Knitted beanie for cold and windy rounds
A golf beanie makes the difference between enjoying a morning round in March and swinging stiff and frozen. What you find here are knitted beanies in two basic shapes: a smooth beanie and a variant with a pom pom on top. Both sit snugly around the head, cover the ears and keep the warmth in when the wind sweeps across the fairway. Unlike a cap with a sun visor, a beanie is about one thing only, namely keeping you warm without getting in the way of your swing. That is why it is the standard garment for early spring, late autumn and winter golf on the golf courses that are open year round.
Pom pom or smooth top
The choice between the two models is mostly a matter of style, but there is a practical side. The Pom Pom Beanie has the classic top that has long been associated with knitted winter golf and a more playful look. The smooth beanie sits closer to the head and is easier to pull on and off, which some prefer when switching between shots and waiting. Functionally they keep you equally warm. Think about the impression you want to give and how the rest of your golf wardrobe looks, rather than performance, when choosing between them.
How a golf beanie should fit
A knitted beanie should sit snugly but not tightly. The edge is turned up and placed just over the ears, so that it stays in place even when you bend over the ball or the wind is biting. The beanies here are knitted with elasticity and adapt to most head sizes, so you rarely need to think about centimetre measurements in the same way as with a cap. If it sits too loosely it slides down into your forehead during the swing, and if it sits too tightly it becomes uncomfortable over a whole round. A well-fitting beanie should let you forget you are wearing it from the first tee to the last putt.
Colours that match the rest of the outfit
The beanie comes in several tones that are easy to build an outfit around. The smooth beanie comes in grey and off-white, while the pom pom variant is available in burgundy, off-white, navy and dark green. Navy and grey are the safe bets that go with most things, while burgundy and dark green add more character against a neutral sweatshirt or a layer under the jacket. Off-white is the light option for anyone who wants to keep the palette muted. Think of the beanie as the final detail that ties together outerwear and jumper rather than a garment that stands out on its own.
The beanie as part of the winter layering
A beanie is most useful together with the right layers underneath and on top. On a cold round you lose most heat from your head and hands, so a knitted beanie is a cheap and effective measure compared with pulling on yet another thick mid layer. Build on with a windproof outer garment and a smooth mid layer from midlayers, and you will handle windy days without sweat becoming a problem when the sun finally comes out. More on how to dress smartly for Swedish conditions can be found in the guide on which golf clothes are best for the Swedish climate.
When the beanie belongs on the course
Golf's dress code is generally more relaxed about headwear than about, for example, shorts and shoes, and a knitted beanie is accepted on the vast majority of courses when it is cold. Uncertainties about what applies more often concern a cap with the logo turned forwards and similar details than a simple beanie. If you want to read up on what is expected, there is an overview in our text on golf dress code. In practice, a beanie is a garment you put on to cope with the cold, and clubs rarely see that as a problem.
