Get a Leg Up on Your Competition with the Best Golf Pants

Sing the praises of pants! For those in regions out in the world that play golf in any weather, such as the rainy, windy regions of Scotland where the game was invented, a fine pair of trousers is the uniform to get a player around 18 holes in comfort.

There are also some players who favor proper pants even during the warm weather months when golf shorts would seem like the easiest choice to accompany the traditional polo shirt. Those golfers may look on pants as more formal and more of an expression of respect for the game. Then again, they may just feel comfortable and focused in that more formal golf attire.

Regardless of the reason for zipping up a fine pair of golf pants, this collection will point out some of the most intriguing brands with a variety of price ranges. Whether a player values function, fashion or affordability, he’ll find a solution he can enjoy in our list.

Finally, be very clear on one thing: Jeans are not golf pants. If you show up on a top-shelf course in a pair of jeans, you won’t be allowed out of the clubhouse, and rightly so. As a brilliant fashion consultant once told me away from the golf course, the only time a grown man should be seen wearing jeans in public is when he’s sitting on a horse.

For the best golf pants you can buy right now, take a look at our list below.

1. Glenmuir Trousers

We start with a classic look — the tartan trousers. It’s easy to imagine a golfer centuries ago striding up to a round of cool, damp links play in gear looking very much like those sold by Glenmuir of Scotland. The Glenmuir folks have been making golf wear since 1891, so many of their designs offer a classic aesthetic. That said, their products are updated with the most modern materials and served up with excellent build quality.

2. Jack Nicklaus Golf

We know The Golden Bear doesn’t sit up nights amongst his 18 Major Championship trophies to design golf pants. He has folks who do that for him before he signs off on the bottom line. Still, you can do worse than heading out to the first tee with the GOAT’s name on your slacks. Understated and classically styled, the Jack Nicklaus line includes and “active wasteland” to give the player a little more freedom of movement.

3. Linksoul

The millennial-focused Linksoul line includes some well-made sweatpants and denim offerings. Leave those at home in your closet for another day because we’re off to play golf here. Fortunately, the casual line of Linksoul gear features very comfortable yet slightly more grownup pants with material options from linen to chino. 

4. Nike Flex Five-Pocket

A five-pocket pants design is preferred by many golfers because the game sends a pile of little pieces a player’s way. There are scorecards, pencils, tees, ball markers, golf balls, etc. The Nike designers manage to offer plenty of places to store all of those items while using a mix of cotton, polyester and spandex to offer a light, comfortable and stretchy feel. 

Buy: NIKE Men's Flex Slim 5-Pocket Golf Pants, Clay Green/Pure/White, Size 34/34 $60.00

5. Loudmouth Golf

Remember when we mentioned that some golfers prefer to stick with long pants to show respect for the game? It’s safe to say devotees of Loudmouth Golf are not members of that particular fraternity. That’s not to say wearing a pair of these bold, colorful and often irreverent pants means the wearer doesn’t love the sport. He just likes a little peacocking now and again.

6. Sun Mountain Rain Pants

We already mentioned that golfers from less agreeable climates stick to long pants for protection from the elements. Sun Mountain designs and manufacturers gear dedicated to holding back the rain on what Scottish golfers call “soft days.” Their Monsoon editions are comfortable and smartly concocted with leg-end zippers for easy donning and removal over golf shoes.

7. Galway Bay All-Weather

For the golfer who can’t stay away from the course in even the worst possible conditions, Galway Bay ups the ante from rain-resistance and creates all-weather pants with extra lining to protect against wind and colder conditions. The extra insulation is rated to keep the player comfortable down to 30 degrees. That should be plenty because even the most dedicated player should probably pack it in when the mercury dips below freezing.

8. William Murray 

The cool, casual William Murray line offers plenty of straight-up, solid color golf pants to fit any mood, course or event. These particular offerings feature the Murray Tartan and add a little more flare to the player’s round. All William Murray products are lightweight and made well with modern materials that actively wick water away from the body.

9. PGA Tour Golf Wear

Never overlook the golf fashions offered by the PGA Tour’s own product line. Well-made and very affordable, these trousers from the merchandising arm of the world’s biggest golf events offer an expandable waistband to keep the player feeling comfortable and flexible off the tee or bending down to snag the ball out of the cup. 

10. Golf Knickers

We’re making a judgment call here. These aren’t pants. They stop at the knee. They’re also not shorts as they cling to the leg and require knee socks to complete the look. What they are, however, is classic golf fashion. If there’s any quibble to be made for this brand, it’s all in the name. These are golf plus fours, not knickers. “Knickers” is a colloquial name for women’s underwear. Now, a man can were women’s underwear if that’s what gets him through the night, but it would be frowned upon at the golf course. Still, “golfplusfours.com” doesn’t have the same fun ring as this brand’s URL, so we’ll cut them some slack(s).

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