In 1993, I showed up as a freshman for my first college golf practice wearing a tank top. It was hot, after all, being it was August in South Texas. Immediately, I noticed something odd. I was the only person wearing a tank top. The team captain later pulled me aside and reminded me that expected dress, even for this municipal golf course, included a collared shirt, and that some of the courses we’d be playing wouldn’t even let me through the front gate without a collared shirt.

While professional dress standards have relaxed over the years, especially work and office dress, standards at golf courses have stayed pretty much the same. Put a collar on your shirt and leave the cutoff jeans and sandals at home (unless, of course, they are golf sandals). I wish, 30 years ago, when I showed up for that first collegiate golf practice I’d had access to a treasure trove of golf gear like Curated.com to get properly fitted in many facets of the game, including what to wear.

What to Consider When Purchasing Polos

Here are a few things to note when looking to purchase polos:

• They should be lightweight yet high quality. In the race for comfort, you don't have to sacrifice durability.
• While comfort and durability take top billing, that doesn’t mean you should have to sacrifice style. Golf, to be sure, has a “look good, play well” mental component to it. Obviously, shirts are the main way to look good, but don’t forget about other accessorizing opportunities such as golf shoes and club headcovers.
• They should be long enough to tuck into your shorts or trousers (also a requirement at some courses).
• The arms should not drape past your elbows, or you'll be constantly adjusting them before you hit and worrying about them mid-swing when you should be worrying about absolutely nothing at all, least of all the fit of your shirt.
• At least three buttons, although some shirts these days have four, which is one of those inventions that makes you say to yourself, "This makes so much sense. Why haven't golf shirts always had four buttons?"
• They shouldn't be 100 percent cotton, which isn’t as stretchy and athletic-feeling as you'll want. After all, golf is a sport, and you don't have to give up comfort in pursuit of a little bit of style. Instead of cotton, look for shirts made of more synthetic materials such as performance polyester, spandex, rayon, or nylon.

Best Golf Shirts for Men

Following is a curated list of 20 of the best men's golf polos. They are not ranked, and their quality differs slightly per shirt, so I’ve decided to categorize them. The categories are: Classics; Sports’ Heavy Hitters; Moisture-Wicking Masters; Hardcore Golfers; Known In Other Arenas; New On The Scene; and Zippers, 4-Buttons, and Other Innovations. Of course, it should go without saying that many of these shirts would fit into numerous categories.

Classics

Shirts proper for a game with roots older than the signing of the Declaration of Independence. While classic, these brands have upgraded to modern golf cloth expectations.

1. Ashworth

Full disclosure: My favorite golfer, Fred Couples, has had a long relationship with Ashworth, so that's where the influence originated, but I've been a longtime wearer of Ashworth, and their craftsmanship has never wavered. They have a yarn blend that feels like cotton but doesn't perform like cotton in the many elements you play golf.

2. Lacoste

The classic crocodile has upgraded its shirts, is now lightweight, and stays relatively dry in hot conditions. They only have three buttons – one short of my button valhalla, but they are three solid buttons properly spaced out.

3. Polo

The name by which all other golf shirts are labeled. Like Kleenex of the facial tissue world. Like Xerox of the photocopying world. A name so synonymous with what they do that their name is the lowercase name of the item. Polo may be a standard bearer, but they're certainly not boring or outdated. They aren't afraid of colors, albeit their colors usually come in straight and predictable patterns (lots of lines). And, yes, their golf-specific polos are now essentially athletic wear with a color.

Sports’ Heavy Hitters

A few of the industry leaders in other realms have also made a big splash in golf attire.

4. Puma

Puma calls its fabric "performance fabric," and I agree that it performs well in all golfable temperatures. That they've dedicated themselves to being more than Rickie Fowler's loud fashion is also a plus. They actually have some of the best-looking normal golf attire now.

5. Nike

Nike may have left the golf club market and recently cut ties with Tiger Woods, but they are still a player in the golf shirt business. They tend to dwell in the monotone section, but their Dri-Fit shirts hold up well in the heat. With that said, my favorite is Nike's long-sleeved golf shirts, as few companies make good long-sleeved golf shirts. Worth noting: They are promoting a "sustainable material," which is recycled nylon. According to their website, "by inventing more efficient materials and reusing existing plastics, yarns, and textiles, we're making big strides on our journey to zero carbon and zero waste."

6. Adidas

Another of the big names has thrown its recent golf focus into being a unique outfitter, and their shirts are mostly monotone with the signature three stripes down the sleeve. Their moisture managing technology is called Aeroready, and they are using 70 percent recycled materials to demonstrate their dedication to the environment.

Moisture-Wicking Masters

The hot phrase in golf clothing right now is "moisture-wicking fabric." Besides being fun to say, this has become a keyword in my collared shirt-buying searches. I sweat a lot, but there's no reason on those hot summer days to sweat like Lucas Glover.

7. Under Armour

Right now, Under Armour is the Bounty of moisture wicking. It's the quicker picker-upper of sweat. It wicks with the best of them. This company is better known for its exploits in other sports, but their golf gear is top notch, too.

8. Columbia

Let's stick with the moisture-wicking theme for a bit longer. Columbia makes some great monotone or simple patterned shirts that can wick like a candle, taking care of any aridness emanating from your torso.

Hardcore Golfers

Polos for those who are so enamored with golf that they are picky about every facet of their game, right down to the shirt on their back.

9. Peter Millar

In an informal poll of golfers I know, Peter Millar ranks as the most popular. They are definitely in demand. Shirts from this brand feel like a step up in quality compared to the average golf shirt. They provide a comfortable fit without being bulky. Many golfers also mention their ease of upkeep as a plus.

10. TravisMathew

Known more on the West Coast than in other regions, TravisMathew has been on the back of one of golf's most dominant players in recent years, Jon Rahm. We'll see if that partnership continues now that Rahm has taken his talents to the LIV Tour, where players are expected to don team attire.

11. Rhoback

Rhoback is named after the Rhodesian Ridgeback, a hunting dog bred to kill lions. That's what this brand has done since its founding in December 2016. They've gone after the lions of the activity wear industry and become a respected maker. Wearing Rhoback is like wearing athletic wear with a collar. Rhoback, like Polo, is easily identifiable. On each shirt's breastplate is the outline of a dog logo.

Known In Other Arenas

Some companies are leaders of other industries, but have had some success breaking into the golf polo market as well.

12. Oakley

Made with more than 50 percent recycled materials (recycled materials could have been a category unto itself), this shirt is quick to remind customers that its microfibers are perfect for cleaning the lenses of your sunglasses. Hmmm. Wonder why?

13. Lululemon

The queen bee of the yoga pants market has expanded in recent years and is doing so successfully, at least when it comes to men's golf apparel. And unlike their multi-colored, flashy yoga pants, Lululemon golf shirts for men are mostly monochrome (see accompanying photo). Collars on golf shirts are not something people generally rank, but Lululemon's collars are my favorite. Also, Lululemon's shirts are unique in that they use snaps instead of buttons.

New On The Scene

With the breakdown of traditional media and the rise of more siloed media avenues, a bunch of niche, or smaller, companies are finding room for themselves in various marketplaces. The golf polo market is no different, so a few new players have arrived on the scene in recent years.

14. Three Sixty Six

Nike was previously mentioned as a leader in the long sleeve realm, but Three Sixty Six, a company with slightly less name recognition than Nike, is also manufacturing solid long sleeve golf shirts. Founded in 2016, they're known for mostly solid colors and smaller collars. They sell a catchy, thick-striped polo for the good price of $24.95.

15. Waggle

Loud. Very, very loud. Whatever Puma did for Rickie Fowler, Waggle is the next level of loud golf. From its Cocky Rooster shirt that literally has rooster designs adorning it to its Mission Albatross shirt (with space exploring golfers on it), Waggle, founded in 2018, is in the business of breaking whatever rules were previously set for blouse wear. Simply stated, these shirts would not be welcomed at Wimbledon. Its patterns have a strong nod to the outdoors, from goats to ducks to turtles to whales.

16. Swannies

You could sneak into Wimbledon wearing some Swannies gear, namely its Marshall polo. Started by two guys using Kickstarter to fund a "golf sandal," since 2015, this company has grown into a legitimate outfitter. Like Waggles, Swannies likes imprints on its shirt, be it the Barber polo, which lists different types of golf wagers, to the Corbin polo, which has bird(ies) all over it. Subtle loudness, we'll call it.

Zippers, 4-button, and Other Innovations

A catch-all category for some of the absolute best golf polo brands available today.

17. Johnnie O

Johnnie O, which hails itself as "the original 4-button polo," is popular, albeit more so with the country club crowd, but there's a reason for that. They are, indeed, fashionable and are a great shirt if you're golfing before going into the office, or vice versa. Johnnie O gives its wearer a highly professional look. I am partial to the Hair Of The Dog polo.

18. Coofandy

Coofandy doesn't brand itself as a golf shirt company, but its polos are worth taking a look at, most noticeably for its half zip replacement for the buttons. I've owned one zip-up polo, and it ranks as one of my favorite shirts simply because of the zipper concept. Good zippers beat buttons any day. Fair warning: Coofandy markets itself as a "slim fit" shirt, which causes angst for this corpulent (5-foot-9 inch, 230-pound) author.

19. J.Lindeberg

J.Lindberg has been in business since 1996, but their big break in the golf space came in 2023 when Victor Hovland wore an azalea-inspired J.Lindeberg shirt at The Masters. It became a bit of a talker in the world of social media. It is a bit pricey (most shirts are more than $100), which may be a result of its recent viral status.

20. Criquet

Another 4-button with straight-edged collars. I appreciate Criquet's versatility, as their polos are great for wearing fully buttoned up, under a cardigan, or with a few of the four buttons undone. They are versatile and classy, coming primarily in monotone colors. The website seems fun, as it opens to a spin-the-wheel type game to find out your discount. They're currently running some nice end-of-season sales, and they have a neat exchange policy, in which, as long as it's unworn and unwashed, you can exchange it, and they'll give you $15 store credit, in case the shirt you want to exchange it for is slightly more expensive.

Final Thoughts

Whether new to the sport of golf, a veteran of many rounds, or, hey, a once-a-year guy during a charity scramble, the options abound for getting you fitted in something stylish and comfortable. Click on the links provided above to start your search, and if you’re needing some guidance from a mostly stylish staff of dedicated golfers, connect with a Curated Golf Expert to help you get started.