Putter & Tweed

Hole 22 · Since 2000

Women's golf attire for summer and winter: sun sleeves to thermal layers

Today: sun sleeves, UPF and thermal layers

What women golfers wear changes a lot between summer and winter. Summer is about covering up from the sun, with UPF shirts and sun sleeves. Winter means three layers, thermal pants and warm hands.

Minjee Lee teeing off at the 2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship in white sun sleeves under a pink collared top, with a navy skirt
Minjee Lee teeing off at the 2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship in white sun sleeves under a pink collared top, with a navy skirt. All-Pro Reels / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. CC BY-SA. Source.

What it solved on the course

A round can run to five hours out in the open. In summer that is a long stretch of UV on the arms, face and neck. In winter the cold gets into your hands. The right clothes deal with both and still let you make a full swing.

History

Sun is the summer problem. The NHS says UK sunshine is at its strongest from 11am to 3pm, March to October, and it advises shade, clothing and at least SPF 30. Cancer Research UK makes the same point about using all three together, and says to start taking care once the UV index hits 3. Clothes carry their own rating, UPF. A shirt labeled UPF 50 lets through only 1/50th of the UV, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

At one KPMG Women's PGA Championship in hot, humid Frisco, Texas, six of the top seven players on Sunday afternoon wore long sleeves, and the winner, Minjee Lee, was one of them. GOLF.com's explanation is practical: with sleeves on, there's no sunscreen to reapply on the arms, and some brands add cooling, sweat-wicking fabric. The SParms shawl style is a favorite on the LPGA, since it gives you sleeves without a full layer underneath. Brittany Lincicome, Marina Alex and So Yeon Ryu have all praised how comfortable it is.

Winter asks you to hold heat in without losing the turn. The usual advice is three layers: something that wicks sweat next to the skin, something warm over it, and a shell that stops wind or rain. Thermal or brushed trousers, or thermal leggings, cover the legs. For winter golf, which Galvin Green puts at 30 to 60°F, it suggests a thermal cap to hold in heat and gloves or hand warmers for the grip.

Mika Miyazato at the 2010 Women's British Open in Southport, layered in a cream sweater over a pink mock neck, with a knit beanie under her cap
Mika Miyazato at the 2010 Women's British Open in Southport, layered in a cream sweater over a pink mock neck, with a knit beanie under her cap. Wojciech Migda / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. CC BY-SA. Source.

Who wore it best

  • Minjee Lee

    Won a KPMG Women's PGA Championship in Frisco, Texas, in long sleeves. Six of the top seven on Sunday afternoon wore them.[8]

  • So Yeon Ryu

    One of the LPGA players who has praised the comfort of the SParms shawl, a sun sleeve that skips the full base layer.[8]

How to wear it now

  1. For a hot round, start with a sleeveless or short-sleeve performance top and a skort or shorts. Add sun sleeves or a UPF long-sleeve shirt if you burn.
  2. A visor keeps the face shaded but not the scalp or ears. On the hottest days a wide-brimmed hat protects more.
  3. Carry one light layer even in summer. Early tee times and wind can make the first few holes cold.
  4. In winter, build three layers: a wicking base, a warm mid-layer and a windproof or waterproof jacket. Each should let you make a full turn on its own.
  5. Wear thermal trousers or pants on cold days, and keep warm gloves or a hand warmer in your pocket between shots.

Where to buy

New

Vintage

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Sources

  1. How to Layer for Golf in Any Weather: Cold & Hot Golf Outfit Tips – Galvin Green, Galvin Green. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  2. Women's Winter Golf Attire: Must-Have Clothing Pieces – Golftini, Golftini. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  3. What to Wear for Golf in Winter: A Women's Layering Guide, Love Golf Clothes. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  4. Best Sun Protection Shirts for Golf: Why Serious Golfers Are Ditching Sunscreen, WindRider. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  5. Sunscreen and sun safety - NHS, NHS. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  6. Sun safety - Cancer Research UK, Cancer Research UK. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  7. Sun Protection and UPF Clothing - The Skin Cancer Foundation, The Skin Cancer Foundation. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  8. Sun sleeves were everywhere at Women's PGA. Here's how they work, GOLF.com. Retrieved 2026-09-30.

Updated .