Golfwear has evolved massively in recent years, and dress codes vary dramatically from course to course. What’s acceptable at the local pitch n putt, is almost certainly not going to pass muster at St Andrews! Most clubs would traditionally expect shirts to be collared and shorts to be tailored, but when Tyrrell Hatton won the BMW PGA Championship 2020, adorned throughout in the most casual of attire, a hoodie… it sent shockwaves through the old guard, and forced many to reconsider their stance.
Below is an overview of some of the most notable retailers that the SS team have tried and tested.
American Golf is the most prominent UK golf retailer, with almost 100 branches nationwide and in the Republic of Ireland. They also own six golf complexes, all with driving ranges with Toptracer technology, and a range of additional facilities, ranging from crazy golf through to 9 and 18 hole courses. They stock most of the mainstream brands, such as Callaway, Taylormade, Ping and Cobra, and are invariably staffed with keen golfers if not ex-pros.
Scottsdale is another discount store, though predominantly online, with a shop south of Manchester in Sale with over 2 decades of heritage, that is well stocked, with highly experienced staff, and an excellent fitting room at the back. Scottsdale make the remarkable claim to be the #1 stockist of Hugo Boss, J Lindeberg, Galvin Green, Lacoste, Lyle & Scott, Under Armour and others.
Pro Shops at golf courses, we find, can be fairly hit and miss. They vary significantly, from large, well-stocked and reasonably priced, to closed or non-existent. Some clearly capitalise on the convenience of their location, whereas other pros leverage their relationships with brands and presumably low overviews, to provide a service to their members for a small extra revenue stream. To find out which kind of pro shops you have nearby, we suggest paying them a visit.
Hotgolf are that quintessential golf discount store, rarely seen these days, with big neon ‘Golf Sale’ signs (sadly, attached to fences rather than sandwich boards draped over hungover students). On entry, it’s somewhat overwhelming to find what seems like a million items all in one room! Nevertheless, once one’s computed the layout and Pacman-style route to avoid other customers on the same narrow aisle, this is a real treasure trove of bargains on clubs, bags, clothing and all the common accessories you might need. Quite how they’re able to offer such deals (past purchases include a £28 rain jacket, and £90 Callaway stand bag), I dare not ask, but whether it’s the low overheads of their modest building, or perhaps surplus stock from previous seasons, matters not one bit to me.
Druids is exclusively online, and offers a superb range of bold, colourful attire, at very reasonable prices indeed. Now, I must forewarn, the folks at Druids love to stay in touch, and any purchase includes a lifetime of free emails! One can of course opt out, but for me there’s something fascinating about the boundless enthusiasm and neverending variations of a promo on a polo shirts! Pick your timing, and it’s not hard to pick up a bundle of 5? Items such as a jacket, trousers, midlayer, polo and belt or cap, for a shade over a ton including postage.
Bunker Mentality is another British, online-only, contemporary brand, with even more funky colour schemes and striking styles. Based in Nottinghamshire, with a great backstory, Bunker Mentality have coined fun slogans, like ‘Birdie King’, and ‘Who’s Your Caddy’, and now boast over 100,000 customers across over 55 countries. With a great range of clothing and accessories, strong customer service ethos and sustainability posture, Bunker Mentality are a really credible brand that will stand out on the course.
TK Maxx, I’m pretty sure you know, isn’t a golf specialist. However, they can be a great source of golfing gear, with a dedicated rail seemingly opened up at the start of April, with a good range of polos, midlayers and shorts. As no doubt you know, every store’s stock will vary, so it’s a bit hit and miss, and presumably happier hunting in branches located where there’s a high golfing demographic.
Supermarkets, at the right time of year, can also be great if you’re golfing on a budget, with bargains to be had for basic attire in the middle aisles of Aldi and Lidl. At the time of writing (May), Lidl have basic golf shoes on sale for £20, and men’s and ladies golf tops for £8.
Then, naturally, you can get golf clothing (like everything else) on Amazon, eBay etc.
Where do you buy your golf clobber? Let us know here.
