This is I tried it, a new GOLF.com series where we write about golf items — apparel, gear, accessories, etc. — that we’ve recently taken out for a spin. We’re here to give our honest, no-frills takes on the latest and greatest golf or golf-adjacent items. So, scroll down to read about what we love (or don’t) about golf’s newest (or new to us) products.
In general, I like to think of the golf apparel market like a triangle. On one corner you have the classic country club look that’s traditional but also technical. Another corner maintains that level of functionality but has a more modern, tapered, “athletic” point of view. Then, there’s the boxy, wool or cotton vintage-inspired “street” styles that exist as a way to pay homage to golf’s history while also looking cool and trendy.
Manors Golf — an up-and-coming London-based golf apparel brand — is trying to stake the middle ground.
They seamlessly merge fashion silhouettes with golf functionality in a way that doesn’t feel redundant. That’s partly due to the unisex nature of most of their items and party due to the fact that their stuff is made by links golfers. They’re not making gear that you only want to wear when it’s 75 and sunny. They’re making gear you want to wear when it might be 75 and sunny on the first hole but could be 50 and rainy with gusts of wind by the back nine.
They generally keep their logo usage pretty small and subtle. If you like the big logos, they’ve got some of that too. They stick to neutral colors. At this point, their stuff is mostly designed with men in mind, but they do have a few items that are naturally unisex in nature.
To sum it up, they’re not trying so hard to be “cool;” they just are.
I put a few of their latest Frontier Collection items to the test on a whistle-stop tour (as they say across the pond) in the home of golf. The weather was as you’d expect — rain, wind, sun, clouds, rain again… Thanks to the functionality of the gear, I was comfortable as can be throughout the entire trip.
Here’s what I tried:
The Ranger Bucket Hat kept me pretty dry, but its best feature was the adjustable cord that keeps it firmly in place in the elements. No matter how windy it got, the hat stayed on my head with ease and its brim kept the rain out of my face. I’m not usually a bucket hat wearer, but this had converted me for sure.
Ranger Bucket Hat
The Course Crewneck Vest was my favorite piece. It’s pretty retro in nature and different from anything I’d usually wear on the course. But, it kept my core warm from the wind and rain and worked as a stylish third (or fourth or fifth)-piece layer. Unlike many unisex-marketed products that exist, it wasn’t too boxy or long. It’s an item I’d actually recommend for both men and women — especially if you regularly tee it up in the elements.
Course Crewneck Vest
The Course Bamboo T-Shirt is one of the softest shirts I’ve ever touched. This is one of their more “athleisure” pieces that’s great to wear on or off the course. It’s has a masculine cut, but fits as an oversized top for women too.
Course Bamboo T-Shirt
I didn’t wear-test the 2.5L Waterproof Shirt, but it’s one of my favorite Manors items. The shiny zipper and tonal back logo adds a trendy flair to an otherwise utilitarian style. It encompasses Manors’ aesthetic perfectly. It does the job you need it to do without looking boring while simultaneously not being too flashy.
2.5L Waterproof Shirt
You can explore the complete Frontier Collection on Manors’ website by clicking here.
