Ever since its inception, golf has been a sport played by the elite, aristocrats, and people with a lot of wealth. While this has changed a bit over the years, one thing that still manages to stand out is the unique golf attire style.
When did it all get started?
The first known golf clothing style came from Scotland. It mostly had to do with practicality, since people had to battle the elements. Men had to wear short pants and tweed jackets to protect themselves. Additionally, they were also wearing shirts with neckties and some starched collars. Tweed caps and study shoes were ubiquitous during the 15th century as well.
The early 1900s
Things didn’t change that much when it came to golf attire, with many people maintaining the aforementioned clothing style. With that in mind, at the beginning of the 20th century, we had many changes. For example, golf attire was more focused on style while retaining comfort.
Players had specialized golf shoes, golf cap, cotton stockings, as well as a single-breasted jacket, and some knickers. Some players even stood out by adding in knickers with 4 extra inches, two-tone shoes, long socks, etc. Some players were using a cardigan during the colder periods.
However, golf clothing changed during the 1930s, mainly because trends were shifting and knickers/plus fours were not as common. They were replaced with flannel trousers, which were the rave during that time. There weren’t massive changes in golf history when it came to rules, but the way people dressed and their golf attire changed quite during the 20th century.
Contemporary golf clothing
The 1933 US Open took place during a heatwave, which encouraged players to shift towards a lighter and more comfortable golf attire. And when the 40s started, golf clothing became modern, to the point it resembled those golf clothing styles we see today.
Simply put, men started wearing light slacks and shirts with short sleeves. Numerous spiked shoes began to appear, and water-resistant jackets became the norm for a lot of people. When it came to colors, colorful shirts became the norm, and many players started wearing shorts when the weather became very warm. However, cardigan sweaters are still very common. The thing to note these days is that most fabrics used for modern golf attire focus on comfort, air circulation, breathability and moisture-wicking.
Conclusion
There were some changes to what people wore throughout golf history, but it’s safe to say that the focus was always on comfort and quality. There’s no denying that adequate golf attire doesn’t have to be complex, and it’s all about reliability and helping players push the limits with their great skills. Thankfully, modern golf clothing is very dependable, easy to use, and everyone is bound to enjoy its amazing benefits and stellar value!