What sets a golf polo apart from an ordinary polo?
A golf polo is built for movement. The difference from an ordinary cotton polo isn't about looks but about what the shirt does while you swing. On the course the upper body rotates powerfully with every shot, and the fabric has to follow along without pulling across the shoulders and back. That's why most golf polos are sewn in technical materials with a hint of stretch, so that the armholes and shoulder seams give way in the twist and then fall back into place.
The second thing that sets them apart is how the shirt handles sweat and heat. A round of golf over eighteen holes often takes up to four hours, and a cotton polo soaks up the moisture and becomes heavy and clammy. A performance material instead wicks the moisture away from the skin toward the fabric's surface, where it evaporates faster, so you stay drier throughout the round. The collar is a third detail: it's there to meet the dress code at most courses, not just for style.
In our collection you see that difference most clearly in the contrast between Polos in technical fabric and the knitted models, such as Knit Polo - Dark Green, where the look is more relaxed and just as at home off the course.
What material is a golf polo made of?
Most golf polos in this collection are made from synthetic performance fibres, usually polyester or a polyester blend with elastane for stretch. Polyester is chosen because the fibre itself doesn't absorb much water, which makes it dry quickly and wick sweat away efficiently, while the elastane gives the shirt the ability to stretch in the swing and return to shape.
The lightest models, like our Lightweight Tech Polo, are made for warm days where the focus is on an airy feel and fast moisture wicking. You'll find them in several colours, including Lightweight Tech Polo - Forest Green, Lightweight Tech Polo - Dark Navy and Lightweight Tech Polo - Light Brown.
Alongside the technical fabrics there are knitted polos like Knit Polo - Off-White. A knitted polo has a fuller structure and a more dressed-up look, but the same basic requirement of freedom of movement. If you want long sleeves when it's cooler, there's the Long-Sleeve Performance Polo, for example in Long-Sleeve Performance Polo - Dark Green.
Features to look for: stretch, moisture wicking and UV protection
When you choose a golf polo there are a few concrete properties that make a difference over an entire round. Stretch is the first: fabric with elastane follows the rotation in the swing instead of resisting it, which both feels better and lets you swing freely.
Moisture wicking is the second. A material that draws sweat away from the skin keeps you drier and cooler, especially across the back where the bag or the sun rests. The third property worth checking is UV protection. Because golf is played hour after hour outdoors without shade, there are golf polos with built-in sun protection, often given as a UPF value, where UPF 50+ is the highest standard rating and lets through a very small fraction of the UV radiation. Always check the product's own specifications for whether that particular model is UPF-rated, as it varies between fabrics.
Fit belongs here too. A polo that fits too tightly pulls in the swing, while one that's too wide flaps around. If you're looking for more technical garments to build around the polo, you'll find them under Tops.
Is there a dress code that requires a polo on the golf course?
At many golf clubs, especially older and more traditional ones, the dress code includes a collar requirement, and there the polo is the easiest way to meet it. The dress code does vary from club to club, however, and some courses are considerably more relaxed today. So the rule isn't universal, but something you should check against the specific club before you play.
That's why the polo is still golf's most obvious top: it meets the dress code at most courses while also being comfortable to swing in. If you'd like to read more about what applies where, we go through it in more detail in our guide to the Golf Dress Code.
A polo that works just as well after the round
One of the points of a well-cut golf polo is that it doesn't look like a golf polo the moment you leave the course. A clean, solid-coloured cut in muted tones works just as well with trousers in town as with golf trousers on the first tee. That's why the choice of colour matters: classic tones like navy, dark green and white are easier to wear day to day than loud colours.
In the collection you see this in models like Performance Polo - White and Performance Polo - Dark Navy, which can just as easily be worn off the course. If you want to put together a complete look, we cover concrete combinations in our article on Modern Golf Fashion. To build on the outfit you'll find trousers under Bottoms and caps under Caps.
