Whether escaping the cold right now or just getting ready for travel in the warmer seasons, here’s a head-to-toe list of choice gear you can shop for in any weather.
HERE COMES THE SUN
We’ve tried out two sets of non-polarized golf shades we like, from Popticals and Uswing Mojing. The Popticals NYDEF Golf Lens (purple or violet lenses, $169) fold multiple ways, down to the size of, well, a golf ball, for easy transport. But the real draw is the green-filtering lenses that help reduce visual fatigue and give golfers better definition of putting surface contours and greater depth perception on longer shots. The Uswing Birdie Style 03 is upscale ($599), but engineered to filter out bright light, dazzle, harmful UV rays and 80% of distracting blue light. They’re stylish, water repellent, weight less than an ounce and come with a lifetime warranty.
UH OH, HERE COMES MORE SUN
An Australian sunscreen from Sun Blessed Skin, now being manufactured in Dallas, made its debut at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show in January. A 3.3 oz. tube of SPF 30 First Tee Golf Sunscreen ($19) contains no coral reef-damaging Oxybenzone or Octinoxate, is non-greasy, odor-free, water and sweat-resistant, and non-greasy, to combat the dreaded “grip-slip.”
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SUN
When into every life a little rain must fall, Galway Bay’s waterproof Corrib golf rain jacket ($314) is exemplary for its waterproof protection while remaining lightweight and breathable, fashioned for unencumbered free-swinging. Along with the Claddagh chino rain pants ($160), stylish enough to be worn during any round, you’re covered for any condition the weather or golf gods throw at you.
IN THE BAG
Traveling by air? With a retractable wheel stand it’s tough to beat the ClubGlider travel bag from Sun Mountain ($339), a piece of luggage that will actually provoke stares of envy from fellow travelers. Sun Mountain introduced its first golf stand bags in 1986, so if you’re looking for something to put inside the ClubGlider, the E-series of Eclipse stand bags is new this year ($249-$279). They are great for walkers but also are more riding- and push-cart friendly.
SMOKE ‘EM IF YOU’VE GOT ‘EM
Sure, you can whip out the birdie juice flask or take a Fireball shot whenever anyone in the group sinks that one-under par putt. Or you could torch up a Birdie Stogie from Greenside Cigars ($79 for a four-pack). The Birdie Stogie has been around since 2019, and led to a full range of cigars in price, flavor and strengths. There’s the Celebratory Series: Birdie, Par, Albatross. But for the moments when your golf sticks let you down there are the Pain Easers — the Mulligan, 3-Putt, Breakfast Ball or Snowman — cigar sticks to even the keel.
BEST FEET FORWARD
PGA Tour pro Ryan Moore and his brother, Jason, formed True Linkswear in 2009 with an emphasis on golf shoe comfort. The company has now expanded into more apparel. Three new shoe models were introduced at the PGA Show — the on or off-course OG3 Pro ($195) and two spiked models, the LUX2 Player ($195) and top of the line tour-quality LUX2 Maven ($325), all available in a variety of colors. Later this spring the new Knit 4 will debut as what the company calls “the ultimate travel shoe, engineered to transition from the airport to the course to after-dinner drinks.” Sounds like a schedule we can certainly live with.