| Technology | | | | to provide permanent freshness for example |
| Through advances in technology manufacturers | | | | through silver ion technology. In addition these golf |
| have managed to create golf clothing, whether it's | | | | shirts have extremely high levels of breathability |
| a golf shirts or waterproofs, that minimise any | | | | transferring moisture quickly away from the skin |
| unnecessary load on the body. This prevents the | | | | to the outside world. This makes them ideal as |
| loss of valuable energy that could be used more | | | | either a base or intermediate layer and can be |
| productively while playing a round of golf. | | | | combined with any or all of other multi-layering |
| Gore has a long history of technical innovation | | | | garments. |
| stretching back to 1978 when they launched their | | | | Another aspect of golf clothing innovation has |
| first waterproof and windproof garments. Their | | | | been the reduction in the weight and size of |
| fabrics are created by laminating GORE TEX to | | | | garments. In part a response to the fact that |
| other high performance technical fabrics and then | | | | golfers often have limited space in their golf bags |
| sealing them with an innovative solution. This | | | | to pack away their golf clothing, these advances |
| makes the garments completely waterproof yet | | | | are also coupled with the objective of reducing |
| capable of breathing, making them ideal for golf | | | | load on the body. Materials often combine high |
| The waterproofing is achieved by the pores in the | | | | performance polyester or nylon with a GORE-TEX |
| membrane being 20,000 times smaller than a | | | | membrane. These do away with the need for a |
| water droplet stopping their progress into the | | | | liner that can reduce garment weights by 25% |
| garment. So what makes GORE TEX breath too? | | | | and more. |
| It's the pores again; they are 700 times larger | | | | Golf sweaters provide the warmth needed when |
| than a water vapour molecule, enabling them to | | | | the weather gets chilly and are now designed to |
| pass through the membrane venting themselves | | | | stop the loss of air warmed by the body. Air is a |
| to the outside world, helping keep golfers warm | | | | good insulator and so the fabrics need to trap it |
| and dry. | | | | close to or within itself. However this in it self is |
| Golf waterproofs made from Gore Tex allow | | | | not enough, as the garment must breath in order |
| golfers to play without being distracted by the | | | | for any moisture passed through from inner |
| weather - you are neither cold nor wet, so that | | | | layers of clothing. New techniques include waffle |
| your total focus is on the game in hand, not your | | | | patterned material, which creates air chambers |
| clothing. | | | | that are warmed by the body and provide |
| Manufacturers are also using hi-tech material in | | | | extremely effective and long lasting thermal |
| their golf windproofs as warmth and comfort | | | | insulation. More information on golf clothing |
| improves performance on the golf course. These | | | | innovation can be found at Galvin Green. |
| fabrics shut the door on wind-chill, protecting the | | | | Golf underwear has also undergone a revolution in |
| micro climate that surrounds the body, by being | | | | technological application. |
| completely windproof, keeping you up to 2.5 | | | | Underwear garments make use of compression |
| times warmer than similar fabrics. Wind proofing | | | | technology, which exerts a Demonstrated by a |
| like waterproofing is important but so to is | | | | five year study at Penn University conducted by |
| breathability. Modern membranes let water vapour | | | | Dr Williams Kraemer, a recognized authority in the |
| escape to the outside world even when the body | | | | field of sports medicine. The research showed |
| is working hard in a performance sport like golf. | | | | that athletes could perform closer to their |
| The fabric conserves energy for the round of | | | | maximum for longer when wearing these |
| golf rather than spending it unnecessarily on | | | | garments. |
| maintaining the body in peak condition. | | | | This increase in performance arises from: |
| Traditionally many sports men and women have | | | | Speeded recovery after exercising by reducing |
| turned to cotton golf shirts in warm or summery | | | | the build up of lactic acid. |
| weather as they have a light and fresh image. | | | | Reduced muscle vibration and micro tearing, an |
| Unfortunately this is not exactly true as the fibres | | | | important factor in energy loss. |
| within cotton can absorb and then retain moisture | | | | Aiding the return of blood to the heart which |
| making golf clothing made from it unnecessarily | | | | increases the flow of oxygen to muscles for |
| heavy and clammy. | | | | increased energy and faster healing. |
| Manufacturers have developed new technologies | | | | |