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Cold mornings should not cost you the round. The trick is to wear thin layers that you can add and take off without restricting the swing: think thin, technical and tonal, not thick and bulky.
Why layers beat one thick jacket
A golf swing asks for free shoulders and a quiet upper body. One thick jacket adds bulk exactly where you need room, and it leaves you with two choices: too warm or too cold. Three thin layers hold warm air between them, move with you, and let you adjust as the day changes. On most autumn rounds you start in all three and finish in two.
The three layers
1. Base layer: keep your skin dry
The layer next to your skin has one job: moving moisture away. Choose a close-fitting long-sleeve top in merino wool or a technical synthetic. Leave cotton for the clubhouse, because it holds moisture and cools you down as soon as you stand still on the tee. A mock neck keeps your neck warm and is accepted at many clubs. Our tops and base layers start with the Under Armour ColdGear mock-neck top.
2. Mid-layer: the one you wear most
The mid-layer holds the warmth. A half-zip or full-zip works best, because the zip lets you release heat on the walk between shots. Look for a close fit with stretch, so the fabric does not bunch under your arms or catch at the top of the backswing. See our mid-layers, including the Galvin Green Diora insulating mid-layer.
3. Shell: wind and rain
The outer layer keeps wind and water out. Three things matter for golf: stretch through the shoulders, a fabric that stays quiet when you address the ball, and a cut that packs small enough to live in your bag. For steady rain, look for a fully waterproof jacket with sealed seams rather than a water-repellent finish. Our golf jackets include the Galvin Green Andrea waterproof golf jacket.
What to wear at which temperature
A rough guide. Wind makes every number feel colder, so dress for the feel, not the forecast.
- 12 to 16 °C: a polo or long-sleeve polo with a mid-layer. Keep the shell in your bag.
- 6 to 12 °C: base layer, mid-layer and a shell within reach. Trousers instead of a skort.
- Below 6 °C: all three layers, winter gloves and a cap that covers your ears.
Hands, head and legs
Cold hands cost you feel on every shot. Wear a pair of winter gloves between shots, or play in them when it is really cold: see the Galvin Green Levon windproof gloves in our gloves. A cap that covers the ears, such as the Daily Sports Jolie wind cap, keeps the warmth in without getting in the way. For your legs, golf trousers with stretch are warmer than a skort and leave room for a thin base layer underneath.
Keep it in one palette
Layers come on and off all round, so every piece should look right on its own. Stay within one palette, for example navy, ivory and forest green, and each combination looks intended. Dark outer layers also hide the marks of a wet round.
Three mistakes we see often
- One jacket that is too thick. Warm on the first tee, in the way for the rest of the round.
- Cotton as a base layer. It feels soft, but it stays damp and makes you cold.
- Dressing for the car park. You warm up while walking. Start the round slightly cool.
Start here
Our cold-weather layers collection brings the base layers, mid-layers and shells together. New to golf clothing? Read what to wear for your first round first.