Fashion Insider: New ways to deal with November rain, cold
By Man in the Black Hat, PGATOUR.COM Fashion Insider
As the old saying goes, "If it's nae rain and nae wind, then it's nae golf."
| The Man's blog | |
|
Add if it's "nae cold" to that old Scottish equation and you have defined golf in November. And, for those of us who live in climates where the season is shorted due to the inevitable onslaught of snow, we do absolutely everything we can to squeeze a few extra rounds out of the season -- usually at the sacrifice of style.
But, before greenskeepers tell management that enough is enough and hide the pins and tee blocks away for the season, there's no need for us to suffer more than necessary to satisfy the urge to take a few final swings and sink a few final putts, because when it comes to playing golf in the fall in 2010, there are options beyond that itchy, bulky, and not so attractive Icelandic sweater you have previously insisted was a cross-functional garment.
To endure most conditions this side of a blizzard, you simply need to turn to one of the many new golf-specific technical offerings that are on the market these days, such as the new FootJoy Layering System.
Made up of a base, mid, and outer layer, the FJ Layering System has been on the market for a couple of months, and has won favor with more than 100 PGA TOUR pros, including Steve Stricker and Bill Haas.
According to Whitney Trimble, Director of Marketing Apparel at FootJoy, "The entire new line was developed by golfers, therefore, no matter what conditions you encounter on the golf course, you can comfortably and confidently adjust your layers for maximum performance."
The non-restricting ProDry Performance Base Layer regulates body temperature by moving perspiration away from the body to keep the core dry. Steve Stricker was the first to put this piece to use in 2010, appropriately doing so at The Open Championship at St Andrews. Another bonus of the FJ base layer? It's antimicrobial, so that perspiration doesn't reveal itself to the entire grill room at the end of your round.
The mid layer in the system -- the Performance Half-Zip Pullover -- is a versatile piece made of a four-way stretch fabric. If it's not too cold, and if it's not raining, this along with the base layer might be all you need.
Then, when the wind kicks up and the temperature drops, employ an option from the outer layer in the FJ system such as the DryJoys Tour Rain Jacket, which is fully waterproof and also made of the same of the four-way stretch material, to seal out the elements completely.
"If you're going to play in rainy and/or cool weather, then the trick is to find products like these," said 2010 Bob Hope Classic champion Bill Haas. "You can wear two or three layers and still feel good while swinging."
Before Stricker put the FJ Layering System in play at St Andrews, he made sure of its performance when it came to flexibility.
"I was hitting balls down in Florida with about three layers on and it moved very nicely and it was easier to hit," said Stricker. "All that stuff makes a difference when you're trying to swing because when you're adding layers it puts a little bit of strain on your swing you know, it's a little bit harder to move, but this stuff was very nice."
So, when it comes to playing golf in November, you know you're going to be faced with adverse conditions. Thanks to innovation in a new lines of outerwear from FootJoy means we don't have to suffer -- though wearing the badge of playing in bad weather is always something to brag about.
Just don't admit to being warm and dry as you recount your round to others. Oh, and you can keep that itchy woolen monstrosity you call a sweater tucked away in your closet, where it belongs, at least until your next trip to Iceland.
The Man in the Black Hat is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
Shop your favorite brand name golf equipment and accessories at SHOP.PGATOUR.COM
FANTASY
PGATOUR.com is part of Turner Sports Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network 