Looking and feeling good about what you’re wearing while at the course is all part of the golfing experience. Beyond teaching and coaching the game, one thing I have always tried to do over the years as a PGA Professional is to really get a golfer immersed in the golf lifestyle.

What I mean by golf lifestyle is all the things surrounding the game that have nothing to do with the actual playing part. One of those is the clothing you wear, both on and off the course, that helps you say, “I am a golfer who loves the game!”

The golf apparel business is massive. According to Verified Market Research, massive may be an understatement…in their report, it is said that the “global golf apparel market size was valued at USD 2.83 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 4.53 Billion By 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.80% from 2023 to 2030.”

In this article, I will share just a few of the biggest brands in the golf apparel industry. These are can’t-go-wrong choices when it comes to putting that perfect outfit together that says you are a proud golfer and fan of the game!

What Makes A Golf Brand Good?

There are many aspects that go into making a top-notch golf brand one of the best in the game. The quality of the brand's clothing, the esteem that the logo holds, and the mix of the line are all things that matter.

Golfers tend to be very particular when it comes to the choices they make with their golf wardrobe. There are countless things golfers look for from the golf clothes they put on their bodies that go beyond fashion and comfort.

• What kind of fabric are the polo shirts and golf pants made from?
• Are golf shirts made from performance fabric? Is it high-quality cotton? Is it a moisture-wicking fabric? Is it made of some sort of other technical fabrics?
• Is the outerwear, such as golf hoodies, vests, sweaters, and jackets, lightweight, breathable, and something that won't restrict their swing?
• Can I wear my outfit and look good both on the golf course and in the clubhouse?
• Does my favorite PGA TOUR player wear the brand? Does Tiger Woods?
• What other gear and accessories does the particular golf apparel brand offer? Golf gloves? Golf shoes? Golf bags?

The best golf apparel brands understand that the modern golfer is someone who respects tradition but is also looking for a modern design or a modern twist on the traditional. Additionally, they know that many golf enthusiasts are also looking for innovation in a product line and if they are forward thinking.

The best golf clothing brands check all these boxes and more as they develop their golf attire and accompanying accessories.

Some of Golf’s Best Apparel Brands

As previously mentioned, this article is only a small representation of the best golf apparel brands. Most that will be outlined are among the bigger players in the apparel game. Any exclusion of a brand is not at all an indication of how viable it may or may not be.

Simply put, there are many, many great golf apparel brands, and far too many to name them all.

Under Armour Golf

You hear origin stories all the time of big brands or famous people that make you think, “Is this just a story?” The truth of the matter with Under Armour is that it did indeed start in a twenty-something grandmother's basement. Founder Kevin Plank was only 24 years old when he founded Under Armour in 1996, in, of all places, his grandmother’s basement…no lie! You can look it up…

Like many of the other more popular golf brands, such as Nike, Puma, and Adidas, golf only makes up a small portion of total sales at Under Armour. Which, by the way, is approaching approximately $6 billion dollars in 2023.

Under Armour offers up trendy golf apparel, as well as more traditional looks in areas such as:

• Shoes, including the Under Armour Men's HOVR Fade 2 Spikeless Shoes
• Shirts, such as the Under Armour Men's Tech Polo
• Pants like the Under Armour Men's Drive Golf Pants
• Outerwear, including the Under Armour Men's UA OffGrid Fleece Hoodie
• Accessories such as hats like the Under Armour Men's UA Jordan Spieth Golf Hat

PUMA Golf

Anyone looking to have an extremely interesting history lesson that goes far beyond sports or golf should look up the origin story of both Puma and Adidas…it is truly fascinating. To give you a cliffhanger, Puma and Adidas were started by two brothers from Germany who were at odds with each other based on political beliefs back in 1948. I’ll leave it at that, and you can research from here.

As mentioned previously in my look at Under Armour, golf makes up only a small portion of PUMA’s sales, but a significant impact nonetheless. PUMA offers a variety of great items, from bold and trendy, to more traditional looks in areas such as shirts, jackets, shoes, hats, and more. Here are a few examples of some popular PUMA items here on Curated:

• Shoes, including the Puma Men's Ignite Elevate Golf Shoes
• Accessories such as hats like the Puma Women's Sport Cap
• Accessories such as hats like the Puma Men's Driver Cap

Callaway Golf

Callaway Golf, known legally as Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp., is more widely known as a big player in the golf clubs and golf ball game. However, more recently, Callaway has shown a tremendous amount of success and growth over the past few years in the golf apparel sector.

Callaway first came on the scene in 1982, when founder Ely Callaway purchased half of Hickory Sticks USA. In 1984, Ely bought the company outright, and Callaway Golf was off and running. From 1982 through about 2017, golf clubs and golf balls were the primary focus of the Callaway brand. In 2017, after Callaway acquired OGIO and TravisMathew, a new focus was put into expanding into golf apparel and soft goods such as bags, gloves, shoes, and more. This was when Callaway Apparel came to be.

Much of Callaway Golf’s apparel offerings include a variety of great items that have a more traditional look, with only a sprinkling of bolder styles. They offer items such as shirts, pants, shorts, women's apparel, jackets, shoes, hats, and more. Here are a few examples of some popular Callaway items you can find here on Curated:

• Accessories such as hats like the Callaway 2017 Performance Side Crested Unstructured Golf Hat
• Accessories such as hats like the Callaway Rutherford Snapback Golf Hat
• Accessories such as gloves like the Callaway Optiflex Golf Glove

Nike Golf

One of the global powerhouse brands, not just in golf but in any and all sports fashion, is Nike. Founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, Nike saw revenue in excess of $46 billion in 2022. Golf makes up a small portion of those sales, but nonetheless, Nike is still seen as one of the game's most notable brands.

Nike offers up trendy golf offerings, as well as more traditional looks in areas such as:

• Shoes
• Shirts
• Pants/Shorts
• Outerwear
• Accessories such as hats and gloves

Polo Golf and RLX Golf

The Ralph Lauren Corporation, which the Polo Golf and RLX Golf brands fall under, was founded in 1967. The brand as a whole is a high-end fashion brand across all of its offerings. The Polo Golf and RLX Golf brands were founded in 1990 and 1998, respectively.

The style and feel of Polo Golf is traditional, with many solids and more traditional patterns. The RLX Golf brand is far more modern and sporty in its design.

As mentioned, the Polo Golf and RLX Golf brands offer both traditional looks, as well as more modern in areas such as:

• Shirts
• Pants/Shorts
• Outerwear

As I wrap up this brief look at just a few of the best apparel brands in golf and what makes them one, I wanted to give you a list of my additional favorites to check out…

• Adidas Golf
• Footjoy
• Polo Golf Ralph Lauren
• G/FORE
• TravisMathew
• Linksoul
• Greyson
• Matte Grey
• Lululemon
• Lacoste
• Galvin Green
• Original Penguin

With so many options to choose from in the golf apparel game, if you ever need some help in making your golf apparel selections easier, feel free to contact me here on Curated or any other Curated Golf Expert.