Some shirts are made with additional materials that add protection and comfort. Nylon, for example, is often incorporated for added protection against the elements. Spandex, thanks to its high elasticity and stretch, enhances comfort and flexibility in golf shirts, letting you swing your swing with no restriction. Finally, Merino wool, a natural fiber known for its softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking capabilities, is ideal for golf shirts because of its superior temperature regulation and comfort in various conditions.
Style: When picking out a golf shirt, style is just as important as performance. In fact, we are probably more likely to roll up in the course in a shirt that looks good than we are in a performance polo—look good, play good, right? With that said, you have a ton of options when it comes to flexing your personal style on the course.
Some shirts are designed with vintage 90s polos in mind, so they’ll be constructed with a boxier fit and (usually) longer sleeves alongside a deep button placket for maximum styling options. Others will be made more modern, with a slimmer fit and performance features. Those aren’t all stuffy picks, though, some performance shirts are just as stylish as their retro brethren. Others don’t resemble the golf shirts you know and love at all—they bring unique features to the links like zipper collars, patch pockets that resemble those on your mechanic’s favorite work shirt, or crazy designs that stand out from the pack.
No matter what style you go for, we say pick the one that makes you feel like a pro, even if a pro would never actually wear it on the golf course.
Special Features: As we’ve said, a number of polos out there are pretty simple, which isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, though, you need a bit more than the standard polo silhouette when you hit the links, whether for style reasons or performance reasons. Many performance brands enhance the fit with gusseted armpits, raglan sleeves, or other features that enhance your ability to move freely. Other shirts will have style features, like utilitarian snap buttons or a zipper collar instead of the standard button, or jacquard interspersed through the shirt for a texture change.
Look closely at the pictures each brand throws up on the site and take a gander at the description—sometimes you’ll find a feature you wouldn’t see otherwise.
How We Tested
With a solid crew of both new and lifelong golfers on staff, we’ve spent decades testing golf shirts, from actual early ’90s polos we stole from our dads, ’00s polos we copped in high school, and the modern performance shirts that dominated the scene throughout the 2010s. However, since we’re obsessive style vultures, we naturally dipped our toes into everything the last few years have brought to the scene, from soccer-inspired Blokecore polos to streetwear-inspired tees and tops to gorpcore crossovers from ACG and Adidas Adicross. We test them at the course, of course, but also at our local dive, on date night, and when we travel. In 2024, there’s no limit to where you can rock your golf gear.
