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Greens with envy: Golf fashion gets trendy

By Lesley Kennedy

Listen up, women golfers! If you’re hitting the greens in plain ol’ khaki shorts and boring white polos, it’s time to step it up. Today’s fashions on the links are comfy, cute and very cool.

Trouble is, a lot of sporting goods stores tend to carry the big brands and traditional colors.

“When I took up golfing about five years ago, the more often I played, the more I wanted cute stuff,” says Jen Wentworth, founder of pinkgolftees.com. “I just couldn’t find a very good selection unless I wanted something in black.”

So, Wentworth, who has a background in marketing and e-commerce, found a needed niche in trendy golf apparel for women, and launched pinkgolftees.com on Jan. 1, 2008.

Wentworth’s site features between 40 and 50 smaller, more boutique brands.

“You can buy Nike anywhere,” she says. “I wanted to find more unique and fashion-focused stuff that wasn’t readily available and put it all in one place.”

Profitable in its first year, with lots of repeat business, Wentworth says her customers range from pre-teen to senior citizens, with most falling in the upper 20- to upper 40- range.

“But I have people calling all the time saying, ‘I’m 63-years-old and I have great arms – what sleeveless shirts do you have for me?’” she says. “I love it.”

So, what’s trendy now?

“Dresses are getting a lot more popular than they used to be,” Wentworth says. “I think they’re fun. It just depends on personal preference, but I’ve seen that trend really rising.”

She says black, white, pink and navy are always popular, but that berries, blues, greens and aquas are gaining momentum. And don’t forget accessories.

“We have close to 15 or 20 different brands just for accessories, from bags to head covers to shoe bags to belts to gloves. We offer 100 different colors of gloves alone,” she says. “Most of the brands offer a full set of accessories, so if you want everything matching you can find it all. Some people really like that.”

Wentworth’s favorite courses are Wellshire, Foothills Golf Course and the Littleton Golf and Tennis Center.

“They’re all very woman-friendly,” she says.

Just like her clothes.

SHOPPING DETAILS

PUTTING IN PINK: JoFit pink and white half-zip mock-neck golf shirt ($64.99), JoFit berry plaid Bermuda shorts ($68), Sweet Spot Golf pink Ax ladies putter ($149) and Wilson Hope pink and purple golf balls ($10, set of six). All at pinkgolftees.com. Foot Joy “Green Joy” golf shoes ($59), K Bell sport socks ($6.95) and baseball cap. All at the Omni Interlocken Resort Golf Club.

HOME ON THE RANGE: JoFit navy and yellow-striped half-zip tank ($62) and navy skort ($68) and Keri Golf “Maci” golf bag ($295). At pinkgolftees.com.

GOLF A LA CART: Quagmire Golf pleated plaid golf skort ($85), JoFitblack and white tank ($64.99) and Glove It white golf visor ($14). All at pinkgolftees.com.

HAT HEAD: Glove It white golf visor ($14) and Bon joc “Penelope” flower golf ball marker ($22). At pinkgolftees.com.

BELT IT OUT: Ame & Lulu “Onyx” ladies golf belt ($25). At pinkgolftees.com.

PLAYING DRESS UP: Quagmire Golf “Nicky” polka dot golf dress ($99). At pinkgolftees.com.

GOLF CHICK: Pink Diva Golf T-shirt ($44). At pinkgolftees.com.

Photos by Joe Mahoney

CREDITS

Location:Omni Interlocken Resort Golf Club, 800 Eldorado Blvd., Broomfield, Colo. The 27-hole facility is open to the public and consists of three individual regulation nine-hole courses, the Eldorado, Vista and Sunshine, that stretch over 300 acres and a panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains. Memberships require no initiation fee and run $335 per month for an individual membership and $493 per month for family. For information, call 303-464-9000.

Model: Maria Brinck/Donna Baldwin

Special thanks: Deborah Dix, Dix Communications

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