This year I have the honor of attending the annual Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge on Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 1-5) in Miami. Now, all I have to do is figure out what to wear. The problem is I haven’t played golf in a decade, so for this edition of Suit Your Life, I enlisted the expertise of my golf fanatic friends (a.k.a the pros) to help me put together a stylish and functional golf wardrobe for my weekend under the Miami sun. As I hope for no rain (but am always "boy scout" prepared), here are some of my recommendations to be stylish on the links. See you in Miami. —Gardy V. Guerrier
This year I have the honor of attending the annual Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge on Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 1-5) in Miami. Now, all I have to do is figure out what to wear. The problem is I haven’t played golf in a decade, so for this edition of Suit Your Life, I enlisted the expertise of my golf fanatic friends (a.k.a the pros) to help me put together a stylish and functional golf wardrobe for my weekend under the Miami sun. As I hope for no rain (but am always "boy scout" prepared), here are some of my recommendations to be stylish on the links. See you in Miami. —Gardy V. Guerriermore
THE PANTS Even with my desire to have a more modern look for my pants with a flat front, slim cut, I know I’ll also need it to have a bit of stretch in the material for all the bending I’ll be doing. The RLX Golf Greens Stretch Chino Pant ($125) in lightweight stretch cotton fit just the way I needed, to make me at least look like I belong on the course, instead of just like someone who should be drinking in the clubhouse as I normally do. more
THE POLO Tiger Woods and Nike have married the technology advances of sportswear apparel and fashion with his TW golf line very well. The TW Dri-FIT UV Men's Mini Argyle Golf Polo ($70) has a great fit with its slimmer cut, as well as sun-blocking, and sweat-wicking fabric to keep you cool. more
THE BELT Accessories make an outfit but as men we’re very limited in that category. A great belt, however, will not only keep your pant firmly on your waist, but also make a statement to all checking you out in mid-swing. The J Lindeberg classic Bridger Pro Leather belt ($108) on the left or the Miami Pro Leather belt ($108) with unique golf club design on the right are both great options. more
THE HAT Being out in the sun for hours on end, it’s important that I have something on my head to protect me from those intense rays. One of the big things that drew me to the Callaway($22) pro vent cap was its mesh back and sweat-absorbent brim to help keep me dry and protected during a long day out. more
THE GLOVES I squeezed my hands through a lot of gloves and the FootJoy StaSof gloves ($24) were the most comfortable I tried. They had the most ease of movement between my thumb and index finger, giving me the best grip while swinging my clubs. SYL TIP: Buy a size smaller than you normally wear in gloves since the leather will stretch and contour to the fit of your hand as you use it. Â more
THE UNDERWEAR You do research to figure out what the best socks, gloves, and clubs are; so why wouldn’t you do the same for your underwear? The pros I spoke to made it a point to say “don’t forget the underwear†and I most certainly have not. The pair I felt the most comfortable in was the Under Armour Men's O Series Boxerjock ($20). The boxers are made to stay in place without bunching, have moisture wicking technology to prevent overheating and chafing, as well as Anti-Odor technology to prevents the growth of odor causing microbes. more
THE SOCKS Fact: Cotton socks are not good for sports. Why? Cotton socks retain moisture when you sweat, which heightens the risk of developing blisters, athlete's foot, or infections. With that in mind, I was determined to find the best non-cotton sock for a day of walking the green, and after a discussion with my pros, I was introduced to the FootJoy Men’s TechSof Low Cut Socks ($12). TechSof Low Cut Sock is a blend of polyester, acrylic, nylon, and Dri-Lex that wicks away moisture and has cushioning in those key areas on our feet where we apply the most pressure. more
THE SHOES Everyone may have had different opinions on which company had the best designs, but when it came to who made the best golf shoe, all votes from the pros were for the FootJoy brand. Their FJ Sport ($145) with its waterproof leather upper, mesh liner to allow your feet to breathe, and extra cushioning with arch support inside was easily the winner for most comfortable shoe. more
THE SHOETREECedar Shoetrees ($26) help to maintain the original shoe shape, prevent creases and cracking, and absorb moisture from the lining of the shoes. Even though we’re in a society of “less is moreâ€â€”especially when traveling—a shoetree lengthens the life of your shoes. Make sure you always pack yours. SYL TIP: You only need one shoetree. Your shoes are the most susceptible to creasing and cracking right after you’ve worn them due to the moisture that has softened the leather. Once you remove your shoe after a long day, insert the shoetree, and allow your shoes to dry overnight and repeat the process with the next pair of shoes you wear out.more
THE SUNGLASSES Ideal golf weather is warm and sunny, but there are many variants of light you’ll face in the course of a full round of golf. Oakley Flak Jacket XLJ sunglasses ($150) with interchangeable lenses gives you the ability to have the perfect eye protection for all the lighting conditions you’ll face on the green. They’re also lightweight and sit comfortably on the face. more
THE SUN BLOCK With the hours spent under the blazing sun in the course of one golf game, I thought it important enough to feature this item again. Use a sun block with a minimum SPF of 15. This will protect you from sunburn, sunstroke, premature aging, as well as skin cancer. Try the Menscience TiO2 Sun block SPF 30 for men ($31). SYL TIP: Apply sunscreen liberally to all parts of your body at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun. This will give your sunscreen time to be absorbed by your skin and be the most effective. Once out in the sun reapply every two hours.more
THE BACK-UP PLAN It’s always better to have packed an something and not need it, than not have it and be stuck with a monsoon coming down on your head as you’re trying to putt. The next few pages feature some other pro-approved items to protect me from any inclement weather I may face while enjoying the amazing course at Doral Golf Club. more
THE RAIN JACKET You’ll always need an umbrella and rain jacket to keep packed on trips. The Adidas Clima Proof Rain 3-Stripes Provisional Jacket ($75) is lightweight and waterproof and can be easily folded up and shoved in your bag for when you’re not using it. more
THE WATER RESISTANT PANTS The J Lindeberg Troon regular Micro Twill long pant on the left ($102) and the True Micro Twill short on the right ($79) are both ideal for rainy days out, as they're water resistant, but are also a well cut slim pant to keep you looking good as the water runs off you. more
THE UMBRELLA You've heard of golf umbrellas, well, this is the mother of them all. The Davek 62†Golf Umbrella ($129) has a fiberglass shaft and frame, guaranteed to endure gale-force winds of over 60 mph, and an aluminum-alloy "anchor spike" hidden within the handle, which when released by turning the handle acts as an anchor to secure the umbrella in the ground to use as a shield to keep your clubs dry. The umbrella also comes with an unconditional lifetime guarantee. more