Golfers often go to great lengths to get an edge, but while the focus is primarily on clubs and balls, sunglasses are beginning to play a role as well.
While looks will always be important, golfers are starting to seek products from manufacturers such as Bolle, Oakley, Hobie and Costa Del Mar for versatility and technology. And because Southern Californians are able to golf in a variety of settings, sunglasses with the ability to filter out harmful rays and adapt to differing light conditions are more in demand.
“A good thing for both changing settings but also evolving conditions are photochromic lenses which change tint depending on current availability of light,” said Jim Katz, marketing consultant for Bolle/Serengeti. “You start out your round on a sunny day but by the back nine it becomes overcast. … Those automatically adjust for the differences.”
More manufacturers are also offering polarization to improve vision and reduce glare, which can help on greens for reading putts.
“There’s also the light spectrum where you want certain colors to come through and not others for optimum visibility throughout your round,” said Al Perkinson, vice president of marketing for Costa Del Mar Sunglasses. “Certain dyes and coatings act as filters on the lenses and cut out the harmful lights that irritate your eye and makes them relaxed and allows you to see significantly more clearly, which hopefully leads to better play.”
With higher grade lenses comes a corresponding improvement in frames made of nylon that are light, flexible, durable and “can be shaped effectively for better ergonomics,” Katz said.
The best sunglasses for active wearers also combine adjustable nose pads and temple tips that get tacky and absorb moisture for a more secure grip.
But even with advances in tinting, polarization, anti-reflective coating, UV protection and the like, a sense of style remains a key factor in a person’s shades.
“White has been popular for a while and continues to grow incrementally every year, and vivid colors like greens and yellows are attracting more adventurous wearers,” Katz said of frame choices. “We’re starting to see the emergence of clear frames both as stand alones as well as with solid color temples (arms) or vice versa. It’s a fringe thing right now but is gaining momentum.”
Costa Del Mar’s Perkinson adds that certain standards are still popular for his company’s shoppers, but a trend for golfers wanting some extra flair is beginning to take shape, particularly during months of warmer weather and longer days.
“Black and brown are still the biggest sellers, but what you’re seeing are a lot more golfers spicing it up to match their outfits,” he said. “The trend these days are for significantly more color options for frames, including clear, white, blue, red, yellow, silver and white, which is a big seller particularly in the summer time.”
