Long gone are the days when your only options in golf shirts were the unflattering, stuffy kinds you wouldn’t be seen dead in off the course.
There’s a growing trend for pieces that work just as well in casual settings as they do on the links – and thank goodness, really.
Golf will always be a game of traditions, and while plenty of places still insist on a collared-shirt dress code, there’s far more fun to be had when it comes to choosing a shirt than ever before.
The selection of garments below shows just how much variety there is on offer for golfers of all tastes, whether they prefer something traditional or a more contemporary feel.
Most importantly, they look great and they’ll make you feel more confident as you head to the first tee – and besides, who cares how you play when you look a million dollars on the tee box, right?
How we tested
We tested all the products recommended below, and plenty more, over the course of our regular rounds over a number of months, considering how they all transferred from casual settings to the course.
Like many hardy weekend warriors, we were grinding away in rough conditions at the start of the year, which allowed us to test shirts as underlayers. Then, despite the UK weather doing its best to ruin our fun, the shirts below came into their own as the first signs of spring emerged. We were also able to take samples on a Portuguese golf trip, testing shirts in much warmer climates.
Best golf shirts to buy in 2024 at a glance
- Best for traditional styling: g.PERTH micro knit mercerised cotton golf shirt – £75, Glenmuir
- Best for breathable material: ULTIMATE365 TOUR HEAT.RDY polo shirt – £55, Adidas
- Best for wardrobe staples: Smart golf polo shirt – £50, Crew Clothing
- Best for the football-obsessed golfer: Club Golf polos – £42.98, Club Golf
- Best for adding a splash of colour: Tour Tech Reg Fit Print Polo in Savanna Estate Blue - £80, J Lindeberg
- Best long sleeve golf shirt: Men’s golf essential long sleeve polo – £55, Castore
- Best for transferring off the course: The Fife golf shirt – £125, Big Draw Golf
- Best for smarter fits: Crown Sport Drum Performance Jersey Polo – £85, Peter Millar
- Best for sustainability: Reflo Bohai Polo – £65, Reflo
Shop the edit below
Glenmuir g.PERTH micro knit mercerised cotton golf shirt
Best for: traditional styling
Glenmuir has been making golf gear in the home of golf, Scotland, since 1895 – and there’s a great sense of tradition in everything they do.
The brand produces pieces of reliable quality, which will slot into any golfer’s wardrobe and withstand dozens and dozens of wears and washing cycles. The 2024 range celebrates the brand’s fine heritage, taking influence from traditional offerings to produce versatile pieces that will become go-to items for years to come.
The g.Perth shirt in blue, grey and livelier aqua options comes in a comfortable micro-knit cotton which, despite a pleasing thickness, has a soft finish and moisture-wicking properties that make it a good option all year round.
If you’re after more tasteful staples like this one, then check out the retro-inspired signature items in Glenmuir’s 1891 collection, too, as well as their Ryder Cup range.
Buy now £75.00, Glenmuir
Adidas ULTIMATE365 TOUR HEAT.RDY polo shirt
Best for: breathable material
Adidas is, of course, one of the behemoths of athletic wear and golf clothing, kitting out pros on the PGA tour like Xander Schauffele, Colin Morikawa and European starlet Ludwig Aberg. The distinctive three-stripe logo is one of the most recognisable in sport, and the kind of style and affordable quality that you’d associate with the brand carries across into its golf range.
The shirts in the 2024 golf collection offer affordable quality and breathable materials, perfect for players who prefer a breezier, less structured fit. The collar and the colour help the TOUR HEAT.RDY polo, made of 100 per cent recycled polyester jacquard, stands out visually, and when it comes to playing in the heat, this is the one we’d reach for. It’s designed for hot weather, and it shows. Adidas’s body mapping HEAT.RDY technology – which is all to do with strategic ventilation zones – offers great breathability during use.
There are a number of gently experimental and tropical-inspired prints to choose from in the Adidas golf range, too. We’ve gone for the TOUR HEAT.RDY polo here, but the ULTIMATE365 ALLOVER polo in a fetching zig-zag design is also worth checking out if you prefer a slightly stretcher fit and more of a patterned print.
Buy now £55.00, Adidas
Crew Clothing smart golf polo shirt
Best for: wardrobe staples
Crew Clothing is pretty new to the golf game, but they’ve made a very strong start.
The brand makes versatile staples which will last and last in tasteful colour palettes. Not everyone wants zany prints and statement patterns all the time, after all, and Crew Clothing’s golf range offers a range of excellent choices in a wide range of block colours that will go with just about anything.
One offering is the Smart golf polo, which is the kind of workhorse shirt with an “active-stretch” blend of nylon and elastane that will never let you down on the course. There are nine colours to choose from, but we're big fans of the tasteful pink option. It isn’t normally the most versatile of colours, but the “chalky pink” finish goes with plenty of fits.
The brand’s golf products all come at competitive price points, making them good options for filling out your wardrobe.
Buy now £50.00, Crew
Club Golf England polo
Best for: the football-obsessed golfer
Love football shirts, but want to look smart while you’re playing? Club Golf has you covered.
You won’t get away with wearing football shirts at most courses, but you’ll always look the part with Club Golf’s range of shirts tastefully reimagining iconic designs from the beautiful game.
There’s a whole host of designs to choose from, but our pick is their take on England’s classic third kit from Italia 90. The brand has turned the cult shirt into a golf polo, taking the inspired blue pattern and creating something new.
Other designs include fresh versions of classic Arsenal, Aston Villa, Celtic, Chelsea, Everton, Leeds, Liverpool, Man Utd, Newcastle, Rangers, Spurs and West Ham shirts, as well as other international teams like Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Buy now £42.98, Club Golf
J Lindeberg Tour Tech Reg Fit Print Polo in Savanna Estate Blue
Best for: adding a splash of colour
Conservative dressers, beware. J Lindeberg is the place to find bolder prints, along with eye-catching luxury pieces, which will always make a statement on the course.
A J Lindeberg shirt has become something of a status piece in the world of golf over recent years, and the Swedish luxury brand has become synonymous with premium clothing in the sport.
The gear, we’re pleased to say, lives up to the hype. The Tour Tech Reg Fit Print Polo in Savanna Estate Blue is a complete joy, and could be our favourite shirt of the year so far. The print is surprisingly versatile, while being a real statement piece – and a welcome reminder that golf is all about having fun on the course.
J Lindeberg’s TX Jersey fabric is also flattering and the four-way stretch tech helps it avoid clinging in uncomfortable places during rounds. For such a vibrant design, we’re also fans of the subtle logo embroidery on the collar.
We’d recommend taking care over the sizing. The garments from J Lindberg are often fitted, and unless you want to show off your gym gains on the course, sizing up could potentially be the play here.
Buy now £80.00, Scottsdale Golf
Castore men’s golf essential long sleeve polo
Best: long sleeve golf shirt
You’ve probably seen Castore decking out teams like Newcastle United and the England men’s cricket team, and it has made a big impact in a short space of time since being founded in 2015. The brand has continued its rise and expanded into golf, and in its range, you’ll find a wide selection of athleisure-inspired fits and versatile pieces for all climates.
The golf shirt range seems to be more inspired by activewear than most, offering a more contemporary, athletic take on the classic golf shirt. There’s a great deal to choose from in the Castore range, but it’s actually not as easy as you might think to find a good long-sleeve golf polo in 2024 – here, Castore has you covered.
The material of the men’s golf essential long-sleeve polo is breathable and offers freedom of movement, while the smart collar is fitting of a garment that wouldn’t be out of place in the smartest of clubhouses. For something a little more eye-catching there’s the bright green engineered knit polo, which is another highlight of an impressive golf range from a brand going places in 2024.
Buy now £55.00, Castore
Big Draw Fife golf polo
Best for: transferring off the course
It’s always exciting to see emerging brands trying new things in the golf space, and Big Draw is one doing things its own way.
The Fife polo is designed with off-the-course activities thoroughly in mind, as the founders were sick of wearing unfashionable, ill-fitting golf clothing to and from their weekly rounds – something plenty of golfers will identify with.
The first thing you’ll notice is the softness and quality of the material that goes into the Fife polo. There’s the colour, too, which is inspired by the Macaroni Cheese Toastie from the Cheese Toastie shack in Fife.
The brand is thoroughly against the stuffiness that still clings to the sport in certain quarters, as the shirt is designed for people “in the bar drinking Dark Fruits after shooting 40 points on the front nine” – cheers to that.
Buy now £125.00, Big Draw
Peter Millar Crown Sport Drum Performance Jersey Polo
Best for: smarter fits
Need to look smart for a special round? Peter Millar’s range of tailored golf polos shows that you don’t need to sacrifice comfort to look sharp.
The brand, out of Raleigh, North Carolina, produces some of the most tastefully put-together golf shirts you’ll find, with some of the softest materials we tested. The Crown Sport Drum Performance Jersey polo is packed with features too. The garment is made of 92 per cent polyester and eight per cent spandex, with antimicrobial properties, “four-way stretch” and UPF 50+ sun protection – perfect for looking smart on a summer’s day.
Of all the pieces in this list, if we were heading for a round at a premium golfing destination, this is probably the one we’re grabbing.
Buy now £85.00, Peter Millar
Reflo Bohai Polo
Best for: sustainability
In an industry where many brands claim to make commitments to renewable practices, without always following through, Reflo is staying true to its word.
Reflo is relatively new on the scene, and if you are familiar with the brand you'll know it for one of two things. Firstly, they produce garments made from fully recycled materials, and two, England captain and golf obsessive Harry Kane is its main ambassador.
Thankfully, the clothes themselves are very good too – and the Bohai polo represents one of the most interesting golf shirts available to buy in 2024.
Not only is the Bohai made from 100 per cent recycled content, but it can also in turn be fully recycled – right down to the buttons and the labels. The performance pique fabric made of 100 per cent recycled polyester is comfortable and breathable and the shirt comes in a variety of block colours which will smarten up any outfit.
If you prefer something a little snazzier, the wide range of golf shirts in the Reflo brand offer plenty of variety when it comes to prints and patterns too. Whatever floats your boat, this is definitely a brand to keep an eye on.
Buy now £65.00, Reflo
