A trip through the aisles at the PGA Buying Summit – held at Omni PGA Frisco (Texas) Resort last month – left no doubt that athletic styling is one of the strongest trends in golf apparel. The event marked the unveiling of spring 2025 golf apparel offerings, and it’s no longer just traditional athletic brands like Under Armour, Nike, tasc Performance and a handful of others showing performance-enhancing styles. The majority of vendors in attendance have added items like performance pullovers and hoodies, joggers, leggings, athletic shorts and T-shirts to their men’s and women’s collections.
“There’s a lot of crossover apparel – versatile pieces that can go from golf to fitness and beyond,” said Lori Dopslaff, Golf Shop Merchandiser at Naples Lakes Country Club in Bonita Springs, Florida. “Many lines do some golf products, some casual or athletic inspired. It’s nice when you can find a line that can mix and match that way.”
“We’re seeing athleisure as a trend in the shops, including more racerbacks. Shops are not afraid of it anymore,” said Michelle Kempe, PGA, National Director of Retail at Escalante Golf in Dallas. “Either people are looking for more coverage from long sleeves for sun protection, or as little coverage as possible as they play or work out.”
Among those vendors showing athletically inspired products were johnnie-O, 7Diamonds, DUER and Rhone, a “mindful” performance lifestyle brand whose spring line includes a soft, textured fabric with signature Glacier cooling technology; Regatta Pique Polo in a lightweight, performance pique mesh fabric; Golf Tour Trouser with all-way stretch performance in a vintage finish; and Dune Collection, which features an all-way stretch performance fabric with rib knit details on the jacket.
Ahead is also heavily performance-based, with the men’s line featuring mid-layers like the Wade quarter-zip and Reef front-zip vest; Flint classic quarter-zip performance piece with side zip pockets; and soft, ocean-washed Levi Tee. On the women’s side, Ahead presented a number of casual athletic items like the Quincy FZ Hoodie, featuring a ribbed back and sides, lined hood and kangaroo pocket, and Hudson Anorak, which provides a super-lightweight mini ripstop fabrication, front pocket and elastic waist and cuffs.
The Harlestons spring offering has deepened its layering and outerwear collections with more versatile silhouettes, including three new hoodies, short- and long-sleeve tees and lined swim trunks in a stretchy fabric. It’s all about crossover looks, according to Head of Sales Bryan Thomas, who said, “It’s a little more lifestyle, athleisure. People are interested in new fabrications, with touch and sun protection being very important.”
The women’s side of the apparel market also continues to present lifestyle looks that transition from the golf course to the gym and beyond. Market mainstay Tail showed a range of performance fabrics that are lightweight, moisture-wicking and provide UPF protection, as well as pieces like the Sherianne sleeveless top with a sporty V-mini mock collar and power mesh back panel for breathability; Tokyo modern fit short with front and back zipper pockets; and Claud racerback cami sports bra with removable padded cups, which the company says is ideal for layering or wearing alone.
Municipal, a brand co-founded by actor Mark Wahlberg that recently entered the golf market, presented an athletically inspired capsule called The 4:AM Club that has been getting a lot of interest from private clubs with their own fitness facilities, while Greatness Wins – co-founded by New York Yankee great Derek Jeter – showed quarter zips, hooded tees, hoodies and windbreakers. As Head of Marketing James Itkoff explained, “What started as an athletic line has bubbled into golf.”
Also on the women’s side of the market, the line from Nike Golf has been updated with the Legacy yoga/performance fabrication, while tasc Performance featured a women’s performance collection of polos, skorts, dresses and outerwear – all with natural wicking and UPF sun protection.
“I think athleisure is where the market is going – joggers, pieces you can wear to golf and for going out and socializing,” said Alicia Singer, AGM, Director of Retail at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. “They’re crossover pieces that look athletic and are comfortable and stylish.”
“We’re seeing different trends in the shop. Athleisure has been part of it, and now we’re seeing more monochromatic looks: exercise wear, cropped hoodies and bra tops,” said Jennifer Roddy, AGM Merchandise Manager at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Cedar Creek, Texas. “It’s a new generation of golfers who are looking for athletic apparel they can wear all the time – not just for golf.”
Lisa Goulian Twiste is in her 24th year as Senior Apparel Writer at PGA Magazine.