Skratch Attests: Fore All's Structurally Superior Hoodie

I must admit—this was a difficult thing for me to piece together. As someone who has been around golf for over 20 years, my rolodex of brands and products is hefty. The amount of products and pieces I've tried in my tenure is enough to probably start a flagship store. And yet, it wasn’t until the last few years that I actually had specific pieces and products that I grew attached to. The things I simply couldn’t put down or stop wearing. The golf style evolution conversation has felt ad nauseam at times, but with good reason.

I grew up in the height of golf's performance wear era. As a woman, options were limited. To take it a step further, I’ve always struggled with sizing in golf. There aren’t a lot of offerings for plus-sized bodies, not all XLs are created equal, and if I wanted a more comfortable fit, I couldn’t look in the women’s golf section (more like a singular rack) at any retailer at all—I’d have to compromise for an oversized dad polo that wasn’t oversized in a cool way.

Then there’s the element of being around the game, but not playing as much anymore. My rounds these days are few and far between, though I’m getting better about it—it’s not like I’m getting those reps in the way I once was.

So it begs the question—what does a former competitive golfer, who doesn’t really practice anymore but has become a real stickler about curated style, wear to play golf?

This may be a controversial take, but the trusty old golf hoodie has become a staple in my wardrobe. Not just any golf hoodie, but the Global Hoodie from Fore All.

First of all, it’s Cool AF

For context, I live in New York City, one of the fashion capitals of the world, so every day in a lot of ways feels a bit like a competition. I'm quite literally having 'fit-offs' with complete strangers, but the trick is you can't look like you're trying too hard—thus the hoodie is the perfect staple piece. If done properly, you won't need much to make a hoodie look good.

And I, for one, am someone who loves to implement the use of color to create depth within my outfits. Color stories matter more than you think (I often think about the great words of Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada when she's schooling Anne Hathaway's character on the importance of cerulean blue).

The shade of green Fore All landed with is truly a thing to behold. Inspired by the richness of autumn in Montreal—this isn't just a forest green, it's somewhere between pine and emerald. It's deep enough for cozy months, but doesn't feel so heavy where it can't be paired with something fun and vibrant.

When I wear it out and about, it attracts attention. The green intrigues people, but upon closer inspection they begin to see the details—the 'Fore All' detailing on the front and back is subtly eye-catching and "Golfing Optional" phrase displayed in five languages is a real conversation starter. People are curious to know if I'm actually a golfer, and if so how to I even go about it in the city.

“Golfing Optional” is my Mantra

Like I said, my days of golfing aren't in the rearview mirror but they certainly aren't as fruitful anymore. Sometimes I just miss the environment of the course. I want to see and touch real grass, hit like eight golf balls, and then grab a bite in the clubhouse. Being bogged down by hours upon hours of playing time doesn't really interest me as often. So when an article of clothing by a golf brand, catered towards golfers, reads the words "Golfing Optional", I have no choice but to stan.

It's a piece created for the wayward golfers, like me. We may catch the bug hard for a few months, but then after a while you just need a break. Golf apparel can and should reflect that, too. Because yeah, this isn't just for one occasion, it's a hoodie for crying out loud, it's meant to be worn as much as you desire whether you're playing or not.

Structurally, It's Perfect

Speaking of frequent wear—it's a hoodie that holds its own. It's not just a flimsy long-sleeve that happens to have a hood. It's weighted, and sturdy with enough structure that's perfect for styling and layering with jeans and sneakers for a day in the city or with a pair of leggings for a quick trip to the sim.

It's made up of 100% cotton and it's thick as hell. So if you run hot like I do, throw on a simple tee in case you need to shed a layer.

The ribbed cuffs gives it's more a streamlined look for somethings slightly more tailored and fitted, so you're not pulling an Ariana Grande with sleeve mittens. It's also nice so when you're swinging and you need to roll up those sleeves, they stay put.

This may not seem like a big deal—it's a golf hoodie, so what? But when it comes to creating something that's meant to be worn recreationally that's a little bit bagger, that's hard to accomplish for bigger bodies. Because sometimes what others feel is oversized, simply looks normal on some of us.

This is a hoodie that I can feel comfortable and confident in, and being able to say that after years of ill-fitted golf clothes is a damn good feeling.