open Head Cover by Back 9 USA ($29-$32) is constructed with a stretch panel on each side and foam inside the top and bottom. Fits up to a 460cc driver. Body: 95% nylon and 5% spandex. Pom-pom: 100% acrylic yarn.

_È__È_CMC GOLF _È_Woven with a velvety finish, the 2012 U.S. Open Golf Towel ($19-$21) by CMC Golf measures 16" W x 22__" H and is made from 100% cotton.

AHEAD _È_The U.S.G.A.'s most popular cap, the 2012 U.S. Open Official Logo Cap ($22-$24) is made by Ahead and comes in colors to suit any fan. Unstructured and made from vintage twill. Adjustable buckle closure. One size fits most. 100% cotton. Crimson/Stone shown.

TOURNAMENT SOLUTIONS _È_The 2012 U.S. Open Mondomark ($14-$15) by Tournament Solutions is an oversized, double-sided, 11__ã2-inch coin-style medallion. Features a removable one-inch ball marker. What's best is that it's easy to find in your pocket.

_È_TERVIS TUMBLER _È_The double-walled insulation of the 2012 U.S. Open Tervis Tumblers ($28-$31) reduces condensation and helps keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. Made in USA. Set of two 16-ounce tumblers so you can share drinks with a golf buddy and watch the game's hardest challenge.

_È_LEE WYBRANSKI _È_Treasure the memories of this year's U.S. Open with the 2012 U.S. Open Poster ($25) by artist Lee Wybranski. It showcases the eighth hole at The Olympic Club and the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. The poster is based on an original watercolor painting and measures 24x36 inches. Frame not included.

_È_ AHEAD _È_Avoid overheating and stay protected in the light-colored 2012 U.S. Open Sun-Protection Hat ($35-$39) by Ahead. Metal ventilation eyelets, 20+ UPF sun protection, three-inch brim, toggle adjustment and stretchy sweatband. You might look a little like Dave Pelz, but that's not such a bad thing. Made from 100% nylon. _È_All items are available for purchase on www.USGAshop.com or by calling (888) 920-USGA (8742). Prices listed are for U.S.G.A. members and nonmembers. _È_BAG BOY _È_Wheeling an unruly travel bag through airports can often lead to hand or wrist injury. Bag Boy addresses that problem with their new T-2000 Travel Cover ($190), which features a PivotGrip handle that rotates 360 degrees and reduces arm and wrist strain. Available in three colors and includes a one-year warranty. Great idea! bagboy.com

_È_ LEUPOLD _È_Two new rangefinders are available from Leupold. The GX_¨-3i ($500) and GX-4i ($625) both feature technology that ensures accuracy to within six inches of your target. They also both have Prism Lock technology so you can hone in on flagstick prisms. Another nifty option is Fog mode that enables both models to cut through mist and provide fast, accurate measurements. We love their numerous options. leupold.com

TIN CUP _È_Like to identify your golf ball while showing your pride in the United States Marine Corps? Tin Cup Personal Imprinting has unveiled two new marking stencils with designs that represented this distinguished military branch. Both the Eagle, Globe and Anchor and the United States Marine Corps-USMC designs ($20) do just that. What's even cooler is that Tin Cup will donate $5 of every online sale to Birdies for the Brave. tin-cup.com

_È_CHAMP _È_Champ's new MyHite Zarma FLYtee ($8/40- or 30-pack options) makes it easy for players to tee the ball at a consistent height. They also boast a six-prong head and shallow cup, which reduces friction and leads to longer drives. Five times more durable than a wooden tee, the MyHite features a bio-agent additive that enables microorganisms to metabolize the plastic into humus, an organic matter that benefits the environment. champspikes.com

_È_ ZERO FRICTION _È_Feeling responsible to make a tee that could give back and enhance the environment, Zero Friction developed their earth-friendly EnviroTee ($9/up to 90 tees depending on size). Made of 25% fertilizer plus a proprietary biodegradable composite results in a natural breakdown of the EnviroTee and enhancing and enriching the soil. We're all for making the game greener! zerofriction.com

_È_SCOTTY CAMERON _È_From master craftsman Scotty Cameron come 12 new putter models. The Scotty Cameron Select line ($375) includes five modern blades, two mallets, three mid-lengths and two long options. All come in a black mist finish and are precision milled from soft, 303 stainless steel with the exception of the Big Sur models, which feature high-grade milled-aluminum heads. These are well-crafted flatsticks and sure to be a hit with Cameron devotees. scottycameron.com

_È_ PRIDE TEE _È_The newest member of Pride Sports' Professional Tee System family is an enviro-friendly, plastic performance golf tee called PTS Evolution ($8). Engineered with special low-resistance tips that create less friction between the golf ball and tee, they come in two different lengths, 23__ã4 inches for clubs smaller than 360cc, and 31__ã4 inches for larger clubheads. pridegolftee.com

CLEVELAND GOLF _È_Last fall, Cleveland Golf introduced their 588 Forged wedge line. Now, they've released a sweet-looking Black Pearl version ($140). Forged from 1025 carbon steel, the 588 Forged Black Pearl offers golfers an incredibly soft feel and reduces glare. Like the earlier release, the Black Pearl version features Tour Zip Grooves and Laser Milled technology for maximum spin. Look for a Tour Concept Wedge steel shaft from True Temper that has a less active tip and, as a result, a more penetrating ballflight and increased spin. And boom goes the dynamite! clevelandgolf.com

_È_PING _È_Want to bust drives like Masters champ, Bubba Watson? Of course you do. Fortunately PING has made it a little easier for us mortals. Starting June 1, the company will sell 5,000 limited-edition, all-pink G20 ($430) drivers. What's best is that PING will donate 5% of its proceeds to its fundraising campaign, "Bubba Long in Pink. Driven by PING." Offered in lofts of 9.5°, 10.5° and 12° for righties and 10.5° for lefties like Bubba. ping.com

_È_MIURA _È_Miura's new SIT-460 driver is the company's biggest driver yet. Measuring 460cc but appearing smaller due to a tall clubface, the SIT-460 ($595) was designed by Katsuhiro Miura and is more forgiving and longer than any other Miura driver. Standing for "Strong & Ideal Trajectory," the SIT-460 boasts an all-titanium head and comes in 9° and 10.5° models in right-handed only. miuragolf.com

PING _È_PING addresses belly-putter lengths with their new Nome 405 adjustable belly putter ($320). Measuring anywhere between 37.5 and 46.5 inches, the Nome is a custom-fitting marvel, built with adjustability and the perfect fit in mind. Available in three different shaft bends to match one's Straight, Slight Arc and Strong Arc stroke. The lower portion of the shaft is steel, and the upper portion beneath the grip is graphite. Comes with a standard Winn AVS 21-inch belly grip. U.S.G.A. approved. ping.com

_È_ SWING WHISTLE _È_The Swing Whistle ($20) helps your timing, tempo and speed, while curing casting and hitting fat shots. And it's simple to use. Simply attach it just above your club's hosel, swing and listen for when your club "whistles." If it makes a sound at impact, you're swinging right. Now that's a simple, auditory-feedback kind of training aid! swingwhistle.com

_È_ SWINGPERFECT _È_Can't seem to keep the club on plane? The SwingPerfect ($70) training aid will keep you on track. Simply attach the SwingPerfect to any one of your club's shafts and make a swing. If you're either inside the plane line or outside it, the device will vibrate. Simple as that. swingperfect.com

_È_SWINGWING _È_The inflatable SwingWing ($30) is a wind-resistance trainer that helps you develop a full body turn, proper tempo, lag and sequencing. And what's best, it's lightweight, convenient and easy to use. Once it's inflated, just slip the grip end of any club through the SwingWing and swing away. swingwinggolf.com

_È_ GOLFSTR _È_Can't seem to make solid contact? GOLFSTR ($25) can help. It's a training aid that fits over your leading arm and reminds you to keep it straight in the backswing. With no more "chicken wings," you'll hit consistent, straight shots. After practicing with GOLFSTR at the driving range or on the course, remember the feeling and hit flush shots. golfstr.com SKLZ _È_SKLZ has introduced two new self-guided training aids designed specifically for golf. The TRAINERmat ($30) includes 24 essential exercises printed on the mat for building your core stability and torque, while the TRAINERball ($30) features 16 exercises printed on the stability ball designed to optimize a golfer's core strength and flexibility. Sounds like SKLZ is going to pump you up! sklz.com

_È_SWINGSMART _È_our mobile-device universe, it's easier than ever to capture and analyze your swing. And The SwingSmart ($299) just made it easier...in 3D. The 19-gram sensor attaches to your club's shaft and sends data to your iPad or iPhone via a Bluetooth connection so you'll immediately know your speed, tempo, face angle and angle of attack. You'll also be able to look at your swing from 360°! theswingsmart.com

_È_BOLLE _È_Elevation changes, hazards and blind shots can all wreak havoc with our vision. Eyewear maker Bolle addresses those issues with their new Photo V3 golf lenses ($100-$150). Made with a lightweight impact-resistant material called Trivex, the company's BClear lenses deliver complete UV protection and optical clarity. If you play in warm, humid conditions, these might be your next shades as an exterior hydrophobic coating and interior anti-fog treatment keep the lenses clear. bolle-serengetipr.com

_È_ENERGY ATHLETIC _È_Can a golf shirt really help your game? According to a double-blind study conducted at the Sport Technology Lab at Loughborough University in England, it just might. Scientists there concluded that athletes wearing the Energy Athletic shirt ($70-$80) with IonX fabric had a 2.7% increase in power output. "Wearing Energy Athletic Golf allows the athlete to sustain a workout for a greater period of time, and then have a much more rapid recovery time," said Dr. Al Ouimet, Energy Athletic Golf's chief scientist. Comes in long- and short-sleeved shirts. wearenergy.com

_È_FOOTJOY _È_Developed using fine merino yarns, the new Merino Tour socks ($15-$20) by FootJoy aren't just comfortable, they regulate your temperature and keep your feet dry and breathable. Available in both crew and sport versions, the Merino Tour feature breathable mesh inserts in key stress areas to boost ventilation. They also boast anatomically shaped left and right foot-beds that provide enhanced cushioning in high-impact areas. footjoy.com

_È_TRION:Z _È_Endorsed by three of the game's hottest young players (Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Ryo Ishikawa), Trion:Z recently introduced their Maginsole MINI ($25) insoles, each of which is embedded with four tiny magnets. Do they make you calmer, as Trion:Z claims? Hard to say, but sticking them on our insoles sure made walking around this year's PGA Merchandise show a lot more comfortable. trionz.com

_È_ PUMA _È_You've seen them on Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan and Charley Hoffman, but are you young and X Games enough to wear one on the course? Of course we're talking about those flat-brimmed baseball caps. We don't quite get the appeal, but then again, we grew up playing persimmon woods and wearing visors. In fact, we're wearing knickers right now. Try one to prove us wrong. Puma Monoline 210 Fitted Hat ($30) shown. shop.puma.com

_È_BRUSH ON BLOCK _È_Applying suntan lotion can seriously slicken your hands and make gripping the club that much more difficult. The makers of Brush on Block ($25) understand this. It goes on dry with a brush application and protects your skin with a SPF30 coverage. For women only. brushonblock.com