Head Golf Came to Toronto & Opened My Mind to Fashion

Let me start with an analogy; When it comes to understanding golf clubs and fitting, I’m a plus handicap, but when it comes to understanding golf fashion, I can hardly get the ball airborne. I’m basically the golf version of Anne Hathaway’s character at the beginning of The Devil Wears Prada; I exist in a parallel universe to golf fashion trends, without actually grasping the full concept.

This is why, when I had the opportunity to attend a golf and fashion event hosted by HEAD Golf in Toronto, I jumped at the chance learn more about something that, (if I’m being honest), truly intimidated me.

The New HEAD Golf

For a brand that has a stable foothold in the tennis and ski worlds, along with other sports, golf is relatively new to HEAD which gives it’s Creative Director Ka Ho Kam a blank slate to blend performance fabrics with function, individuality, and sustainability. Yes, there are lots of brands that talk about doing this in the golf space but HEAD does it with clear intent by utilizing recycled yarns, bio-based dyes, and FSC-certified packaging to craft their apparel.

When asked about why golf and why now? Ka Ho had this to say about bringing his expertise from luxury and technical apparel into golf.

Golf gives me a unique canvas — it’s one of the few sports where style plays as big a role as performance. I love merging technical innovation with timeless design, creating apparel that enhances a player’s game but also feels elevated enough for a dinner or a meeting right after a round. Designing for golf also means embracing storytelling — every collection can be inspired by a place, a mood, or a moment in the sport’s culture. That combination of function, style, and narrative keeps me inspired season after season.

Again, as the fish out of water in this space, I like to draw parallels to what I know and in many ways the idea of bringing everything together from a fashion perspective is similar to the world of club fitting. The right clubs both help a golfer perform and feel confident in their ability to execute on the course. A couple wraps or tape too many under a grip is like a sleeve that doesn’t sit right or a poorly position button. You might not know right away why you don’t like it, but that uncomfortable feeling leaks into your psyche.

On a personal level, I can think of several occasions when I have purchased a golf shirt only to find little things about it uncomfortable once I take it to the course; like how the sleeves sit after a couple swings, a collar seam that rubs my neck, or a rubberized pressed on tag that prevents the fabric from breathing and sticks to your back. I’ve donated a few too many shirts over the years because of this annoyance. Its actually why when I read Skratch’s own Raymond Williams piece about performance fabrics and fit, I had a real “I guess I never thought of it that way moment”.

Images courtesy of Emma Spring

"Golf fashion is experiencing an exciting shift," says Ka Ho. "The modern golfer isn’t confined to the image of the traditional country club member anymore—they’re younger, more diverse, and looking for apparel that works just as well off the course as it does on it. Social media, travel, and the blending of sport and lifestyle have really redefined what golf style means. There’s a bigger appetite for individuality, performance-driven fabrics, and pieces that reflect personal style rather than just tradition. It’s a moment where innovation and heritage can coexist, and that’s where I see the most creative opportunity."

So what about the actual golf?

As for the golf event itself, which was in collaboration with The Links Social Tour, it was a blast, and just like how Ka Ho talks about bringing everything together, the event opened my eyes to a lot of things that I don’t generally connect to golf simply based on my own experiences and history with the game.

I often forget that, as a golfer who started playing when I was a kid (many decades ago now), a massive part of the golf population only picked up the game in the last 5 years. And, just because many of the attendees were new-ish to golf doesn’t mean that they don’t take the game seriously or have some serious game, it's just that their mentality about the sport is in high contrast to the traditional country club or exclusive resort.

I’m just as guilty as many of those that came before me, in that I have gotten pretty comfy doing things the way I always have, especially when it comes to golf. But, as an individual who wants to maintain a learning mindset, and be open to new ideas, I really like how Ka Ho framed the experience.

The Links Social Tour has built such an authentic and passionate community around the game, and that’s something we’re proud to be part of. This event wasn’t about competition—it was about connection, creativity, and celebrating the modern golf culture. Seeing players from different backgrounds, all sharing the same love for the game, really reinforces why we do what we do. Collaborating with Links Social Tour allowed us to engage directly with this new wave of golfers and show how HEAD Golf fits into that lifestyle. It was energizing and inspiring — and I can’t wait to do it again.

And, like Ka Ho, I can't wait to do it again either, and maybe think about golf fashion a little bit differently too.