Category: Guides

The shoe is where comfort and performance meet. The first decision is the sole: spikeless or spiked. Both have a place — here’s how to choose.

Spikeless

Moulded grip in the outsole. Lighter, more comfortable to walk in, and they look right off the course too. Ideal for dry conditions, walking rounds and the clubhouse afterwards — which is why they’ve become the everyday default.

Spiked

Replaceable cleats for maximum traction. The choice for wet courses, hilly walks and anyone who wants the most stable base through the swing.

For most golfers, a comfortable spikeless pair covers the season. Add spikes if you regularly play in the wet.

Cold mornings shouldn’t cost you the round. The trick is layers you can add and shed without restricting the swing — think thin, technical and tonal, not thick and bulky.

The three layers

• Base — a fitted thermal or long-sleeve baselayer that wicks sweat.
• Mid — an insulating quarter-zip or knit; the layer you’ll wear most.
• Shell — a wind- and waterproof jacket, stretchy and quiet at address.

Add a knit hat, a winter glove and a tonal scarf and you’ll play comfortably into the low single digits. Keep it all in one palette so each layer looks intentional on its own.

A good golf wardrobe isn’t about having the most — it’s about having the right few that work together. Build around a tight palette and a handful of fabrics, and getting dressed for a round becomes effortless.

The ten pieces

• Two performance polos — one white or ivory, one in a colour you love.
• A sleeveless polo or top for warm rounds.
• A tailored skort and a pair of ankle trousers.
• One golf dress — the one-and-done option.
• A mid-layer (quarter-zip or knit) for shoulder seasons.
• A waterproof shell that packs down small.
• Spikeless shoes that walk eighteen and look right after.
• A cap or visor, a glove, and a slim belt.

Keep the palette quiet — forest, ivory, navy, a single accent — and everything mixes. Spend where it shows (polos, outerwear, shoes); economise on the rest.

The shortest possible answer

A collared polo or sleeveless mock, a skort or shorts with proper inner shorts, a single glove on your non-dominant hand, golf-specific shoes (spikeless is fine), and a hat or visor. That is it. Anything extra is style; nothing extra is rule.

The polo

Most courses require a collar. Performance-knit polos in pima cotton, recycled poly, or merino-blend all work; pick the fabric that breathes in the temperature you usually play. A sleeveless mock-neck satisfies the collar rule and is cooler on hot days.

Browse polos and sleeveless tops.

The bottom half

Skort, skirt, or tailored trouser — your call. Skorts are the easiest because they have built-in shorts and grip-strip waistbands so nothing rides up on the swing. Look for a length you would wear to a club lunch (most courses prefer this).

Browse skirts & skorts and trousers.

The glove (yes, just one)

One glove on your non-dominant hand (left glove for right-handed players). Cabretta leather is the soft-feel premium; synthetic gloves last longer. Either is fine; pick on grip feel.

Browse gloves.

The shoes

Soft-spike or spikeless. Spikeless looks tidier off-course (range → restaurant) and is more comfortable on flat ground; soft-spike grips better on wet slopes. For your first set, spikeless is the easier choice.

Browse footwear.

Layers + accessories you probably need

A merino quarter-zip or a wind shell for the cold morning tee-times; a visor or cap for sun; sunscreen; a small tote for the snacks and the water and the spare ball. The wind shell is more important than people realise once you have actually played a windy par-four.

Browse layers, outerwear, headwear and bags.

What you really don’t need (yet)

A full bag of clubs (most courses rent), a rangefinder (look at the yardage markers), an outfit per round (two rotating polos is plenty), or any branded apparel. Comfort and the dress code is the bar; style develops with time.

The short answer

For warm rounds: pima cotton blends for the polo, lightweight technical poplin or jersey for the bottom half, and avoid heavy structured fabrics for layers. For the most comfortable round of the year, mock collars in lightweight knits beat structured collars on heat.

Pima cotton

Long-staple cotton. Soft, breathable, holds dye well so colours stay vivid. Slightly less wicking than synthetic. The default choice for an everyday polo.

Recycled performance poly

Engineered to wick sweat away from skin and dry fast. Tends to hold structure (collar stays sharp). Best when you sweat hard or play very hot rounds. Look for “rPET” labels for the sustainability story.

Merino blend

Surprisingly summer-friendly in fine weight: temperature-regulating, odour-resistant, packs small. Best layered (under a wind shell on cool mornings). Heavier merino is winter-only.

Linen blends

Light, breathable, slightly textured look. Pure linen wrinkles fast (avoid on photos / dress-code rounds). Linen-cotton blends hold shape better and still breathe.

What to avoid in summer

Heavy ponte knits, anything with a thick lining, structured wovens with non-stretch waistbands, and 100% non-wicking cotton on the body if you sweat a lot.

Curated summer picks

Our Summer on the Course collection groups the pieces we keep returning to in warm weather. Most cost between €60 and €230.