The sport of golf is experiencing an evolution never seen before, especially amongst newer players and curious Gen Z enthusiasts. While golf’s reputation is steeped in tradition with its exclusive club memberships for the affluent and rigid course rules, today’s game has seen more dynamic transformations. Names like Top Golf and Five Iron Golf have made the game more fun and accessible for casual players who want to play alongside friends and other beginners – think of arcade and bowling atmospheres but with golf. In Netflix’s new documentary Full Swing, the series highlights Phoenix, Arizona’s WM Phoenix Open, a competition tour that emphasizes fun – the tournament is unlike any other, because of its millennial fans, young players and non-stop party environment. Unlike other PGA TOUR events, Phoenix Open attendees are allowed to yell, heckle and cheer golfers on at the 16th hole, treating the game almost like an NBA playoff match-up. These newer, more exciting versions of how golf is played is where the sport is heading and its reputation is shifting with the times in terms of inclusivity, accessibility and even its fashion identity.

Golf is also gaining steam amongst Gen Zers because of the sport’s evolving fashion influence. Prim polo shirts and impeccably ironed slacks have dominated the circuit because of golf’s high-brow traditions. But a new generation of players, and most importantly, golf wear brands, have entered the scene to break the sport’s bland, and often stuffy, fashion scene. Rather than plain polos and the occasional patterned trousers, some streetwear-minded labels have given golf’s usual uniforms a striking update with abstract-patterned shirts, logo-heavy hoodies, patchworked varsity jackets and even sneaker-inspired golf shoes.

Golf’s influence on mainstream fashion has never really broken ground, until now. Retrospectively, mainstream’s fashion influence on the sport is picking up steam. Pro-golfer and model Paris Hilinski, for example, is an Oakley ambassador and can be seen wearing luxury labels like Off-White and Louis Vuitton on her Instagram. American golfer Collin Morikawa, who is also profiled in Netflix’s Full Swing, continues to work with adidas on his personal on and off course styling and also has a collaborative line with the brand. “I want to make things that are accessible and can be worn not just on the golf course, but everywhere,” Morikawa said in a Golf Digest interview. “I think that’s the biggest thing. I’m a fairly casual person. I love T-shirts and shorts wherever I go, growing up in LA. If we can bring that, but elevate it just enough so that it passes on the golf course, but looks sleek and casual still, I’m all for that with Adidas.” The sport has entered the age of individuality and self expression, and a lot of golf’s newer enthusiasts are looking to stand out through what they wear both on and off the course. A look back at the sport’s evolving attire gives a better view of its often too proper fashion scene. Additionally, some moments in its storied existence also paint a better clue of where golf fashion is heading.

In the late 1960s to 1970s, golf had steered away from players wearing full blazers, long stockings, and flat caps. During this period, pros started sporting a more casual attire with pastel-colored knitted polos and knit cardigans. High-waisted pleated trousers and oxford shoes accompanied these looks, giving golf fashion a new direction. The mid-late 1970s to the 1980s was the era of loud patterns and colors. Vibrant pastels, plaid prints and houndstooth patterns on polos and trousers became the norm. Also highlighted on the PGA TOUR during this time were flared polyester trousers, mock neck turtlenecks, sweaters, and sweater vests. The bold colors and patterns from the ‘70s made its way into the ‘80s with the addition of baggy crew neck sweaters, which came in neutral hues to contrast the bold pastels. The emergence of a young Tiger Woods in the ‘90s pushed golf into the mainstream and influenced a newer crop of golfers to take on the sport. Suddenly, fans took on Woods’ influential style with brands like Nike, a label that was never really associated with the sport of golf until The Swoosh signed Woods as an ambassador. Additionally, traditional golf brands like TaylorMade and Callaway started outfitting their pros with more modern pieces too such as baggy polos, visors, hats and loose trousers. Golf wear on the course was evolving in reaction to the Tiger Woods phenomena alongside Nike, and performance-lead apparel started to dominate with elements like sweat-wicking fabrics, breathable materials and performance-driven golf shoes.

In addition to Woods and in contrast to more modern performance designs, pro English player Ian Poulter has also impacted golf fashion with his “old world” style – he’s renowned for his excessively loud printed trousers, British flag-emblazoned tops and shiny fabric ensembles. Profiled in Netflix’s Full Swing documentary, Poulter is described as someone who has brought edge and excitement to tournaments. “I didn’t just want to be a golfer,” Poulter says in the series. “I wanted to be my own personality.” Poulter’s style echoes the rebellious spirit of the past, influenced by players like Payne Stewart who was a golf fashion trailblazer. Stewart also wore loud prints, baggy trousers and a signature flat cap and he in some way opened the doors for more expressive clothing in the game. With golf now entering, the post Tiger Woods Nike era, millennials and Gen Zers are now keen on giving the sport a facelift through fashion. Fashion has basically become a gateway into the sport amongst the younger generation and new lifestyle-forward brands have brought their own take on golf attire. Brands such as Malbon, Metalwood Studio and Eastside Golf are changing the narrative of what golf attire can look like on the course. “A lot of these new brands are giving golfers and amateurs options, ” says Cole Young, founder of Metalwood Studio. “For so many years, my only options were TravisMathew, G/FORE and Peter Millar. Those were the three alternatives I had if I didn’t want to wear Nike, adidas, or Puma.”

Established in LA, Malbon bridges the gap between streetwear and golf by collaborating with brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, HUF, Girl Skateboards, and New Balance. Through its range of knit and outerwear offerings, the brand also pays homage to vintage golf aesthetics from the ‘60’s. Eastside Golf is a brand that brings different influences to the sport, casting a broader net to potential enthusiasts. The brand offers garments that are influenced by basketball and black culture, with a logo of a Black golfer wearing a gold chain and hat. Its ethos “Be Authentic” translates to the course with pros and amateurs expressing themselves by wearing a colorfully-printed polo or more casual attire. Eastside offers those cultural influences on the sport’s traditional polo trousers, hats, and visors. Notably, the brand had a major collaboration with Jordan, giving an updated take on cardigans and making performance hoodies, t-shirts, polo shirts, and even retro Jordan sneakers. Vintage athleisure wear has been a growing trend in fashion and we are seeing that trend spread into golf, especially with pieces coming from the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Metalwood Studio is a brand based in California founded by Cole Young, who enjoys and appreciates that era of golf. The brand harnesses the style of those times by designing more relaxed pants and baggy polos. “So Metalwood, in its very core DNA, really romanticizes the least fashionable era of golf in a normcore ironic way,” Young explains. “So we are trying to make the largest pleated pants and the baggiest polo possible.” Through these off-key, retro designs, Metalwood Studios also gives vintage fashion fans a path to what the sport has to offer.

Golf clearly has a lot to offer the fashion world in terms of more lifestyle-based designs. While technical products and more performance-driven styles have dominated the scene for casual players, brands like Malbon, Metalwood Studio and Eastside Golf offer more versatile options for younger appreciators of the sport. The days of regular polos and golf slacks aren’t going anywhere but printed T-shirts, baggy hoodies and sneaker-like golf shoes will soon become the norm, too. Having more options in golf attire is opening up the game to broader audiences and bridging different cultures and niches to the sport. You can watch the immersive golf documentary series, Full Swing, now streaming only on Netflix.