Welcome to the green scene in trendy new golf attire
Women’s golf attire has finally advanced beyond frumpy to fashionable
For female golfers, the days of frumpy, boring outfits are over.
“It’s so different from 10 years ago when you had a high- waisted black skort and a really bad cotton polo,” says Vonita Jordaan, founder of MyGolfCloset.com, an online women’s golf apparel boutique based in Edmonton. “It’s completely changed.”
Now, influenced by fashion- forward LPGA stars such as Michelle Wie and Renee Skidmore, and the desire by most women to actually co- ordinate a golf look, there is colour, pattern and clothing you can transition from work to the first tee, or from the course to a night out.
But just because the pieces exist, doesn’t mean they’re easily accessible — especially if you’re not shaped like the athletes you see on television.
“The whole premise behind my company is women of any size, age and ability should be able to find fashion golf apparel,” says Jordaan, who co- owns a driving range.
“We found that the average Canadian woman — being a size 16 — cannot find a golf outfit. So when we buy our lines, we always keep that in mind.”
Golf functionality is also key, which is why pro golfer Nicole Mendelman is the site’s co- buyer, and director of brand management and social media.
Vibrant pink dresses, figure- hugging skirts, onesies, fur- trimmed vests and bright separates aren’t immediately recognizable as ‘ golf clothes’ per se, which is the point. Many such outfits meet the standards of the strictest private clubs, and some are more suitable to less stringent dress codes.
For instance, the deep- V onesie or sleeveless skull T- shirt wouldn’t fly at more conservative courses.
Golf professional Marsha Rogers, sees the trickle- down effect from the LPGA, which is getting more TV time than ever. “The hemlines are getting shorter and fabrics, patterns and colours have changed, so there are bolder options out there.”
But private golf courses still have fairly serious dress codes. Skirts or shorts need to hit mid- thigh, no denim is allowed, and while some courses have adopted the ‘ collar or sleeve’ rule, many still require a collar at almost all times.
Rogers says all the new fashions create a bit of a grey area for golfers.
Older, more conservative players might not be super comfortable with the new collared racer- back looks, for example, and while there are shorter shorts available from almost every golf line, they don’t meet every club’s regulations.
Still, the influx of functional, fashionable clothes is definitely a positive, Rogers says.
“My everyday wardrobe used to be pretty safe colours. But golf is a safe place to wear wacky patterns or bright colours.
“So if you’re not bold in real life, you can be bold out on the golf course. It gives you an opportunity to try different things and express yourself in a different way.”