January 1, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF
Say it ain’t so—or, perhaps it should be: Hoodies on the golf course? With golf participation precariously on the decline, golf organizations are scratching their heads to come up with all things possible for attracting more young participants to the game. Fact is, fewer kids are taking up the sport and playing regularly, so the industry is left wondering what the future of golf looks like going forward.
Ask any golf club manager how things are going, and you’ll probably hear that memberships are also declining. If we take a look at Google Trends we can see that interest in the sport is being challenged each year. And while golf is still a huge worldwide sport, it has certainly been dropping in popularity over the past decade.
Perhaps a more lenient on-coures dress code would incentivise more young people to take up the game.
When English professional golfer Tyrrell Hatton wore a hoodie at Wentworth while warming up for the BMW PGA Championship, and then for the entirety of the tournament, which he won, patrons of the game around the world took note. Had the five-time winner on the European Tour just started a ‘hoodie on the golf course’ trend? Or controversy?
In case you aren’t hip to the vernacular, a hoodie is a shortened way of saying a hooded sweatshirt. After Hatton wore his we saw more and more players start to wear the popularized urban street fashion. Now, it has sparked a heated debate about proper attire on the golf course.
Should golfers be allowed to wear hoodies on the course? Should you only wear one when you play for leisure? How about wearing one during competitive play?
Some proponents of wearing a hoodie on-course say it is all about being comfortable, being able to swing the club while layered up underneath in a bit loose top, while still have ample room to move around and not be too confined.
There is also the option for wearing a hoodie that is a bit tighter, where you can easily throw something rainproof over it when conditions call for such additional coverage.
Those in support of on-course hoodie-wearing cite the added benefits of playing golf in a hoodie as being a warm top that covers your neck, ears, and arms. Also, hoodies are relatively inexpensive, $15 (more or less) can get you into a nice, wearable garment.
But if you decide to wear a hoodie on the course, take a look around, because your appearance will most likely be a conversation starter.
