Golf's always fascinated me.
It's one of the few sports where fashion and performance genuinely intersect. The course demands you look the part. But it also demands you can move, breathe, and hold your composure for four hours in the August heat. That tension is exactly what Elk Head was built for.
The FedEx St. Jude Championship kicks off August 13th in Memphis. It's the first event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and the field is as sharp as it gets. Whether you're making the trip to TPC Southwind or you're watching with friends with something cold in hand, here's how I'd dress for it.
Two scenarios. Six pieces. One standard.
Scenario One: You're watching with friends.
This is the move for the man who takes his weekends seriously without overthinking them. You want to look right without feeling like you're trying. The couch scenario is about ease with intention.
This is the anchor piece for a Saturday on the couch. Open collar, no buttons, breathable organic cotton that moves with the heat rather than fighting it. The Johnny collar has been around since the 1970s. It was the uniform of the man who was off duty but never truly undressed. That's exactly the energy of a tournament weekend at home.
Wear it open over a white tee with a chain if that's your thing. Or button it up and let the collar do the work. Either way it reads like a considered choice.
The Cotton Linen Five-Pocket Pant in Stone
Japan-woven, 90% cotton and 10% linen, cut fuller through the seat and thigh for a fit that actually fits. The stone colorway is the most versatile thing in your summer rotation. It pairs with everything and competes with nothing.
Put these two together and you have the most comfortable outfit you'll wear all weekend. Nobody watching the back nine in Memphis is going to dress better than you.
Scenario Two: You're in the gallery.
TPC Southwind in August is no joke. The humidity is real, the sun is relentless, and you're going to be on your feet for most of the day. This is where the outfit has to work as hard as you do.
High twist Italian crepe yarn. 100% organic cotton. The tipping detail on the collar and cuffs is the difference between a polo and the right polo. It breathes through a full day without losing its structure and it looks better at 6pm than it did when you put it on.
This is the piece that earns compliments in the gallery. The kind of shirt someone asks about before you've had a chance to explain it.
The Tab Front Cotton Twill Short
Clean cotton twill, tab front closure, the refined edge of a chino in a short silhouette. Built for a full day on your feet without a second thought. Dress it down with a polo or keep it sharp going into the evening. It works both ways and it looks intentional either way.
The finishing details that pull it together.
The outfit is the foundation. The details are what make it yours.
TPC Southwind faces west on the back nine. The sun is going to be in your face for the better part of the afternoon. The RAEN sunglasses handle it without making you look like you tried too hard. Polarized lenses, considered frames, the kind of eyewear that works on a golf course and at dinner after.
Slim, clean, and built to last. Leave the bulky wallet at home. The cardholder handles everything you need for a day at the tournament without ruining the line of the shorts.
You need a hat. This is the one. Clean silhouette, structured brim, the kind of headwear that works on a course and off it. It handles the sun without looking like an afterthought.
Buy good stuff. Keep it for a long time.
Garrett
Founder, Elk Head Clothing