Clubs designed to maximize drive distance.

All-weather accessories for comfort and durability in rain or shine.

Sleek and stylish apparel to keep Dad looking fashionable from the fairway to the 19th hole.

If your dad is like most golfers, he actively seeks out the newest products and technologies aimed to improve his game, to allow for play in all kinds of weather and to keep him looking great on and off the course.

More than 25 million golfers take to the links each year with aspirations of reducing their handicaps, improving their swings and achieving the elusive hole-in-one, according to The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA).

As the game’s popularity continues to grow, manufacturers are developing advanced technologies to bring your dad closer to his goals.

At The 2006 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., golf’s biggest names launched new products designed to help your dad take his game to the next level.

Here is what golfers can expect to see for the first time on the green this year:

n New equipment, including clubs featuring seamless, no-weld faces and balls that will go the distance, including:

n Callaway’s FT-3 Fusion Big Bertha Driver (SRP $500), features a larger effective hitting area by strategically positioning weight in the clubhead.

n Nike’s One Platinum (SRP $54) balls have three covers over a modified core to ensure smooth transition of power, premium feel and a consistent ball flight with extended carry beyond the apex for longer distance.

Updated accessories featuring a focus on durability and convenience, including:

n The Club Glove Aficionado III modular stand bag is made from the same fabric used in military parachutes making it both lightweight and rip-resistant.

n Club rain covers, sweat- and rain-resistant score cards and GPS systems with high-resolution display screens for golf carts, ensuring that the only irritations on the course are water hazards and sand traps.

n Stylish fashions that look good on and off the course, featuring footwear, apparel and accessories that unite fashion and style with comfort and functionality, including:

n The sporty, bold look of PUMA Golf’s lime green punch PG GTX Spikes, which exemplify the fresh, new look of contemporary golf apparel.

n Adidas Golf’s ClimaCool Motion engineered athletic wear, which mixes high-performance fabrics with a leaner, more modern fit.

n Runway-ready fashions with apparel from Burberry and Tommy Bahama. – Courtesy of ARA Content