Why We’re Digging This Early Ryder Cup Merch

It might be a little early for Ryder Cup merch (we’re a full seven months away), but today’s launch from Penfold Golf is worthy of a mention, and maybe your attention.

The new Penfold Ryder Cup 1927 line includes classic Penfold gear in both U.S. and Europe team colors, all made in partnership with British Millerain, the original pioneer of waxed canvas and featuring Penfold’s 1927 Ryder Cup logo.

If you’re a fan of retro-minimalist throwback golf collectibles (and yours truly certainly is), you’ll find the new Penfold merch intriguing. If it’s not your very British cup of tea, well, you can enjoy the pictures.

Let’s take a closer look.

Penfold Ryder Cup 1927 gear

The new Penfold Ryder Cup 1927 gear may be out in time for this September matches at Bethpage, but it’s intended for a two-year life cycle. 1927, you see, is the 100^th anniversary of the very first Ryder Cup. That first match took place at the Worcester Country Club in Worcester, Massachusetts. 1927 is also the 100^th anniversary of Penfold itself. 

The Penfold Ryder Cup 1927 line features Penfold’s classic Sunday bag, made from British Millerain’s waterproof Tekwax waxed canvas with full grain leather trim. It’s a true throwback Sunday carry bag with an eight-inch opening and a simple, X-shaped divider.

There’s also a minimalist waxed canvas backpack with an interior pocket for your laptop as well as an exterior pocket. Shoe bags, accessory pouches and CNC-milled ball markers round out the line.

What is “British Millerain?”

Hey, we didn’t know, either.

British Millerain is a 145-year-old, family-owned and operated textile company based in Lancashire. The company is credited with pioneering waxed canvas and patented its Millerain® rainproof finish in 1894.

Its fabrics are made with environmentally friendly processes, and its machinery in fueled by over 500 solar panels. Miller family fabrics were a staple of the British military for decades.

Penfold Ryder Cup 1927 gear: Price and availability

Ryder Cup merch, like most event-based golf stuff, can be divided into two camps, and both have their place. The first is the souvenir camp, which is generally made up of inexpensive tchotchkes that are more decorative than functional.

The Penfold Ryder Cup 1927 gear falls into the second category of higher quality and more functional collectibles. Frankly, that’s what we like about it. The minimalist styling works and if past Penfold products are an indicator, the new Ryder Cup gear is high quality and built to last. They’re also priced accordingly.

The Penfold Ryder Cup 1927 Sunday Bag is priced at $295. The backpack sells for $165, the shoe bag is $120 and the accessories pouch is $50. The CNC-milled ball marker is more of a souvenir and is priced at $25.

For more information, visit the Penfold website.