Golf Polo vs. Golf Shirt – What REALLY Is The Difference?
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Golf polo and golf shirts are pretty easy to find, but it is easier to find the right one for you. These shirts come in a variety of different colors and styles, so it’s just a matter of picking out which style suits you best.
You can also look at the material that your golf polo is made from as well as what kind of stitching or extra features it may have.
When shopping for a golf polo, the most important things to consider are color, style, and material. You might want something light and breezy if you live in an area that gets really hot and humid during certain parts of the year.
“You decide what you are, what you want to express, by the way you dress” – Giovanni Versace
History of Golf Tops
The use of golf polo as casual wear has increased since the 1950s, when its main function was to protect a golfer from sunburn. Early golf shirts were most often white and made of dacron (polyester) or other synthetic fiber.
These early golf polo were full button-down, making them inappropriate for anything other than wearing on or near a golf course.
In the 1970s, however, the trend began to change as many manufacturers began introducing colorful plaids and designs into their lines. In 1973, a new division of PGA Merchandisers was formed that focused exclusively on the sale of clothing, accessories, and equipment through specialty golf shops and club pro shops.
Golf Polos vs. Golf Shirts — What’s The Difference?
Many golfers are guilty of wearing either golf shirts or golf polos without much consideration for what they should actually be wearing. And while neither is forbidden, there is a difference between the two, which can affect your play on the course.
Golf shirts are longer than golf polos and have a buttoned placket in front that does not extend to the bottom hem of the shirt. Golf shirts also typically have long sleeves as opposed to short ones that come down to just below the elbow, like on a polo shirt.
Here are review articles to make the choosing easy for you:
Which One to Wear?
There are no official rules as to what you should be wearing on the golf course, but most golfers stick to the above guidelines. But when it comes down to it, it’s all about preference.
It really comes down to what makes you feel comfortable. Personally, I prefer a golf polo over a golf shirt. Not only do I like the look of a polo better, but I also prefer the feel of the material because it allows more air to pass through and keeps me cool during those hot summer rounds.
For younger golfers or golfers that are in good shape, they may want to opt for a shirt instead of a golf polo since it is less likely to flap around and create extra drag.
And of course, wearing a golf polo is the more traditional choice, so if you’re looking to be more on the conservative side or want to be like your favorite PGA golfers or LPGA golfers, then stick with a shirt.
Like with any clothing item, make sure you try them on before purchasing to ensure that the item is the right fit and see which material feels better against your skin (although some people prefer cotton). Make sure you give yourself enough time to try out both a golf polo and a shirt before making your choice.
For example, if you live in a hot climate, it would be smart to have a more breathable shirt than if you live in an area with cooler temperatures.
Different Styles of Golf Polo & Golf Shirts
What is Your Preferred Golf Polo & Shirt Style?
Collared
Every golf polo has a collar, but the collar can differ in size and design. One of the most popular collar designs is a fold-over collar that is pointed in the front and back and comes with or without buttons.
Other common collars are spread (wider than other collars), tab (which features a snap closure), V-neck, crew neck, and a button-down. The material also affects how the shirt feels against your skin.
Sleeves
There are also different shirt styles to fit the needs of every golfer. Golf polo designs include short sleeve, long sleeve, sleeveless and half-sleeved styles.
For long-sleeved styles, shirts come with or without buttons.
Neck Style
Shirts come in v-neck, crew neck, or button-down for short-sleeved shirts (even for polos) and have a collar as well as a placket in the front.
Different Types of Golf Polo & Golf Shirts
Some of the different types of golf shirts include polo shirts, pique knit shirts, camp collars, and baseball collar shirts.
Golf Polo
Golf polo shirts are perhaps the most common golf shirt that you will find on the golf course. Polo is an Italian word that refers to something resembling a polo shirt (which is one of the most common items in Ralph Lauren’s line).
Golf polo shirts have a collar design that is fold-over or buttoned in front and typically have short sleeves extending down to just below the elbow.
Some polo shirts have buttons that are left unfastened so the shirt can flap freely in the wind.
Golf polos are the perfect golf shirt to wear for a round of golf during the summer months. The air can pass through the material, helping to keep you cool and dry along with your clothes.
Golf Shirt
Golf shirts generally contain no darts, belt loops, sleeve buttons, or other styling features. The primary styling element is usually the combination of plackets on the front and sometimes a pocket near it.
The most common golf shirt collars are “point” (where they simply end) or “folded” (where a triangular part is folded over and stitched down). These collars may also have piping around them, sometimes in contrasting colors such as white and red.
Collars are occasionally seen in a turtleneck style, with or without a collar band. The button placket is an inverted pleat sewn on top of the buttons, which require no holes because they are secured by these plackets themselves.
Another style of cut is the “hospital seam,” which runs along the top of the back collar parallel to its fold.
A golf shirt’s collar style also varies depending on the region.
Camp Collar And Baseball Collar Shirts
Similar to Golf polo shirts, camp collar and baseball camp shirts also feature a fold-over or buttoned placket in front, but instead of short sleeves, they have long sleeves extending down to just below your elbows.
Camp collar shirts typically come without buttons and have pointy collars that are similar to what a military jacket has.
These shirts are popular among golfers that want to be more fashionable with the look of their shirt.
Pique Knit Shirts
Similar to Golf polo shirts, pique knit shirts also feature a fold-over or buttoned placket in front, but instead of short sleeves, they have long sleeves extending down to just below your elbows. Pique knit shirts typically come without buttons and with collars that are held up by either a plastic or metal collar stay.
These shirts are popular among golfers that want to be more fashionable with the look of their shirt.
Some of the different types of golf shirts include polo shirts, pique knit shirts, camp collar, and baseball collar shirts.
Golf Polo
Golf polo shirts are perhaps the most common golf shirt that you will find on the golf course. Polo is an Italian word that refers to something resembling a polo shirt (which is one of the most common items in Ralph Lauren’s line).
Golf polo shirts have a collar design that is fold-over or buttoned in front and typically have short sleeves extending down to just below the elbow.
Some polo shirts have buttons that are left unfastened so the shirt can flap freely in the wind.
Golf polos are the perfect golf shirt to wear for a round of golf during the summer months. The air can pass through the material, helping to keep you cool and dry along with your clothes.
Golf Shirt
Golf shirts generally contain no darts, belt loops, sleeve buttons, or other styling features. The primary styling element is usually the combination of plackets on the front and sometimes a pocket near it.
The most common golf shirt collars are “point” (where they simply end) or “folded” (where a triangular part is folded over and stitched down). These collars may also have piping around them, sometimes in contrasting colors such as white and red.
Collars are occasionally seen in a turtleneck style, with or without a collar band. The button placket is an inverted pleat sewn on top of the buttons, which require no holes because these plackets themselves secure them.
Another style of cut is the “hospital seam,” which runs along the top of the back collar parallel to its fold.
A golf shirt’s collar style also varies depending on the region.
Camp Collar And Baseball Collar Shirts
Similar to Golf polo shirts, camp collar and baseball camp shirts also feature a fold-over or buttoned placket in front, but instead of short sleeves, they have long sleeves extending down to just below your elbows.
Camp collar shirts typically come without buttons and have pointy collars that are similar to what a military jacket has.
These shirts are popular among golfers that want to be more fashionable with the look of their shirt.
Pique Knit Shirts
Similar to Golf polo shirts, pique knit shirts also feature a fold-over or buttoned placket in front, but instead of short sleeves, they have long sleeves extending down to just below your elbows. Pique knit shirts typically come without buttons and with collars that are held up by either a plastic or metal collar stay.
These shirts are popular among golfers that want to be more fashionable with the look of their shirt.
Have you found the best golf shirt style for you? We have narrowed down the five best styles in this article: The Best Golf Shirt Styles You Must Own
Color & Design
Golf shirts come in many different colors and patterns, often showing a company logo. The pattern on the shirt may be floral or geometric designs in muted colors for men of all ages, while women’s golf shirts are usually solid colors at least as long as they are paired with long pants.
High school and college students may wear a golf shirt as part of their school’s athletic uniform; these numbers are generally not considered to be golf shirts.
USGA / R&A Rules
A golf shirt is not considered a uniform if it has multiple colors or typefaces, or if there are graphics on it (such as an embroidered logo), any of which violates the USGA / R&A-sanctioned rules for golf attire at any event it sanctions.
Only a solid white, solid gray, or, at most, a plaid design with “no more than two colors total” and no other styling features may be present. However, a small colored pattern is usually permitted at the back over the seam between sleeves and body; this is intended to prevent chafing in this sensitive area.
College teams may wear a pattern at the back if it is no larger than the width of the sleeve seam on its smallest dimension and no more than one color.
Golf Shirt Accessories
We’ve mentioned a few accessories that you can find with golf polo or shirts, such as button-down collars. But there are other accessories that you can use with your shirt.
For example, if you want to avoid having your shirt collar look too messy after the round of golf, then maybe it’s a good idea to purchase a collar clip that will hold your shirt in place and prevent your shirt from flapping in the wind as much.
Other accessories include neckties for men or bow ties for women and safety pins and cuff links for men.
What Material Should You Wear On The Golf Course?
This depends on the weather conditions and your personal preferences. Some people like to wear lighter shirts, so they don’t sweat as much. Other people like to wear thicker shirts, so they don’t have to worry about them being see-through when it’s windy.
However, normally a golf shirt is worn by itself, but sometimes you can wear a golf shirt with a hooded sweatshirt or a long sleeve tee underneath.
Some common shirt fabrics include 100% cotton, cotton-polyester blends, and microfiber polyester blends. The material (cotton or polyester) will also affect how the shirt feels against your skin.
Synthetic Fabric
Synthetic fabric tends to be more moisture-wicking and also dry faster, which is something that you don’t realize the value of until you have played a rainy golf course or one that is cool and windy.
There is nothing worse than getting caught in the rain and having wet clothing. And when your shirt is wet, it will be much heavier and harder to swing.
The better material also helps keep you cool during warm rounds, which may not seem like a big deal at first but, in the long run, can save your body from unnecessary fatigue.
Shirts tend to absorb additional moisture while your body sweats, so this extra weight can become tiresome over time.
Another benefit to synthetic materials is that they will not shrink after a few washes (most cotton shirts tend to shrink).
Cotton Shirts
Cotton shirts are most common, but a cotton-polyester blend might be best for you if you tend to perspire a lot. Performance materials are lighter, which means they will help keep you cool on a hot day. Also, performance materials usually offer UV protection.
If you want more coverage when you play the golf course, wearing a long sleeve shirt underneath is an option.
Regardless of what material the golf shirt is made out of, it should have at least three buttons (one on the collar and two on the front). There is also golf polo that comes with no buttons on the collar. However, a three-button shirt will help keep the collar in place.
Before you make your investment, whether it is for multiple shirts or one single golf polo, wash the shirt or polo in hot water to test out how it holds up. You don’t want to purchase something that shrinks and makes you look smaller than you really are.
How to Wear a Golf Shirt
The most basic way to pair up your pants with a golf polo shirt is by choosing either a navy blue, khaki, dark or light grey pair. For darker colors like navy blue and dark grey (charcoal), you can wear them under your golfing attire.
If you’re wearing denim pants or shorts, go for a casual white golf polo shirt with a contrasting collar in an earth tone color like tan or a medium blue.
Golf polo and shirts are typically collared and buttoned-down in front. The endpoints of the sleeves can be either short (often rolled up) or slightly puffed, as they would be for shirts designed for warmer temperatures. Golfers may wear these as part of their dress code on occasion.
If you are wearing a golf polo shirt that has buttons at the collar, it’s best to wear it buttoned up all the way. But if you want a more casual look, undo the top two buttons (for golf shirts that have three buttons) or the top three or four if the shirt has four or five buttons. For shirts with wider collars, you can go with one button undone.
Wearing a golf shirt is simple, and there are three different types of ways you can wear a golf shirt. You can wear it tucked in, untucked, or you can go traditional.
Tucked In
The first style of wearing a golf polo is tucked in, and this is typically how an older gentleman would wear their golf shirts back in the day. The problem with this style is that if it’s windy out, your pants will stick to your leg and create some friction because the material isn’t completely smooth.
Also, extra fabric being on your legs makes it harder for you to swing the club.
Untucked
These shirts are typically not meant for golf. If you don’t want to wear your golf shirt tucked in, you can also wear it untucked so that it hangs below the waistline of your pants or shorts. And if you’re wearing jeans, go for an “all American denim” look by pairing them with a white golf shirt.
The only thing you have to remember is that your shirt must fit you properly, particularly in the shoulders and chest, so that it doesn’t look like you’re wearing an oversized t-shirt.
Traditional
The third style is how a traditional gentleman would wear a shirt. It’s untucked, and the sleeves are usually rolled up to your elbows. This style is very casual, and it’s used very often by younger golfers, older golfers, and even professionals like Tiger Woods.
He wears it this way because he doesn’t want to have his shirt flapping in the wind while he’s playing the golf course.
The easiest way to figure out which way you should wear your shirt is to ask yourself which look do you prefer? Do you like your clothes tucked in or not? This will be up to you, and everyone has their own preference.
Where To Buy Golf Shirts And Golf Polo
You have plenty of options when it comes to where you buy your shirts and polo. Many golf manufacturers offer matching sets, so you can buy a shirt, golf shorts, and a belt all at once. But you can also purchase shirts and golf polo separately from the manufacturer or opt for something from a different brand.
If you want to save some money and get more bang for your buck, check out companies such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Cutter & Buck, and others known for their athletic wear as they have tons of colors and styles to choose from.
For added style and versatility, we have embroidered golf polo shirts from some of the finest brands in the world, including PGA TOUR, Cutter & Buck, Ralph Lauren Polo, and many more.
Whether you are looking for FootJoy, Nike, Adidas, or Mizuno golf apparel or equipment, our online catalog is sure to have just what you need. We carry a large selection of imprinted polo shirts from some of the biggest names in sportswear.
They also typically offer multiple types of fabrics for you to choose from.
But if you prefer to shop at your local golf store, you can also find many brands and styles there.
Just make sure to remember that no matter where you purchase either type of clothing from, make sure the material is right for your climate, and the extra cost will be worth it in the long run.
This is especially important if you will purchase a shirt with a button-up placket because those tend to shrink more than a golf polo with a button-down collar.
If you buy from a golf manufacturer, make sure that they are reputable because it is one thing to purchase a golf polo and shirt that shrinks, but it is another thing to wear a faded color or thin material simply because you thought you were purchasing from a good company.
The last place I’d recommend purchasing your golf polo and shirts from is when you play in an event.
While the event will often have nice shirts and giveaways, the quality of their clothing is not always the best as most people use them for one round and then put them back in their bag.
Similar to buying clothes based on brands, it is best to purchase golf polo and shirts based on quality. You do not have to buy the most expensive polo or shirt, but you should find a place where they sell brands that last and are made with high-quality materials.
If you are spending money on a new golf polo or shirt, then it should be based on more than just how cool the design is.
Don’t Forget A Hat!
You don’t want to wear your new shirt without a hat, which is why we feature them separately on our website (shameless plug)—Versatility Of Golf Hats.
Conclusion
There is a lot of different golf polo and shirts to choose from, so it’s important to figure out what design and style will work best for you. The material of the golf shirt should also be taken into consideration since there are different types that can be used depending on the weather conditions.
Golf polo and shirts can also be worn for several occasions besides wearing them on the golf course. They can also be worn as casual wear or even formal wear. Whichever style or design you choose, you should be able to look your best while playing a few rounds of golf.
