April 11, 2007

Shades of summer. And, year-round as well.

There's no doubt that sunglasses help protect the eyes from glaring and harmful rays. But, just as technology has made considerable advances in clubs and balls, the technology of golf-specific eyewear is helping players to “see” better too.

New, high-tech, lightweight frames are not only stylish but highly functional. And lenses today are being made with varying shades, filters and new materials that can help golfers to see the ball and read greens better than without sunglasses. At times, even when the sun is not shining brightly.

“Believing is seeing,” said Tour legend Fuzzy Zoeller after playing in a pair of Sunbuster sunglasses with PuttReaders lenses. “I've never seen the line as clearly as I do now.”

Even golfers who normally wear regular glasses can be outfitted for golf-specific lenses. Provided their prescription falls within certain parameters, several companies that are making sunglasses for golfers are offering Rx lenses too.

The selection of frames, colors, styles and, in some cases, interchangeable lenses, is vast. Here's a closer look at a selected collection of golf-specific eyewear for 2007.