Looking great on the course
Designers and retailers have responded to the needs and wants of women golfers
2009 is an exciting year to update your golf wardrobe. Golf designers offer a vast array of fabrics, styles and fits that are sure to make you feel comfortable and stylish on the course. Women no longer have to feel that they are golfing in menswear, since designers have responded to their needs with a great variety of cuts and attractive styles.
Tough girl: Tattoo Golf’s use of an argyle print with its skull logo gives this shirt a tough, irreverent vibe. The shirt is made of high performance poly-dri fabric. — Courtesy Tattoo Golf
Comfortable lady: The Tucker’s Point collection at Cracked Wheat draws its inspiration from the colours of the ocean. The skort is a comfortable cotton/nylon/spandex. — Courtesy Cracked Wheat
Fun details: The Stripe Lucy Polo by Lija has a fine metallic thread woven through the light rayon/spandex fabric. Courtesy Lija
Liane Gotaas, who has owned Golf Etc. in Cranbrook, B.C. since 2007, is excited by this season’s trends in women’s golf wear. “Most of the North American designers have chosen bright colours such as apple green, tangerine, red, yellow (and) bright pink for this summer,” said Gotaas. “The bottoms are all (of) a stretch material which is nice on and off the golf course. Tops are a combination of fabrics—some cotton mixed with nylon, viscose (and) spandex. European designers such as Daily Sports, Abacus and Puma tend to stick to more cotton. The climate over in Europe is cooler and more humid—cotton is favored in such climates.”
From the wild street styling of Tattoo Golf to the ladylike and universally appropriate Cracked Wheat—today’s women’s golf wear embraces a vast range of personal styles.
Lija by Linda Hipp, out of Vancouver, B.C., has a sassy, bright collection of skorts, capris, polo shirts and sweaters in technical fabrics with smart retro styling. The thing that makes Lija so appealing is that while the clothing is practical, sporty and dress-code-aware, each piece is infused with fun, pretty details like subtle metallic threads, covered buttons and saucy ruffles that say youth and femininity.
When deciding what pieces will work, Gotaas recommends that women consider some important points, such as dress code and comfort.
Gotaas said that while the dress codes for clubs in the Kootenays tend to be relaxed, golfers might want to button up a bit for more conservative country clubs. “The majority of the clothing in (Golf Etc.) would be accepted at any of the courses in this area and at some of the private and semi-private courses anywhere in the world,” Gotaas said.
“Comfort is the number one thing you should consider when purchasing golf wear,” said Gotaas. She added that women should consider how the clothing makes them feel. “If you feel good, you will probably play better,” she added.
Part of comfort is looking and feeling good. Finding the technical golf wear that reflects your personal style will help you feel at home on the course. Luckily, women now have a vast array of options to choose from.