Golfwear Short
Golfwear Short
Golf History
Technology has not only changed the way golf is played, it has changed the way it looks, too. Some golf equipments leave us great impression not only by their reliable quality, but the innovative designs, such as TaylorMade R9 Driver or Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Neutral Driver. It is the same with the golf clothing. In a game that demands function blend as seamlessly as possible with style, the looks sported by players have evolved from formal and elegant into freer and brasher designs for performance. Still, the spirit of golf attire has remained businesslike, from the three-piece suits of Tommy Armour to the sleek, Burberry-styled outfits of Adam Scott.
Since golf was born on the wind-swept links of Scotland, golfers have taken their style cues from their Scottish forebears. In the early days, men wore knickers, derived from the knee breeches of English court dress, usually with a thick tweed jacket and even a waistcoat. Bulky tweeds provided a warm, thorn-proof shield against the elements, but were hardly conducive to a powerful shoulder turn. Golfers also wore shirts with starched collars and ties. Sturdy shoes and a tweed cap completed the outfit. Stylish men from Piping Rock to Pebble Beach emulated their counterparts at St. Andrews, and still do. Plaid, based on Scottish tartans, remains a staple of golf style.
20s
Golf gains mass popularity, but remains a gentleman's sport. Affluent players, determined to distinguish themselves from their more plebeian counterparts, pay serious attention to their apparel. The well-dressed golfer typically wore plus fours (that is, knickers cut about four inches longer than usual), golf hose with a pattern, two-tone "spectator" shoes, shirt and tie. A knitted cardigan was often worn on brisk days, and in sharp weather a Norfolk jacket, with vertical box pleats, was added.
30s
By the 1930s, golfers were abandoning their knickers in favor of flannel trousers, usually white or gray. The shift was practical because many men went directly from the office to the course. Golfers also began playing without neckties. The 1933 U.S. Open was played during a severe heat wave, inspiring more lightweight, less formal clothes, though Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen continued to wear foulard silk ties. Men's style magazines devoted pages to the wardrobe of Bobby Jones.
40s
Golfwear settled into a basic uniform still recognizable today: a short-sleeved knitted shirt, with a longer tail; lightweight slacks of various colors; sturdy shoes with spiked soles; and a snap-brim hat in porkpie shape. Waist-length jackets, inspired by the famous Eisenhower jacket of World War II appeared on the course. With roomy shoulders for a healthy swing and a waistband for a snug fit, they were made of water-repellent cotton. Shorts became acceptable, usually tan or khaki, but also checkered Bermudas. The shell-stitch alpaca cardigan sweater, with bell-shaped sleeves for easy swinging, became a staple.
50s
The man in the gray flannel suit turned into a peacock as '50s golf clothes were ablaze with color. The knitted golf shirt, based on the Lacoste shirt invented for tennis, was matched with increasingly colorful trousers and shorts, ushering in an era when golf style became an enduring joke. However, the emergence of Arnold Palmer changed the game's look. The King was all coiled muscular energy, and his clothes—cotton shirt, lightweight tan trousers, oxford shoes — emphasized his athleticism.
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