adidas Golf outerwear
It’s the last week of September in Whistler, British Columbia, and the temperature is already dropping to 40 overnight. But I’m here to test some of the latest golf outerwear out on the local fairways. For this trip, I’m only wearing the latest fleece and layering products from adidas Golf’s Fall/Winter 2022 collection.
The first thing I notice is how un-golf-like the products look. There’s a blue-gray-beige camouflage fleece sweatshirt, for example, that’s amazingly soft. But it’s definitely loud, making me wonder if this is going to revitalize a Doug Sanders-like revolution on the course. At the same time, it might be the softest, most comfortable top I’ve put on in years. Then there are also some fleece-lined jogger pants – meant for the golf course and beyond. Again I think I never want to wear any other pants on cold mornings ever again. There are elastic cuffs in several of the latest golf pants from adidas, as well. And there are pullovers with buttons and collars instead of zippers and crew necks. And super-cool and soft beanies. What’s the deal, I ask?
“We want to bring more style to the course,” says Sarah Marai, senior project manager of men’s global products for adidas Golf. “You don’t always want to look like you’re just golfing and coming straight from the course. You want to feel a little bit more like yourself and have a little bit of your own personality and style show through. Golf has traditionally been a little bit slower to fashion, but everything’s kind of shifting and changing. Golf is influenced by streetwear and skate, while also being a leader in fashion, too.”
First and foremost, says Marai, the outerwear needed to be comfortable and cozy, but lend performance. After all, golf-specific outerwear needs to keep golfers warm without overheating them, move with the motion of a golf swing, be whisper-quiet all the way, and of course keep golfers dry inside. Officials are all in on fleece this year. They took this cozy material and added performance elements to it – think stretch, lightweight, and water resistance. Plus there are plenty of pockets on most of the items – something I personally think is undervalued in golf. In fact, adidas turned to its staff of PGA Tour pros – including Colin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele – for input on the pocket sizes and depth. Honestly, it feels like adidas nailed it.
Course pros who will be selling the collection in pro shops have also noticed. “This is the best outerwear adidas Golf has produced in my time in the golf industry,” says Brian McDonald, PGA General Manager & Director of Golf at Fairview Mountain Golf Club in Oliver, BC “Golfers will notice the fresh stylish look and some of the new colors that really stand out. The materials have really improved in the outerwear, and the fleece is so soft and comfortable. The brushed fleece has that look you can wear both on and off the golf course. I particularly love the black fleece crewneck. I know black garments seem safe but the brushed fleece finish is so clean looking and comfortable.”
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