It’s difficult to understate how relentless 2023’s golf apparel influx was. Do you know someone who hits the ball? Of course you do, now. Go ahead and ask any one of them about golf clothes and there’s a one hundred percent chance they’re gonna mention an Instagram ad they got the other day for a new brand named after a punned-out iteration of a phrase in the golf vernacular. Also a virtual guarantee? It’s the fourth ad just like that they were served that day. The beast of the paralysis of choice ate this year, in both the best and worst ways. An age of wisdom and foolishness, if you will.
In regard to the roses, the founding fathers of Golf's New Wave—Stephen and Erica Malbon of Malbon Golf and Cole Young of Metalwood Studio continued to produce with fervor and attitude. Brands like Gumtree Golf & Nature Club, Jain, Public Drip, and Students had breakout and banner years. But it was a tried-and-true menswear legend that stole '23, in my mind. Sid Mashburn, beloved by your favorite Tumblr-era menswear blogger and also PGA Tour pro/human CPR for the visor, Keith Mitchell, blew out his Golf Shop with wool and pleats and keyhole sunglasses and shorts so justifiably hemmed that Sid even explains why on the product page just to put a period on it. Mashburn even got them talking earnestly about jawnz on the telecast. "Cashmere Keith" was a main character on tour, at least for a little while.
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There were thorns, too, of course. But I won't complain about that much more. For all the colonizing we witnessed in the game of golf this year, I can't help but be grateful for the juxtaposition it provided the brands mentioned above. It's a lot easier to spot authenticity in a lineup filled with plays on the word "Birdie." Plus, it grows the golf economy.
For 2024, my hope is that brands start asking themselves follow-up questions. "I didn't see anything out there for me" is losing its value, but speaking of that, how about some more options for women and adaptive golfers next year, yeah? Now, thanks to places like TopGolf—and to the creatives at the forefront of this apparel movement—there's a little less worry about condescension in the culture.
That said, I swear to God if I hear the phrase "on and off the course" one more time, and it's not in reference to this fragrance, I'm taking up pickleball.
Golf Style in 2023: The Highlights
The Best Golf Polos to Buy Right Now
J.Lindberg KV Polo
Now 50% Off
Sid Masburn Dark Spruce Pima Pique
Public Drip Public Athlete Striped Polo
The polo has become a villain among the golf style illuminati—ask any insider what's wrong with golf apparel and the first three words out of their mouth will be "bad polyester polos." But that doesn't mean there aren't brands doing it right. J.Lindberg put a lot of wild shirts on Viktor Hovland this year, a complement to the extremely wearable core line the brand stocks in the background. Sid Masburn showed us that you don't have to try too hard to make a polo look different, you just have to make sure it's constructed well. And Public Drip's flagship polo—with a softness and comfort you have to feel—showed us that polyester can be done right.
The Best Non-Polos to Buy Right Now
Gumtree Golf & Nature Club State Flower - Lace Shirt
Students Golf Undulations L/S Shirt
Inspire Authentic Eastside Sweatshirt
Now 50% Off
This was also the year the on-course non-polo had its moment. Gumtree Golf & Nature Club's extremely limited release of 20 one-of-a-kind lace-linen shirts takes the cake when it comes to head-turning, thoughtfully made menswear in the golf space. Students' graphic-tee prowess also made itself known, with its "Undulations" long-sleeve tee leading the pack in terms of so-true-it's-funny storytelling. And although it debuted well before '23, Eastside Golf's staple crewneck remains one of the best golf garms you can get your hands on.
The Best Golf Hats to Buy Right Now
State Flower Unstructured 5-Panel
Jain Jain x Golf, Mostly: Denim Cap
Technically Golf Heat Reactive Dad Cap
An honorable mention before we begin: Metalwood's camo hat remains the hat that started a movement. And while it wasn't released in 2023, it proved its staying power when it infiltrated the cool-person style zeitgeist outside of golf. Gumtree slides into the hat category with an unstructured 5-panel that's giving blue-collar valor and, if we're being honest, changed my mind about my small head and high-profile caps. (Bonus: The brand may still have a few buckets from its latest heirloom project here.) Jain and the podcast Golf, Mostly, hosted by Hally Leadbetter and Michelle Wie-West, teamed up on a denim dad cap with small embroidered details that go the distance. And finally, in a sea of golf hats, Technically Golf managed shock and awe by shaking it up. The label's heat-reactive dad cap that changes color in the sun was the hat no one knew we needed, but it still became one of the best golf drops of the year, let alone in this category.
The Best Golf Pants to Buy Right Now
Lululemon Utilitech Pull-On Classic-Fit Pant
Sid Mashburn Pleated Dress Trouser
Metalwood Studio Pleated Pant
Now 22% Off
I love pants. I'll play golf in pants when it's 100 degrees. There's just something about not looking at my shins that makes me feel like a real adult golfer. And mostly, I hate capital-G Golf pants. I don't think many of us need the performance stretch that a pro athlete does, so more often than not, I'm wearing my off-course pants to play. This year, my favorite golf pants weren't necessarily made to exclusively wear on the course. Lululemon's pull-on Utilitech pant—an unlined yet sturdy workwear-inspired silhouette—became my go-to everyday pants, whether I was playing golf or going to work. Sid Mashburn's dominance bled into the pants department, too, with this Keith Mitchell-approved pair of breezy slacks that'd look right at home with a matching suit jacket but work equally well on the course. Finally, Metalwood Studio flexed on us all with its simply beautiful pleated pant that will be hard to shake off of this Mount Rushmore.
The Best Golf Shorts to Buy Right Now
Sid Mashburn Garment-Dyed Short
Metalwood Studio Pleated Short
Quiet Golf Typeface Nylon Shorts
Unsurprisingly, the shorts version of Metalwood's pleated beauties also crack the top three. Same goes for Sid Mashburn—his washed chino shorts bridge the gap between dressed-up and down on the course, and truly are shorts you can wear everywhere. Quiet Golf had my favorite nylon shorts of the year. They're so light and breezy yet well constructed that I grab them more often than most of my others—and I own way too many pairs of nylon shorts.
The Best Golf Shoes to Buy Right Now
Eastside Golf Eastside Jordan 1 Retro High Golf
Adidas Adidas x Bogey Boys MC80
FootJoy Wilcox
Credit: JOE LINGEMANYou'd think golf shoes would be the toughest category to narrow down, but thanks to Eastside Golf making the best Jordan golf shoe of all time, it was easy to put them atop the throne. Later in the year, Adidas dropped a collab with Bogey Boys that introduced the M80 silhouette to the world complete with a steezy kiltie. The shoe was so popular the brand re-released the silhouette on its own a few months later, but the OG still reigns supreme. Lastly, the year wouldn't be complete without a nod to FootJoy in its 100th year, during which the Wilcox was probably the most talked about classic silhouette. A legendary collaboration with Metalwood sure didn't hurt—neither does the fact that you can customize this shoe on Footjoy's site.
The Best Golf Rain Layers to Buy Right Now
Zero Restriction Power Torque Full Zip
Manors Golf 2.5L Waterproof Shirt
Rains Rain Paints
This year's best rain gear focused on function without fooling anyone. My favorite pieces were straightforward and utilitarian—Zero Restrictions' Full Torque jacket has no flaws, Rains' rain pants do exactly what they say and work well on the street, too, and Manors put out a waterproof shirt that when you pull it out of your bag and slip it on, just makes you look like you're playing in another league amid the other ill-fitting pullovers on the course.
The Best Non-Rain Golf Layers to Buy Right Now
Public Drip Drip Club Hoodie
Malbon Golf Ivy Cable Knit Sweater
Now 27% Off
Gant Striped Heavy Rugger
Now 50% Off
Most capital-G Golf outerwear tends to disappoint, which is why when the temperature drops I tend to reach for pieces that are already layering essentials in my everyday life. This year, the best golf brands started making those en masse, and among the most useful were these three classic silhouettes with the spin of golf's new wave injected. Public Drip's hoodie is understated, soft, and you can feel the quality in its weight. Malbon offered a golf-focused alternative to the cricket sweaters that brands like Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren have made famous. And when I got my hands on Gant's heavy striped Rugger, I actually prayed for a golf day under 60 degrees.
The Best Golf Sunglasses to Buy Right Now
GLCO x Metalwood Matte Black MP-14 Sun
Oakley Radar® EV Path®
Nike Marquee Sunglasses
Now 27% Off
The future of golf apparel is so bright, I had to...nope, not going there. If you're gonna buy golf sunglasses right now, you ought to go wild. Garret Leight's collab with Metalwood is still one of the coolest pairs of shades you can rock on the course right now. Oakley's got that tried-and-true flare still ripping in 2023; in fact, this style might be more relevant than ever. And from our old friend Nike, don't sleep on this double-Swoosh pair straight out of the future. (Shoutout to our friends at Harper's Bazaar for the find.)
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