Sometimes, a modern interpretation of a classic is the absolute best choice. If you like to mix and match golf styles, want a pair of comfy shorts that still look absolute class on the greens, or follow the KISS method, just keep it simple with the Quiet Golf Pennant chino shorts. The flat front and angled front pockets ooze pure golf style, while the combo of an elastic waistband and belt loops lets you easily dress these up or down. If you spend your Saturdays at your local muni and Sundays at the country club, the Pennant Chinos have your back.
Best Golf Shorts for Coastal Style: Johnnie-O Mulligan Performance Woven Shorts
Material: Polyester, modal, spandex | Sizes: 30 to 40 inches | Inseam: 9” and 10”
If you’re all about that coastal lifestyle but don’t know about Johnnie-O, let me put you on. The LA-based brand blends classic golf style and performance materials to make some of the most handsome, easy-wearing golf gear in the game today. The Mulligan Performance Woven shorts are exceptionally lightweight, wick moisture, stretch four ways, and breathe easy, making them some of our favorite shorts for hot, muggy days at Pinehurst or scorchers in Scottsdale. Wherever you play golf, if things heat up, the laid-back style and exceptional fabrics from Johnnie-O will help you keep your cool.
Best Workwear-Inspired Golf Shorts: Manors Greenskeeper Shorts
Material: Nylon, spandex | Sizes: 28 to 36 inches | Inseam: 9 to 11 inches, depending on waist size)
Workwear has made its way to the golf course, this time thanks to UK-based Manors Golf. The Greenskeeper Shorts are an homage to the hard-wearing, dirt-and-grass-stained trousers that adorn golf landscapers around the world. Duck canvas might not be the best for freedom of movement, though, so Manors upgraded these with four-season water- and wind-resistant nylon. Tested on the blustery, unpredictable links courses of the British Isles, these shorts will let your legs breathe while also keeping inclement weather at bay. If you’re going to steal their valor, though, make sure you thank your local greenskeeper. After all, no course would exist without them.
Best Sustainable Golf Shorts: Radmor Five-O Knit
Material: Cotton, spandex | Sizes: 30 to 38 inches | Inseam: 8”
Radmor are experts when it comes to dialing in the perfect fit and maximizing a garment’s potential on the golf course. The Five-O Knit shorts are made for year-round wear, blending cotton and elastane to provide a high-quality hand feel and performance required by today’s golfers without going over the top. They come in a handful of muted colors that easily match your favorite golf polo and use clever pocketing to keep all of your must-haves on you throughout a round and beyond.
Best Statement Golf Shorts: Devereux Mesh Athletic
Material: Polyester mesh | Sizes: S to 2XL | Inseam: 5.5”
It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t throw in some sick mesh shorts from one of golf’s up-and-coming brands. Golf style is booming, yes, but as you may have noticed, shorts are one of the last pieces to embrace the revolution. Not so with Devereux’s mesh athletic shorts. Rattlesnake prints, zigzags, and checkerboards—these shorts will help you let your freak flag fly on the links. Just be ready to endure more than a few side-eyes and wayward glances.
What To Look For in Golf Shorts
Material: Like most golf apparel on the market these days, golf shorts will usually fall into two camps: cotton or polyester. Generally speaking, cotton shorts will be softer, will break in over time, and will have a bit more of a classic look, while polyester shorts are geared toward performance, drying quickly and keeping you cool on the hottest summer days. This doesn’t mean cotton doesn’t perform, but much like fitness apparel, cotton can be used in conjunction with some spandex or poly-blend to pair performance with style.