The Best Golf Shirts for Men Are Anything But Par for the Course
The best golf shirts for men are way better than you remember. Only a few years ago, the average polo on the PGA Tour used to share more in common with a NASCAR racing suit than a shirt you'd actually want to wear at your local club. (Mortgage lending and insurance logos might pay the bills, but let's be real: is there anything less cool?) Luckily, for those of us who aren't obligated to shill shady financial products while out sinking putts, there's beaucoup links-ready shirts available right now that look great while still delivering on everything you want from an on-course polo: movability, breathability, and—most important—head-turning style.
If you’re in desperate need of a handful of tap-ins, the usual suspects have you covered. But if you really want to school the competition, there's an onslaught of upstart brands taking the golf shirt to territory it's never been before. We're talking retro-inspired knits, boldly-printed button-ups, and plenty of other options to give you the confidence you need to at least look like you’re about to go low. In other words, we're talking the absolute best golf shirts for men. What happens over the course of 18 holes is still on you, but at least you’ll be the best-dressed person in your foursome.
The Best Golf Shirts, According to GQ
- Best Overall Golf Shirt: Nike Tour, $75.00
- Best Budget Golf Shirt: Abercrombie Random Golf Club Rugby Polo, $50
- Best Golf Shirt for Bigger Guys: Adidas Ultimate365 Sport Polo Shirt, $90
- Best Pique Golf Shirt: Manors GOAT Pique Polo, $95
- Best Mesh Golf Shirt: Reigning Champ Solotex Mesh Tiebreak Polo, $115
- Most Versatile Golf Shirt: Vuori Gamepoint Polo, $84
- Best Golf Shirt for Summer: Lululemon ShowZero Polo, $98
- Best Classic Golf Shirt: Lacoste Contrast Collar Polo, $75
Best Overall Golf Shirt: Nike Tour
Material: Polyester | Sizes: XS to 4XL | Colors Available: 25+
Old faithful. The Nike Tour polo has been a mainstay in the golf world for years and remains one of the best picks if you’re looking for a well-fitting performance polo that simply goes with everything. The sweat-wicking Dri-FIT material needs no introduction at this point, but if you need a reminder: Dri-FIT set the standard for all performance materials. It’s the Kleenex of fitness fabrics: people say Dri-FIT to describe just about any fitness apparel, even if it’s not actually a Nike shirt. You can never go wrong with the Nike Tour.
Best Budget Golf Shirt: Abercrombie Random Golf Club Rugby Polo
Material: Cotton | Sizes: XS to 2XL | Colors Available: 2
Abercrombie’s comeback continues, this time thanks to a collaboration with one of golf’s most popular crews: Random Golf Club. The collection will outfit you head-to-toe, but we love this Rugby Polo, which perfectly blends modern golf with heritage style. Rock it with your favorite nylon shorts all summer long or pair it with a nice crewneck sweater when things start to cool off.
Best Golf Shirt for Bigger Guys: Adidas Ultimate365 Sport Polo Shirt
Material: Polyester | Sizes: S to 2XL | Colors Available: 1
Adidas is jumping on the vintage bandwagon, but it is doing it with its distinct, eagle-eyed dedication to performance details. The Ultimate365 Sport Polo follows the blueprint of every Ultimate365 piece Adidas makes, partnering Tour-worthy performance with subtle style cues suited for golfers at every level of the game. The generous fit is boxy but not baggy and the moisture-wicking stretch material will keep you comfortable throughout the day.
Best Pique Golf Shirt: Manors GOAT Pique Polo
Material: Cotton | Sizes: S to 2XL | Colors Available: 2
For many of us, the '90s were the halcyon days of golf wear: generous fits, sleeves that hit the elbows, and soft pique fabric that only got better with every wash. The Manors GOAT Pique Polo is an homage to those times, pairing a textured 100% cotton pique with an effortless vintage fit. Comfy from the very first wear but built to last, this polo will ooze style today, tomorrow, and twenty years from now.
Best Mesh Golf Shirt: Reigning Champ Solotex Mesh Tiebreak Polo
Material: Solotex mesh | Sizes: XS to 2XL | Colors Available: 7
Reigning Champ is the definition of refined performance. Pairing the best-of-the-best performance materials with timeless silhouettes, the brand has firmly entrenched itself at the intersection of style and engineering. The Solotex Mesh Tiebreak Polo fits the mold, blending one of the breeziest mesh fabrics out there with a simple, easy-wearing fit that is all in the details. Underarm gussets and semi-raglan sleeves allow for a wide range of movement, while metal-snap buttons give it an edge that most polos simply can’t come close to. You’ll fit in at the country club, but this ain’t no country club shirt.
Most Versatile Golf Shirt: Vuori Gamepoint Polo
Material: Recycled Polyester | Sizes: 2XS to 3XL | Colors Available: 5
If you haven’t noticed by now, tennis polos and golf polos are birds of a feather. The Gamepoint Polo from Vuori is case-in-point. The 100% recycled performance material is moisture-wicking and stretchy, meaning you’re free to swing your swing even when the hottest days of summer take hold. The modern athletic fit is flattering on and off the course, and the simple colorways look good on anyone.
Best Golf Shirt for Summer: Lululemon ShowZero Polo
Material: Nylon, modal, elastane | Sizes: S to 2XL | Colors Available: 2
To the folks who say golf isn't a real sport: Explain these sweat stains. We like this polo because of its sweat-wicking abilities, which are especially helpful when you're baking under the sun in the middle of a summer heatwave. While it might not feel like it's always working, rest easy knowing that other's won't be able to see the sweat, since the shirt was designed to get rid of the outward appearance of sweat. So while Bogey Bob's dripping from the pits because he forgot his deodorant this morning, you'll be looking cool and dry when you get your birdie. And for the days when you know it won't be that hot, Lululemon makes Evolution polo, which is 10 bucks cheaper, although you lose the ability to hide your sweat (but it is anti-stink!).
Best Classic Golf Shirt: Lacoste Contrast Collar Polo
Material: Cotton, Elastane | Sizes: S to 4XL | Colors Available: 5
OK, so Lacoste may be more of a tennis brand, but like its preppy compatriots, the iconic Croc logo is no stranger to the golf course. The country club crossover just makes sense, and we still love the look now. The Contrast Collar Polo, specifically, feels like the ideal golf companion, adding a bit of sporty flair that separates it from the pack. The fit is flattering on any guy and sizes go all the way up to 4XL, so nobody is left out.
More Golf Shirts We Love
Material: Polyester, Elastane | Sizes: XS to 3XL | Colors Available: 2
Much like Lacoste, Ralph Lauren has been outfitting athletes for decades, even though they’re not strictly a performance brand. We could go on and on about the classic good looks of a Polo polo, but for this list, we had to drop in the RLX Polo Bear polo, which blends the performance fabric of Ralph Lauren’s golf-oriented RLX label with the iconic Polo Bear, a duo that simply cannot be stopped.
Material: Polyester, Spandex Jersey | Sizes: S to 2XL | Colors Available: 5
Blending laid-back coastal aesthetics with detail-oriented performance design, Johnnie-O make some of the most easy-wearing, versatile polos in golf. The Performance Jersey Polo is made with a lightweight stretch jersey that lets you move freely on the course while also providing ample protection from the summer sun thanks to its UPF 50 rating. We also love its “Hangin’ Out” fit, which makes it easy to rock tucked-in or untucked.
Material: Cotton | Sizes: S to 2XL | Colors Available: 2
If you have a penchant for workwear and want to bring that style to the links, look no further than Quiet Golf’s Badge Polo Work Shirt. A six-inch zip-up collar, patch pocket and stitched badge logo make this shirt look equally at home on the tee box as it does next to a tool box, and the 100% cotton construction will only get better with age, just like your favorite French chore coat and workshirt.
Material: Polyester, Polyester Interlock | Sizes: S to 2XL | Colors Available: 3
Thanks to Adidas’s performance TWISTWEAVE material and Malbon’s keen eye for the little details, this polo is an easy win. The collar and mini v-neck remind us of our favorite retro soccer jerseys, while the minimal branding makes sure you can show out while staying off the radar of the stuffiest country club dress code enforcers. The fit is on point and, unlike many Malbon products, is stocked to the gills, so you’ll have no trouble getting your hands on one.
Material: Cotton, Elastane | Sizes: S to 2XL | Colors Available: 2
Made with organic Peruvian pima cotton, spandex, and Radmor’s RadCycled REPREVE, the Douglas Stadium Pique polo is the quintessential golf polo, blending equal parts style and performance. That’s what Radmor is all about: simple, stylish golf apparel that simply performs, no matter what. This shirt fits great, thanks to the brand’s clever extended range of motion design and with a UPF 35 rating, will protect you from the sun—something you can’t say for most cotton shirts.
Material: Polyester | Sizes: XS to XL | Colors Available: 3
The Tour Tech Polo from J. Lindeberg is timeless, yes, but it wouldn’t be a J. Lindeberg piece without a splash of detail that sets it apart from the rest. A mini icon on the collar and embroidered logo on the sleeves give this shirt just enough of a je nais se quois to stand out among the crowd of refined performance polos you’ll find on the course today. This is one of the more dialed-back efforts from the brand, making it a great addition to an existing golf wardrobe.
Material: Cotton | Sizes: XS to 2XL | Colors Available: 7
If you love cotton but aren’t convinced that pique is for you, Todd Snyder has the antidote: The Montauk polo. Made with a breezy, lightweight slub cotton, this buttonless polo is buttery soft and will keep you cool on the warmest days, making it a great pick for warm-weather golfers who don’t like the feel of performance poly fabrics.
Material: Cotton | Sizes: XS to 2XL | Colors Available: 13
Sid Mashburn is no stranger to the golf course, outfitting PGA pro “Cashmere” Keith Mitchell on Tour, so any questions about a style-focused brand’s ability to translate to the course can be put to rest. The Short-Sleeved Polo may look like any old polo, but the details separate it from the pack. A collar band supports the cut-and-sew collar, so it’ll look great after a long day on the course or with a jacket at a summer wedding. The branding is minimal and refined and the Peruvian pima pique is equal parts luxurious and rugged.
What to Look For in Golf Shirts
Material: Golf shirts are crafted from a diverse range of materials, each offering distinct advantages. Cotton provides softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties, making it a solid choice for keeping you cool and dry on the links. Alternatively, polyester, a man-made fiber, is known for its strength, durability, and wrinkle resistance, making it a perfect option for lightweight and quick-drying golf shirts you can rock all summer.
Some shirts are made with additional materials that add protection and comfort. Nylon, for example, is often incorporated for added protection against the elements. Spandex, thanks to its high elasticity and stretch, enhances comfort and flexibility in golf shirts, letting you swing your swing with no restriction. Finally, Merino wool, a natural fiber known for its softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking capabilities, is ideal for golf shirts because of its superior temperature regulation and comfort in various conditions.
Style: When picking out a golf shirt, style is just as important as performance. In fact, we are probably more likely to roll up in the course in a shirt that looks good than we are in a performance polo—look good, play good, right? With that said, you have a ton of options when it comes to flexing your personal style on the course.
Some shirts are designed with vintage 90s polos in mind, so they’ll be constructed with a boxier fit and (usually) longer sleeves alongside a deep button placket for maximum styling options. Others will be made more modern, with a slimmer fit and performance features. Those aren’t all stuffy picks, though, some performance shirts are just as stylish as their retro brethren. Others don’t resemble the golf shirts you know and love at all—they bring unique features to the links like zipper collars, patch pockets that resemble those on your mechanic’s favorite work shirt, or crazy designs that stand out from the pack.
No matter what style you go for, we say pick the one that makes you feel like a pro, even if a pro would never actually wear it on the golf course.
Special Features: As we’ve said, a number of polos out there are pretty simple, which isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, though, you need a bit more than the standard polo silhouette when you hit the links, whether for style reasons or performance reasons. Many performance brands enhance the fit with gusseted armpits, raglan sleeves, or other features that enhance your ability to move freely. Other shirts will have style features, like utilitarian snap buttons or a zipper collar instead of the standard button, or jacquard interspersed through the shirt for a texture change.
Look closely at the pictures each brand throws up on the site and take a gander at the description—sometimes you’ll find a feature you wouldn’t see otherwise.
How We Tested
With a solid crew of both new and lifelong golfers on staff, we’ve spent decades testing golf shirts, from actual early '90s polos we stole from our dads, '00s polos we copped in high school, and the modern performance shirts that dominated the scene throughout the 2010s. However, since we’re obsessive style vultures, we naturally dipped our toes into everything the last few years have brought to the scene, from soccer-inspired Blokecore polos to streetwear-inspired tees and tops to gorpcore crossovers from ACG and Adidas Adicross. We test them at the course, of course, but also at our local dive, on date night, and when we travel. In 2024, there’s no limit to where you can rock your golf gear.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.