With cooler temperatures here to stay, and course conditions changing along with the seasons, it’s time to get your gear autumn ready. Here is some apparel and equipment advice to help you play your best—and most comfortable—this fall.
Utmost Important Umbrellas
What should absolutely be a mainstay in anyone’s bag, or at least their car, come September 1, an umbrella is the closest thing most of us will have to a caddy watching over our equipment. The fall is notorious for its fickle weather, and it’s not uncommon for all four seasons to make an appearance over the course of 18 holes. Having wet clubs, slippery grips, a saturated bag, and soaked clothes is no way to play a round of golf. Lucky for us, this soggy existence is entirely avoidable. Looking for some shelter on the course, check out Under Armour’s Double Canopy Umbrella, or PING’s 68-inch Tour Umbrella.
Waterproof Shoes
We all enjoy walking the golf course on a hot, sunny day with crunchy fairways that could double as airport runways. Your drives go forever and your feet stay drier than the Sahara Desert. Well, those days are behind us. You may have gotten away with your trendy canvas sneakers in July and August, but you’re going to need something more waterproof come October. Cooler temperatures and increased precipitation combine for damp fairways that don’t drain as quickly. What you need are serious golf shoes that are engineered for wetter weather. Keep yourself comfortable on the course and try out some truly waterproof options. G/Fore’s Men’s MG4 Spikeless provide a sleek look and exceptional water resistance, as do Nike’s Air Zoom Victory Spiked. Other notables include adidas CODECHAOS Boa, FootJoy’s Pro SL and Under Armour’s Spieth 4 GTX Spiked. Other considerations you may want to take into account include maintenance, i.e. can the shoes be easily cleaned, and what sort of traction they’ll provide on damp turf.
Rainy Apparel
The odd windbreaker can sometimes do the trick, as can the occasional bag towel to dry your grips, but if you really want to experience the best rain gear, you’re going to need items that are specifically made to get wet. From rain gloves that help you swing confidently, to pants that repel water, our latest options will have you covered from head-to-toe, literally. On the women’s side, try Sun Mountain’s Monsoon Rain Jacket, or Under Armour’s Storm 3 in 1 Jacket. Finish off the look with Maggie Lane’s Elite Rain Bottom or FootJoy’s DryJoys Rain Pants. For the guys, you can never go wrong with FootJoy’s Hydrolite Rain Jacket or PING’s versatile Downtown Rain Jacket. For bottoms, Callaway’s Swing Tech StormGuard Rain Pant provides total dryness, as does Sun Mountain’s Monsoon Rain Pant. Lastly, Cobra’s StormGrip Rain Gloves, available in both men’s and women’s, offer a touch of confidence when your grips get slick.
Colour-fall Golf Balls
Windswept piles of leaves, twigs, and other natural debris can make finding your ball more of a challenge come autumn. Not to worry, with the industry’s latest technicolour golf balls, you don’t have to be on raking duty to find your drive. Callaway’s 2020 Superhot Bold golf balls come in electric yellow and red, making them stand out from a distance. Speaking of standing out, Noodle’s NEON blue golf ball provides a tropical burst of colour on a chilly October day. If you’re wanting to make a bit of a statement, in addition to finding your ball, browse Volvik’s offerings—they’re known for being bright and unique.
