So, I’ve been playing golf for a fair bit now, and the sun, well, it started getting serious. My regular baseball cap just wasn’t doing the job anymore. My ears were getting baked, and the back of my neck felt constantly scorched after a round. Just wasn’t comfortable, you know? Kept finding myself squinting like crazy, too, even with sunglasses.
Finding the Right Shade
I figured I needed something with more coverage. A wide brim seemed like the obvious answer. So, the hunt began. First, I poked around online, just looking at pictures, trying to get an idea of what was out there. Loads of options, some looked ridiculously huge, like I was heading on safari, not to the golf course.
Then I went down to the local golf shop. Thought it’d be better to actually try some on. Picked up a few. Some felt too stiff, like wearing a cardboard box on my head. Others were flimsy, felt like the first gust of wind would send them flying into the next county. I needed something that felt like it would stay put but wasn’t going to cook my head.
- Looked at different materials – straw, canvas, those techy fabrics.
- Checked how wide the brim actually was. Some “wide brims” barely covered my ears.
- Tried them on, looked in the mirror. Yeah, vanity plays a small part, didn’t want to look completely daft.
Comfort was key. I bent the brims a bit, checked the inside band, imagined wearing it for 4-5 hours straight. Some had chin straps, which I wasn’t keen on initially, but started thinking maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea on windy days.
Settling on One
After trying on maybe half a dozen hats across a couple of stores, I landed on one. It wasn’t the cheapest, wasn’t the fanciest. It was this sort of lightweight fabric, breathable they called it. The brim was wide enough to cover my ears and neck properly, but not so massive I couldn’t see my ball when addressing it. It had a simple drawstring thing inside to adjust the fit, which felt better than a fixed size. No chin strap on this one, decided to risk it.
Hitting the Course
First time I wore it out, it felt a bit strange. Definitely noticed the wider shadow it cast. But wow, the difference! No more sun beating down on my neck. My ears were totally covered. It was a bright day, and I felt way less glare. It was pretty comfortable, didn’t feel too heavy or hot, probably thanks to that lighter material.
Did it stay on? Mostly, yeah. We had one windy afternoon, and I did have to hold onto it a couple of times when a big gust came through. Maybe should have considered that chin strap after all! But for normal conditions, the adjustable drawstring kept it snug enough.
Been using it consistently now for several months. It’s holding up well. Gets a bit sweaty, sure, but I just rinse it out and let it air dry. It does the job I needed it to do – keeps the sun off, lets me focus more on my game instead of feeling like I’m slow-roasting.
So yeah, switching to a wide brim was a good move for me. Took a bit of searching to find one that felt right, but definitely worth the effort. Makes those sunny days on the course way more enjoyable.
