You don’t need to be a PGA Master to know a golf hat can make or break your game on the links. An accessory not to be overlooked, golf hats are key for staying cool, protecting your eyes and skin from the sun and sweat, and—let’s be real—looking stylish on the course. Keep reading for tips from professional golfers on how to find your perfect fit, plus their recommendations for the best golf hats to wear around all 18 (or nine!) holes.
In This Article
Experts In This Article
- Alison Curdt, PGA Master professional golfer and golf instructor
- Christina Ricci, golf coach, author, and founder of More Pars, an online golf instruction program
- Emily Glaser, award-winning women’s golf coach at University of Florida
- Kellie Stenzel, PGA professional golfer, author, and award-winning golf instructor
- Lori Brock, award-winning PGA personal golf coach and former women’s golf coach at University of Tennessee
The best golf hats, at a glance:
- Callaway, Stitch Magnet, $35
- G/Fore, Circle G’s Stretch Twill Snapback, $45
- Vimhue, X-Boyfriend, $29
- Titleist, Tour Snapback Mesh, $35
- Under Armour, Iso-Chill Driver Mesh, $28
- Ping, Boonie Bucket Hat, $22
- Nike, Dri-Fit UV Golf Bucket Hat, $42
- TaylorMade, Radar Visor, $23
- Rriody, Summer Sun Visor With Retractable Brim, $14
What to consider before buying a golf hat
Before you step onto the fairway and start swinging, there are a few things to keep in mind about which golf hat you wear. Here’s what to think about when slipping a cap onto your head.
Fit
Looks aside, the perfect-fitting golf hat is essential throughout your time on the course. “It’s always important to find a hat that will stay put and not ride up or down while you’re playing,” says Emily Glaser, women’s golf coach at the University of Florida. Look for hats with adjustable features for a custom fit, like sliding toggles, buckles, or adjustable straps.
Weather performance
Rain or shine, your golf hat should help your performance, not hinder it. “Looking for features like sun protection, breathability, and moisture wicking would be the top priority,” Glaser recommends.
Fabric
There’s nothing worse than your clothing and accessories adding weight and heat to your game on a hot summer day. “Heaviness of fabric is something I look at during the hotter summer months,” says Alison Curdt, PGA master professional and owner of Alison Curdt Golf in Los Angeles. Look for light, airy materials that wick sweat and designs that allow for airflow with details like perforations or cut-outs.
Brim
The brim of a golf hat is equally as important as the overall fit of the hat. “The front brim—the underneath area that sits on your forehead—needs to be very comfortable,” says Christina Ricci, an LPGA golf coach and founder of the online golf coaching program, More Pars. “Some caps feel like a board against your skin. No good!”
The 9 best golf hats, according to athletes
Callaway, Stitch Magnet Hat — $35.00
“My favorite golf hat is a Callaway brand hat,” says Curdt. “I enjoy that there are multiple colors, textures, fits, bill styles, and designs to complement any golf outfit.” Curdt also loves that Callaway’s hats hold up throughout a day of teaching in the sun. This specific hat from Callaway features a unique design with an integrated magnetic ball marker on the bill, so you’ll always have a ball marker handy. It features an adjustable closure and is crafted in stain-repelling and moisture-wicking Nanotex fabric to keep you cool on the course.
Colors: 4
- Stain-repellant, moisture-wicking fabric
- Magnetic ball marker on the brim
- Adjustable fit
- Four colorways
- Prominent logo may deter some
G/Fore, Circle G’s Stretch Twill Snapback — $45.00
If you’re looking for a golf hat with a little more personality, G/Fore’s line is right on par. “”The G/Fore line of golf hats is really cool,” says Kellie Stenzel, Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and PGA Master Professional. This particular style is crafted in premium stretch performance twill with a built-in sweatband and an adjustable snapback closure. It features an embroidered design of interlocking G’s at the front for added boldness while you birdie.
Colors: 3
- Colorful and stylish
- Built-in sweatband for moisture-wicking protection
- Performance twill fabric
- Adjustable snapback closure
Vimhue, X-Boyfriend — $29.00
Ricci loves hats from Vimhue—they’re “very stylish,” she says. This golf hat features an interesting cross-back design that fits a ponytail, and a hook-and-loop closure for the perfect fit. Perforated side panels, signature Breathable Cooling™ fabric, and a UPF 50+ rating help keep you cool, comfortable, and protected throughout the day. “Nice to use at camp or on the golf course when the sun is out,” one Amazon reviewer says.
Colors: 5
- UPF 50+
- Sweat-wicking fabric with perforated side panels
- Ponytail-friendly design
- Stylish and colorful
- Some reviewers say it runs large
Under Armour, Iso-Chill Driver Mesh — $28.00
Golfing in the heat? Then this golf hat by Under Armour is the supreme choice. With all-around ventilation, laser-perforated side panels, and an Iso-Chill sweatband that helps disperse body heat, this style is crafted specifically for extreme temperatures. One Amazon reviewer loves that it’s “lightweight and actually fits [her] head,” going on to say that it’s “structured without looking goofy and huge.” The adjustable buckled back closure is the cherry on top of a perfect golf game.
Colors: 3
- Cooling fabric and sweatband
- All-around ventilation
- Flexible, stretchy fit
- Adjustable back closure
Ping, Boonie Bucket Hat — $22.00
Looking for a bit more coverage on the links? Try a bucket hat. While a baseball cap is more traditional, a bucket hat can offer more sun protection and comfort. Stenzel likes bucket hats from Ping, like this polyester style that features an adjustable drawcord and a wide brim. “It has space in the back for a ponytail holder, and I like the way it covers my ears,” she says.
Shoppers love this style, too. “I love this hat!” one reviewer raves. “It has a sturdy brim and the head size can be adjusted if needed.”
Colors: 1
- Large brim for ample sun coverage
- Adjustable drawcord
- Perforated side panels for airflow
- Space for ponytail
Nike, Dri-Fit UV Golf Bucket Hat — $42.00
While sun protection while golfing is obviously uber-important, another consideration when looking for the best women’s golf hat is UV protection. In addition to sunscreen, fabric with UV protection omits that harmful double bogey of UVA and UVB rays.
“I prefer a bucket hat with a tie underneath and UV protection,” Glaser says. “I wear bucket hats when I know I’ll be in the sun for a continued period of time.” This Nike style does just that. The wide brim and under-chin drawcord protect from the sun and keep the hat in place, while the Dri-Fit technology helps wick sweat from the skin to help you feel cool, dry, and comfortable. Plus, it comes in four different sizes—XS/S, S/M, M/L, and L/XL—so you can more easily find the best fit.
Colors: 3
- Moisture-wicking materials with UV protection
- Adjustable drawcord for custom fit
- Wide range of sizes
- Stretchy, flexible fabric
TaylorMade, Radar Visor — $23.00
Not into baseball caps or bucket hats? Visors may be the style eagle you’ve been hoping for. “Visors are the best option if you’re looking to wear a particular hairstyle,” Glaser says. This one from TaylorMade lets you focus on your golf game, thanks to its performance fabric, moisture-wicking sweatband, and a dark underbill that helps reduce glare. Plus, the backstrap is adjustable, with enough room to pop out a ponytail. It’s “worth the price,” raves one TaylorMade shopper. “This is a fantastic product that should be added to everyone’s wardrobe. It definitely does the job of keeping one cool while looking good.”
Colors: 3
- Lightweight and airflow-friendlyy
- Moisture-wicking sweatband
- Wide, dark brim to reduce glare
- Adjustable back closure
- May not provide as much protection as other styles
Rriody, Summer Sun Visor With Retractable Brim — $14.00
This golf visor is a favorite of National Top 50 instructor, Lori Brock. “It has good coverage, lots of color options, and UV protection,” she says. The retractable side brim offers excellent protection from the sun—a great feature anytime, but especially with a visor. It also features a soft sweatband and breathable fabric to keep you cool. With over 600 five-star ratings on Amazon, this golf hat will get you through effortlessly to the back nine. “Super cute and stays in place through an entire 18 holes,” writes one reviewer, while another reviewer loves that it “fixes the issue of peripheral vision distractions.”
Colors: 9
- Retractable visor design provides great sun protection
- Bright and colorful
- Very affordable
- Soft, breathable sweatband
- Adjustable back closure
- Retractable visor might impede peripheral vision
- Not as much coverage as other styles
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