Think of the typical golfer. Now, think of what he or she wears. Most likely a very plain, homogenous outfit came to mind. It is true that golf traditionally does not have a stylish reputation, however one golf apparel company in Hawaii is sending the days of argyle jumpers and shapeless slacks far away. With the supportive voices of Clay Guida, Shane Victorino and George Lopez behind Oahu Golf Apparel, these fresh designs are spreading positivity one floral print at a time.
The Makings of an Inclusive Brand
A new generation of golfers is emerging that loves the sport, but finds the clothing less than inspiring. Often golf apparel available follows the same basic “recipe”. Tear the label off and there is nothing special or distinct to separate brands. A further restriction is placed on aspiring and existing golfers when it comes to clothing size, as many brands only offer their apparel in standard sizes – charging the customer extra for larger sizes – a practice that does not sit well with founder Tim Hazelgrove. Trying to keep costing the same across the board, irrespective of shirt size, Oahu Golf Apparel (OGA) strives to bring the joy of golf to more people.
“I want to make products that can fit anybody. There’s a whole demographic from 3X to 6X. I’m even going to do a 7X that nobody in the golf industry is even going after. Now on the flip side with kids, I actually price it to where it’s affordable and we sell our kids polo, which is the same exact fabric and make as the adult polo.”
Sharing some insights Mr. Hazelgrove stated that what separates OGA from other brands is that, apart from hailing from Hawaii, the golf apparel makes for a valuable keepsake. Each design is unique and authentically Hawaiian.
“It’s a talking point, it’s a conversation for many years to come or many months. I always feel like we’re the only authentic golf brand using floral patterns. There’s other brands that are very similar to us out there. But they do not do it custom….So what separates us from them is we design every pattern that we make. I feel like the small brands really, really influence the big brands, because they’re all doing floral patterns now.”
Paying it Forward
Having been involved with the Tournament of Champions in Maui for a number of years, it was not strange when the request came to design gear for the players.
The request excited Tim, who wanted to show appreciation towards one of the most overlooked participants of the sport: caddies.
“I told them, hey, let’s make hats for the caddies and all their kids and their whole family. And we have leftovers, they can go to the players too…Honestly, I’d love to give a shoutout to all the caddies out there that’s got us to this point, because they’re the ones that usually get forgotten about,” Tim shared.
Sony Open
For a third consecutive year OGA spent their afternoon during the final round of the Sony Open donating free merchandise. Sharing his motivations with Hawaii News Now, Mr. Hazelgrove stated that it is all about giving back.
“You have to give back…People have to give, so many people are about receiving, so I along with my business partner, brought our kids down and if you teach them at a young age to give back, they’ll grow into great human beings.”
About Oahu Golf Apparel
Founded in 2016, OGA is a vibrant and contemporary clothing company that pushes the limits of traditional golf brands, striking back at the ideological boundaries that define golf apparel. OGA came a long way in a few short years, having received support from many notable names, including Kolten Wong and George Lopez.
Strongly believing that golf should be accessible to people from all walks of life, Oahu Golf Apparel uses their eye-catching designs and fresh patterns, inspired by Hawaii’s landscape, to create a distinct platform that is slowly transforming the perceptions of what a “conventional golfer” should be.
Transformative Threads
Tina Knowles once said: “I believe in the power of great clothing. It can evoke confidence, beauty, and a sense of glamour.” The way we dress not only influences the way we feel about ourselves, but how others are perceived as well.
Think of the typical golfer again. Now picture the same golfer in an inspiring floral print. Which would you prefer?
