Antigua Apparel, known for high quality, accessibly priced golf apparel that performs on and off the course, also has a long-standing reputation as a top supplier of professional and college logoed sports apparel and accessories.
For more than 35 years, the company has held licenses for just about every top sports league – starting with Major League Baseball in the late 1980s and then adding the NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, more than 350 colleges and universities and others – giving golf shops an opportunity to appeal to the fierce team loyalties of their members and guests.
“Bringing in sports-licensed apparel can be a powerful way for a golf shop to increase revenue,” says Brendan McQuillan, Antigua’s Senior Vice President for Sales & Marketing. “Sports-licensed products turn a golf shop into more than a specialty store. It becomes a fan hub. This strategy taps into year-round demand, boosts revenue and keeps the store fresh and relevant.”
Antigua, one of the first apparel companies to offer golf-inspired sports licensed product to green grass shops, presents a full lineup of men’s and women’s polos, quarter-zips, fleece and outerwear. These products can be found in hundreds of on-course shops across the county, as well as sports specialty stores, sporting goods stores, stadiums/arenas, fan shops and college bookstores, and through online partners like Fanatics, nflshop.com, nhlshop.com and others.
“Adding sports-licensed apparel to your merchandise mix will allow you to bring in new collections throughout the year, based on the seasonality of sports, as well as major events within each sport’s season, such as MLB’s Opening Day and the NFL season kickoff, playoffs and championships,” McQuillan says. “Combine this with seasonal product offerings like polos, quarter-zip pullovers, fleece, vests, etc., and you are able to sell sports licensed apparel all year round.”
What has fueled growth in this category for Antigua is its expansion beyond brick-and-mortar stores, as well as a strong commitment to developing expertise in drop-shipping to its partners and direct to consumers. The company has also seen a significant uptick in clubs across the country using its sports-licensed apparel for tournaments and other events, giving golf facilities a new way to offer participants and staff elevated apparel they can wear “on the course, off the course and to their favorite tailgate,” McQuillan adds.
Antigua Sports Apparel a Mainstay at Many Golf Facilities
Over the years, Haggin Oaks in Sacramento, California, has partnered with Antigua to bring in licensed sports apparel from some of the most popular Bay Area teams, including the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland (now based in Sacramento) A’s and San Francisco Giants. The assortment has primarily included polos, quarter-zip pullovers and lightweight layers – apparel that blends performance and functionality with subtle team branding.
“These pieces have done well in our golf-centric setting, especially when the designs maintain the balance between team spirit and classic golf styling,” says Ken Morton Jr., AGM, Haggin Oaks’ VP of Retail & Marketing. “Golfers love having gear that performs well on the course while also showing off their local team pride.”
The Haggin Oaks Super Shop has brought in several seasonal capsules over the years, typically timed around the start of sports seasons or key events, such as Opening Day for MLB or the NFL playoffs. According to Morton, customer reaction is always overwhelmingly positive.
“There’s a strong emotional connection shoppers feel when they see their favorite team’s logo subtly placed on a quality golf polo or pullover,” he says. “We’ve found that it’s not just about wearing a team name; it’s about merging two passions: golf and their favorite local franchise or school. For us, as a municipal course where our own logo isn’t a big driver of sales, using the leverage of our local teams is a great option to help drive interest in these apparel groups as a different option.”
Morton goes on to say that collegiate and professional team alliances are deeply personal and carry significant emotional weight for customers, and when you can tie that loyalty into something functional and stylish like golf apparel, it becomes a natural fit.
“We’ve found that products tied to teams having successful seasons – like a playoff run or selecting a high-profile draft pick – tend to spike in sales. But even in quieter years, the loyalty doesn’t wane,” Morton adds.
“The key is offering merchandise that feels authentic to both the golf lifestyle and the team experience. Antigua does a great job of delivering just that: high-quality, course-appropriate pieces that let fans subtly represent their teams without compromising golf style.”
Out Door Country Club in York, Pennsylvania, has also been working with Antigua to bring in college and NFL merchandise for the facility’s many Penn State Nittany Lion fans/season ticket holders and diverse mix of Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens die-hards. According to PGA of America Head Professional George Ancuta, Antigua offers a great price/value proposition in a product assortment members consistently gravitate to.
“It’s about school pride and identity – college teams are often central to alumni identity – and networking, as supporting the same team builds bonds between members,” Ancuta says. “There’s a shared passion, and pro or college team loyalty fuels discussion, merchandise sales and gatherings. In fact, alliance to a team is the point of membership.”
In addition, the golf shop at Gateway National Golf Links in Madison, Illinois, has capitalized on the region’s devotion to the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming a go-to source for solid and fancy shirts, and lightweight quarter-zip pullovers bearing the beloved red bird.
“Many of our customers know we carry St. Louis Cardinals logoed apparel every year, and since our pricing is always less expensive than the stadium, turnover is great,” says PGA of America General Manager/Director of Golf Shawn Barnes. “Since we are located less than two miles from Busch Stadium, we host a lot of out-of-town golfers who come in for baseball games and enjoy shopping our licensed apparel.
“For some, the importance of team alliances can vary from year to year, depending on how the team performs, but the St. Louis Cardinals consistently have a strong fan base and licensed apparel always does well.”
