The Malbons have done it again — they’ve convinced a sought-after, mainstream fashion and accessories brand to dig into golf.
Malbon Golf’s latest collaboration is with Beats by Dre, a well-known manufacturer of audio goods. The two entities have joined forces to create a varied capsule collection that speaks to any golfer who yearns for a more laid-back, comfortable sense of on-course style, and also to any non-golfer who’s curious about the sport but might feel too intimidated to try it.
“There’s a message around golf and it basically says, ‘You’re not welcome here,’” says Stephen Malbon, who co-founded Malbon Golf with his wife, Erica, in 2017. “And that’s for women and guys who have tattoos and want to wear wallet chains. This collection and everything we do is designed to speak to those people and say, ‘You actually are welcome here.’”
This Malbon Golf x Beats by Dr. Dre collection of limited-edition goods, which debuted on Friday morning, leads with a white Beats Pill+ speaker that’s boldly branded with Malbon’s script lettering and unmistakable Buckets logo — this time, the logo is wearing a bucket hat that has the Beats “b” logo. The collection also includes a bucket hat, rope hat and visor, along with a simple T-shirt and crewneck sweater, all offered in the simple colors of black and white and, just like the speaker, branded with the same eye-catching Beats-branded Malbon logo. Rounding out the collection is a sleeve of Callaway Chrome Soft balls stamped with the same unmistakable logo.
Malbon x Beats Capsule Collection
“Beats as a brand has never been close to golf and I think that’s a mistake,” said Chris Thorne, Chief Marketing Officer at Beats by Dre. “Getting into golf is opening up a new demo for Beats. We love youth and their defiant spirit, and we love these golfers who have a new mindset and mentality.”
The faces of this collaboration perfectly embody what the collection is all about — professional golfer Cameron Champ and rapper Schoolboy Q stand alongside Stephen and Erica in images that show off the pieces, all but proving that you can successfully fuse streetwear styles with classic golf silhouettes and that your typical foursome doesn’t have to look so typical.
“Working with Tour players validates us and helps us realize we’re going in the right direction,” says Erica. “Cameron breaks the mold with his background and his ethnicity, and his persona attracts people who are younger and getting interested in playing golf. Those attributes align with what we stand for and what Beats stands for.”
SchoolBoy Q, 34, is a fairly new but incredibly avid golfer who brings a unique and avant-garde energy to the course. The rapper and song-writer didn’t learn how to play golf until after he turned 30 but he tries to tee it up now every single day. He’s hooked, and a big reason for that is because he feels he can be 100 percent himself on the course.
