Fall Golf Style Guide
Fall is the time of year when the guys who know how to dress separate themselves from those who do not.
If you've been reading for a while, some of this will sound familiar. If you're new, this is the framework.
I can't stand in your closet, but if this sticks, you won't be digging through the archive come November.
I could preach all day about why white-soled dress shoes should be banished into the depths of the Earth’s core, but I’d rather show you the alternative. (Shoe guide to come in a future edition).
No more mismatched blues and blacks. No more mustard yellows or neon purples that make the Senior Stick stop and stare.
The best fall and winter attire is complementary and simple. Dressing yourself should feel effortless. The goal is a wardrobe you can reach into blind and pull something out that works.
From the top down.
Hats
There are a myriad of hats out there. Few are reasonable enough to wear to a nice club, which is the barometer for this guide.
The current trend is to turn the hat into a graphic T-shirt, or to plaster billboard-sized letters across the front. I am against both. I think the logo on your hat should be the smallest and least visible.
(If your headwear is a topic of conversation, you’ve done something wrong. See one of my first ever posts, The Problem with Big Letter Hats).
American Needle (when found in a pro shop)
Shirts - The Base Layer
Finding the perfect golf shirt is a journey every golfer goes through. Every five to ten years, a few entrepreneurially minded players get fed up enough to launch their own line. The cycle repeats in perpetuity.
When layering, think of the shirt as the foundation. It should be simple, functional, and understated. Stay away from loud colors and prints for daily wear. Microprints can work in resort settings, however.
Cotton
Arnie McNair - The McNair Polo is one of the better shirts I’ve owned in quite some time.
B. Draddy - a staple in pro shops across the country. Good cotton, but the collar can deteriorate quickly.
Audere - they are making a merino wool polo. Worth exploring.
Performance
H&B - They’ve mastered the art of an elevated performance fabric. The Maxwell is a perennial best seller and a great shirt.
Peter Millar - I like the stuff from their Crown Crafted line.
Harlestons - I first encountered this brand playing at Chechessee Creek Club. It’s big in the South, and looks/feels similar to H&B or PM.
Long Sleeve
Olydoe - an upstart brand and one of the better cotton long-sleeve shirts I own.
H&B - You need a great collar to make layering sweaters/vests look good. I like their long-sleeve tech polos paired with a sweater for the colder rounds.
Outerwear
If you're like me and own too many golf shirts, keep the outerwear simple. Navy, dark green, burgundy. All three sit well over whites and blues.
If one shirt brand fits you well, and fit matters more than anything else here, buy your vests and sweaters from the same company. I'll spare you the extra links. They're on the sites above.
Product lines are designed to be worn together. It makes layering easy. But, if you fancy yourself a rebel, see below.
Sweaters
It can be a cool touch to style a non-”golf” sweater with the rest of the outfit.
Vests
Zero Restriction - For a dressed-up tech look.
Kjus - If there is rain in the forecast, don’t think twice.
Quarter Zips
When it’s cold out I prefer to have a cotton or cotton blend touching my skin. If I’m wearing a short-sleeve polo, I’ll opt for a cashmere sweater or merino wool quarter zip.
Johnnie O - A good cotton-blend option. Best of both worlds in my view.
H&B Harper - If you want a more dressed-up look that you can wear out to dinner.
Holebrook - I am convinced I am the only American who owns any of their clothing (Swedish brand). It’s the most wind-proof jacket I’ve ever owned.
Hoodies (Gulp)
In lieu of posting links, I’ll direct you to your nearest pro shop.
A good rule of thumb: If the club sells hoodies, you can wear them on the course. If not, stick with a quarter zip or sweater. Opt for cotton or cashmere over the tech fabrics as well. It’s not a gym, it’s a golf course.
Pants
I’m making a conscious effort to buy more traditional chinos this year. No more five-pocket pants. If you know what you’re doing, you can get creative with pant colors in the fall. Dark greens, maybe even a maroon or pumpkin orange can make it into the fall rota.
Socks
Layering Tips
Now that you have some suggestions on what to wear, let’s talk about how to layer. I put together a few color suggestions if you’re feeling stuck:
Some quick bullets to close:
I’d suggest starting off with simple color schemes: White and light blue shirts, gray and forest green sweaters, and navy vests or jackets.
You could run this playbook for eternity if it suits you. It won’t go out of style. Humans won’t be seeing new colors any time soon.
You don’t need to have a complete wardrobe built in a day, just a good understanding of how to layer clothes so you don’t look like a colorblind donkey.
Light colors closer to the skin, darker colors the further you move away.
Consider me your personal attire concierge until I figure out how to make this type of content an interactive web page. If you have any questions, shoot me a note.
Until next time,
-BTG