Tis the season to be jolly – except the gloomy economy is making that old holiday jingle seem like folly. Luckily, golfers are easy to please (as a rule) if you get them something connected to the game.
     Here are eight gifts in a tight price range for the times that will more than satisfy your golfer’s needs and soul. With almost a month to go, you’ll be way ahead of the holiday game – especially if you shop on-line.

‘GOLF RULES QUICK REFERENCE’
     OK, so the title won’t necessarily blow your giftee’s golf socks off, but the content will. For those who really do care how to play the game correctly and can’t get through “The Rules of Golf,’’ here’s a book that makes the deciphering of the rules as easy as playing from the forward tees. Believe it or not, “Golf Rules Quick Reference” by Yves C. Ton-That has sold 200,000 copies in the last six months and over 500,000 copies since it was printed in 2004 in 25 languages. Besides, where else can you make an impact on your golfer for $8.95? Available at  www.golfrulesmadeeasy.com.

‘GOLF IN SCOTTSDALE’
     That’s right, another book. You wanted golf socks instead? Sorry, because Scottsdale author and historian Joan Fudala’s new book called “Golf in Scottsdale’’ is a much better choice at $19.99. For 100 years, golf in Scottsdale has challenged and entertained professionals, duffers and spectators alike, and Fudala has put together a nice string of birdies in the way of priceless photos and information about how the game grew in Scottsdale to where it is today. If it comes down to a book with a lot of character(s), “Golf in Scottsdale’’ can be purchased at www.arcadiapublishing.com.

‘HOW TO HIT EVERY SHOT’
     Egad, not another book, you’re saying. Well, if you want to stay within your Scrooge-like budget this year, and the quality of the gift is more important than giving a inexpensive gag, books are great buys these days. Golf Magazine’s “How to Hit Every Shot’’ from the Top 100 Teachers in America is pretty hard to beat, and is the first fully illustrated book we’ve seen that has virtually every shot covered in your hacker’s repertoire. It’s also priced right at $29.95 – an incredibly low sum for a coffee table-styled book. To order, visit www.golf.com.

SOUTHWEST PGA GOLF PASS
     This is perhaps the most sought-after/sold holiday gift for Arizona golfers in the past decade, and you can expect another 25,000 passes to be sold for 2009. For $125 golfers get to save 50 percent (weekdays) and 25 percent (weekends) on advertised green fees at 76 courses throughout Arizona. And these are the good ones, too, layouts like Eagle Mountain, Gold Canyon, Longbow, Ocotillo, Sedona Golf Resort and the Trilogy at Vistancia. You’ll also get a year’s subscription to either Golf Digest or Golf World. Available at participating clubs and at  www.swspass.com.

Q-LINK PGA TOUR LINE
     Q-Link is the standard when it comes to “scientifically proven’’ bracelets that help to harness your golfer’s energies. Linked to over 120 champions on the PGA and Champions tours, Q-Link has been going strong since the company came up with its sympathetic resonance technology (SRT-3), which the company claims will optimize your wellness, balance and health. Available in three metals including the new black titanium (which we personally guarantee works), the Q-Links sell for $129-$199 and can be purchased at www.qlinkproducts.com.

THE RADAR
     For golf geeks who know too much about ball flight monitors and MOI, here is the perfect companion piece at about one-tenth the cost. The Radar is the first-ever portable/affordable device with radar that provides immediate feedback on shots ranging from 40 yards to 400 yards, which holds up for everybody but Bubba Watson. From velocity to carry to distance, The Radar claims to record 100,000 measurements from the moment of ball impact. And it only needs eight feet to do it, meaning it’s perfect for hitting into a backyard net. A real deal at $199, The Radar can be under your golfer’s tree by visiting www.vjsradar.com.

THE GOLF MAT BY VIJAY SINGH
   This product has been around for years mostly in the Astroturf-styled form, but the Golf Mat by Vijay Singh is a unique system that creates the same sensation of “give’’ at impact as taking a divot off real grass. Seriously, it works! Endorsed by congenial superstar Vijay Singh (OK, we’re kidding about the congenial stuff), the Golf Mat is so giving it encourages a player to hit down and through without injury. With a lifespan of more than 200,000 swings, it’s almost Vijay-proof and costs just $225. To get your golfer to quit making backyard divots, visit www.thegolfmat.net.

‘A GIRL’S ON-COURSE SURVIVAL GUIDE TO GOLF’
N-ooo! Y-esss, another book and it’s the ideal present if your golfer is female and a beginner and loves the game but can’t quite grasp it yet. In fact, the book by Christina Ricci (the golfer not the actress) is pretty in its pink cover/pages, incredibly well-written and photographed, and so full of vital information even a GUY who wants to pick up the game could benefit from reading it – and we’re not just saying that because Ricci is gorgeous. At $19.99 you will be hard-pressed to give her a gift she’ll enjoy more. To purchase, visit www.thomasnelson.com.