One of the great things about golf is that no two rounds are ever the same. So much can change from one round to the next, and that includes the weather conditions.
Some days, you'll play when the air has that fall or spring morning chill. Some days, you'll play when, frankly, it's a bit too cold to be out there. Other days, it's so hot that you can't see straight. And, of course, there are those picture-perfect days.
Since the weather conditions change when you play golf, you should have -- where possible and necessary -- different pieces to wear to be most comfortable on the golf course on any given day. After all, if you feel good, you'll play good. Well, gooder.
For me, that means having a few different hoodies for golf. They're a nice change up for quarter-zips, and the hood can be helpful on top of my head or in keeping the back of my neck a little warmer. Not all hoodies are the same, though. Some have pockets. Some are meant to be a middle layer versus a top player. Some are made of performance materials to wick away sweat when the hoodie does its job in keeping you warm. Many hoodies are meant to be warmer for the winter and the months adjacent.
In my experience, there are a handful of hoodies that have been most useful to me in my closet. Several brands have unique features in their hoodies that make them stand out in a great way. Some brands have hoodies that aren't particularly unique but have such great utility that they're superior products.
The golf hoodies that I'm recommending are ones I've owned and worn personally. Not only do IÂ like how they look and perform, but their quality holds up time after time. This isn't the be-all-end-all list -- rather, it's all based on personal experience.
DISCLOSURE: I discuss all of these products at my discretion, and we may make a commission on sales from these links.
My top 5 golf hoodies
Peter Millar Pine performance hoodie
Peter Millar performance hoodies have the most versatility and utility I've experienced for golf. The hoodies, which aren't cheap at $145, come in six solid colors that makes them work with practically any color palette. The four-way stretch material is just thick enough to keep in the heat, while the poly-spandex blend wicks away the occasional bead of sweat. The waffle-style backing on the fabric keeps the hoodie from moving around too much. The raglan-style sleeves are good for the golf swing, and the bottom hem keeps the piece looking dapper on and off the course.
Swannies Vandyke hoodie
Swannies makes a pair of great hoodies, and the Vandyke is the more versatile of the two. It's really a quarter-zip with a hoodie attached, and that gives it a unique look that seems to have been replicated by other companies. The zipper turns out to be really useful, especially if you ever feel like your hoodie is choking you out on the course. The gang at Swannies offers this great piece at $89 (with sales right now down to $45). The poly-spandex material has four-way stretch properties, is available in nine different colors (or combos) and has an adjustable hood.
Rhoback Hesi performance hoodie
Rhoback has grown and changed significantly since they first hit the scene, drawing in people -- including myself -- with unique printed polos. Back in the day, the Hesi performance hoodie got more printed options than we get now, but the Hesi itself is still a tremendous piece, even as Rhoback has matured as a brand. It's still available in a wide variety of colors and looks, and it's available for a reasonable $115. The poly-nylon-spandex VSoft fabric is stretchy, yes, but it maintains its shape and form over tons of washes. The fabric holds up over time, and the adjustable hood is nice to have. The Hesi is soft and feels great on the skin, while it's cut to a modern look that can fit almost any sized guy well. It's great at the course, in the gym and in any casual setting.
Puma Cloudspun Tech golf hoodie
Puma is such an underrated brand for technical golf pieces. They push the envelope with colors and styles, yes, but their Cloudspun fabric is tremendous in hoodies and quarter-zips. The Cloudspun Tech hoodie was a find in an Indiana pro shop this past spring, and it's quickly become a big favorite. Cloudspun Tech is its own material, a 77-23 blend of recycled poly and elastane, and it's soft-brushed for a truly unique feel. It lays on the body with a bit more rigid form, so it doesn't have a tendency to look slunk over the person. The piece has four-way stretch to go anywhere you do on the golf course, while the form of it tends to hold up a little better on a windy day.
B. Draddy Andy quilted hoodie
For all of the hoodies I've talked about so far, they're all missing two things I like quite a bit: quilted materials and a kangaroo pocket. The B. Draddy Andy hoodie has both. It's meant to be a warmer hoodie with a more luxurious look. I love the Draddy kangaroo pocket -- though it's not like they invented it -- because it has lots of room for my hands to sit in it and move about freely. They're not effectively decorative. The hoodie has a mix of Pervuian cotton, polyester and a little nylon so it feels great, moves well and seems to feel even better the more you wear and wash it. At $260 full price, it's quite expensive, so this would definitely be a treat-yoself kind of thing for most people...or a targeted holiday-sale or sale-rack purchase.
