Putter & Tweed

Hole 16 · Since 1950

Women's golf polos: from collared blouses to sleeveless tops

1950s to now: collared blouses, then polos, then sleeveless with a collar

Women's golf polos came after decades of collared blouses and cardigans. Golfers began adopting sleeveless tops in the late 1950s. Today collared sleeveless tops are generally accepted, and since 2017 the LPGA has required a collar.

Morgan Pressel in a white collared polo with a navy and red collar at the 2007 LPGA Championship
Morgan Pressel in a white collared polo with a navy and red collar at the 2007 LPGA Championship. Keith Allison / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. CC BY-SA. Source.

What it solved on the course

Women needed a top they could swing in that still met the rules. The collared polo does both, and the collared sleeveless version adds air on a hot day while staying inside codes like the LPGA's.

History

In the 1950s women golfers dressed modestly, in collared blouses with twin-set cardigans over high-waisted skirts or dresses to the knee. By the end of the decade some had moved on to sleeveless shirts and Bermuda shorts. Babe Zaharias, a star of several sports before golf, played in shorter skirts and sleeveless tops, dressed for comfort and movement.

Hollis Stacy, a three-time U.S. Women's Open champion, broke with tradition in the 1970s and 1980s in pleated shorts, fitted pants and collared polos. In the 1990s Ralph Lauren and Ashworth started making golf clothes designed for women, and the standard look was pleated khaki shorts with an oversized polo.

Then tops got smaller. Michelle Wie played in high-top shoes, extra-tight short shorts and racer-back tops with no collar, and Lexi Thompson, who stands six feet tall, wore racer-backs with short skorts. The old thick cotton polo gave way to sleeveless wicking tank tops, some with removable sleeves for sun. In 2017 the LPGA adopted a dress code that bans plunging necklines and requires collared shirts.

Where that leaves most women golfers now: sleeveless is fine, and so are skorts past mid-thigh, as long as there is a collar.

Who wore it best

  • Babe Zaharias

    Brought her multi-sport background to golf and played in shorter skirts and sleeveless tops chosen for comfort and function.[3]

  • Hollis Stacy

    The three-time U.S. Women's Open champion broke with tradition in pleated shorts, fitted pants and collared polos in the 1970s and 1980s.[1]

  • Michelle Wie

    Played in collarless racer-back tops and high-top shoes, a long way from the collared shirt the LPGA's 2017 code requires.[1]

How to wear it now

  1. Pick a polo that ends around the hip bone. It tucks into a skort or pants without bunching and stays tucked through the swing.
  2. If your club wants a collar, a collared sleeveless polo gives you the air and passes the rule. A racer-back tank usually won't.
  3. A white or pale blue polo over a colored skort is the easiest outfit to get right.
  4. On a cool morning, put a thin quarter-zip or a sleeveless sweater (jumper) over the polo. Both come off at the turn.
  5. Sleeveless means sun on your shoulders for four hours. Use sunscreen, or pick a top with removable sleeves.

Where to buy

New

Vintage

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Sources

  1. The History of Women's Golf Fashion, ELYSIAN Magazine. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  2. The Progression of Women's Golf Is Plunging Further Than Our Necklines, Fortune. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  3. The Evolution of Women's Golf Fashion, FORE Her. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  4. Golf Fashion and the Changing Look of the Game, I-M Magazine. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
  5. The Evolution Of Female Golf Fashion, The Women's Golf Project. Retrieved 2026-09-30.

Updated .