Putter & Tweed

Hole 7 · Since 1920

Golf trousers and pants: from tailored slacks to loud prints

1920s to today

Golf trousers are the long, tailored slacks that replaced plus fours on the course. They are the quiet default at most clubs, and since 2000 Loudmouth's prints have made them the loudest thing in the bag.

John Daly in orange, green and white argyle trousers at the 2013 Greenbrier Classic
John Daly in orange, green and white argyle trousers at the 2013 Greenbrier Classic. B Wendell Jones / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. CC BY-SA. Source.

What it solved on the course

Long trousers cover the legs, keep the swing free and answer club dress codes that ask for slacks rather than shorts or breeches. Cut well and made with a little stretch, they move with the hips and knees through the swing. In a bold pattern they carry the whole outfit when everything else is plain.

History

Long trousers took over from plus fours on the course, and the breeches survived mainly as a throwback. Payne Stewart was the throwback's champion (see plus fours), and when he died the PGA Tour made tailoring part of his memorial. In 2000 it established the Payne Stewart Award, given each year to a player who shows respect for the traditions of the game and a professional, meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct.

The other half of the story is color. Loudmouth Golf, based in Sonoma County, California, is known for colorful trousers. Scott "Woody" Woodworth, then a graphic designer, founded the company in 2000. When John Daly was suspended from the PGA Tour for six months in 2008, he was forced onto the European Tour, and in 2009 he played there in Loudmouth's loud clothing before signing a formal endorsement deal. The prints left golf altogether in 2010, when the Norwegian curling team wore Loudmouth's red, white and blue diamond trousers as their uniform at the Winter Olympics.

On the PGA Tour, Rickie Fowler carried the bright look into the next decade. By the end of his first full season in 2010 he was as closely tied to orange as a traffic cone, and GOLF.com called him the one-man rainbow coalition.

Fans at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Loudmouth's red, white and blue diamond curling trousers
Fans at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Loudmouth's red, white and blue diamond curling trousers. Kenny Louie / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. CC BY. Source.

Who wore it best

  • John Daly

    Played the European Tour in Loudmouth's loud clothing in 2009, during his PGA Tour suspension, then signed a formal endorsement deal with the company.[2, 4]

  • Rickie Fowler

    Made orange his color in his first full season in 2010, and GOLF.com called him the one-man rainbow coalition.[3]

How to wear it now

  1. Keep the cut slim but not tight, with a clean break over the shoe. A tailored trouser reads sharpest against a simple shoe.
  2. Let one loud element lead. Bold trousers with a plain polo and a neutral belt, or plain trousers with a patterned shirt. Never both at once.
  3. Look for stretch fabric so the seat and knees move freely through a full swing, and check the waistband sits flat when you turn.
  4. Tuck in on the course and match the belt to your shoes. Check the club's dress code first; many still ask for tailored trousers rather than shorts.

Where to buy

New

Vintage

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Sources

  1. Payne Stewart, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  2. Loudmouth Golf, Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  3. Loud & Proud: Rickie Fowler's on-course style evolution, GOLF.com. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  4. John Daly (golfer), Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-09-29.

Updated .