Who’s Wearing Tattoo Golf Gear?

Skull and cross-clubs? Definitely not for everyone frequenting the golf links, but since 1999 Tattoo Golf has been shaking up the conventional look of the game by offering an edgy, cool-looking line of clothing as a non-traditional attire alternative. Why? The game of golf is changing as younger players take to the greens, showing up with a new look that more accurately reflects their personal sense of style. Just like tattooed body ink is surging in popularity today, Tattoo Golf is riding that same wave of momentum. Take a look at some of the celebrities who have been seen on (and off) the course sporting the TG skull and cross-clubs logo.

Brett Hull is a National Hockey League Hall of Fame inductee (2009) and son of Bobby Hull, also a member of the NHL Hall of Fame (1983). He's currently the Executive Vice President for the St. Louis Blues, the team for which he still holds the high scoring record (527) from when he played there between 1987 and 1998. An avid golfer, Hull often said during his hockey playing days that he preferred golf to hockey. He was ranked by Golf Digest Magazine in 2009 as the sixth best athlete/golfer in all of North America. Tattoo Golf gear is what tough hockey players are looking to wear and when it comes to tough hockey players, Brett’s definitely there!

Mike Dobbyn and Ryan Winther, both winners of the Re/Max World Long Drive Championship (2007 & 2012, respectively), have worn TG golf wear and can frequently be seen at local long drive competitions.

Phil Varone, musician/songwriter/actor, not only sports a body full of well-inked, colorful tats, but also has worn various Tattoo Golf clothing items to complete the image. Well-known drummer for music groups such as Saigon Kick, Skid Row and Vince Neil, the outspoken, multi-platinum winning rock and roller is a writer, philanthropist and works with at-risk youths in a number of charity efforts. He often promotes golf tournaments as part of his fund-raising activities. Phil has said that Tattoo Golf is just what the sport needs, with normal golf wear being boring and in need of a facelift. TG feels that Phil fits right in with the company's brand image of aggressive-looking golf clothing inspired by various tattoo designs. It's a good fit all around.

Golf Gear for Today’s Player

It's unclear who exactly invented the game of golf or when. Some say it was the Dutch, as early as the 13th century, when sticks and leather balls were used. In 1360 the game was actually banned in Brussels by the City Council, where the penalty for playing was set at 20 shillings or the loss of one's overcoat!

There seems little doubt, however, that the game as we know it today, played on a course over 18 holes, was started in Scotland. It was called "gouf," a Scottish translation of the Dutch word "colf," which means stick or club. Again the game was officially banned, this time by Scottish Parliament in 1457, because it was thought to interfere with time that should be spent in the practice of archery. Proficiency at archery was seen as a necessity for military purposes. Golf was described as "an unprofitable sport."

When you think back 500 years, not much has changed. Golf gained popularity across the British Isles starting in the late 19th century and became what is still known as a "Gentleman's Game." Specific rules were initiated and a certain standard of golfing attire adopted. Today, most of those rules still apply and, believe it or not, "appropriate" clothing worn on the course has seen little change for decades. That is until the entry of Tattoo Golf in 1999, which basically put the world of golfing apparel on its head.

It started first with hats and unique shirts. Clothing that was considered unimaginative and sorely outdated began to be replaced with a line of clothing that was obviously aggressive and edgy when compared to the standard, traditionally conservative mens golf shirts found on every single golf-shop clothing rack around the world. These plain, single-color golf shirts and hats from your Grandfather's era were suddenly being introduced to a cool option in the form of tattoo-inspired gear marketed to a new generation of golfers.

Since day one the concept flew, primarily due to the widespread marketing ability found through the use of the Internet, and what started as shirts and hats has blossomed into a complete line of more than 75 golf-related items. The words conservative or traditional definitely no longer apply. Not surprisingly, the new trend has also spread beyond the younger golf crowd, partly because Tattoo Golf gear is not only nontraditional but the quality, such as the moisture-wicking materials used in the shirts, is unparalleled too.

Not everyone goes for the skull and crossed-clubs motif of the Tattoo Golf line and, realizing the need to tone it down a bit to gain a wider acceptance, the company also produces "somewhat" more conservative categories of His & Hers matching outfits, Pin-ups and the all new Clubhouse Collection. But these still aren't Granddad's golf clothes! It's no coincidence that the popularity of body ink tattoos has paralleled the popularity of Tattoo Golf gear.