Champ reports that the winners of the PGA Tour's Verizon Heritage and LPGA's Takefuji Classic wore the company's golf spikes.
K Dreyer Golf Apparel hires Jacqueline McFarlane, who will represent the company in Michigan. McFarlane will be based in Livonia, Mich.
FootJoy announces the FootJoy LT Series/Toyota FJ Cruiser Sweepstakes in which a new 2007 FJ Cruiser will be awarded. The promotion runs through May 14.
FEAUTRE
The Apparel Guy
Editor's note: We hope you find our monthly "The Apparel Guy" column both practical and lighthearted. Golf Press Association fashion correspondent Bill Giering will answer your golfing fashion and style questions. The column will be both informative and thought provoking. Also, Giering will consult with experts in the golf fashion industry to address your questions.
Giering has written about golf fashion for national magazines, played golf on every continent, covered all four majors and still can't putt. He insists his style expertise doesn't come from watching the cat-walks of international fashion shows. but comes from attending too many golf events, watching too many golfers, and wondering: "What the hell was he thinking about, when he got dressed this morning?"
Ask The Apparel Guy
(We may not always notice good style or fashion … but we always notice its absence.)
Q.: I have been watching the young guys on the PGA Tour wearing all the new bright colored slacks this year, with flared bottoms and wide belt loops. I've noticed the waist line dropping. … Where exactly is the waist line anyway?
A.: I think you have been watching way too many of the waist lines on the LPGA.
Most of the slacks you have zeroed in on are all custom tailored. Take the trousers Ian Poulter wears … they're from custom tailor William Hunt on Savile Row in London. Handmade trousers from Mr. Hunt is the haute couture of sports fashion, the ultimate indulgence in style for a gentlemen. Pretty elite stuff. To gain entrance to this fashion maven's world, sometimes you have to be introduced to a Savile Row Tailor by a friend or ... "No suit for you."
P.S.: God gave you a belly button for a reason, that's where your waste line is. Don't confuse it ... Use it.
Q.: My company has a fancy golf event every summer, where we invite our big customers in for the weekend. This will be my first, and I'm trying to make a good impression. My boss is a clothes-horse, always looking the part of 'the guy in charge.' Hey, I still wear jeans and T-shirts at my local muni where I play with my pals every weekend. I play pretty good, I should win. But, I'm out in leftfield when it comes to "the look." Don't want to embarrass myself by wearing something goofy. What should I buy?
A.: If you are like most Americans, let me defer to fashion expert and Yankee baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra; " Some things you just can't buy. If you really want to look good ... lose 10 pounds and get a tan."
The first thing you need to buy is a new white Footjoy golf glove, and then with a magic marker write this note in the palm: "It's Not about Me."
This event is all about making your customers feel that you care about them. It's not about you winning, it's not about your new golf shirt with a Hawaiian sunset on the back or flames shooting up from the bottom. It's about anticipating your customers' needs. It's about making them comfortable, letting them know you think they are important. Letting them know through your actions and your appearance that you are thoughtful and reliable.
Shirt
To scream reliability, play it conservative and stay with a classic elegant style for this event. Check out the classic golf fashions by Fairway & Greene. And although both its spring and fall lines show a wonderful pallet of contemporary colors, stick with its signature collection, which comes in two ply mercerized pima cotton in solids and stripes. You, my friend, are going with the willow stripes, a mellow green over white. Fairway & Greene is only found in better private clubs and resorts around the world, so call around and if you find a club with the whole collection, you are home free. If not, go to www.fairwayandgreene.com.
Warning: Fairway & Greene has luxurious pima cotton, alpaca, merino and cashmere sweaters. They also have tropical wool and Glen plaid trousers. These are not for you -- you are not ready for this leap yet. When you become the boss, that's the time. But if you get carried away, remember to wear a solid color shirt that shares a color harmoniously with any plaid slacks. Please.
Slacks
Yes, you are wearing slacks. Not shorts, not cargo pants, not jeans, but slacks. And if you are under a 36 waist, let's go with a flat front classic fit Laguna pant from Dockers Tour. The sandalwood-toned will work great. Simple and easy with a classic fit, they're a perfect choice. Remember, with the trimmer Flat Front look, you don't want to carry six golf balls, four gloves, a half eaten apple and a frog in your front pockets. What you're going for is a neat, athletic look. These slacks are wrinkle resistant, so they'll look good all day and you can still wear to the awards dinner after golf. Simple, traditional the Dockers Tour line is produced by Newport Sportswear and is available in most sports retail outlets.
Shoes
Hey, if you do nothing else, clean and polish your kicks. Nothing says "Oops, I forgot!" faster than a pair of grass-stained dirty shoes with broken laces. If you need a new pair, try something from the fast-growing ECCO golf line. Its New Classic Saddle GTX in cognac (think rich brown) and white or the New Classic City in cognac would be the ideal foundation with the above sandalwood slacks and green and white polo.
ECCO has a lot of very cool contemporary colors and styles. Don't be tempted to go too far astray -- today you want a classic look on and off the course. And you'll get a bonus -- they feel great. You can take that to the bank. ECCOs are available from retailers or go to www.eccousa.com.
Outerwear
Check the weather and be prepared with a vest or windwear from Sunderland of Scotland. It has a Nano-Tex material that is worth learning about, which does everything but swing the club for you. I like the olive color with this outfit.. Even if you don't need it, at least the high tech material should elict some "what's that" in your foursome. Go to www.sunderlandgolf.com.
Accessories
Go for a simple white hat like the ones from AHead Headgear, which also has some interesting innovations this year. Try its ACARE performance caps. The mesh-back style is back in vogue but with moisture wicking fabrics to keep your head cool. Bring an extra, in case one of your guest forgets. Try AHead's CoolMax C17CMX and C17CME caps. Two-tone for your guest, solid white for you. Go to www.aheadweb.com.
A traditional brown golf belt from The Green Friendly Golf Company not only holds up your pants in classic style, it also provides you a divot tool and ball marker slickly designed into the buckle. Brown belt with Brown shoes, go to www.greenfriendlygolf.com.
Sunglasses
Callaway Eyewear has a terrific line this year, terrific for tracking ball flight and reading the greens for your guest. The quiet gentleman Dr. Gil Morgan of the Champions Tour says, "It's the best eye wear ever." Try something from its Sports Series like model S204-BK. Go to www.callawayeyewear.com.
Finally ... I think you are good-to-go. You have a look that is classic, a look that is subtle and not screaming for attention. A look that suggests; you know what you are doing. A style that recognizes what's new, but shows a respect for tradition. A perfect look for your company golf event, and your career. You can go back to the jeans on the weekend when you are with your buds.
Address your questions to Apparelguy@gpagolf.com.
