There once was a day, not too long ago, when all of my favorite golf shirts were polyester. Maybe it was the Covid 15 (that’s 15 extra pounds) or maybe it is my getting older but I simple cannot stand wearing polyester anymore. Yes, it never wrinkles, but it is slinky and not exactly the best material for us non gym goers. Plus it’s like the plastic bottles of clothing-really bad for the environment.

On the other hand we have cotton. There is a reason cotton is the has been the material for choice for centuries and why designers keep returning to it. Unlike polyester, cotton is soft, classic, flattering, and enduring which is why cotton is pretty much all I wear now. Therefore, I was excited for my first review of relatively new golf brand called Radmor.

As someone who has worn shirts from tons of start up golf brands, I can tell you that most kind of suck and never make it past the first line but I am pretty bullish on Radmor.

After 6 years of reviewing golf apparel, there was still one item that I was missing. In part it was a conscience decision because I was not sure how useful it would be. The item in question: a short sleeve windbreaker. My confusion revolved around the fact that typically it is your arms that get cold so why would I have a jacket that was not long sleeve?

So for my 1st foray into the world of a short sleeve windbreaker, I figured there would be no better place to start than with the Galvin Green Lars Interface jacket.

Looking through the pictures on the “heritage” page of the B. Draddy website, it is clear where much of the inspiration for this apparel comes from. Images of Kennedy, Nicholson and Hunter S. Thompson at play cast a reflection of the iconic preppy Northeastern lifestyle.

The modern belt has been around for centuries – obviously there is little technology involved and the only materials required are leather and metal. For me, that is part of the appeal of belts. The fact that two simple materials can be combined in so many ways to create a one of a kind “pants holder upper”. Well, a funny thing happened a few years ago. Nexbelt came out with a buckle that totally changed how a belt and a buckle work together.

While Chase 54 is far from a household name, they have grown incredibly fast over the past 4 years and there is a good chance you can find them in your golf club. Unlike most apparel start-ups that are founded by designers, Chase 54 comes from the manufacturing side. Basically, the company had tons of capacity so they decided to start their own line of apparel. With the cost side of the equation under control, Chase 54 has been able to pound out lines quicker than Rick James back in 1981.

Growing up in the 80’s I am all too familiar with the “puffy jacket”. Looks aside, if you have ever donned a puffy jacket you know the two words you won’t utter are “I’m cold”. I am not exactly clear on the science, but puffy jackets dominate when it comes to warmth.

Finding the right mix of colors to create bold patterns is not an easy task. Too often brands end up looking unprofessional or even clownish. In other words, not appropriate for serious golfers. Fortunately, Bunker Mentality pulls off a fun look while staying within the accepted golf boundaries.

The beer of the month club may have started this trend but the cat is surely out of the bag now. With companies competing for the same customers, more and more are turning to some type of subscription model to boost sales and create loyalty. The idea is simple for these companies: lock in purchases in exchange for discounts and exclusive offerings. For customers the hook is not only the savings but ease of having products delivered to your door on a regular basis…like Christmas but every month.

First off, I am a brand person rather than a piece person. What I mean by that is that I prefer to find a brand that I like and then create a collection of pieces from that brand, rather than find individual pieces from a number of brands. The reason being is that once I lock onto a brand that I like, I can feel comfortable with everything from sizing to fit to quality. Moreover, I like the idea of being a brand ambassador and feeling like an adhoc “member of the team”. You know, “sponsored by xxx”.

Trying to keep up with all of the new golf apparel brands can be quite the challenge, as it seems a new label pops up each day. Plus, the lines between golf apparel and just ‘apparel’ continue to blur. I mean, what makes a shirt a “golf shirt” or a pair of shorts “golf shorts”? Frankly not that much. Sure there are some technical properties, such as material leaning towards performance, but mostly what we are talking about is a style that looks like it belongs on a golf course.

I don’t care how many Major Championships Greg Norman coulda, woulda, shoulda won, he has absolutely won the game of life. If you still shed a tear for the big Aussie, check out his interview on Feherty and you will quickly realize he is holding all of the cards. The fact is, most golfers careers are relatively short compared to their endeavors after golf. Greg Norman has certainly made the most of his time so far.

As a blogger and interested party of golf apparel, the Iliac brand has been on my radar to review for about 4 years. On Tour, we have seen recent PGA Champion Jimmy Walker wear Iliac, as well as 2015 Open winner Zack Johnson. Other brand ambassadors have included the “human lightening bolt” Retief Goosen, Justin Leonard and Jin Park.

You would think it would be pretty straightforward to design a good pair of golf shorts, but unfortunately that seems to not be the case. While I have plenty of quality golf shirts, quality shorts maintain a “short” stack in my closet (no pun… whatever). For me the keys to a good pair of shorts – besides a good cut – is the material and pocket configuration.

This spring, as every spring in my memory, a few things have happened. In the usual rite of spring, your humble scribe has emerged from his den and seen his shadow, which has nothing to do with how much longer winter will last, except for my noticing that perhaps the layers that were making me look a little, ahem, fluffy around February were in my skin instead of in my wardrobe. So in an effort to undo all the carbs I stuffed into my face to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, I’m cleaning up my act: back in the gym, back to early morning runs, and working hard to eat cleaner.

In what is known as “The Miracle of the Swallows,” every year on St. Joseph’s Day  the Cliff Swallows return to the Mission of San Juan Capistrano. Officially or not, this marks the beginning of Spring in San Juan Capistrano.