This winter, my favorite cousin invited me to join her on a long weekend getaway to The Bahamas. Specifically, to Atlantis—famed filming location of my favorite Olsen Twins movie, Holiday In The Sun.
And what a holiday it was! We swam with dolphins, rode a lot of waterslides, and, for some reason, we took a golf lesson.
Before that fateful afternoon, my familiarity with golf was pretty much limited to mini golf dates and trolling for guys at the Chelsea Piers driving range. (Yes, women really do this—whacking away at balls without keeping score is fun, and the male/female ratio is always in our favor.)
I’d never met a golf pro, but I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect: Pleated khakis that balloon out in all the wrong places, garishly colored polos, and a sweat-stained visor.
John, our pro, turned out to be an angel in cleats—perfectly teed up (ahem) in a ‘fit featuring almost blindingly white shoes, a fitted pale yellow polo tucked into a pair of thigh-grazing navy shorts, and a resort-branded baseball cap.
He was handsome and young and from Canada, but, okay, that is beside the point.
The man was dressed.
Apparently years of familiarity with Tiger Woods couldn’t change my mental image of golf attire as favoring function over fashion, but two hours with John and suddenly I’ve seen the performance fabric light.
So if that’s all it took for me, a golf novice-slash-fashion expert, to realize golf and style could and should play nicely together—all you actual golfers out there for sure have no excuse.
Thanks to moisture-wicking, ultra-stretchy fabrics designed to look like office attire but feel like a goddang dream, it is entirely possible to play through (I did it again?) an entire day of coffee meetings, office hours, classes and even a date in clothing created for the fairway.
Thankfully, several brands have anticipated my golf style-can-look-good epiphany. There are great, highly breathable, stretch fabrics that feel comfortable and light even in intense heat, and look good both on and off the course.
To get your golf style on par for spring (that was close, right?), check out these tips and tricks for looking your best from the course to the clubhouse… And beyond!
5 Tips on Spring Golf Style for Guys
1. Look for pants and shorts with more movement.
First thing’s first: There’s no point in looking like an ace on the links if you can’t at least try to play like one, too. And in order to play well, you’ve gotta be able to move well.
Spoiler alert: Baggy isn’t the answer here. Instead, opt for stretchy, quick-drying performance bottoms like the Malbon shorts above.
These bad boys are crisp and slightly formal in appearance, while the elastic waist says, “Let’s have some fun.”
RELATED: The Most Stylish Golf Brands for Men in 2022
Plus, the quick-drying, incredibly lightweight fabric means you’ll be comfortable no matter what else you do with your day.
Shop more #SGapproved pants and shorts:
2. Shield your eyes—in style.
I’m no expert, but I’ve heard that it’s helpful to be able to see what you’re doing when you’re hitting a ball the size of a large strawberry towards a hole roughly the size of an Eggo waffle at least 250 yards away (and much, much further, depending on the par).
Unless you’re planning on going pro, your favorite everyday sunglasses will probably do the trick. Just be sure they don’t slide down your nose when you’re teeing off.
Even for more avid, dedicated golfers, you don’t have to go all-in on a pair of shield glasses. A pair of lightweight, durable sport sunglasses with a flattering frame will do the trick.
Shop more #SGapproved shades:
3. Upgrade from your typical polo shirt.
