There are so many great choices available now - great gift ideas for dads, and super stocking stuffers for every guy on your gift list, from great golf accessories to personalized gift cards.

Although my dad loved Christmas, and was most appreciative of whatever "his girls" and Santa brought him, there were always the expected, and it seemed, obligatory "white boxer shorts, black socks, and dark necktie" carefully wrapped under the tree for him or tucked into the top of his Christmas stocking.

Those were the gifts my mom purchased every year, "because he needed them anyway". When our carefully hoarded allowance was running low, she would help us extend our Christmas present buying power by offering the necessities. For a small share of our remaining pennies, she would write our names on the "from" tag of the yearly dad gifts.That way, we coud give him something nice, something beyond our means to provide, and we could still experience the warm glow of giving him a gift he would like.

Children are so easily pleased.

We have come a long way since then. Some women, though, seem to make heavy weather of finding just the right thing. The search is on, every year, for something personalized and unique, something perfectly suited to their guy.

These personalized golf balls are available in a variety of designs, form palm rtees, balloons, and flamingos to cupids and flowers.

Printed with your choice of designs and your name in either curved or straight text, the balls are imprinted in a single color.

The golf ball sets come in two containers of three personalized balls each for a total of 6 TopFlite balls.

Made of 100% cotton knit with an open fly and covered waistband, these shorts are machine washable for easy care.

The novelty print garment, available in other sizes, has cute slogans on each of the golf balls such as "Hole In one", "Birdie", and "Tee Time".

This fun watch with a black leather band features a gold-tone case.

The watch face features a golfer and the words "Tee Time", and comes with a 5 year limited warranty.

...and now that he'll always know what time it is, how about giving him a great way to spend some of it? A fun gift for the whole family...

This silk tie features an all-over pattern of golf tees and white golf balls.

What a great gift for the "golf guy" in your life.

Sure to please as a stocking stuffer or a nice little extra tucked into the branches of your Christmas tree.

These nifty ceramic car coasters, two to a package, and sized to fit in your vehicle beverage cup holder,will absorb moisture from your beverage container, preventing drips on your clothes and upholstery.

Available in a variety of themes, these would make a great stocking stuffer for gals, too.

Sorry guys, I have no excuse. I had to do it. I saw all these great novelty ties, and I couldn't stop myself. What can I say?...except these ties are so gorgeous!

I will tell you though, that even if the great guys on your list seem to be allergic to ties, there are occasions when they will break down and wear one. I have proof - my son wore a fish tie to his wedding - well, not during the ceremony, but certainly for the pictures. It was worn to honor his father-in-law, a commercial fisherman.

Take a walk on the wild side and show off your animal magnetism with one of these silky safari prints, or deck your shirtfront with something a bit more seasonal. One of these nifty ties could be just the ticket to top off your festive ensemble. There's something so attractive about a guy - yes, Dads are guys, too - who is confident enough to pull off this festive look.

If your guy has to travel a lot, perhaps the perfect stocking stuffer might be a handy ID card and credentials holder. These fun lanyard style cases come in a variety of designs - porpoise, tree frog, and dogs, to name but a few.

A handy and thoughtful gift for students, too.

You'll have no trouble at all fitting one of these great card games into his stocking, but he'd be just as happy to find one tucked under the tree on Christmas morning.

We played a lot of "Go Fish!" and "Old Maid" when I was a kid.

My parents played cards, too, but they were more likely to indulge in cribbage or a brisk set of Bid Whist.

Once we were safely in bed though, the big guns came out over a foursome for Bridge.

These great family favorites are sure to become a welcome addition to your family games night.

Challenging enough to hold the interest of older kids, they are still simple enough to keep the littlest ones happy as well.

If you prefer a brisk game of "War" or "Crazy Eights", this could be the best choice for your great guy.

My folks taught us both those games along with a nifty little frustration builder called "Sevens Up!" We played that one quite often, but I always enjoyed "Crazy Eights" the best. It was such fun to shoot someone down by changing the suit when they were just about to lay off their entire hand.

Your fella might appreciate a new card case. This lovely chrome case will keep his credit cards safe, and comes in a wide range of colors.

The sleek, brushed aluminum finish is both attractive and durable, making this a great travel companion. With a secure pop-open clasp, this case features multiple card compartments that hold most standard business, credit, and gift cards.

It's slim styling fits easily into pockets, glove compartments, or desk drawers, and is about the same as a standard size wallet.

If he loves to barbecue, perhaps your fella might prefer this versatile BBQ apron. This deluxe heavyweight 100% cotton faced apron features an adjustable neckband, long waist ties, and comes complete with a tool set. Perfect in the kitchen, at the grill, or tailgate parties.

A lot of gifts for guys, especially gifts for Dads, tend to end up being gifts for the whole family - like games and toys for multiple players.

Here's a little something just for Dad - a gift card to Target stores or Amazon that he can spend on something just for him. A perfect gift for a book lover or memorabilia collector, these cards are available in a variety of dollar values, and can be redeemed for an incredible range of merchandise.

...and the best thing about gift cards is that you can redeem them well after the Christmas throngs have left the malls, or you can redeem them online just in time for the post-Christmas sales, while avoiding the post-Christmas bargain hunters.