The Five Best Cotton Golf Polos

I had the pleasure of meeting Charlie Hulme in the media center at Shinnecock, and we were united by a common bond: cotton golf polos. We’ve both been preaching the gospel for some time now, and he cleverly coined the term #summerofcotton.

Seeing that we’re firmly in the dog days of summer (it’s 90 degrees as I’m writing this) I can’t think of a better time to offer a definitive ranking of the best cotton polos on the market. Synthetic, microplastic-laden golf polos have had their reign for far too long and, if you haven’t spent any time reading up on the health and environmental concerns surrounding microplastics, you probably should. Organic materials like cotton are better for the environment, better for your skin and, quite frankly, they look and feel better than the vast majority of synthetic options out there.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: most “premium” golf polos are little more than unremarkable synthetics with an inflated price tag. If you’re going to spend premium money, it ought to be on something with a genuinely different value proposition. To me, that means cotton.

The Lowdown on Cotton

Before we get into the list, let’s address the elephant in the room: no, modern cotton golf polos are not the thick, heavy, restrictive pique polos from the 1990s that you might be picturing. Today’s best cotton golf polos are lightweight, soft, breathable and, in many cases, really good at wicking moisture. In fact, some of them feel almost identical to synthetic performance polos, just without the microplastics or the general sense that you’re wearing an overpriced gym shirt with a collar. Cotton polos have come a long way, and if you haven’t tried one recently, there’s a good chance your perception of them is outdated.

Without further ado, here’s our list. While unfortunate, this list isn’t very extensive because there aren’t too many cotton golf polos on the market. However, for the few out there, there are some true standouts.

1. B. Draddy Gibson Cotton Polo

As most of you know, I’ve said for a while now that Quince makes the best overall golf polo. That distinction is largely driven by value: price relative to quality. But let me be perfectly clear: Quince does not make my favorite golf polo. That title belongs squarely to the B. Draddy Gibson.

Simply put, this shirt is elite. Made from 92 percent Peruvian Pima cotton, the Gibson looks, feels and performs exactly the way a premium cotton polo should. In fact, when I first got one, I could hardly believe it was cotton. More than any other shirt, the Gibson is what sent me down the cotton polo rabbit hole because it completely changed the way I thought about cotton golf polos.

If you’re someone who still believes cotton polos are too hot, too heavy or incapable of wicking moisture, the Gibson will shatter that misconception in a hurry. It’s lightweight, soft, breathable and remarkably good at regulating temperature during and after a warm round. In a word, the B. Draddy Gibson is elite, and for me, it remains the gold standard.

2. B. Draddy Murph Cotton Polo

B. Draddy again? You bet. As I said earlier, when it comes to cotton golf polos, B. Draddy is the gold standard. Because the Murph is also made from 92 percent Peruvian Pima cotton, it shares much of what makes the Gibson so special. The feel is soft, lightweight, breathable and premium in every sense.

What separates the Murph is the chest pocket. It gives the shirt character, a bit of throwback charm and, perhaps most importantly, some actual utility. For whatever reason, I hate loading my shorts or pants pockets up with tees while I’m playing and often find myself shoving them into my hat instead. With the Murph, I use the chest pocket constantly. It’s a small detail, but it makes a great golf polo even better.

3. Holderness & Bourne Herron Shirt

Holderness & Bourne already makes some of the best polos in golf, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the Herron is excellent. In my opinion, it’s right there with the Burton as one of the best shirts the brand makes. Compared to the B. Draddy offerings above, the Herron feels a bit heavier and doesn’t wick moisture quite as effectively, but that shouldn’t be mistaken for a criticism. This is still a terrific cotton golf polo—refined, comfortable and exceptionally well made. As is often the case with Holderness, the fit is also outstanding. If you’ve got an athletic frame, their polos tend to look exceptionally good.

4. Arnie McNair Arnie Polo

A relative newcomer, Arnie McNair is already making some of the best cotton polos on the market. The Arnie Polo uses a cotton-modal blend, and the modal does a tremendous job with temperature regulation and moisture management while keeping the shirt exceptionally soft and lightweight. It’s one of those polos that feels almost weightless when you put it on, which is exactly what you want in the middle of summer. Just as importantly, it looks the part. The Arnie feels timeless—like a shirt that would’ve looked right in just about any era of golf. My only complaint is that I wish it came in striped or lightly patterned options because the shirt itself is outstanding. Be warned, however, if you want this shirt, you’re going to have to wait a bit. Arnie McNair’s polos are currently backordered. #Summerofcotton is trending.

5. Johnnie-O Original 4-Button Polo

The Johnnie-O Original 4-Button Polo is another strong cotton-modal offering, though it lands a bit lower on this list for one simple reason: length. It’s cut roughly two inches shorter than the majority of golf polos and is clearly designed to be worn untucked. As someone who tucks in his shirt while playing, I find that a little limiting. That said, if you’re an untucker—and plenty of golfers are these days—this shirt may be right up your alley. The shirt itself looks and feels terrific. I love the longer four-button placket, which gives it a more casual, old-school look than the typical three-button golf polo. It’s also one of the thicker shirts on this list, which means it tends to hold a bit more moisture than some of the lighter cotton options above. Even so, it’s still a very good shirt and an easy recommendation for golfers who prefer a shorter, untucked fit.

The Bottom Line

If there’s one thing I hope this guide makes clear, it’s that cotton golf polos deserve to be taken seriously. The idea that cotton polos are inherently heavy, hot or ill-suited for golf is badly outdated. Today’s best cotton polos are soft, lightweight, breathable and, in many cases, remarkably good at regulating temperature and managing moisture. More importantly, they simply look and feel better than the vast majority of synthetic options on the market.

For me, cotton offers a better value proposition than most “premium” performance polos ever could. You’re getting natural materials, less plastic against your skin and a shirt that generally looks more refined on and off the course. If you’ve spent years defaulting to synthetics, I’d encourage you to give one of these a try. There’s a good chance you won’t want to go back.