My golf thoughts on 2025 golf trends:
- Back to NATURAL FIBERS. I’m seeing more and more cotton and wool. It’ll take a couple of seasons, but I’m bullish on higher %s of cotton over the next couple of years. I think this is good – especially before the humidity moves in. Personal note: I wore almost all cotton until the end of June last year. It was a mild Spring, so the humidity lagged. Very comfortable.
- CARTOON BELTS are on their way out. I’m seeing a lot more exotic belts (w.Kleinberg), Polo belts (La Matera, etc.), and Maasai belts (Manyatta). There are still logo-centric belts, but mostly the Peter Millar/JT Spencer embroidered versions.
- HYBRID clubs OUT. 5-WOOD/7-WOODS IN. I’ve never been able to hit a hybrid. I’ve carried a 5-wood for as long as I can remember, and while I got some sh!t about it a few years ago, I’m seeing more in bags. They are so much easier to hit…I think we all fell for a ‘hybrid’ marketing scheme.
- More CREW, less ZIP. Maybe it’s because we all have so many quarter zips, but I see more of a draw to crew-neck sweaters. Think about the Nike boys on tour: Rory, Scheffler, etc. No zips. Obviously Keith Mitchell…in Cashmere.
- I’m bearish on MASTERS MERCH. It’s going to take one or two more years before they change course and offer wearable options again. For now, it’s like shopping in the sale section at Wal Mart.
- Neutral on the athletic vs. dressier GOLF SHOES. Brands focus on the dressier options because they have a longer shelf life (and haven’t seen a drop in sales). I’m big on the Footjoy Premier Packard golf shoes and the True Linkswear Ripstops. If True would produce an all-leather version in that Ripstop style, they would probably sell a million pairs.
- GOLF BAG style will continue to elevate. Brands like Vessel and Jones are making incredible strides in extremely handsome golf bag technology.
- Non-Traditional Club MEMBERSHIPS. The wait lists at most traditional country clubs are measured in years at this point. Initiations are going through the roof, but the demand is still there. The rise in non-traditional club memberships is on the upswing. Places that focus 100% on golf like Tree Farm, 21, Roses, Old Barnwell, etc. are looking to fill the void. While they don’t scratch the full-family country club itch, the high demand for golf gives them a place in the ethos. Additionally, indoor social golf clubs (Intown, etc.) are seeing a swell in demand as well, but for more than just golf. Their focus on the holistic experience (food/bev, social scene, etc.) is a great entry to the club lineup. Everyone loves exclusivity.
- I haven’t seen anyone playing YELLOW GOLF BALLS in years. Buh-bye.
- I’m neutral on TOUR VISORS. Last year I was bearish, but I see them starting to make a comeback on the course (and off). I’m preaching to the choir to my Red Clay Soldiers, so let’s help perpetuate the trend.
- Smaller, more subtle, and tonal LOGOS. The days of Nascar-esque logos are in hibernation.
Deep Dive:
- I’m bullish on a PRO GOLF DEAL. I’m a huge fan of corporate chaos, and pro golf has become extremely tired over the last 10 years (riding the post-Tiger Woods wave). LIV was a shot in the arm to the corporate pro golf establishment. It immediately called out the laziness of the PGA leadership, as well as exposing the motivation of the top golfers ($$$). What has materialized over the last few years is an extremely watered-down TV experience and a bunch of boring golfers. My guess is that all sides are motivated to get a mutually beneficial deal done. Everyone will make money – the tour, the players, the TV networks, and the brands. I like the summits at the White House, as that’s the type of attention it deserves. If I may, this is my deep dive into what I’d like to see:
- Tour Events are categorized into different category levels: Majors, Top 20 (Travelers, Bay Hill, Torrey Pines, etc.), and then Other. Majors and Top 20 have huge purses, impossible conditions, and elite fields of golfers. These events aren’t the problem. The ‘Other’ tournaments (RSM, John Deere, Sanderson Farm, etc.) are almost a mid-level bowl game. A limited PGA field, but include 10-20 local/regional tour pros, top Korn Ferry guys, amateurs, golf influencers, and the Club Champion of the course where they are playing. Make it fun and relatable. Pull for the underdogs. A lot of feel-good stories. I’d watch it, and so would you.
- More special, match play events. But instead of four golfers playing in one foursome, have twelve golfers playing in three foursomes to alleviate the gaps in shots (the main complaint of the product out there now). Incorporate LPGA, NFL Retirees, musicians, celebrities, etc. into the field. All the money goes to charity. That would make Tuesday night TV a lot more fun.
- Seriously: nobody cares about the ‘playoffs’.
- Find announcers that are fun. Apologies to Jim Nance, but he sounds like a Hallmark card and it’s extremely annoying. The old euro guys are tired. Yawn. Great for naps. I miss Gary McCord. Smiley has a chance to be cool and push the envelope, but he’s teetering. Think about it – golf is fun because it has more sh!t talking than any other sport (look at the Tiger vs. Justin T interactions). Embrace that. The audience gets it, and enjoys it.
What are your thoughts?
What we need is more Kevin Kisner. Grade A trash talker, no filter, solid dresser, loves drinking beer, and is an SEC guy to boot.
I agree with a lot of what you said. They also need to figure out pace of play, and how to get the players to loosen up a bit too.
Some very good points for sure. I switched from hybrids to a 5,7 woods and it has been a game changer. The trend is catching on. If you have shopped for a 7 wood you will see that.
I strongly disagree on the direction clubs are taking. That may be the case in Atlanta but Americans making golf an exclusive sport is contrary to the way the sport is in Scotland. Sure there are exclusive clubs there but the soul of golf is found at courses the regular Joe can walk 9 after work with a buddy and not pay a fortune. I would love to see more muni’s. Look at the success of the Charleston, Wilmington, Bobby Jones, etc muni style course the public can play. Golf has a firm grip on millennials and courses are packed. With young kids, inflation, and high mortgage rates they need places to play that those of us outside of the cities grew up on.
The Tree Farm, Old Barnwell, Ohoopee, etc are fantastic looking places and have their place but for sure but golf is becoming more popular and the middle class need options as well.
I agree about the need for more muni golf. There’s a municipal course near me that has a normal 18 holes and is pretty affordable. Also at this course is a 9 hole, short course that is $10. You can play as many times as you want in a day for $10. Most walk, or use a push cart. There is no cart path. The greens are ok, and the rest of it is about like a front yard. Several of my college friends are spread throughout the country and none of them have anything like this. Or anything even somewhat like this. I can walk it in an hour. I think there needs to be a lot more of this out there. Cheap, not super nice, fun, relaxing, and can play it pretty quick. It can be hard to find the time to play a 4 hour round, but a one hour round? I can swing by after dinner.
Agree on so many of the points made. Have to find a way to get pace of play under control, and add more excitement to the broadcast to help push the product to the next level.
You may have inspired me to sideline my hybrid. It’s a rarely used headcover holder at this point. The new GT 5 wood (or even the GT1 hybrid that essentially bridges the gap between the hybrid and 5 wood world) may be worth a look.
More shit-talking in golf than the NBA?
Good thoughts RCS…random thoughts as we try to thaw out here…
I’m loving the latest FJ Premier Packards, but then again I’m more old school classic style on course…I’m a fan of the tour visor, but guys with great hair seem to be the only ones who look good in them – sadly I cannot count myself among that cohort…curious what the red clayers think about the TGL…kind of enjoyable on a cold Tuesday night when nothing else is on…I’m ready for someone besides Scottie S to have a remarkable season this year…LPGA doesn’t get enough love…please god, no more joggers on course, pro nor amateur…I really don’t miss any LIV guy at all…excited for spring…
Great points and I agree with RCS, overall.
I’ve all but quit golf- becoming too burdensome both financially and time-wise. I live in a major Southern city (not ATL), and golf clubs worth joining near me all have six-figure initiation fees, $10K application fees, and 3+ year waitlists. Hard pass for this family man. The last remaining muni worth playing within city limits was just developed into housing and retail. I’ll still watch PGA majors on TV, but for now I’m doubling down on fly-fishing as my “lifetime sport”.
Great Golf “Hot Takes!” Maybe the biggest, and the only one I was Totally against…Jim Nantz…he is a Legend! Maybe I am a “old soul”, but he should be calling every Masters, and really every Major. Maybe…give him a break on some of the smaller tourneys but he is fantastic!
You’ve hit everything, but S&B belts are still the cream of the crop in pro shops (for belts, but also across categories)
Shapland golf bags look is 10/10 and will be my next golf bag.
The Lynx visor circa 1998 was my first tour visor investment.
Johnson Wagner is gods gift to golf commentary. Protect him at all costs.
club validity is bias – you can not claim Hybrids out because you can not hit one. I don’t call drivers out because I do not hit them well. I play a mini driver and a 1 Iron. Hardly anyone can hit a 1 iron but I can – so, 1 Irons are in and Drivers are out? Whatever works in the bag for preferred distance/paid club sponsorship is IN
what are cartoon belts? smathers and branson? I’m also completely out on the simulator golf model, realizing not everyone has the time to go and play 18 holes but the delta is just too far apart for me between it and “real” golf.
Nice piece, B. Draddy helped usher in the cotton with stretch, driving irons are elbowing out hybrids too, at 65 years old crews are the way to go, merch that hits beyond logos, Old Town Club sporting Kristy Kreme theme in homage to Winston-Salem, golf shoes match the venue, classics vs all the others, your pick, Shapland is the best and great customer service, memberships at most private clubs are overrated, especially in today’s environment, public golf is of the people and those playing munis are the soul of the game, seniors and those who play found balls use yellow, visors? only for those with hair! And plenty of it,
Now for the fun part Pro Golf. First learn how to spell Jim Nantz before you dish him. Jim is the best golf announcer from the US, I put Henry Longhurst and Peter Alliss in a slightly elevated category based on they were born in the home of golf and that’s not Ponte Vedra.
When money drives ALL decisions bad decisions will be made. From the TPC monstrous clubhouse to their $100m new headquarters the boys in PV had their head in the sand, turned out to be Saudi sand. Similar to a college poker game the one who came with the most money normally wins. PV should have asked the sponsors, volunteers and fans, in that order, what they want and are willing to support. They didn’t and it’s too late now. All the impetuous LIV defectors have spread their attitudes to the PGA Tour, what a shame.
I am now collecting my sticks and headed to the muni. I will be back for the Masters and listening to Jim Nantz.