The annals of the gentleman’s game are rich in history and iconic looks aplenty: From tartan trousers to the cool-as-can-be polo shirts of Arnold Palmer. A certain player (you likely know the one) even laid claim to a signature color as he stalked the course like a tiger on championship Sundays.
Teeing off—and teeing off in style—have gone hand-in-hand over the years. But there have been some shots hit into the rough along the way: Baggy shirting, garish colors, regrettable ‘80s and ‘90s trends turned into sportswear. In contrast, the best golf apparel of today is a clean drive down the fairway. Plenty of brands are putting the care of a traditional fashion brand into golf-minded clothing.
In the same way you put plenty of thought, attention, and hard-earned cash into the best golf gear to adorn your bag from tee to green, the care can be applied to how you’re dressing for a round. This is some of the most stylish golf clothing to score ahead of your next tee time.
Photo via Radmor
Radmor Hudson Recycled Vintage Jacquard Polo
The polo is the ultimate sport shirt, and Radmor bills this option as a “throwback to golf’s early days.” Blending organic pima cotton, moisture-wicking polyester, and proprietary stretch fabric, the company has devised a polo that’s as crisply elegant as it is performance-minded. A contrast collar and placket cements the perfect blend of form and function.
Photo via Sun Day Red
Sun Day Red Dynam II Classic Pants
The man, the myth, the legend: Tiger Woods turned his Sunday signature (a red polo that struck fear into the rest of the leaderboard) into an entire apparel brand. In this case, that means what looks like an elegantly tailored pair of chinos are actually built with performance fabric and helpful touches like an inner waistband silicone grip–all the better to make sure your polo stays tucked in with every swing.
Photo via Bonobos
Bonobos Performance Golf Polo Shirt
Once upon a time, Bonobos launched its own golf brand (dubbed “Maide” at the time, the Scottish word for stick or club). The brand even sponsored tour pro Justin Rose for a number of years. Yep, the brand known for its well-fitting men’s chinos has surprisingly deep golf roots. These days, Bonobos blends its signature eye-catching colors and prints with stretch performance fabric and flattering fit options—this polo is as primed for post-round drinks as it is for shooting a low score from tee to green.
Photo via Peter Millar
Peter Millar Beaumont Performance Crew
Peter Millar embodies the idea that golf is about more than just the numbers on your scorecard at the end of a round. It’s a leisurely yet sporting pursuit that just so happens to align nicely with the finer things in life, like an ultra-soft, expertly crafted crewneck sweater for blustery spring and summer rounds. Peter Millar uses luxe fabric blended with traditional silhouettes, and it doesn’t hurt that the company has an entire collection built around the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont.
Photo via Malbon
Malbon Riva Nylon Jacket
If you’ve turned on the final day of a tournament on a leisurely Sunday in the past few years, perhaps you’ve come across a pleasingly retro-yet-modern, ever-so-slightly flashy look worn by golfer Jason Day. That look was likely centered around Day’s primary apparel sponsor, Malbon: Consider this an initiation for the uninformed.
Malbon is yet another brand making the case that golf is as much a lifestyle as it is an athletic pursuit. Using vibrant colors and putting a modern spin on the classics is the name of the game at Malbon, and the results are fun enough to make you want to tee one up and simply “grip it and rip it.”
