From Shoes to Stylish Olympic Outfits, 2024 Looks Like a Hit for Golf Apparel
The PGA Merchandise Show is a golf clotheshorse's dream and Janice Ferguson shows what caught her eye in Orlando.
The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website.
ORLANDO, Fla. — The PGA Merchandise Show is the golf industry’s gathering place for professionals and merchandisers to experience all the latest and greatest in equipment, operations, apparel, accessories, fitness and education. Participation in the 2024 event was the highest it's been in several years, and the showroom floor was buzzing for three straight days.
The apparel section did not disappoint with lots of first-time exhibitors hoping to get an order or two to validate dipping their toes in a very crowded market, alongside companies who started the same way and who now are going strong after a decade at the Show.
To say there is "something for everyone" would be a complete understatement—there are plenty of choices in golf apparel from a myriad of brands large and small. From bold colors and prints, to more toned-down neutral palettes. From fun flirty golf skirts to tailored trousers, sophisticated styles to leisure wear looks—it’s all at the PGA Show. We picked a handful of favorites to share, but it’s really just scratching the surface of the vast array of golf apparel choices we have to look forward to this year.
FootJoy
Janice Ferguson/Sports Illustrated
How do you take a No. 1-selling shoe and make it better? That’s the question the footwear team at FootJoy had to ask themselves about the Premiere Series golf shoes. Tall order when 40% of PGA Tour Players already trust its superior performance, comfort and innovative design. The answer was to keep pushing the envelope and amplify existing features with elevated materials, construction and physical attributes. Exquisite craftsmanship and detailing is elevated with luxurious, hand-selected full-grain leather. Exceptional comfort is achieved with advanced lightweight materials and custom OrthoLite FitBed. The mantra "Any Lie. Any Condition." is attained with revolutionary VersaTrax technology that delivers unparalleled traction and stability in every playing condition, and 360 degrees of grip on every playing surface. Fresh attractive colorways and style details are the crowning features that will keep the Premiere Series a must-have shoe for golfers of all levels. $189-$229.
Shop the FootJoy Premiere Series Line Through Our Partners at PGA TOUR Superstore
Galvin Green
Janice Ferguson/Sports Illustrated
New, super tech-packed DRYVR hoodie coming out for spring called "Amos." Features include: 100% waterproof, windproof, extremely breathable, blue sign approved fabric, elastic drawstring at the hem, adjustable cuffs, smooth ‘slide and glide’ lining for movement, chest pockets, front pocked, shaped sleeves, and lightweight, stretch Gore-Tex C-knit fabric technology. But our favorite part of the Amos is the hood. It has an extra rain-protection peak at the top that allows rain to drip off away from your head, which is key especially when putting. It will come in navy, black and gray, sizes S to 3XL. $529, galvingreen.com
Ralph Lauren
Janice Ferguson/Sports Illustrated
There are so many great golf and leisure pieces to look forward to this year from Ralph Lauren, but the biggest new feature to look for is all the men’s polos have stitched-in collars. This ensures the collar holds its shape, and when worn with a sweater or crewneck over top, it still looks sharp no matter what. Also the prints have been quieted down and made smaller, making them more versatile and easy to wear especially transitioning on and off the golf course to multiple functions. Another of our favorite standouts is the RLX men’s knit polo with herringbone pattern and a full-zip knit tech vest. Both have very sporty yet sophisticated looks that will add a welcome variation to any golf wardrobe.
Shop Ralph Lauren Styles Through Our Partners at PGA TOUR Superstore
J. Lindeberg
Janice Ferguson/Sports Illustrated
There was a big display of red, white and blue colors at the J. Lindeberg booth as the Scandinavian brand revealed the outfits for the USA golf teams at the Paris Olympics in France this year. The collection pays homage to the American flag using the same color palette, and artistic stars and stripes form a bold pattern complimented by solids that will be on polo shirts, compression tops, tracksuits, half-zip sweaters, joggers, golf bags, hoodies and more for players, caddies, coaches and staff. Fabrics made with ClimaCool and 37.5 will help keep the athletes cool and comfortable, while UV50 provides sun protection, and Lycra offers high-flexibility and stretch.
Cocal
Janice Ferguson/Sports Illustrated
Traveling all the way from outside Venice, Italy, this was the brand’s first PGA Show appearance. Its collection of men’s and women’s golf apparel is inspired by a strong passion for outdoor sports, nature and animals. The name Cocal means seagull in local dialect, and serves as the brand’s logo appearing in prints and on hats. Giovanna Novello is the founder and runs the business with her husband, but it was her mother who influenced her love of fashion. Giovanna danced as a young girl but her mother couldn’t find anything but black dance wear, so she started making pieces for her daughter. The colorful pieces caught enough attention that a business was born. When Giovanna was older she became an equestrian and was, again, faced with limited wardrobe selections, so she decided to design and make her own. Friends urged her to carry the same functional styles over to golf clothing, and the Italian-made collection came to life. cocalwear.com
Swing Control
Janice Ferguson/Sports Illustrated
The company brought in former Fila designer Nancy Robatelle six months ago, and her mandate was to take the fall/winter collection into a more golf-centric direction. She created an abstract flower print with black background on fabric designed to show movement. The colorful print shows up on all the pieces either just on a shirt placket, or collar, or all over. Another standout are the women’s Ponte fabric pants with side stripes that are thick and have a great drape. The heart-shaped back pockets are a cute, different detail, and comes in a cream color and a rich, dark olive that Robatelle says "is the new black." Matching quilted jackets with ribbed knit backing and a scuba mesh track jacket make complete, very versatile outfits.
Shop Swing Control Styles Through Our Partners at PGA TOUR Superstore
Puma
Janice Ferguson/Sports Illustrated
Puma's fall collection turns to more elevated basics with textured fabrics and softer neutral colorways, a trend we saw throughout the Show. One example is a half-zip, ribbed knit hoodie that looks like a turtleneck with a hood, so it offers a layered look in one piece. An all-over mini bubble textured hoodie worn under a quilted vest creates a comfortable, contemporary style that’s a notch above the look a typical cotton hoodie offers.
For footwear, the Phantomcat Nitro was all the buzz at the show and will be released on Feb. 15. The shoe is designed, developed and tested alongside tour athletes, and promises to offer an unrivaled traction experience bringing tour-level performance to every golfer. New proprietary Flexspike cleats have unrivaled traction, and a nitro foam heel delivers high rebound with lightweight responsiveness. Full-grain leather has a premium feel and has a one year waterproof guarantee, and a new anatomically shaped last ensures a more consistent fit.