Get Outfitted for Summer with Our Favorites from Dunning Golf

The 4th of July has come and gone, which means we’re about to hit prime summer. This means long days, twilight tee times, and, unfortunately, hotter-than-hell temperatures. This also means that you’re pretty much guaranteed to sweat throughout your round. Don’t worry, though, because we’ve got you covered. We took some of Dunning Golf’s best warm-weather apparel for a spin on the hottest summer days (so far) and picked some favorites to share with you. 

The brand utilizes COOLMAX fabrics, UPF protection, moisture-wicking materials, and ventilated mesh to design high-performance, stylish apparel that keeps golfers from overheating, even when the sun turns the dial up to 11. 

Whether you run hot and need some apparel to give you a reprieve or are someone who loves to take advantage of nearly empty courses on hot afternoons, we found the best polos and shorts to get you through the dog days of summer. 

Player Pique Performance Polo

If you are looking to revamp your summer golf wardrobe, we recommend starting with the Player Pique Performance Polo. Blending classic pique style with ultramodern performance materials, this shirt is absolutely perfect for staying cool on summer days. It’s made with a whopping 48% COOLMAX material, which does a huge amount of legwork in the heat, working alongside a surprisingly comfy blend of 49% polyester and 3% spandex. 

The fit is darn near perfect — if you want to tuck the shirt in, it looks great, but its not too long to go all day untucked, either. The four-way stretch allows for a freedom of movement you won’t get from a traditional cotton pique polo and the COOLMAX fabric worked wonders on the 100-degree Saturday we tested it on. One of our tester’s favorite features, though, was its unexpectedly good odor resistance — after five hours in the heat, there was virtually no lingering scent, which is something that certainly cannot be said for most polyester shirts. 

Player Fit Woven 8” Short

Designed to thrive on the golf course, the Player Fit Woven Shorts are equipped with four-way stretch and moisture-wicking properties to keep you cool, even on the warmest days. We tried the online-only 8” inseam version, which is definitely your best bet when temperatures are through the roof. The length is short enough to let your knees breathe while still providing enough coverage to make sure you look presentable at your local club or at the bar after your round. 

The Liberty Blue colorway that we tested is vibrant without drawing too much attention — it paired perfectly with the white Player Pique Performance Polo. We also were pleasantly surprised with how cool they were on a hot, sunny day; they kept sweating to a minimum and dried super fast when sweat reared its ugly head (or when a bump sent our drinks careening across the golf cart seat and onto our lap). We’ve tested a lot of performance shorts in the past few months, and these immediately leaped over our other pairs as the first we’ll reach for when things get toasty. The pockets are spacious, and the cut was comfortable with a shirt tucked in or untucked; an essential feature when it comes to summer golf. 

Quest Ventilated Solid Performance Polo

When it comes to summer golf, outfitting yourself with apparel that optimizes airflow is always a good idea. The Quest Ventilated Solid Performance Polo is our go-to choice for keeping cool and letting the breeze do the work. The newest addition to the brand’s Ventilation line, the shirt is their most well-ventilated and breathable shirts yet — even a light breeze cuts right through the fabric, keeping you cool and eliminating moisture before it gets out of control. 

The COOLMAX fabric is responsible for the moisture-wicking properties, while 12% spandex allows for four-way stretch and freedom of movement, ensuring that you’re comfortable, cool, and collected when you step up to your golf ball, from tee to green. The contrast placket adds a nice style element that separates it from other Dunning shirts, and the three-button design allows the wearer to tailor the look to their style: go wide and unbuttoned when things get heated, then easily do the buttons back up when you hit the 19th hole or local dinner spot after your round is over. 

Fairlane Striped Cotton Coolmax Polo

If you’re a fan of soft, silky smooth cotton blends, the Fairlane Cotton Coolmax Polo gets our top recommendation. Don’t be fooled, though, it is 50% cotton, but it’s also infused with 45% COOLMAX and 5% Spandex, meaning it is truly made to perform. The striped shirt excels on the golf course, but its sophisticated looks and elevated detailing make it ideal for the office, date night, or anywhere else you want to look your best. 

It may not be as breezy or moisture-wicking as its polyester counterparts, but our tester found that this shirt was still an excellent option for summer days, specifically for those early AM tee times that hold onto the chill of the night before or on sunny, warm days along the coast. The fit is flattering and details like the slightly contrasting sleeve cuffs make this shirt stand out just enough without drawing any unwanted attention. 

Player Fit Woven Pant

If you have to wear pants on the course this summer, or if you just don’t love the feel of shorts, we recommend picking up a pair (or two) of the Player Fit Woven Pant. Made from a similar material to the Player Fit Woven Shorts, these trouser-style pants are lightweight, breathable, and made to wick moisture, which will absolutely come in handy once that cool morning turns into a scorching afternoon. 

Like most Dunning apparel, the details are what really make these pants shine. The classic straight fit is flattering and perfectly straddles the line between slim and roomy, ensuring that you look put together on the course while still having a wide range of movement in every direction. The poly/spandex blend is smooth and cool to the touch, even when temperatures rise. We love that they come in seven different colors, making them the perfect pants to stock up on, and the considerable size range means any golfer can dial in the ideal fit for them. 

This article was written in partnership with Dunning.