The WM Phoenix Open is not a normal golf tournament, and it is not a normal day of getting dressed either.
You are outside for eight to twelve hours. It is in the forties when the gates open and it can hit the high seventies by the afternoon. You will walk several miles, stand in the sun on 16, and most likely end up somewhere social after. That is a lot to ask of one outfit, which is why the people who look best out there plan for the swing instead of the forecast.
Here is how we dress clients for it every year at the shop.
Start With a Layer You Will Actually Want to Take Off
Mornings at TPC Scottsdale are genuinely cold. The mistake is dressing for noon, then spending the first three hours miserable.
A performance hoodie solves it. The Colorado Hoodie from Greyson Clothiers is buttery soft with stretch and UV protection built in, light enough to tie around your waist or stuff in a bag once the sun is up. If you want something with more substance and a dressier finish, the Koko Sweater Hoodie is a wool and cashmere blend that reads like a sweater rather than a sweatshirt, which matters if you are going straight to dinner afterward.
Either way, the rule is the same. Wear a layer you are happy to carry.
Or Wear a Vest and Gain Four Pockets
A vest is the smartest piece you can wear to this event, and not only for warmth. It keeps your core warm through a cold morning, it never gets in the way of anything, and it gives you somewhere to put your phone, your wallet, your sunscreen and your sunglasses.
Anyone who has spent a day at the Open with a phone in one hand and a drink in the other understands why pockets matter. The Boyd Vest from Holderness & Bourne is a clean, quiet option that layers over a polo in the morning and comes off without ruining the outfit underneath.
If You Want to Look Like a Golfer, Bring Some Color
This is the one tournament where a louder polo is the right call. The Open has a reputation for a reason, and a sea of navy and white is not what anyone came to see.
Color is where Holderness & Bourne shines. Their polos come in shades like Cabernet, Nectarine, Cascade Green and Vista Blue, rich without being loud, so you can make a statement and still look put together. If you have been meaning to branch out from navy and white, this is the week to do it.
If You Are Not a Golfer, Wear This Instead
A Holderness & Bourne polo is the move here. H&B veers less technical than a true golf brand, with a structured spread collar and a clean fit that works just as well with jeans as it does with golf pants. Put the Macdonald with a pair of Fidelity Denim jeans and you are dressed for the event without pretending to be in the field.
That combination also happens to be one of the most versatile outfits in a man’s closet, which is the best argument for buying it.
Golf Shorts If the Forecast Cooperates
By midday it is often warm enough that shorts are the right answer, and a proper golf short beats whatever is in your gym drawer.
The Wainscott Short from Greyson has a 9 inch inseam, which is the length that looks current without feeling short, and the performance fabric handles a long day on your feet. Anthracite goes with every polo you own, including the loud one.
Use It as an Excuse for a New Polo
The Open lands right as golf season opens up here, which makes it the best possible reason to replace a polo you have worn for five seasons.
Buy it for the event and you will wear it for the next six months of tee times. That is the math we point out to clients every February, and nobody has argued with it yet. Browse men’s golf polos and pick one thing that makes you want to play.
Do Not Forget the Boring Stuff
The details that decide whether you enjoy the day:
Sunscreen. Phoenix sun in February is stronger than visitors expect. Reapply.
A hat. Shade for your face and a solution for whatever your hair does after eight hours outside.
SHOP HATS >
Sunglasses. You are facing open sky all day with no trees to speak of.
Comfortable shoes. You will walk more than you think, much of it on grass and gravel. This is not the day for new leather soles.
Leave the Sport Coat at Home
Last thing, and we mean it. A sport coat at the Phoenix Open is a mistake. You will carry it all afternoon, it will not survive the crowd, and it signals that you misjudged the event.
This tournament rewards looking relaxed and intentional. A good polo, a layer you can shed, shorts or a clean five pocket pant, and real shoes will put you ahead of most of the grandstand.
Need Help Putting It Together?
Come by the shop at 3168 E Camelback Road in Phoenix and we will build the outfit with you, including what to wear if the forecast changes the week of. Or email mary@qcontrary.com and tell us what you already own and we can help refresh your look with one or two new items.
Shop men’s golf polos | Shop Greyson Clothiers | Shop Holderness & Bourne
