Gone are the days of men’s golf polos looking, well, golf-y. You know that loud, hard-collar look. Most golf shirts you see on the course today you’ll also find men wearing off-course, to run errands, grab a meal or even to work on casual Fridays.
They’re collectively known as performance apparel. That is, they’re made of materials that not only look nice and wash well, but they’re ventilated to keep you cool inside on warm days, and treated with moisture-wicking materials that prevent you from perspiring. Plus, their softness is the perfect antidote to 18 rough holes.
Look closely and you’ll see subtle graphics enveloping adidas Golf’s Climacool Energy Dot Print polo ($75). Stretch-bonded shoulder seams are flanked by mesh side panels for ventilation, plus a “puremotion” stretch that ensures freedom of movement during the golf swing. Contrasting colors provide visual pop. The shirt is made of 94 percent polyester/6 percent Elastane, while the side panel is all mesh.
Linksoul’s Short Sleeve Drytech cotton blend shirt ($70) is a breezy, soft-looking heather polo with
moisture-wicking stretch fibers — for total comfort and cool performance. It’s made of 50 percent
cotton/45 percent polyester/5 percent spandex, and is completely machine-washable. The Oceanside-based brand exemplifies Southern California. Its founder is John Ashworth, a golf industry veteran whose original eponymous apparel brand has remained wildly popular with golfers for some three decades.
Does Oakley’s Samford Polo ($65) look familiar? It may soon be etched into your memory should
Bubba Watson wins this year’s Masters — it’s the shirt he’ll be wearing come Sunday. It features front panel sublimation, a two-button placket and set-in sleeves with forward shoulder seams. And you won’t get sunburned, either, as it guards you with UV protection. Nor will you turn people away, thanks to its antibacterial properties and O-Hydrolix moisture management system that keeps you cool and dry.
Boast USA is primarily known for its casual tennis clothing. Now it’s pushing into the golf scene. Not that this shirt is specifically intended for golf, but the company’s Tipped Pique Polo in metal grey ($72) is a classic fit with a drop tail. It’s made in Peru from hand-picked, Peruvian long staple cotton with real troca shell buttons. It sports matching tipped collar and cuffs, plus the brand’s Japanese maple leaf embroidery on the chest.
2nd Guy Golf’s Old School blue polo ($48) bears contrasting white stripes. Made of a 94 percent polyester/6 percent spandex blend, it maximizes comfort. How so? It features
antimicrobial and moisture-wicking technology, to keep you fresh and dry during even the hottest of summer rounds. Which means that even if you’re sweating over a three-footer on 18 to break 80, you’ll be the coolest customer on the course. This three-button placket shirt has with a self-collar that prevents the dreaded collar curl. The brand was started by former MLB pitcher Russ Ortiz, and donates sales proceeds to deserving charities — mostly endeavors to help children.
