Packing for a Golf Trip

 Ever pack for a golf trip and you have no idea how long you will be gone?  That is what happened to me this week.  I am playing in the USGA Women's Mid-Amateur Championship.  The event is in Bluffton, SC. The event is a great tournament but it is match play.  I plan on winning but it is match play.  You have practice rounds and potential to round days.  Plus I am not home and I have to travel to the event.

One bonus to this trip is I am driving.  Extra space to bring extra stuff.  Traveling by airplane for golf trips is the hardest thing to me.  How to I get all those clothes in one suitcase and then I have the golf suitcase.  I am trying to hit the weight limits.  I do not want to pay extra when it is already expensive.

Worse when packing for golf trips you need all types of weather clothing.  Luckily for me the future forecast looks amazing but I still have my rain gear and some cold gear.  I am playing on a typical Pennsylvania summer in my outfits.

Also in all honesty I have been at one of my highest weights all year.  I gained the extra COVID weight and then there was the stress weight from a tough year.  I feel like clothes are not fitting me right.  I also want to hide the extra pouch that happens.  I also want to be comfortable.  Packing is not easy with all these things going through my head.

I have not even hit the course and my thoughts are all over the place.  I am wearing a lot of elastic waste lines with sleeveless tops.  I mixed some skorts and shorts.  I also realized I forgot a belt.  Oh well, not a huge deal.  Just won't wear a belt.  I had to travel for work before I headed south for the trip.  It was like packing for two trips.

Tomorrow is the first day of practice.  No idea what I am going to wear yet.  Going to be a last minute game day decision.  I wish I had the outfits sent to me brand new like the pros.  Hey this is what you are wearing.  It will be tailored, pressed, and sent to you.  Nope, I packed it and hoped I packed enough.   

Golf Clothes

I have been thinking about golf styles through the years.  They have not changed too much.  My the length of pants could have changed but the clothes Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer wore to win their majors could be worn on the course today.  I am not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.  I enjoy history and culture of golf.  Tradition is a major part of the game.  However, is the clothing styles an asset to women?  An issue for women especially in athletic clothing is retailers and companies just take the men's clothes and make them smaller.  There is not thought to the women's body or how clothes should be on her body.  

As we look to try to grow the game and diversify our population, we need to consider the clothing we have to offer.  Golf clothes are not the outfit of choice for most people.  I will speak for myself and I would not naturally choice a golf out for a casual day out with my friends.  Sometimes for convenience I could have a piece on like a skort and I change when I get to the course.  In addition, golf clothes can be expensive.  I will into my local pro shop and I cannot find on piece of clothing under $50.  For someone who is looking to start the game that is not affordable.

I also think of clothes more because I was practicing this week and got asked is that really golf clothes?  Admittedly, my outfit was expensive.  I had a lululemon top with Athleta shorts.  My shirt was purchased at Oakmont and has the OCC logo.  The shirt does not have a color.  I like it because it has the athletic and leisure style that is popular at this time.  I had to run errands after golf and I was comfortable to do both.  In addition, my outfit was extremely comfortable.  It was a hot humid day and I wanted comfort over style.

However, what should golf style be?  We criticize golfers for wearing joggers because they are different.  I think joggers are a good thing.  They are popular in general style especially among younger generations who we are trying to connect with on the golf course.  Isn't time to bring new outfits to the game? Joggers are comfortable and have pockets.  They are well fitted.  Time to think of new clothes and changing it up.