Nicholas Mariano Buckle and Belt Review - Where Style Meets Quality

I’m not sure when golf buckles/belts became a part of golf fashion. Some golf writers believe it all began back in 2007 when young golf session Anthony Kim wore his initials around his waist with one decorative belt buckle.

While most golfers don’t wear so much “bling” around their waists, the professional ranks of golf has certainly influence what we as mere mortal golfers wear around our waists. Look at when the Majors come around; buckles/belts are a prominent fixture when it comes to companies apparel scripting. Most die hard golfers can't wait to add to their golf accessory collection.

One evening this fall I stumbled upon New York based company Nicholas Mariano's 18 hole buckle on Twitter.  The design I immediately became intrigued both with its simplicity and sophistication.

After contacting them, Nicholas Mariano were nice enough to send me over the 18 Hole Buckle (White Brass with Graphite) with a stingray print belt to test out on the fairways of Rideau View Golf Club. Below is a waist selfie from the course.

Winning Combination on and off the course

The Buckle 

The 18 Hole buckle is a real simple design.  It's the perfect size (Buckle Dimensions: 3 3/8 x 2 x 3/4) for wearing on the golf course and off the course as well. The combination worked well with both darker and light colours. The white brass with the contrasting graphite numbers stands out beautifully and is a definite winning combination with the stingray print belt. This is the kind of buckle that is perfect for that round with your buddies as well as a night out on the town with your wife (looks great casually with jeans).

The Belt
Nicholas Mariano has many styles of leather straps to accent their buckles. I chose the Stingray print because it was different and wasn't a style I would normally choose.

I could not of chose a better combo as the texture and colour of the stingray print really accented the 18 Hole buckle to a tee.

Here's a little company background from Nicholas Mariano's website:

Each design begins with a concept drawing by Norma Almanza and goes through an in-depth development process before finalization. The buckles are then manufactured exclusively in the USA.

They are handmade one by one and rigorously examined to ensure the highest levels of excellence. The belts themselves are manufactured from top quality calfskin, lizard, American crocodile and American alligator leathers.

Each buckle design is personally created and hand rendered by Norma Almanza - artist, designer, and founder of Nicholas Mariano.

Cool Golf Belt

When it comes to your golf apparel you really have to have a cool golf belt. In fact if you talk to the golf fashion experts the right buckle/belt can make or break a look.  Nicholas Mariano is definitely headed in the right direction and I'm sure you'll be seeing their buckle/belt combinations on the fairways of the PGA and LPGA Tours soon.

The 18 Hole buckle retails for $69.00 and Nicholas Mariano's belt straps range from $65-$135 depending on the type of leather. Money well spent on a quality buckle and belt combo with style to boot.

After wearing the belt/buckle exclusively for the last month. You know your wearing something of quality, substance, and sophistication.

Right now Nicholas Mariano is running this special deal.

Safe 10% on #golfbelts #buckles on #Blackfriday #Cybermonday. Free Shipping. LIMITED TIME. http://www.nicholasmariano.com  pic.twitter.com/uoA9cpQkxl

Holiday Golf Gift Guide Suggestions From A Golfer

Best Holiday Golf Gifts
Looking for that perfect golf gift or just shopping for some Black Friday Golf Deals. Here's a list I've come up with after testing out various golf product this season. The golfer in your life will love any of these guaranteed.

Fusion Ionz Bands
A Florida based company that I was introduced to in the Spring through Twitter. They make great looking negative ion bands. The premise is based on negative ion support through the band for your body. I'm 45 now I've worn my Fusion IONZ Sport since the Spring maintaining 3 jobs and a family life that includes 3 kids. It has definitely helped with my energy.

My son loves his kids camo band too! A great gift for the golfer in your life.

LINKSOUL
Flat out the most comfortable t-shirts I've ever worn. John Ashworth truly has something special here with the Linksoul brand. A melting pot of ideas from golfers, craftsmen and artists equals some pretty sweet apparel.

The word "linksoul" comes simply from the term "links soul", which was an expression of the combination of virtues we found through playing golf... and now seek in whatever we do. Our mission is to reconnect people to the soul of the game.

I bought the Walkman and Fly Time t-shirts in the early Spring. The super soft pima cotton stands out in these t-shirts as well as the artwork create by some amazing artists. I hope to test out some more of their apparel in 2014. Definitely for the golf hipster on your list.

The Golfers Creed, by David Forgan. As read by Linksouldiers Peter Beames and Tim Shelton.


SkyCaddie BREEZE
With so many GPS enable devices and rangefinders for the golfer out there SkyCaddie gets top marks from me for their BREEZE unit. Easy to use out of the box with a short learning curve. The SkyCaddie Breeze was perfect for my trips to Myrtle Beach and the Muskoka region. With a plethora of preloaded courses it helped me greatly with yardages from the front/middle/back pin positions.

The Breeze was great for keeping score as well and tracking the length of any long drives for bragging rights. A must for any golfer in need of saving a few strokes.





Best Grips
For most golfers it's the off season and that usually means checking out your grips and seeing if they need replacement. If you want beautiful leather Made-in-the-USA grips, Albert and Harry Sewill over at Best Grips know what it takes to make grips for the golfer on your list. Back in 2010 my Scratch wedges got the best grips treatment and recently one of my SeeMore putters got a new Major Leaguer Pistol Grip. I can't say enough about the product as well as the superior customer service.

Cobra's Bio Cell Driver Spotted Down Under

Rickie Fowler using the new Bio Cell Driver

Sometimes it's hard this time of the year to know where each PGA Tour pro is playing and with what?  Looks like Rickie Fowler has been testing out Cobra's New Bio Cell Driver overseas (Australia, Malaysia).

The new BiO CELL family scheduled for release to consumers in January, 2014.

COBRA Golf’s new BiO CELL family is designed to help golfers Go Long. Technology has been packed into the Driver, Fairway, Hybrids and Irons to help improve distance and manage trajectory. True to COBRA’s DNA, the BiO CELL family of products will be offered in five colors: Blue Aster, Black, Barbados Red, Vibrant Orange and Silver.

Would Ron Burgundy Make A Good Golf Announcer? #BurgundyMoments

Disclosure: Post sponsored by Industry Trust
I guess as long as he keeps smelly pirate hookers out of the conversation.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Ron Burgundy

Rickie Fowler and Leishman Light Up the Gold Coast

Seems like Rickie Fowler is enjoying his time down under with a first round bogey-free 63 at the 2013 Australian PGA Championship.  On his back 9 he drained six birdies in his final eight holes to post a new course record on the new-look Royal Pines layout. Aussie Golfer has some great coverage this week be sure and check it out.

American Rickie Fowler and Marc Leishman turned heads last night in Surfers Paradise, the celebrated heart of the Gold Coast, when they lit up the Gold Coast in spectacular fashion.

A Golfers Winter Wish List

As the golf season winds down here in the Ottawa area most die hard golfers are trying to get those last few rounds of golf in before the snow flies. A few layers, toque and some warm mitts and you’re pretty much set for golf this time of year. Conditions are still pretty great around Ottawa especially at courses like Rideau View where I work and golf. Let’s think positive that the snow holds off for awhile.

You can also find die hard Canadian golfers surfing the net trying to find deals on golf vacations from Myrtle Beach to Florida to Arizona and back. Playing golf somewhere warm is pretty much what ever Canadian golfer dreams about over the winter. I know I’ve been seeking out a few destinations. You have to plan your golf fix when there’s three feet of snow outside. Plus you don’t want your swing getting rusty.

I’m also one that likes to enhance his golf wardrobe with any great golf sales online that happen to peak my golf fashion eye. You know that golf apparel you’ve been eyeing all season but you haven’t pulled the trigger and now you see that it’s on sale. I’ve never met a golfer that doesn’t like a “deal”.

When you happen to stumble upon sale items from Galvin Green or Ian Poulter Design you feel like you’ve won the lottery. It doesn’t just have to be your wife that looks good. It’s OK to want to look good out on the course too.