Theater or sports tickets?

Gift card to restaurant he likes.

Food gift like Omaha steaks. Or, donate to something in his name.

A gift to a charity he cares about?

A scholarship for golf lessons to the school he grew up at?

A really cool tech toy that he can impress his friends that he is hip like this - http://www.amazon.com/Sphero-R001USA-BB-8-App-Enabled-Droid/dp/B0107H5FJ6/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1442521972&sr=1-1&keywords=star+wars+bb8

Does he wear Tshirts?
Something funny might be good.
or
A matching set for DD saying "Her name" and one for him saying "Her name's Grandpa"

Yeah, I'd go for an experience type gift that he can use with his grand daughter. Tickets to a show when you are planning on visiting him or he is planning on visiting you? If you let us know where he's at, you'll probably get some better suggestions.

What would flatter his ego?

We bought FIL sunglasses. Kinda cool, hip
Doesn't matter really if he ever wears them but HE thinks that is how we think of him - cool & hip

If you are in DC and FIL isn't and has never golfed here, you can go to Congressional Country Club and get items there at the pro shop. You do not need to be a member. Things like a divot tool, tees, etc. They'd have the Congressional logo.


This article http://www.sbnation.com/golf/2014/6/29/5854910/congressional-pro-shop-prices-so-luxurious lists some "ridiculous" gifts from Congressional. One is a cigar holder. It sounds perfect! Another is a flask...

We got some sort of Congressional golf kit from the pro shop years ago as a thank you gift to a speaker from my alumni association who had traveled from out of state. He was an avid golfer. I can't remember everything in the kid, but he seemed thrilled with it, esp. the divot tool.

Where is your FIL? In DC (or area) or elsewhere?

I would invite them on a family vacation with your DD. Like a family cruise or Disney World trip. Sounds like they'd enjoy spending time with you guys instead of a vacation. And the gift could be something related to that.

Your presence. Seriously.

Time

Food gift?

Sounds like he doesn't need more stuff. Most people in their 70s have enough, and don't really want more.
What about an experience with him and DD? tickets to a show that he can enjoy with her?

DH and I are stumped about thoughtful gift ideas for his dad. Any helpful ideas would be greatly appreciated!

He's in his early 70's, is wealthy (and when he wants something, he just gets it), and is very laid-back, sweet, and generous. His hobbies are golf (playing and watching), cigars, and vodka. He is an active alcoholic so we avoid boutique types of vodka even though he likes them - think someone who no longer buys fifths but buys the giant novelty size bottles of liquor instead. He also buys expensive cigars by the box when our gift price range would be more like getting him a few of the same. For golf, he has a membership at a nice place, pro sessions when he wants them, nice equipment, and a ton of shirts, hats, etc. He and MIL dine out regularly and prefer more traditional sorts of food over trendier fare. He dislikes spa treatments and gives gc's for those to MIL or DIL.

He is head over heels for our dd who he doesn't get to see much because of distance. We often do gifts that are photo books, framed prints, mugs with her art, etc. but worry about those being cheesy if we do them every time. He often buys figures of the cartoon characters she likes so he can do funny skypes with her.

We love him so much and would like to do something nice, and while our budget is nowhere near his we don't want to come off as cheap.