Friday, February 16, 2007

Lifestyle: All that glitters

By Katharine Dyson
GPA Lifestyle Contributing Editor

What will they think of next -- diamonds, rubies, Swarovski crystals, rhinestones on the golf course? Of course.

In the world of ornithology, the male bird is the flashier of the genders. At the golf club, the women show up with glamour and glitter. Take a look at some of the glittery and shimmering products that debuted at last month's PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

They're guaranteed to brighten up the golf landscape from the pro shop to the fairway.

Mettlemark

Mettlemark's classy round sterling silver and 18K golf pendants look like ultra-stylish pieces of jewelry, which they are. But they are more.

Each pendant contains a ball marker held in place by a strong magnet. The circular designs include rings of colored enamel or precious gems, or a single diamond accent in the center.

Mettlemark also makes clip-on cap caddies. The markers are interchangeable so that a golfer can dress up in diamonds or go conservative with the enamel ring.

Info: www.mettlemark.com.

Belding Illah

Belding Golf Bag Co.'s creative team has gone completely bonkers with zany, way-out golf bag designs evoking moods of Casablanca, "gay Paree" and the South Pacific. The best may be the Glitter Ball bag, which is outrageous fun as it's entirely covered in gems.

Sure, the Glitter Ball may not be a best seller, but it will certainly cause a stir in the pro shop. String the bag up and it could double as a disco globe. The Glitter Ball is perfect for the self-confident lady whose dream is to get married in a Las Vegas chapel by Elvis and honeymoon in a Poconos resort with a heart-shaped tub.

Only a tad less strident is the Illah, which shimmers nearly as much as the Glitter Ball. The only significant difference is that Illah's areas of encrusted colored gems are broken by strips of metallic silver material. And, hey, even the headcovers match.

If you have the guts to plunk your sticks in these bags and show up for your next Member-Guest, you can run for president. Would I use the Glitter Ball? No way. Give me Belding's Dragonflies n' Ladybugs or their classic Bushwhacker any day. But then, I'm not running for President.

Info: www.beldinggolfbags.com.

This is one ballmarker that a golfer will not want to leave behind. Set the greens aglitter with sparklers created by Bonjoc.

Designer Eunice Cho, a certified LPGA Teaching and Club Professional instructor, wanted to create a ball marker that would really stand out. She did.

She has created tiny flowers, hearts, cherries, four-leaf clovers and even yellow duckies -- handmade with Swarovski crystals. These markers come in several jewel-tone colors and are designed with a magnetic hat clip. You've got to love the lady bug, especially. Sweet.

Info: www.bonjoc.com.

KistatomsCat divot tool

KiskatomCat's round divot tool is one of the coolest yet. If a company can make designing a divot tool into a fine art, KiskatomCat is giving it the most successful shot. Think Native American meets R2-D2.

This tool comes with interchangeable markers in kaleidoscope colors and holographic patterns, and is sculpted in anodized aluminum. The company also makes money clips and an extensive line of golf-related jewelry, including sterling silver ball markers with intricate Celtic designs.

Info: www.KiskatomCat.com.

Kemestry

A rhinestone cowboy would surely covet these belts and buckles even if he doesn't play golf. As for the rest of us? You love 'em or hate 'em.

Designed by Kemestry, the belts -- which come in all kinds of colors -- feature buckles that glitter and sparkle. Even the western-style belts are studded with items that make a person say, "Whoa." And there are ribbon belts in delicious pink, turquoise, lime green and other bright colors, with polka dots, stripes, flowers and abstract designs. Some are buckled with a gemstone oval.

Info: www.kemestryonline.com.

Sassy Gloves

Sassy Gloves adds a new flair to leather golf gloves with hand-beaded trim-like hematite beads, 14-karat gold, sterling silver and Swarovski crystals in rainbow colors. They even come with a matching ring and a bracelet that doubles as a stroke counter. Gloves are white leather, soft and subtle. Michael Jackson, move over.

Info: www.sassyswings.com.