You can tell a surprising amount about a golfer before they ever hit a shot. Not by their handicap, not by what's in the bag, not even by the first tee swing—look at the polo.
Some guys show up looking like they're headed to a board meeting. Others dress like they accidentally wandered over from a beach club. Then there are the ones who own enough floral prints to qualify as botanical experts. Is any of it scientifically accurate? Absolutely not. Is it weirdly true anyway? More often than we'd like to admit.
So we created the unofficial field guide to golf polos. Think of it as part personality test, part style guide, and part excuse to justify buying another shirt you definitely don't need.
Mr. Classic
Starting off strong with the tried and true—the standard polos that we grew up on. It's what our dads and grandpas were rocking tee to green, to the cookout, to Costco, whatever the occasion, you just knew that it called for a moisture-wicking, polyester polo.
There's an auxiliary group of The Classics, the younger generation we're calling "Mr. Frat Star". The 18-25 year olds that are wearing the same polos because they're good to golf in or hit up a darty (day party).
And the Wall Street interns, or the finance bros-in training if you will—they are a bit of a status symbol flex. According to a 2025 report from
Business Insider, the young guns have ditched the navy blue blazer and khakis and are showing up to work in golf polos accented by the most obscure logo you've ever seen, from a course you've never even heard of.
The standard polos you can get anywhere but the key lies in the brands we all know of. FootJoy, RLX, Peter Millar—there's ranges of material and style—but the sentiment remains the same.
Peter Millar Wade Performance Jersey Men's Golf Polo Shirt
This is standard, this is the way. Whether it's a solid color, striped, or micro-printed—the classic golf polo and its wearer are what we all think of when we think about this beautiful game.
$115
BUY NOW*Every product is independently selected by editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission. We comprehensively stand behind every product we feature editorially, but want to disclose that Skratch and Sugarloaf Social Club are both owned by Pro Shop Inc.
Polo Ralph Lauren Airflow Tarn-Dyed Knit Men's Golf Polo Shirt
Remember these are the guys who are going for the staple brands that they know their club or pro shop will carry—anything RLX fits the bill.
$120
BUY NOWThe Lulule-man Archetype
For the younger guy who loves to stay active. You're in the gym before work and hitting the range afterwards. You like the vibe of lululemon, Rhone, and Vuori—the basics that cater to performance and comfort.
Your favorite golfers are Min Woo Lee and Max Homa, not just because they're lululemon ambassadors but because you think they're the coolest guys in the game. They know their audience and play up the dramatics when they need to.
lululemon Men's Striped Short-Sleeve Golf Polo
As a man living in constant motion, you're going to need something as versatile and cool as you. The organic cotton relaxed polo suits your everyday needs, while maintaining a classic look seamless for every occasion.
$88
BUY NOWRhone Men's Foundations Polo
Even when the lulule-man isn't wearing his go-to brand, he won't stray too far from the performance-based highly technical fabrics that make him feel the most comfortable so he can hit butter cuts in the most buttery materials.
$55 (Originally $78)
BUY NOWThe Sneaker Head a.k.a "Mr. Hypebeast"
With legacy brands like Nike, adidas, Reebok, Puma, etc who are all well versed in creating footwear for other sports/sports cultures beginning to give the same treatment to golf footwear, the game is starting to get entangled with sneaker culture as a result.
A hypebeast is a person who is tapped into what's hot; they are heavily invested in and influenced by the up and coming trends in streetwear fashion. They are known for actively pursuing and acquiring the latest, highly sought-after items, especially clothing and sneakers, often driven by the "hype".
Whether you're a sneaker head who picked up golf or a golfer who has an affinity for kicks, you're the guy that may like a little edge to your on-course look.
Naturally you're gravitating towards Nike and Jordan Golf, but you're probably digging the more streetwear brands like Malbon, Eastside Golf, Devereux, to name a few.
Nike Dri-Fit Men's Short Sleeve Golf Windshirt
You're the kind of person looking for a polo that doesn't feel too outside the realm of your streetwear attire. You want things slightly oversized, bold on color to make a statement, and you don't shy away from logos. You're not one for subtlety, you love the attention.
$116 (Originally $155)
BUY NOWEastside Golf Take Flight Men's Golf T-Shirt
The Hypebeast is going to gravitate towards golf looks that look like they're about to do anything but go play golf. A mock neck is the polo's cooler cousin—and the obvious choice for the one who dares to be different.
$52 (Originally $70)
BUY NOWMr. Big (but make him golf)
An ode to Carrie Bradshaw, the woman who taught us that a well dressed man can quite literally take our breath away on a Sunday, simply by wearing Armani. The Mr. Bigs of golf are not to be confused by Mr. Classic—though some of the Frat Stars may grow up to be Mr. Bigs. It's not as complicated as it all seems, just walk with me.
Think designer brands—maybe not Armani, but the Todd Synders and RLXs of the world. They may wear a pullover they got from Net-A-Porter, but this is the kind of golfer who's staying in the Hamptons and taking a helicopter to from Manhattan out to Southampton for a post-work, quick nine.
He smells like fragrance section of a Neiman Marcus and his Rolex is definitely vintage. He's drinking high-end whisky, neat, smoking Havana's finest on the course, and I'm willing to bet money he doesn't have a hat on because he doesn't want to ruin his perfectly quaffed hair.
He's exactly who he thinks he is, and we're all a little bit in awe of this guy.
Todd Snyder Silk-Cashmere Montauk Sweater Polo
He's the guy that's wearing a silk polo to play golf, unapologetically.
$268
BUY NOWEmporio Armani Men's Cotton Micro-Jacquard Polo Shirt
Your style icon is JFK Jr.—classic, clean, sophisticated. You golf uniform is a relaxed-fit polo that somehow never wrinkles, perfectly pleated pants, and golf shoes made of the most premier Italian leather.
$345
BUY NOWThe Urban Prepster
This is where the Hypebeasts and the Mr. Bigs unite creating the a whole new brand-appreciator—not quite brand-obsessed, but a label matters—the urban prepster.
He's most certainly wearing the Aime Leon Dore golf collection and doing so proudly. To him, the fusion of streetwear and tailoring is everything. His M.O. is looking casually put together—think knit polo, with baggy yet double pleated trousers, with some sort of wingtip looking golf shoe, most likely the FootJoy Premieres, with a trucker hat, and some fly sunnies.
The bones of your look follow the musings of style staples, crisp white button downs, a go-to pair of black slacks, but your accessories are trendy and fun. This is the kind of guy who's thinking in layers—inding all the ways to create depth and excitement with a look.
How he shows up to play is more important than the score on the card. He's a faithful scramble tournament participant. If there's a private party or brand event, he's there.
ALD Golf Polo
Simple. Clean. Effortlessly cool. Minimal texture for a touch of edge. You're the best-dressed in every circle, which distracts from the parts of your game that need a little work. This guy oozes aura.
$175
BUY NOWSugarloaf Social Club The Big Stripe Sport Polo
If the Urban Prepster is going for a flash of color in his look, he's going to let the color do the talking. The silhouette is simple, and yet you can still spot him from a mile away.
$95
BUY NOWMr. Muni a.k.a The Cool Guy
This is very LA/NY golf guy coded, but like Silver Lake and Brooklyn only.
This guy is doesn't even like watching golf outside of the majors. He's too busy spending his Sundays drinking premium roast black coffee, nursing his hangover with a Newport after drinking too much natural wine at his DJ friend's vinyl set at some random club the night before, all while posting on his Instagram story asking who has a tee time at Bethpage Red for that afternoon.
He's the guy that exclusively wears brands like Metalwood and Students Golf because everything else is "too golf-y".
And ladies if you're dating him, he's absolutely going to leave you on read for days at a time. He's the hottest golf guy you'll ever meet, though.
lululemon Slim-Fit Mockneck Shirt ShowZero
The duality of lululemon to create something more traditional like a classic three-button polo from earlier and something so sleek and cool like this mockneck. It's fit the bill of the trendy guy who still cares about his athleticism.
$88
BUY NOWStudents Golf Ledgewood S/S Polo Shirt
In this polo, you're a shoe in to be an Addie's Baddie (you're welcome).
$105
BUY NOWMr. Nice Guy
The crown jewel of this list. There's not much to say about him other than the fact that's he's probably wearing Bonobos or Uniqlo because they're elevated enough but won't break the bank. He's not trying to look like the New York Fashion Week-meets-golf final boss, he's keeping it simple so he can wear his polos to work, too.
He's sweet, unproblematic but his golf swing sucks. (Keeping working at it, sweetie, you're doing amazing.)
TravisMathew Cabana Men's Golf Polo Shirt
Not too over the top. A simple 9-hole course suits your fancy. You're the guy that's low maintenance, and the easy 4th your golf friends love to play with.
$105
BUY NOWJohnnie-O Waverunner Print Mesh Men's Golf Polo Shirt
The nice guy is going to go for the polo that makes him look put together but a little untucked. He's approachable after all.
$118
BUY NOW*This page was first published on August 27, 2025. Last updated July 11, 2026.
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