Layering in Style: Dressing for Cold Weather Golf

Ran Fiennes, considered the greatest living explorer, kind of nailed it when he said “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.” Sage advice whether you’re scaling mountains or being a bit less extreme and venturing out to play some fall or winter golf. The maxim holds true in both cases. 

For the lucky few who live in temperate climates year-round, layering for golf is probably a low priority or perhaps alien entirely. But for the vast majority of the golf population who relish year-round play, it can be a massive unlock when you consider the effects a cold body has on performance. 

Why Layering Matters

We all know what being cold feels like but you may not be aware of just what level of havoc it can wreak on your body and golf game. In the cold, the body is dealing with a number of things we may not necessarily be aware of, like: 

Reduced Flexibility and Range of Motion: Cold temperatures cause muscles to tighten, limiting flexibility and, in turn, your range of motion. The length and fluidity of your swing take the hit. So, in addition to the shorter ball flight associated with the cold, you could be giving up additional yards if you’re not keeping your golf muscles warm and primed.

Loss of Power: Similarly, cold muscles are less efficient and, combined with reduced flexibility, can sap your power creating even greater power leaks.

Joint Efficiency: Cold weather also reduces the lubrication in our joints, specifically affecting the stretch and recovery of ligaments and tendons. Cold rounds can translate into longer-than-normal recovery times thanks to additional soreness so the warmer we keep our bodies throughout a round, the more quickly we can get back to the course.

Mental Focus: The most important muscle in golf is, or likely should be, our brain.  A cold body is distracted and uncomfortable which means focus is greatly reduced, if not sapped entirely, as we stand shivering over an impending skulled chip that rattles every bone in our body. 

Fear not, all of the above can be avoided with the right approach to layering for a nippy nine or inclement 18.

Base Layer Basics

The foundation to the right layering kit starts with the layer closest to your skin. In cold temps that should be an appropriate base-layer option. The first and, hopefully, most obvious consideration is ensuring the base layer you choose is actually built for cold weather and not something like UPF protection. 

Cold-weather base layer should do two things: wick moisture from your skin while it works to keep your core temperature regulated. Depending on your specific geography and playing conditions, the options can vary immensely. One of the key considerations in choosing the right base layer is ensuring it fits you snugly. Some players prefer compression-infused base-layer options while others don’t love the squeeze and opt for something looser. Either will work but the most important performance factor, above and beyond temperature regulation, is ensuring it doesn’t get in the way, especially when you consider the next layers to come. Just keep in mind: the closer the fit, the better it will be at insulating you.

Mid-Layer Musts

Mid layers can comprise one to two of the next ingredients, depending on your personal comfort and style. Some golfers like adding a polo over their base layer because of its ubiquity as the uniform of the game. Depending on the rigidity of a course’s dress code, a collar may still be a requirement regardless of the frigid temps which means having to have a polo in there somewhere. 

This “polo-plus” approach is what we see most often out on Tour and serves as the sort of de facto combination. As on-course style continues to evolve, it’s by no means a must. Whether you choose to sandwich a polo between your base layer and mid layer, the consideration should be focused one thing – breathability. Though it may sound counterintuitive, a polo stacked over your base layer should be relatively light and breathable, especially if it’s the first part of a multi mid-layer combination. Warm base layer combined with a heavier-weight, less breathable polo, topped off with a second mid layer equals sweaty golfer. Not fun if the wind happens to be blowing on those chilly days. 

If you’re opting to skip the polo and go with a single mid-layer kit, you can afford a bit more weight. But again, breathability should be a key consideration since the goal of base layer, as mentioned, is to both keep you warm and to wick moisture. Trapping that moisture under a non-breathable layer will only serve to make you chillier.  

Take it Outside: Choosing Your Outer Layer 

The proverbial icing on your layering cake is your outer layer. Playing temperature and conditions rule here. Your outer layer will have the widest breadth of options from which to choose simply because of the variability of both weather and personal comfort. Some may prefer to skip the mid layer entirely and just go with a polo as their next-to-skin layer, opting for an outer layer to finish things off.

Jackets have a very broad definition in both the industry and our own vernacular but typically we’re talking about something lighter than a coat that’s pretty easy to get off and on. Ease of putting on and removing sounds a bit remedial but we’ve likely all been on the course on a chilly day when we’ve needed to remove, put back on and repeat as the hours in a round tick by and the sun retreats, winds pick up and other conditions conspire to bloat your score. 

Outwear Options

We could do a very long piece on outerwear alone, especially when you factor in rain and wind. In the interest of keeping things more top-line, we’re going to focus on not playing golf during downpours or in Antarctica which, believe it or not, is a thing.

Let’s start with the foundation of every garment – its fabric. Boiling it down to basics, knits and wovens comprise nearly all of the fabrics we wear. For golfers, they comprise all of the fabrics we wear – unless you play in felt, in which case you should seek professional help. Let’s quickly examine their construction differences and for what each is best suited by design. 

Wovens vs Knits

Woven fabrics are created by weaving horizontal and vertical yarns together at right angles while knit fabrics are made by interlocking yarns in a series of loops. Knits are the more common type of fabric in our everyday lives and, in the context of layering, are an excellent choice for warmth plus breathability. Alternatively, the strength of wovens lies in their protection from the elements combined with their excellent durability. 

The easiest way to think about the differences between these constructions is to examine four key factors: hand feel, breathability, stretch and protection.

Hand Feel

At a very basic level, knits are soft and wovens are tough to the touch. T-shirts, socks and sweaters are all examples of knitted garments. Wovens are generally more rigid – think dress shirts, jeans and suits. 

Breathability

Knits are infinitely more breathable based on their construction. Their looped yarns leave them very permeable to the air and everything else including the elements. Wovens, on the other hand, are much more densely constructed and less permeable but, as a result, significantly less breathable. Think of knits as a screen and wovens as a tarp. Make sense? Great, keep reading. 

Stretch is Key

Stretch, especially in golf, is critical. Even without the incorporation of stretch-engineered yarns, knits naturally stretch much more based on the looseness of the construction. Traditional wovens don’t stretch; that’s not what they’re made to do. But that’s changed a lot in modern fabric construction. As a general rule of thumb for those of us uninterested in textile engineering, knits typically stretch more than wovens. 

Protection

Finally, the weather protection each fabric provides varies immensely. As mentioned, the looser construction of knits makes them great for breathable warmth but not so much for harsher elements. Alternatively, wovens are the industry standard for the elements. Rain jackets, ski shells, windbreakers … all wovens.

Style and Silhouette

The silhouette of the outer layer you choose can vary widely as well. Jacket designs run the gamut of styling from hoodies to bombers, all of which have made their way into the options of today’s golfers. For aesthetes that’s a fantastic thing. While styling cues across the landscape of jacket designs are quite wide, coverage, specifically the length of the body and neck, is really the biggest variable. 

Vests, or gilets as our European friends call them, are a very popular choice in golf as well for aspiring young finance bros, according to social media. Their sleeveless design has the obvious advantage of reducing bulk around our arms which, for some of us who prefer a more minimal feel, can be a great option.

Mid and Outer Layer Fabric Options 

Over the years, a handful of common fabrics and fills have emerged as the best options across nearly every brand in the apparel industry.  The reason? They work incredibly well. 

Fleece: Soft knit fabric that provides excellent insulation, retains heat and wicks away moisture.

Down Insulation: Exceptional warmth-to-weight ratio, trapping heat effectively. It’s used between layers of woven fabric to create puffer jackets and vests.

Synthetic Insulation (like PrimaLoft): Maintains insulation even when wet and is often more breathable than down. Like down, it’s under the hood and exists as a fill, not a fabric on its own.

Merino Wool: A personal favorite that naturally regulates temperature, wicks moisture and resists odor. It’s also soft to the touch and can be knit to a wide variety of weights. It’s a workhorse. Or a work sheep? You get the point.

The Bottoms Line

Golf bottoms are a less complex discussion as our core temp and comfort rely much more on our core, or trunk, in comparison to our extremities. A lack of insulation for our core contributes the most to heat loss thanks to how our bodies redistribute blood in cold conditions. If you can keep your torso warm, you’ll maintain blood flow to your limbs and can often keep the arms, legs, hands and feet warm by virtue of keeping your core warm. Regardless, we all vary greatly in terms of our individual core temperatures and, in turn, the warmth of our extremities follows suit.

The fabric debate from above doesn’t really apply to bottoms as the vast majority of all trousers, especially performance golf trousers, are woven. But for the sake of a clarifying analogy, you can think about bottoms fabrics like this: sweatpants are knits, chinos are woven. If you’re playing in soft sweatpants, even the fancy athleisure variety, you’re going to feel the wind versus wearing a pair of woven trousers. 

Heavier-weight woven trousers can generally cover cooler temperatures effectively without the need to layer. In exceptionally cold temperatures, base layers for your legs are abundant and do a great job as well.

A Selection of our Favorite Layering Options

Best of Base Layer

FootJoy Thermal Base Layer Shirt: A great option for those wanting something not quite as tight as compression base layer and an excellent choice for chilly days. FootJoy’s base layer features a crewneck construction to keep your look minimal while maximizing warmth.

Under Armour UA Base 4.0 ColdGear Crew: From the pioneers in base layer comes a new generation of ColdGear. UA Base 4.0 ColdGear is designed specifically for the cold with a brushed grid interior designed to trap heat against the body.

Dunning Long Sleeve Merino Base Layer: It’s made from naturally high-performing Merino wool and featuring smooth flat-lock seams for streamlined comfort against your skin. This crewneck is a natural wonder that will keep you temperature-regulated and itch-free in a wide variety of temperatures.

Mid Layer Must Haves

Greyson Modern Apache Long Sleeve Polo – A long-sleeved polo with as much style as performance, featuring an incredibly soft cotton-modal fabric blended with plenty of Spandex for excellent stretch.

Lightweight Cold.Rdy Quarter Zip Sweatshirt – The now-ubiquitous quarter-zip, built specifically for those colder rounds and featuring at least 70 percent recycled content. The simple but elevated design is ready for your chilliest rounds.

Rhoback’s The Condor 2.0: An elevated quarter-zip featuring the timeless style of jacquard herringbone which is as warm as it is stylish. Its classic looks are matched by its stretch nylon and polyester fabrication, designed for range of motion and lasting comfort.

Linksoul Sandbar Stripe Pocket Crew: A subtle twist on a classic crew sweater, it’s as soft as it is versatile. Featuring a cotton-rich construction, it’s a modern take on a golf closet classic.

RLX Golf Cashmere Hooded Sweater: It doesn’t get more luxurious than cashmere. The growing popularity of hoodies on the course is balanced with the classic knit construction of an ultra-soft cashmere.

Outstanding Outer Layers

Vice Embrace Shield Jacket: Built to withstand wind and water, it’s packed with features to keep you focused on your game and not the weather. It’s lightweight and features plenty of stretch in its construction to keep your swing moving.

Jordan Sport Men’s Golf Jacket: Packed with pockets and style, this lightweight woven keeps breathability in mind with a vented back to keep air and your swing flowing.

Lululemon Golf Half-Zip Windbreaker: Versatility abounds in this minimalist pullover from Lululemon. Built to battle wind and light rain, it features a combination of brushed fabric panels with nylon stretch woven to create a jacket that can do just about anything.

RLX Golf Hybrid Mockneck Vest: Hybrids don’t just live in your golf bag. Featuring a combination of super-soft French Terry combined with stretch woven polyester paneling across the back and over the shoulders, this vest is clean and modern with performance features to keep you comfortable for whatever the round has in store.

FootJoy ThermoSeries Hybrid Jacket: Combining technical knits with protective wovens, FootJoy have raised the bar with their ThermoSeries outerwear, designed for ease of adaptability thanks to its full-zip construction, ample pockets and weather protective panels.