The Evolution Of The Polo

By Alex Holmes

March 03, 2016

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Photo By: Courtesy of Nike

The Polo’s Debut

French tennis star Rene Lacoste was first to bring the short-sleeve knitwear style that we today call the polo shirt to the sporting world. At the 1928 U.S. Open, Lacoste ditched his standard whites—made from stiff, unforgiving woven fabrics—for a light, breathable knit shirt. Tennis style changed overnight, and it wasn’t long before golfers took notice.

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Out With The Old (Look)

In the early 20th century, golf wardrobes featured tailored jackets, starched dress shirts and ties.

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Changing Times

Lacoste’s polo shirt was arguably the first step in the golf-style progression to a more casual and athletic look. First, guys dropped the jackets …

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Early Adopters

… and, by the 1940s, men moved entirely away from dress shirts and ties. The short-sleeve knitted cotton polo became the standard for golfers worldwide.

Photo By: Augusta National/Getty Images

Defining The Polo

It’s important to note that while the vast majority of golf polos at this time were made from cotton, the term “polo” only designates the style’s silhouette and design. Harry Picard wore this short-sleeve woven-wool piece, for example, at the Masters in 1948.

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The Golden Age Of Golf Style

Style post-World War II is often overly romanticized, but the 1950s and ’60s were truly a golden age in golf. Arnold Palmer and Ben Hogan balanced the classic elegance of the game’s past perfectly with the mid-century rise of more casual weekend wear. The knitted cotton polo was the centerpiece of both their wardrobes.

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The Swinging 1970s

Conservative shapes and shades that defined classic mid-century style slowly shifted in the 1970s to fan collars and printed polyester polos. Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller dominated the game in swinging ‘70s style.

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Variations On The Theme

The extended-placket button-pocket polo was first designed in the early 1970s, but it didn’t turn into a tour trend until the mid-1980s. Seve Ballesteros wore this style almost exclusively throughout his career.

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Going Big Time

Golf style has always mirrored general menswear movements. When wide shoulders and flowing tailoring dominated fashion runways in the 1990s, we felt like (for better or worse) it was a good idea for golf gear, too. One size fits all defined golf polos for the decade, and most guys looked like they were wearing their dad’s hand-me-downs.

Photo By: Phil Sheldon/Popperfoto/Getty Images, J.D. Cuban/Getty Images

Sticking To The Script

Tiger Woods’ red Nike polo is easily the most iconic piece of clothing in golf history. His Sunday style also set the stage for today’s trend of tournament apparel scripting.

Photo By: Dom Furore

Nothing To Mock At

By strict definition, the mock turtleneck isn’t a polo. But when Tiger Woods began to sport a collar-less look in 2003, he set off a fashion frenzy. Dress-code policies at many private clubs had to be updated so that regular golfers taking a cue from the No. 1 player in the world would not be in violation of the collar-required mandates.

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Technology Reigns

Technology took control of golf-shirt style in the 21st century. The distinction between golf apparel and equipment progressively blurred as polyester came back to the game with a much different look and feel than in the 1970s. By 2010 practically every stitch of gear had been designed to wick sweat, block odor, breathe, stretch and who knows what else.

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The Latest Look

Today golf finds itself at the next stage of style evolution. Golfers continue to demand the highest level of performance from their clothes, but tour pros and average Joes alike are looking to reflect more of their personal attitudes through their style. It’s part of the thinking behind Nike’s new Blade (shown), Roll and Frame Commander polos, which all offer modernized interpretations of classic-collared styles for those looking to put a spin on the standard set-up.

Photo By: Courtesy of Nike

Fashion For On- And Off-The-Course

Nike has always pushed golf’s style envelope. The company creates some of the most impactful branded statements on tour using a diverse and talented collection of tour pros. Their next generation of players has arrived, helping further bridge the gap between street and course style.

Photo By: Courtesy of Nike

The American Express

The Evolution Of The Polo

Shop This Look

The Polo’s Debut

Out With The Old (Look)

Changing Times

Early Adopters

Defining The Polo

The Golden Age Of Golf Style

The Swinging 1970s

Variations On The Theme

Going Big Time

Sticking To The Script

Nothing To Mock At

Technology Reigns

The Latest Look

Fashion For On- And Off-The-Course

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