The Best Golf Shirts for Men Are Anything But Par for the Course

The best golf shirts for men are way better than you remember. Only a few years ago, the average polo on the PGA Tour used to share more in common with a NASCAR racing suit than a shirt you’d actually want to wear at your local club. (Mortgage lending and insurance logos might pay the bills, but let’s be real: Is there anything less cool?) Luckily, for those of us who aren’t obligated to shill shady financial products while out sinking putts, there’s beaucoup links-ready shirts available right now that look great while still delivering on everything you want from an on-course polo: movability, breathability, and—most important—head-turning style.

If you’re in desperate need of a handful of tap-ins, the usual suspects have you covered. But if you really want to school the competition, there’s an onslaught of upstart brands taking the golf shirt to territory it’s never been before. We’re talking retro-inspired knits, bold button-ups, and plenty of other options to give you the confidence you need to at least look like you’re about to go low. In other words, we’re talking the absolute best golf shirts for men. What happens over the course of 18 holes is still on you, but at least you’ll be the best-dressed person in your foursome.

For more intel on how to look fly at tee time, check out the GQ Golf Shop.

The Best Golf Shirts for Men, According to GQ

Best Overall Golf Shirt: Nike Tour

Old faithful. The Nike Tour polo has been a mainstay in the golf world for years and remains one of the best picks if you’re looking for a well-fitting performance polo that simply goes with everything. The sweat-wicking Dri-FIT material needs no introduction at this point, but if you need a reminder: Dri-FIT set the standard for all performance materials. It’s the Kleenex of fitness fabrics: People say Dri-FIT to describe just about any fitness apparel, even if it’s not actually a Nike shirt. You can never go wrong with the Nike Tour.

Best Performance Golf Shirt: Reigning Champ Playoff Polo

Reigning Champ is the definition of refined performance. Pairing the best-of-the-best performance materials with timeless silhouettes, the brand has firmly entrenched itself at the intersection of style and engineering. The Tech Pique Playoff Standard Polo fits the mold, turning moisture-wicking, quick-drying nylon into a well-fitting polo with unrestricted movement. You’ll fit in at the country club, but this ain’t no country club shirt.

Best Retro Golf Shirt: Adidas Originals Twistknit Trefoil Polo Shirt

The Stripes put on an exceptionally good showing in the golf apparel game, offering up the Twistknit Trefoil polo shirt, a vintage-inspired top that brings ’70s style to the greens in 2025. The slick cotton-polyester blend creates a smooth and comfortable feel both to touch and to wear, while the stretchiness adds just the right amount of give to ready your swing for that potential hole in one.

Best Golf Mockneck: Lululemon Mockneck Baselayer

Most golf courses have a more lax policy when it comes to collared shirts, and the next best thing to wear is a mockneck. This one from Lululemon’s burgeoning golf shop has a cool-to-the-touch feel, which makes it great for warmer days, but also as a layer underneath heavier garments during cooler ones. We really like that the top offers UV protection, and despite the skin-tight fit, it’s incredibly stretchy so it won’t hinder your mobility.

Best Full-Placket Golf Polo: Malbon Gabbiano

If your dad’s and grandpa’s golf attire just isn’t what you’re going for when you’re getting out there, then Malbon is a brand to know. Its fun, playful takes on classic golf apparel staples makes it a favorite among the younger generation who are hoping to stand out on the course not just for their superior swing, but their style. The Gabbiano is a fashion-forward pick for those who got the message that full-placket polos are absolutely in, giving just the right amount of Tony Soprano without leaning into mafia territory.

Best Golf Polo in Every Color and Print: Radmor Hudson

If you’re able to go golfing every day, we’re insanely jealous. But if you want to broaden your golf style horizons by wearing more than just the same top all the time, Radmor’s Hudson polo is just the top to integrate into the rotation. Available in over a dozen prints and colors, the polo is made from organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles, all of which makes the top biodegradable. The top offers a timeless fit that would’ve been just as suited back in the heyday of golf fashion as much as it would now among a sea of technical fabrics and ill-fitting shirts.

Best Fashion Golf Shirt: Metalwood Paneled 3/4 Sleeve Polo

What if golf were a little more heavy rock? Metalwood is the solution to that, infusing a bit of streetwear into what could otherwise be sterile, nondescript tops that would elicit nary a second look. Its paneled three-quarter sleeve polo is a very much needed alternative to the boring old three-button, bringing a certain edge to a game where there just isn’t much going on. Top it all off when one of the brand’s popular camo-branded hats, and you’ll be the coolest kid on the course.

More Golf Shirts We Love

What to Look For in Golf Shirts

Material: Golf shirts are crafted from a diverse range of materials, each offering distinct advantages. Cotton provides softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties, making it a solid choice for keeping you cool and dry on the links. Alternatively, polyester, a man-made fiber, is known for its strength, durability, and wrinkle resistance, making it a perfect option for lightweight and quick-drying golf shirts you can rock all summer. Some shirts are made with additional materials that add protection and comfort. Nylon, for example, is often incorporated for added protection against the elements. Spandex, thanks to its high elasticity and stretch, enhances comfort and flexibility in golf shirts, letting you swing your swing with no restriction. Finally, Merino wool, a natural fiber known for its softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking capabilities, is ideal for golf shirts because of its superior temperature regulation and comfort in various conditions.

Style: When picking out a golf shirt, style is just as important as performance. In fact, we are probably more likely to roll up in the course in a shirt that looks good than we are in a performance polo—look good, play good, right? With that said, you have a ton of options when it comes to flexing your personal style on the course. Some shirts are designed with vintage 90s polos in mind, so they’ll be constructed with a boxier fit and (usually) longer sleeves alongside a deep button placket for maximum styling options. Others will be made more modern, with a slimmer fit and performance features. Those aren’t all stuffy picks, though, some performance shirts are just as stylish as their retro brethren. Others don’t resemble the golf shirts you know and love at all—they bring unique features to the links like zipper collars, patch pockets that resemble those on your mechanic’s favorite work shirt, or crazy designs that stand out from the pack. No matter what style you go for, we say pick the one that makes you feel like a pro, even if a pro would never actually wear it on the golf course.

Special Features: As we’ve said, a number of polos out there are pretty simple, which isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, though, you need a bit more than the standard polo silhouette when you hit the links, whether for style reasons or performance reasons. Many performance brands enhance the fit with gusseted armpits, raglan sleeves, or other features that enhance your ability to move freely. Other shirts will have style features, like utilitarian snap buttons or a zipper collar instead of the standard button, or jacquard interspersed through the shirt for a texture change. Look closely at the pictures each brand throws up on the site and take a gander at the description—sometimes you’ll find a feature you wouldn’t see otherwise.

How We Tested

With a solid crew of both new and lifelong golfers on staff, we’ve spent decades testing golf shirts, from actual early ’90s polos we stole from our dads, ’00s polos we copped in high school, and the modern performance shirts that dominated the scene throughout the 2010s. However, since we’re obsessive style vultures, we naturally dipped our toes into everything the last few years have brought to the scene, from soccer-inspired Blokecore polos to streetwear-inspired tees and tops to gorpcore crossovers from ACG and Adidas Adicross. We test them at the course, of course, but also at our local dive, on date night, and when we travel. In 2025, there’s no limit to where you can rock your golf gear.