Golf Clothes for Men: Top Trends for The Course
Golf is a traditional sport that has been around since the 15th century. As you can imagine, it has seen many changes over the years. Clubs used to be made of wood. 250 yards used to be a long drive; now you’ve got to hit it closer to 350 to raise an eyebrow. Along with continually progressing technology and performance, fashion within the sport has changed considerably.
Knickers and newspaper boy caps used to be the standard golf apparel back in the day. Golf shoes used to be made of stiff leather with tassels, and long metal spikes on the sole. Today, golf footwear is often indistinguishable from casual sneakers without looking closely. The men's golf apparel you see on the course has evolved as well.
While golf is still a sport instilled with long-running traditions and standards of etiquette, men's golf clothing on the field of play has become more and more casual and geared towards performance and breathability.
Collars are still standard and usually required, but the majority of golf clothing worn by top players consists of performance fabrics, minimal cuts, and solid colors based on personal taste.
This guide will cover the top trends for men’s golf clothing on the golf course. It’s full of clothing suggestions that will help you look and play your best.
The New Golf Polo
The polo shirt has long been the shirt of choice for golfers everywhere. Golf polos from years gone by are notorious for funky patterns and contrasting collars. Tiger Woods has always worn his signature red polo on the final day of the tournament.
While the polo shirt is still by far the standard for the sport, golfers today wear golf polo shirts with an updated fit, fabric, and performance.
Another incredible improvement on the traditional golf polo offered by this modern update is an antimicrobial technology. Essentially, microscopic antimicrobial agents are infused into the fibers of the shirt to eliminate odor-causing microorganism growth caused by moisture that comes from regular use. This means that even if your game stinks, you’ll stay smelling fresh through all 18 holes. If the weather is a little colder, wear the same performance polo in a long sleeve cut. The material is stretchy and form-fitting, so it won’t get in the way of your swing.
Pants for a Personal Low Score
Golf is known as a game of inches. Those who are serious about their game will take any edge they can get, and clothing choice is a big part of preparing for a low-scoring round.
You may not be able to fix your swing in a day or improve your putting efficiency overnight, but you will certainly see an immediate boost with the Workday Pant 2.0. Features a modern fit and style with features that are well suited for a day on the golf course. You’ll notice the difference compared to the same old khakis you normally wear.
The material is stretchy and breathable, meaning that you’ll be comfortable and can focus on your game. They also feature zipper pockets so you can secure your tees and extra golf balls. If it’s happened to you, you know how annoying it is when golf balls fall out of your pocket as you’re driving down the cart path.
If you prefer a more traditional style of pants, go with the Workday Pant 2.0. This pair features a classic five-pocket design complete with belt loops. It’s also stretchy, has a hidden zipper pocket in the back, and is both wind and water-resistant. Choose from five classic color options, or eight you opt for the slim fit option.
Golf Shorts That Stand the Heat
While professional golfers are still not allowed to wear shorts in competitive play, they’re usually fine for almost everyone else. If you’re playing a really fancy course, you may want to call ahead of time and make sure. Most of the time you’ll be fine as long as you don’t wear cut-offs, short shorts, or basketball shorts.
All the same, you want to select shorts that are going to add to your sleek style and focused performance on the course.
For a more traditional design, try out these five-pocket, flat-front shorts that stretch. These are perfect to wear on a hot day when you're playing to impress the higher-ups. Go with a classic shade like sand or black, or show a bit more personality with dark olive or navy. These shorts will look good anywhere you wear them, but they may easily become your go-to for a round of golf.
Outerwear for a Cold or Wet Round
A dream day on the course consists of sunshine, perfect temperatures, and long puts dropping in. Experienced golfers know the perfect day is often elusive; long puts are difficult to make, and you can only hope that the weather holds up for the day you booked your tee-time. However, golf lovers would agree that even a round in inclement weather beats a day at the office. To get the most out of your cold or rainy day round, you’ve got to be prepared with the right gear and golf jackets.
Half Zip
A half-zip is a favorite for golfers because it pairs perfectly with your golf polo. Zip it down, and it contours the shape of your collar just so. But not every half-zip is going to perform the same way on the course.
You want something that will keep you warm but isn’t too bulky that it compromises your range of motion. You also want a half zip that is stretchy, so you can swing freely. This midweight half zip is ideal for a round of golf and is also a stylish choice to wear straight to dinner or drinks afterward.
Vest
Vests are essential for golfing when the weather drops. It will help regulate your core body temperature without sleeves getting in the way of your golf swing. If you’ve got an early morning tee-time, or are looking to improve in the cold months while the competition stays indoors, look no further than this Better Than Down Vest
It’s made from water-resistant, four-way stretch fabric with zipper pockets to keep your tees and ball marker. It also features 3M™ Thinsulate™ insulation, which guarantees you’ll be warm without adding bulk that gets in the way.
Shell
If the weather is iffy, you’ve got to be prepared for rain. You definitely don’t want to be caught without a proper shell layer when you’re shooting even par through 11 holes and the rain starts. Be sure to pack a lightweight shell layer that will keep you dry into your golf bag. That way, you’ll be prepared and can stay focused on the next shot while the rain fails to distract you.
The Golf Cap
Golfers wear hats to protect themselves from the sun. The game takes a long time to play, and a long day in the sun without a hat could be a tough one. Although visors have been popular with golfers in the past, they aren’t exactly “in” these days.
Stick to one of these two styles and you’ll look good on the course, or wherever you want to rock it:
Clothing for Golf and More
Because golf attire has become more minimal and casual over the years, the styles available today are just as wearable off the greens as well. The style that people go after on the course is sleek, clean, and confident. Argyle sweaters are out. Plaid pants are out. The best-dressed golfers have outfits that look good—and not just good for a golf outfit.
For Casual and Office Wear
This is great news for you because that means you don’t have to wait till your next round in order to wear your favorite golf outfit. All of the pieces mentioned above will fit into your everyday wardrobe. They can be worn casually, or to the office, depending on how you style them.
Those All Day Every Day Pant mentioned above is true to its name. They can easily replace jeans, chinos, or sweatpants. The Workday Pant 2.0 is golf-ready with a polo, and business presentation ready when you wear it with a button down.
A typical, patterned golf polo is going to look out of place if you wear it anywhere other than the golf course, but a modern, minimalistic polo will transition into your casual or work outfits easily. Even a small golf logo isn’t going to cut it if you don’t have a club in your hand. Why not choose golf shirts that you can get more use out of?
As Workout Clothing
They will also transition smoothly into your rotation of workout clothes. Contemporary golf clothes are made from performance materials that are suited just as well for the gym or the jogging trail as they are for the golf course. A well-fitting polo shirt is an underrated choice when it comes to the gym. It’s sharp, comfortable, and accents the muscles in your chest and arms.
On the Tennis Court
Golf and tennis are often clumped together. Perhaps because they both have a reputation as being more traditional sports, or because they’re both lifetime sports that you can enjoy into your old age. Whatever the reason, tennis and golf clothes can be interchanged seamlessly. A performance polo and shorts is the outfit of tennis and golf champions alike.
Today’s Best Golf Clothing Is Functional and Fashionable
Golf clothing may still appear quirky and outdated in the minds of some people, but they’ve got the wrong idea about it. The best golf clothing today is not only comfort and performance-driven, it’s also fashionable. You’ll feel like a professional wearing it to the first tee, and even if your round finishes up poorly, you’ll still look like one.
If you’re serious about your golf game, you’ll have clothing that’s ideal for a round of 18 in any weather. Wear a polo made from performance fabric for all-day comfort that won’t add to your score. Ditch the old Dockers-style bottoms for modernized golf pants or shorts that look and perform like they’re in The Masters. Finally, make sure that you have functional gear that will keep you dry and warm when the weather is tough.
The added bonus to an updated golf wardrobe is that every piece you wear to the golf course will also upgrade your casual and work wardrobe as well. If you shop smart, you’ll get the most style, the most performance, and the most use out of the clothes you wear to the course.