I’m a big hat-and-sunglasses guy on the golf course, especially in the summer. Even though it’s a great way to give your face — and your eyes — some added protection, there’s also something about the sunglasses that helps me focus better. It seems to narrow my focus ever-so slightly, and the tint on a good set of sunglasses means the color of the ball really pops.
Maybe that’s just my inner David Duval wannabe coming out, but either way, here are a few different hat-sunglasses combinations that I’ve rocked throughout my time. Find one that you like, or mix and match.
Combo No. 1: The casual visor
Yes, I’m aware this isn’t a hat, but I don’t care. I’m a big visor guy, and think they’re woefully underrated. I’m sure they’ll have a renaissance at some point fairly soon, but even the most ardent visor-wearers don’t always think to pair them with sunglasses.
Part of that is by design — a wide-brimmed visor can offer your face more shade than most hats — and sometimes, they struggle to find the right kind of sunglasses. The key is finding something with a subtle temple and earpiece, so they feel comfortable enough to wear on their own. Pair that with a visor, and you get lots of breathability and shady protection.
My recommendations:
Combo No. 2: The ultimate sun shield
If your skin is especially sensitive to burning and your goal is maximum protection, you should take a good, hard look at a bucket hat. They’re a divisive choice among some, but they’ve come back into style recently and their 360-degree protection really does make them genuinely useful.
Chances are, if you’re after something this protective, you’re probably wearing it beyond just the golf course, so I’d invest in a pair of durable, all-purpose sunglasses you can wear everywhere, and take on and off easily.
My recommendations:
Combo No. 3: Winter hat with shades
Perhaps not the most stylish of the bunch, I grant you, but that’s ok. This one isn’t about style, it’s about function, and if you’re a golfer who loves a good cold weather round, you need to invest in a winter hat.
The key to pairing sunglasses with it is finding a pair whose earpieces grip easily on their own, and can sit up on the hat itself. If you try to wear your sunglasses under your winter hat, it won’t fit properly and will look strange, too.
My recommendations:
Combo No. 4: Aviators and structured hat
Rocking a pair of aviator-style sunglasses on the course is definitely more of a look, but frankly, I like it, and if you like it too I’d tell you to go for it.
