I have kind of a strange confession right here at the start. I have been told, in polite conversation, if they were going to eat me, they’d start with my calves.  Anyone…?  No one else have that happen?  Oh well, apparently I have big calves, and my physical therapist has let me know that I tend to overuse them in pretty much all my daily activities. Since these activities usually include swinging a golf club at some point in the day, even for a few minutes, I was interested in seeing if Zensah Compression Leg Sleeves might help my issues, and maybe lift and separate…sorry, at least lift. You know, “bros” for my calves.

Adam warned me that his experience with compression socks post knee surgery was a real drag, but when those carolina blue Leg Sleeves showed up, I dove in with both… calves.  And much to my great surprise and delight, they feel great. I have walked many miles of hills and challenging terrain, in the cold no less (Carolina winter, okay I admit it). I have also made quite a few golf swings wearing them, and I’m happy to report they give added support and a feeling of stability to my lower legs that reminds me of a really good tape job that’s supportive and not too tight, and when I finish moving around and take them off, I feel like my calves are not as stressed or full of tension, and they seem to recover more quickly. Of course that is the whole idea behind compression socks-create improved circulation in areas farthest away from the heart.

In terms of golf, walking 18 or 36 holes can put a lot of stress on your legs so utilizing this technology makes a lot of sense. Proof positive of their effects is the fact I have worn them on a number of occasions..with shorts! For those less brave, they are great under a pair of pants as they wick away moisture and do not feel hot on your legs. For fashion forward folks, you can even step into some argyle styles.

You can see the whole line of Zensah products on their website.

Nike Golf Outerwear Review: For me, it’s always been an easy choice on what to wear when I play golf in colder weather. Thermals, thermals and more thermals, cover that up with some cargo pants and a polo, and don’t forget the beanie. Until recently, I had no idea that Nike Golf has a line of clothing devoted specifically to cold weather golf. Moreover, Nike outerwear has a very simple philosophy which is layering clothes while keeping them lightweight, comfortable and amazingly warm. Warm is a gross understatement as the Sport Hoody I mention below is like being wrapped in flannel cocoon.

Nike sent us a wide variety of their products to review including the Sport Hoody, Multi Stripe Polo, Mesh Warm Motion Polo, Nike Fabric Mix Full Zip Jacket, Sport Reversible Vest and Flat Front Tech Pants. Beyond the sheer variety, I also could not help but get a chuckle from the naming conventions which span Purple Earth, Melon and Heather. Clearly the Marketing Department takes their job very seriously. More importantly, the R&D folks at Nike are also working overtime because every piece looks and performs wonderfully.

I’m lucky that I live out in the Vegas Valley (well lucky to live here, not so much at the Black Jack table). Anyhow, it doesn’t get very cold out here until the end of December. As it turned out, the mercury finally dipped for my annual winter golf outing where we played three separate days when the temperature was 34°, 38° and 42° respectively. This year I was ready!

Not having your swing hampered by layers of clothing is a huge plus in my book. Unfortunately, most winter golf clothes end up making you look like the Michelin man. What I love about the Nike layering system is that it is incredibly versatile but never bulky.

In terms of fashion, Nike makes it super easy to maintain a sharp look no matter how you pair the layers. All of the colors are complimentary so it’s virtually impossible to mis-match. The added benefit to their clothing line is that it is not limited to the golf course. Specifically, I find myself reaching for my Nike jackets more often than any other winter outerwear I currently own. Style and function, you just can’t go wrong with this stuff.

Being at tad portly I’m always concerned with not only how I’m going to look in what I pick out but also how will it fit. All of the Nike golf gear runs fair. In other words, I wear a large and the Nike large fits great. In fact I am starting to wonder if the actual Nike model is not the studly figure on the posters but in fact 5′ 10″, 185 pounds. Either way, the Nike gear fits great-and delivers outstanding performance.

You can see the full line of Nike Golf clothing on their site.

Last summer Three Guys Golf was introduced to a funky British company called Bunker Mentality. While their look is clearly not for everyone and fringes on golf punk, they are steaming full ahead and I for one am on board the S.S. Funky.

As I mentioned we have reviewed Bunker Mentality summer wear and their sister company Queen of the Green (the ladies version), so we thought it appropriate to also do a quick review the fall/winter gear. The two items we saw were the ‘Warm-up Jacket’ and Crest Sweater. Unlike many of the Bunker styles, the warm-up jacket is as tame as a house cat. Simple grey with blue piping is the only remarkable feature. Oh, there is that huge logo on the chest but no one will notice it. Actually, I totally dig the Bunker Mentality logo and it is absolutely the reason why the jacket looks so cool.

Seriously I love this jacket and wear it all of the time. It is a perfect weight for temperatures in the 40’s and 50’s. It is also tight-fitting so as to not be bulky. Plus it is also stretchy enough to move through your swing. Add the fact that the jackets are not very expensive and you have what I call a winner.

The sweater, on the other hand is full on Euro. As long a you are comfortable with your masculinity, the shirt is royal. Heck it has a crest on the chest so how can you not feel like a player? Sure it has pink stripes and is regularly stolen out my closet by my teenage daughter, but if you can channel your inner Ian Poulter you may actually dig the look (just make sure you order at least full size larger as they run small).

With so many companies cranking out yet another striped shirt, I find it refreshing to find a company who is willing to be a bit daring. Even if Bunker Mentality does not always hit the mark in mainstream style, I give them credit for providing a unique clothing line that is also very affordable (and they have regular sales!)

You can see the whole line of Bunker Mentality on their website.

A few months ago we reviewed the summer wear by Page and Tuttle and Susan did a great job of detailing the fabric innovations this company is responsible for. This is no fly by night outfit. Nope, they have been up and running for over a hundred years.

Recently, I had a chance to review one of their golf pullovers and while I was expecting to find no fault with it, I did not expect it to become one of my favorite cold weather pieces of gear. To set the stage, I live in NC where the typical fall/winter day is between 40-55 degrees but the temperature changes dramatically throughout the day so layering is critical to staying comfortable.

First, as we all know by now, good athletic fabric wicks moisture away, and let’s your body breathe – unlike cotton, which can actually get you in honest trouble on a winter day. Hence, the Page & Tuttle pullover is made of a soft, thin and flexible  micro-fiber ‘cool swing’ polyester. In terms of construction, the seams are heavy-duty sewn, like athletic gear should be – strong and out of the way for the best strength and movement combination.

Second, since layering is a huge key, the Page and Tuttle pullover is an excellent weight for pairing with multiple things like a vest or jacket. So in warmer temps with little wind the pullover is a great option but is equally suited to go under a wind shell or jacket.

Third, the sizing is really generous, and gives folks like me good room to swing the club without it feeling swampy. I am from a football family, and a lot of clothes just bind up on my shoulders during a round of golf. Not the Page & Tuttle pullover. It has good length to cover your rear a bit, excellent shoulder room, and one of my favorite features is the soft cuffs on the sleeves that keep the arms out of your way to grip your club.

Best of all, the pullover is obviously not only great for the golf course . . . you will find yourself wearing it thoughout the colder months in a variety of situations and it will likely never go out of style. The Page & Tuttle lists for $65 and comes in a good variety of colors and sizes.

You can see all of the Page & Tuttle gear on their website.

About a year ago I got my first pair of Loudmouth shorts and to be honest I was not exactly thrilled about the whole idea. Sure, I had seen John Daly saunter up and down the fairways in every crazy pattern imaginable but not for one second did I have any desire to follow in those footprints.

As it turned out, I was doomed to learn another lesson in “be careful what you wish for”. Not in a million years did I think Loudmouth would actually send gear to our fledgling blog. Perhaps this gesture should have been my first clue that style was not the only thing unique about LoudMouth Golf.

Since it was mid-December when I received the Disco Ball shorts, I had to wait nearly a month for a freak warm day before I actually got the chance to take them out for a real test drive. I even convinced Wade, my blogger in crime, to join me in our grand experiment (Matt was conveniently unavailable that day)

Now I won’t lie and tell you that Wade is a full-fledged Loudmouth convert, but I suspect he secretly still wears his “Torry Lines” shorts when no one is around. The fact is wearing Loudmouth brings a whole new level of interaction that most golfers never get to experience. When you walk into the clubhouse donning “Captain Thunderbolt, DogWood or Shagadelic Black” you will not be permitted to quietly pay your greens fees and head to the first tee. Nope, you get to field a whole bunch of questions about where you got those shorts and if the carnival knows you have gone AWOL.

And it won’t end there. Nope, you get to you hear people shout from across the fairway:  “cool shorts”, “does your wife know you stole her drapes?” and (true story) “can I buy those from you?”

But here is the the secret ingredient that allows you to deflect all of the lame jokes . . .envy. I firmly believe that what is really being said is “I wish I had the guts to wear those”. Plus the fact is that Loudmouth pants and shirts are really well made and fit twice as well as the junk your buddies buy off the sale rack at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Now 12 months later I am here to say that Loudmouth wins. They win for sticking with it when they were being called a joke. They win for making golf more fun. They win for creating conversation and adding levity to a game that is too often overly serious. They win because they understand how to connect and interact with their customers. They win because they have built a legion of fans who are instantly recognized from afar.

While I am a long way from keeping up with Loudmouth CEO Larry Jackson who wears LoudMouth 7 days a week 365 days a year, I am proud to be a card carrying member of the LoudMouth movement. And guess what, I am hardly alone as LoudMouth is being worn by hackers, pros, celebrities and even the US Olympic beach volley ball team. Yup, like it or not, LoudMouth is winning.

Besides the buttery swing of a PGA player, you know what sets these guys apart from the weekend hacker? Style. While there are lots of unique looks on tour, the one constant that is always prevalent is a crisp pair of white trousers. I am not sure what it is about white, but you pretty much are guaranteed to look money in white slacks. Why then do we rarely see a pair at our local club? Perhaps we subconsciously know we are not worthy.

Despite the fact that styles have changed dramatically over the years, Tommy Hilfiger has remained fairly true to itself. Known primarily for ads featuring young preppies, Tommy Hilfiger is obviously also very golf appropriate. The new 2013 spring line I reviewed – while only a small portion of the catalog – is a good representation of the entire line and also provided me with my first foray into the world of white pants.

Overruling my wife’s objections to venturing out in early November wearing a yellow polo, blue sweater and of course ghost white trousers, I set out to see what all of the hooplah was aboout. Labor day shmabor day, I wanted to experience just what it was like to look like a pro. So you know what it feels like? Money, it feels like money!

It’s hard to put your finger on it, but there is something about white pants that makes you look like a player. If only they came with an actual pro golf swing they could sell for a million bucks. So after 20 years of mocking Tommy Hilfiger I have realized the joke was on me. Tommy is more legit than just about anyone else. Ironically, while there is nothing striking about any of the pieces, you are hard-pressed to find a single flaw or out of place detail.

For example, the polo is a simple cotton shirt but the cut is athletic and the collar well shaped making it a perfect match for on or off the course. Plus it is a simple wash, dry and repeat (it alway looks good). The sweater is super soft and appropriate for just about anywhere or anytime (which is basically why I wear it all of the time).

So while the sweater will be getting lots of use this winter, unfortunately, I am going to have to hang up the pants for a few months. Come spring, however, these babies will be on heavy rotation and because they are very light and they are wearable throughout the warmer months as well.

If you have read any of my posts, you know I am a fan of some of the more outrageous styles since I think they bring a bit of fun to the game. Oddly, I have the same feeling about the Tommy Hilfiger. They simply stand out, but for a completely different reason – you just look better than just about every one else on the course.

Leisure Society represents our first foray into what I would call “golf lifestyle”. While nearly all of the clothing made by Leisure Society is golf appropriate, it is equally or more so . . . simply awesome clothing. A quick peek at their website and it is clear that Leisure Society is targeting those who aspire to the finer things in life. While not everyone is comfortable buying pants for $200 or even $300, those of you who have a little extra spending money will not be disappointed.

Leisure Society has a full line of apparel including shirts, pants, belts and even eyewear (to be reviewed in a separate post). To illustrate the functionality of Leisure Society, the first time I actually wore one of the shirts was not on the golf course but at a charity fund raiser. I kid you not, a lady friend of mine unexpectedly touched the sleeve of my shirt and said “oh my, that is about the softest shirt I have ever felt”. Seriously, I am not making this up and I have no idea what prompted her as I have “no game”.

This is the essence of Leisure Society, apparel that is a cut above without screaming “expensive”. For example, the shirts are simple cotton with many solid colors or eye pleasing patterns. It is the deceptive quality and tailoring that is so impressive and while it may be lost on others, it is blatantly obvious by those who wear Leisure Society.

The two pairs of shorts and pants we reviewed were the Heirloom and Heritage. The Heritage may look like your run of the mill Khaki, but rest assured there is nothing regular about them. These 96% cotton pants and shorts are insanely soft and well cut. Nevermind the pocket in the middle back for you iPhone, I dig these because they are just plain great looking. As for care, they say to dry clean the Heritage pants and shorts, but I just throw them in the wash and they come out great.

The Heirloom pants and shorts are more dressy as they are 96% wool (although they do not really feel like wool). Clearly this style is not just for the course. While they are listed on Leisure Societies “sportswear”, the Heirloom pants will likely be your overall best looking pants you own.

On the accessory side, LS has a great line of belts. The buckles come in two basic styles, each of which is just understated enough not to be obnoxious, but unique enough to stand out. Again, these belts are versatile and can be worn anywhere.

If you have read any of my posts, you know I am a huge fan of belt buckles. While many of my favorites are fairly big, the Leisure Society buckles impress me with the attention to detail and the contrasting textures. In the case of the monogrammed “LS” buckle, it may be a bit gaudy but because it is not a commonly recognized signature it plays off as an exotic brand.

So here is my lowdown on LS. When Travis Johnson (former founder of Travis Mathew) set out to create a high end apparel company, he did so in such a way that the “leisure” is the central vibe. It is an odd juxtaposition for most of us who shop on the bargain rack to purchase high end clothes that at first glance do not look expensive. However, with a disconcerting eye you can clearly see the quality of the material and tailoring of the clothes. It is both of these attributes that are almost instantaneously thrust upon you when you first see and wear Leisure Society.

You can see the whole line of Leisure Society on their website.

I’m a bit of a self-confessed geek/freak about rainwear. Proof to my geekdom is the fact that after I bought my first rain suit 22 years ago I stood in the shower just to make sure it was really water-proof. The way I figured, it was better to find out how well it worked before I was actually miles away from shelter.

Since then I have owned a few pieces of rain gear but as you know it’s not super cheap to get quality stuff. So, when Adam asked if I wanted to review the Mizuno ImpermaLite Flex raingear, I jumped at the chance for a what would hopefully be a major upgrade. The 3 pieces that we reviewed were the Mizuno ImpermaLite Flex SS RainTop and ImpermaLite Performance Shell & Pants.

Let’s start with why we own rain gear. In a perfect world, we would always play golf in 72 degree sunny weather, but alas for us golf nuts, we are not content to limit our days to play golf. Therefore, we need to have the proper gear. Playing golf is hard enough, but playing golf when the elements are against you is even tougher. Staying dry and comfortable is simply invaluable if you want to play well in bad conditions, period!

Starting with the short sleeve jacket, I found it to be a superior combination of style, function and fit. I wear XXL shirts and jackets, and having enough room to swing is usually an issue for me. Not only is the fit of this jacket perfect, but the stretchy material is amazing in terms of how it moves with your body during the swing. The shell is a stretchy, breathable polyester with PU laminate to make it waterproof, and the lining is a mixture of polyester and a bit of spandex.

There are generous pockets, and really cool zippers that have the little pockets for the zipper to run up into when you’re not zipping them. This way you don’t feel any metal on your body when you’re swinging. So while the short sleeve ImpermaLite Flex is waterproof, it is also just great for those days when the temperatures are too cool for just a shirt but you really don’t need a jacket.

Moving on to the ImpermaLite Flex rain shell and pants is where Mizuno got serious. This thing is hard core. Simple black and white with clean lines, it’s very sharp but traditional. However, when it is raining and windy what you really care about is will it get the job done – the short answer is yes, but let’s look at some of the details.

All of the zippers fit snuggly into pockets such that zero water can get inside the shell. Grommets and pull straps keep everything tight and can easily be adjusted to fit just right. Even so, the shell breathes well and does not feel overbearing. Sure, I would prefer to wear shorts and shirt, but if I am going to play in nasty conditions I do not want to have to be fussing with my jacket.

The pants are of equal quality with all seams being protected. You can even adjust the length of the pants using a snap feature on the leg. Armed with the shell and pants, you will be ready for anything mother nature can throw at you.

Both Adam and I were over the top impressed when we reviewed the Mizuno ImpermaLite Flex SS Rain Top and ImpermaLite Performance Shell. In fact it was not long after I got the short sleeve rain top that I texted Adam to say that this was the most impressed I’d ever been with a piece of rain gear. While it took a few weeks for Adam to get the chance to play in the rain, he ended up christening the gear on the final day of the Club Championship. Forced to play in less than ideal conditions, Adam relayed to me that the pants and performance shell were amazing and he ended up playing very well (6th lowest round of that day). Yes, he made me put that sentence in.

If you’re in the market at all, do yourself a favor, and at least give some consideration to Mizuno this year.  They have a variety of rain jackets, pull-overs and pants, and they are simply amazing.

You can see the whole line of Mizuno gear on their website.

True story: On my way home from my first round of golf wearing Royal and Awesome pants I decided to stop off at Subway to buy the family some lunch with my golf winnings (see how I slipped that fact in?). Anyhow, as I made my way down the line, the kid behind the counter says “cool shorts!”  to which I stepped back a bit (the counter was partially blocking his view) and pronounced “they are actually pants”. His response, “even better!”. Perhaps this point is exactly why the name of the company is Royal and Awesome because why just be Royal OR Awesome when you can be both.

Us Americans may think that Loudmouth Golf is the only one in the “wacky pattern” business but across the pond Royal and Awesome have been making hay in this market as well. So while Royal and Awesome may be new to many of us, they have a number of great patterns and a growing product line. More importantly, the quality is solid. My mantra is that you can only get away with crazy clothes if they are superior in quality. Otherwise you just look like a dope.

Clearly, Royal and Awesome is not for everyone, but if you are one of the braver folks who does not mind making a statement, rest assured 1) you will make new friends and 2) you will not be disappointed with the quality. As I alluded to earlier, quality is a trump card in my book. In other words, I have no fear wearing slightly outrageous attire as long as it is made and tailored well.

Both the shorts and trousers are 97% cotton, 3% spandex which means they are substantial. These feel like real clothes and not a cheap stunt. They also have a few quirks like the golf tee loops (although I never used them) and a divot repair/bottle opener (which I use all of the time). Seriously, it is a great divot repair tool.

Hailing from the UK, Royal and Awesome offers shorts, pants and caps for men as well as skorts and shorts for the ladies. In the case of the pants and shorts, they pockets are deep, the length is correct and the sizing true. Moreover, they are double buttoned with a solid zipper. Get it? They are made well.

So if you are looking to brighten up your wardrobe a bit, Royal and Awesome will certainly give it a kick in the old arse. Despite the fact that they are a UK company, they do have warehouses in the US so shipping to America will not cost you an arm and a leg. You can see the whole line of Royal and Awesome on their website.

Despite being a full blown golf nut, my first real exposure to Sligo was at the 2012 PGA Merchandise show. Sligo (Sly-go), is a Canadian based company known mostly for their bright techno-patterned apparel. While I admit that I typically shy away from patterned shirts, the Sligo line is top notch and virtually every pattern is stylish, hip and says “yup, I’m a player”.

Every time I find myself wandering aimlessly through Dick’s Sporting Goods I inevitably end up in the clothing department. Clearly it’s big business since millions of dollars are spent by golfers every year looking to obtain the “Tour” look, but frankly I am just as demanding of performance as I am style. And to be honest, it has always been hard for me to justify dropping close to $100 on just one shirt. Well it didn’t take long for my opinion to be completely changed after I played my most recent round of golf in one of the new Silver Collection polos from Sunice.

Sunice is a Canadian based apparel company that just happens to know what the heck their doing. Established back in 1976, Sunice started out as a winter gear clothing company mainly for winter sports and was the official supplier to the 1988 winter games in Calgary. Following up the success from the Olympics, Sunice decided to take their products in a completely opposite direction from the winter sports gear and take their technology to the golf course. The Sunice Golf Outerwear line was introduced in 1992.

For comparison purposes please understand that my “usual” golf attire falls tremendously short of the Rickie Fowlers and Ian Poulters of the world so I was certainly excited to review the Sunice Silver Collection.

When I first took the Sunice polo out of the packaging I could tell right away that this was no “bargain rack shirt”. The quality is of the shirt is just outstanding and the fit was perfect. Truth be told,  I’m no stranger to sipping down a cold one or two so needless to say the lower half of my torso could use some work. Fortunately, the sizing chart for the polo’s on the Sunice website is spot on.

Now if you have never been to Las Vegas in August, let me assure you that the weather is absolutely miserable. It’s hot, humid, sometimes windy and just plain not fun to be out in, but perfect conditions to see how the Sunice gear would hold up.

After nearly two hours of hitting ball after ball the shirt felt the same as it did when I rolled up. As a comparison, I have a couple moisture wicking shirts that do a pretty good job at keeping the sweat off your body but the Sunice trumped every one of them! I actually remember seeing a gentleman a few spots down from me that was only there for about 20 minutes and was drenched. I couldn’t help but to think what was going on in his head when he saw that I looked like I hadn’t hit a ball despite the two and half empty buckets my stall (yes I know I have a golf addiction problem).

With the range test complete I knew the shirt was for real but a full 18 was in order, if for no other reason than it was a great excuse to squeeze in an extra round that week.

Stuck on a course that was cart path only I got a little bit more of a workout than I planned but that only furthered my assessment. The cart path only rule not only lengthened the round but also allowed me to really get a feel for how well the shirt is designed. A few times out on the course I was caught without a towel and had to clean my club off with my hand after a practice swing. Not even thinking I wiped my mud on the back of the polo and went about my business. I didn’t even realize what I had done until I had gotten home and took the shirt off. I am not embarrassed to say that I was seriously bummed at the thought of ruining my new favorite shirt after just one outing. Fortunately, once again the Sunice knocked it out of the park. Not a hint of any ground-in muddy remnants of the course anywhere on the shirt. It looked like it had just been taken out of the package for the first time.

Without a doubt my first venture into the high end luxury golf apparel has my mind whirling. The Sunice is definitely a shirt that is going to hold up for a long, long time. The construction is top notch and the look, style and comfort rivals any top shelf polo I have ever worn.

Beyond the shirts, Sunice sent us a pair of shorts. Apparently, I am not exactly a 34″ so I was not able to personally review them. However, fellow blogger Adam (pictured in Sunice shirt and shorts below) has informed me that he was quite pleased with the shorts. In addition to being lightweight he did note that the pockets are more shallow than most and the legs are about a 1/2″ shorter in length than many other brands. Neither of these comments are intended to be negative, but definitely a point of differentiation.

With how well this one piece from Sunice did I cannot wait to get my hands on more of their gear, and with the winter months just around the corner I can certainly see some Sunice winter golf gear in my closet in the near future.

Visit the Sunice Website to find out more about their products, technology and get yourself some amazing gear while you’re there.

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away golfers used to wear cotton polo shirts. Now of course, 98% of golf shirts you find in your local big box store are some type of polyester performance shirt. Awesome if you have abs of steel and are 25 years old. Not so much if you are pushing 50 and like to eat three square meals a day.

After selling the successful golf company, Fairway & Greene, Rick Martin is back in the saddle with a new venture, this time with his own namesake – “Martin”. Sold exclusively at private clubs, Martin is aimed at the golfer who is more traditional in style and sees value in an $85 golf shirt that can be worn on or off the course for the better part of ten years.

Yes, ten years. While I cannot personally confirm that Martin shirts hold up this long, Rick assures me that because of the quality of the cotton and the manufacturing process, the Martin shirts will look like new for years and years. In my case, I have washed the purple shirt many times. After each wash (mixed in with every color by the way) the collar is well shaped and the sheen has been retained. In other words, it still looks money.

So let me get back to the issue of fashion for a moment. We have all watched old PGA footage from the 70’s and 80’s where most of the guys are wearing a cotton polo and for the most part look like dopes which begs the question, why would anyone want to go back to that era? Admittedly, I like a hipper shirt than many of the styles Martin designs but that is not to say that Martin shirts are only for the older more conservative golfer.

If I were to try and categorize Martin, I would say that there are times you want to look look good and times you want to look “country club good”. In other words, Martin is perfect for when the boss invites you to play a round at the swanky country club and have cocktails afterwards (or if you are the boss who belongs to the swanky country club). On the other hand this is not the time when you reach for the techno print and red shorts.

During my conversation with Rick Martin, I asked him what he thought of the current state of style on the PGA Tour. Being diplomatic, Rick pointed to guys like Louis Oosthuizen, Darren Clarke and Vijay Singh as some of the best dressed players on tour. Others he said “look like they are wearing a costume”…ouch.

Beyond the look of a cotton polo, Rick also educated me on why cotton is better. First, he explained that only natural fibers are made to properly drape. Said another way, unlike clingy polyester, a well tailored cotton shirt compliments a “mature body” rather than highlighting a few extra pounds. Additionally, cotton is meant to move with you and allow for the motion of a golf swing.

In terms of sizing, Martin definitely runs big. I was pretty much swimming in a medium (my normal size). The small on the other hand fit great. While the arms are a bit longer than many euro shirts, they are still above the elbow. They are, however, plenty long so you will have no problem tucking it in.

You can learn more about Martin on their website.

QED Style: As regular readers know, I am on a bit of a cotton kick. After years of only wearing performance material, I am rediscovering why we wear jeans and not leisure suits….cotton is just more comfortable. Sure I know in the heat of the summer cotton can be tough but there are lots of months cotton is perfect for wearing on the course. Even though Q.E.D. has only been around since 2011, they clearly are in agreement as 1/2 of their collection is cotton.

While I know there are lots of really good apparel companies, I love when I find a small firm with great products in part because I know no one else will have a shirt that looks like mine. Unlike the big boys, Q.E.D. makes only three basic styles of polos. the Eureka and Francis and Heber. The Eurkea and Francis are essentially the same except the Eureka is 100% polyester and the Francis is 100% cotton. The Heber is also cotton but does not have breast pockets. Got it?

From a style standpoint, Q.E.D. has a couple of features which I really dig on any shirt, namely breast pockets, contrasting stitching and buttons that stand out.  Together, all of these features give the Q.E.D. shirt a very hip feel and while I may be delusional, I think the look is not too youthful that a middle-aged guy like me can’t pull it off. This is where I trust my wife who is never afraid to tell me I look like a jack-ass. Fortunately, she gave Q.E.D. the thumbs up.

Ironically, despite the fact that Q.E.D. shirts are more hip than most, they only come in just a few solid colors. Maybe I am the minority but I find I have very few solid colored shirts as I have always gravitated toward stripes or patterns. Great strategy if you only want to wear solid shorts or pants, but a total disaster when you suddenly get a pair of plaid shorts. That’s the beauty of a white shirt – it goes with virtually everything. Unfortunately I have had horrible luck with white shirts because they tend to be too thin. No one, not even my wife needs to see me in a sheer white shirt! The solution of course is cotton.

Thankfully, the Francis polo is thick enough to avoid any unnecessary translucent nightmares. And while it is “just a white shirt”, the silver buttons and wide collar give it a cool factor that is void in most generic white golf shirts. Speaking of collars, I have washed this shirt a number of times and the collar has remained well shaped. P.S.- the care instructions say dry clean, but I completely ignored that advice with no consequences.

Despite the fact that Q.E.D. is a self reported “Golf Apparel” company, at least half of the styles are equally suited for off of the course. For me, I try my darndest to never wear a golf shirt unless I am playing golf. I am literally pained to go into a bar or eating establishment looking like I just finished a round of golf. True that the Eureka style is more suited to the links, but the Francis and Heber are appropriate for any casual event. In fact, I probably wear this shirt off the course as much as I do on.

Q.E.D is sold in a number of west coast golf courses and on their website. Unlike many of the shirts we review at Three Guys Golf that retail for north of $85, the Q.E.D. shirts are only $40 or $50 making them a great bargin. Final note on sizing: typically I wear a medium, but Q.E.D. runs a size small such that I was comfortable in a large. In other words, order a size larger.

You can see the whole line on their website, and be sure to check out the video as well.

UPDATE: see our review of the new 2013 QED Style Apparel.

In 2010 Graeme McDowell burst onto the golf scene by winning the US Open and then followed it up with a win at the Chevron Wold Cup Challenge and a ton of other top 10 finishes. Now Graeme McDowell seems to be a staple in the Sunday 1st page leaderboard and has become a media favorite, including a visit on the Feherty Show (imagine that).

This year Graeme has teamed up with Irish company Kartel to bring us the G-Mac line of clothing (I have previously reviewed Kartel). On a side note I must admit that since I started writing for Three Guys Golf  I find myself watching golf and trying to figure out what tour players are wearing – yeah I know it is lame but it is what I have been reduced to. Anyhow, it always seems that the gear the pros wear is just a bit cooler than what is offered in stores (even if it is by the same company). In the case of G-Mac, I am pretty sure the purple polo I have is nearly identical to what McDowell wears (sans the MasterCard logo). You know the shirt I am talking about – the one with the high collar and front pocket that looks so money!

In my opinion, the shirt is absolutely brilliant. Light, soft, stylish and well cut. Despite the fact that it is 95% poly, it feels much softer and lush than most poly blend performance shirts. Moreover, it is one of the classiest shirts I have seen. Perhaps it is the combination of the high collar and buttoned down tabs that gives it an upper crust feel but whatever it is, G-Mac has pulled it off. Even the packaging is better than most. Each garment comes elegantly packaged with a gold embossed tag that has the McDowell Family Crest and explanation upon it. I get the sense that Graeme was very involved in this line and wanted to make sure it reflected well upon him and his reputation. The only drawback of this shirt is that for whatever reason, it does show sweat if you wear it in humid weather. I am not sure if it is because of the color or the material, but when I wore it on a humid day you could clearly see darker areas of perspiration.

The Malone polo is a bit more casual but has nice details that make the shirt pop. This polo is 63% pima cotton 37% poly, although from the feel of it I thought it was 100% cotton. You will note the orange accents which I think set it apart from your run of the mill shirts. While some folks like a 100% poly shirt, I really like that this feels like cotton but has some of the performance of a poly.

Performance aside, the reason this shirt is a winner is the orange buttons, breast pocket and long plackette. Both of these shirts are also super easy to care for and come out of the wash looking just as sharp as when they were new. Additionally, I just really like the fact that the Malone polo is primarily cotton especially as we change seasons when cotton becomes the go-to fabric.

The final item we recieved was MG Wool Sweater. Like most guys, when it gets cool I just throw on the wind breaker. Coincidentally, just after receiving the G-Mac sweater we had a cold snap on the very day I was to play in a tournament. On that day, what I really liked about the sweater was that it was light enough that it never felt bulky but warm enough to take the chill off. Plus it is soft enough to wear over a short sleeve shirt.

Being such a bold color makes it pretty easy to pair this with just about anything and it just looks miles better than a blue wind breaker. Moreover, they allow for much better movement as there is no constriction. The other advantage of having a quality golf sweater is that is versatile enough to wear off of the course and not look like a golf geek.

As we move through our first year at Three Guys Golf, one of the things I am learning is that there is a ton of really cool golf attire that is just not sold in the big box stores. Moreover, many of these companies are European. While it takes a bit of digging, if you are one of those people who wants to look a bit sharper than the next guy, G-Mac is a great place to start. Even though we only looked at three items, the G-Mac line is fairly expansive and not too pricey. Finally, in terms of sizing, the G-Mac runs in line with industry standards. I typically wear a medium and the G-Mac medium fit perfectly.

You can see the whole line of G-Mac on their website.

Glenmuir Apparel Review: Founded in Scotland 1891, Glenmuir remains one of the most prestigious golf brands in the world. So recognized for style and quality, Glenmuir has been worn by the Ryder Cup, the Curtis Cup, and Solheim Cup teams. Most recently, Glenmuir celebrated their 29th year of sponsorship of the PGA Professional Championship. With that build up, Three Guys Golf was kinda jacked to see current batch of Glenmuir apparel.

On the men’s side, we took a look at the Jackson and Ambrose. Both shirts feature ThermoCool™, CoolMax®, Hi-Cool® technology. Sure, most high end shirts have a similar feature but I can tell you this is the real deal. Suffice it to say that the Jackson has instantly become on of my favorite shirts. Since I am a sucker for contrasting piping, the coral with black accents has “you are so money” written all over it. Additionally, the zipper it a nice alternative to buttons without looking cheesy.

Everything about this shirt is quality. Whether it is the stitching, the fit, color or details, the Glenmuir shirt is a winner. Moreover, you can wear it with nearly anything and look sharp. If it seems like I am swooning over this guy, you are correct. I have washed it about 5 times with zero issues and it never needs anything close to an iron to look great.

While the Ambrose is more traditional in style, it is still a very sharp looking shirt. It has just enough details like the stripes and alternate texture to set it way apart from your run of the mill golf shirts. It is not until you wear a high end golf shirt that you realize how much better they look, fit and perform. Plus sizing is correct so if you usually wear a medium, guess what, order a medium (crazy I know).

Now seeing that I do not look very good in a skort, Sue and Susan took care of the ladies side of the Glenmuir review.

Glenmuir Ladies Polo: As reviewed by Sue

The Glenmuir Ladies range also offers a wide variety of clothing. They have one of the best websites for women around, offering a comprehensive range of golf and leisurewear. All of Glenmuir Ladies clothing is inspired by a rich history and heritage and will be fitting for any club or resort. They have combined both classic and contemporary designs and added some bold colors.

Both shirts feature Hi-Cool performance fabrics which keep you dry and comfortable. They are both extremely soft and stretchy, not to mention super cute. The fabric is 79% polyester and 21% cotton, making them easy to care for – just throw them in the wash.

The shirt I wore is the Ladies’ Glenmuir Allegra Hi-Cool Jersey Shirt in lagoon/white.  (“Lagoon” is a very pretty shade of light blue.) It has contrasting white piping and buttons and has the Glenmuir icon at the right hem. The shape of the shirt is very form flattering, and I also really like the long neckline. The collar on this shirt is not too big and and the length of the shirt was just right. I wore this shirt with a pair of white bermuda shorts and it was very sharp, if I may say so myself!

Susan wore the Ladies’ Glenmuir Holly Hi-Cool Jersey Shirt in iris/winter white. The color of this shirt is a soft purple and is really lovely. This shirt is also soft and has a stretch fit, but it has something more. The cut of this shirt is a bit different in that the front and back are just slightly longer than the sides. This gives the shirt a longer look and looks quite nice untucked. The contrast color side panels give this shirt a nice fitted look, while still being stretchy enough to move with your swing.

Glenmuir has a rich history and heritage and I can see why they have designed and supplied shirts and knitwear for twelve European Ryder Cup Teams. The quality of the clothing is outstanding, and I for one am thrilled about the wide selection of women’s golf attire. The Glenmuir Ladies line is fresh and bright and can be worn on and off the golf course. Be sure to check it out at www.glenmuir.com.