Golf is a decades-old American sport and leisure activity that’s been growing in popularity and accessibility. Once thought of as an elite country club sport, golf has finally come to the masses thanks to an increasing number of public courses that have been opening across the country. But golf is appealing to a variety of people for several other reasons as well.
Golf is known as a “lifetime” sport. Unlike many higher impact athletics, golf can be played throughout a person’s life and is enjoyed by young and old alike. It’s a great activity for the whole family and a way to connect and spend time with friends, co-workers, and potential clients. Golf is a game that requires intense focus, and one of its many benefits is improved mental clarity and concentration. Other benefits include fresh air, sunshine, and moderate exercise.
While public courses don’t have the same dress codes and clothing restrictions that private clubs do, it’s still important to wear the right golf clothes for both comfort and style. The right women’s golf clothing can actually be one of many ways to improve your game, and most new players need all the advantages they can get.
Comfort is the key to being able to focus on your golf game. As a new player, you’re probably wondering how to choose the right women’s golf apparel when you don’t know much about the sport. Golf clothing is a hybrid of comfortable street clothes and athletic gear, often disguising polyester, spandex, and Lycra sports wear as stretchy, breathable fashion statements.
When choosing golf clothing, remember that you’ll be playing outdoors in variable weather. You’ll want a range of layers that will help you stay cool in hot weather, warm in cool weather, and dry in wet weather. You also want to have snug-fitting clothes that still give you plenty of room to move and don’t restrict your swing. And on top of all this, you’ll need to be prepared with plenty of protection from the sun.
Here’s a list of the most important pieces of golf clothing and gear you need to get started:
- V-neck, scoop-neck, or polo-style tank or short-sleeved shirt made from moisture-wicking material such as Lycra or a spandex-cotton blend
- Snugly fitting golf shorts or a golf skort
- Lightweight fleece pants that can be worn over golf skorts or shorts
- Lightweight warm-up jacket
- Lightweight wool ankle socks
- Brimmed hat, cap, or visor
- Sweatband or lightweight fashion scarf for keeping sweat and hair out of the eyes
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Raincoat or umbrella if rain is in the forecast
- Golf cleats
If you participate in other sports you may already own some of these clothing items; if not, consider investing in gear and clothing that’s golf-specific. You can rent clubs from the public or private course of your choice, but sooner or later you’ll want to invest in your own if you’re going to stick with the sport.