I have officially reached that age in life where I have run out of fun things to ask for when gift-giving season arrives.

So now I mostly think practically: garage tools, golf balls, you know the drill. But for the holidays last year, I researched and found one thing I wanted and tossed it on my wishlist: a handy new golf speaker.

I’ve had a few in the past but most were on the cheaper end, which means the sound quality was low and the battery life lower. Browsing again and looking for a more high-end, reliable option, reviews told me to go with a JBL. A handful of the brand’s options came highly recommended, so I put one on my list — the JBL Grip 5 Speaker — unwrapped it and set it aside until golf season. (In Minnesota, we have to wait for it.)

I didn’t take it out with my early this summer. Music on the course is somewhat controversial, and it seems to hit a little better during certain rounds than others. But when I loaded up the car for a quick buddies’ golf trip a few weeks ago, I made sure to bring the new JBL speaker to test it out during some laid-back, cart-riding rounds with friends.

JBL Grip 5 Speaker

Easy to grab and easy to hold, the JBL Grip is the speaker that’s always within reach. The JBL Grip is powerful for its size. JBL Grip may be compact, but its pro sound is big—punchy bass and crystal-clear highs. Whether it’s setting the vibe for mindful morning stretches or soundtracking lazy beach days, the JBL Grip is our go-to. The built-in ambient light on the back panel adapts to the moment, so you can set the mood for chill date nights and spontaneous hangs. Use the convenient side-panel control button to switch between light themes, so the mood is always right whether you’re winding down or turning up. Did we mention it’s super tough? The JBL Grip is built to handle anything. With an industry-leading IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating, it goes wherever we do. Its drop-proof design means it can survive a hard fall onto concrete—no party fouls here. All that, plus up to 14 hours of playtime with Playtime Boost. When friends roll through, we’re using Auracast™ to stereo pair two Grips for instant surround sound. Why stop there? We can connect as many JBL Auracast™-enabled speakers as we’ve got for an all-out sound experience. Solo chillin’ or vibing with the crew—the JBL Grip is as flexible as we are. Bold JBL Pro Sound with AI Sound Boost Up to 14 hrs playtime + Playtime Boost IP68 waterproof, dustproof & drop-proof Built-in ambient light with customizable themes

$99.99 from PGA TOUR Superstore

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And the ruling? It rocks. The sound quality and bass are outstanding. I almost felt bad for the other cart in our group playing music off their phone speaker.

The JBL gets all the other stuff right too. It’s not huge and is easy to carry around, the battery life is phenomenal and it’s a breeze for anyone to sync up their phone via Bluetooth to take a turn with the playlist. You can use it beyond the golf course, too. With one charge, mine lasted 36 holes plus a few more hours on the boat afterward.

As a 15 handicap, I might not be the guy to offer swing tips. But I can recommend this JBL as the best golf speaker I’ve ever had. You can browse more portable speakers here.

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