How to Dress in Hot Weather: Performance Style for the Gym, Course & Life

Here's the honest truth about summer golf in Arizona: most people are under-dressed for heat and over-dressed for performance. They show up in a heavy cotton polo, a baseball cap from 2012, and wonder why they're wilting by the 6th hole. If you actually want to enjoy the round — and look decent doing it — you have to think differently about how to dress for golf in hot weather.

We live and play in the desert. 100+ degree mornings aren't rare, they're just Tuesday. And we've spent a lot of time figuring out what works and what absolutely doesn't when the heat index says "stay inside" but you've already paid your green fees.

Start With the Right Fabric (This Is Non-Negotiable)

Cotton feels great for about 10 minutes. Then it soaks up sweat, gets heavy, sticks to you, and starts to smell. That's not a hot-weather problem — that's a cotton problem. For golf in the heat, you need moisture-wicking performance fabric that pulls sweat away from your skin and lets it evaporate fast. The difference is immediately obvious once you make the switch. You'll wonder why you ever went back.

For guys, the Joey Tee is a go-to for hot-weather rounds. It's cut relaxed enough that there's real airflow, but structured enough it doesn't look like a beach coverup. On the really brutal days — we're talking noon tee times in July — the Nathan Tank is the move. Your arms are completely free, nothing's bunching under your arms during your backswing, and you'll actually finish the round feeling like a person. Both are lightweight enough that you'll forget you're wearing them by the 3rd fairway.

Your Head and Eyes Are Getting Cooked

People seriously underestimate how much the sun beating down on your head wears you out over 18 holes. A good hat isn't just part of the look — it's the difference between finishing strong on 18 and barely dragging yourself to the car. The Carter Hat in white is the obvious call here. White reflects heat instead of absorbing it, the structured brim keeps sun off your face, and it looks sharp without trying too hard. Wear the black hat in October. In July, go white.

And honestly, if you're playing in the desert without polarized sunglasses, you're making the round harder than it needs to be. The glare off sand traps, cart paths, and bone-dry rough is brutal. The Brown Polarized sunglasses cut through that completely — lightweight, sit well under a hat brim, and your eyes won't be exhausted before you finish the front nine. No judgment if you grab two pairs.

For the Women: Hot-Weather Golf Doesn't Have to Mean Basic

Hot weather golf for women is a whole different conversation, and there are better options than most people realize. The goal is the same — stay cool, stay dry, move freely — but you've got more flexibility in how you get there.

The Ava Sports Bra in coral is a legitimate on-course piece. It's supportive enough for a full round, the fabric handles sweat without getting gross, and the cut sits right where it should. Throw it under a skirt or shorts and that's a complete, pulled-together look. Simple, clean, no overthinking it. And yeah, it works perfectly off the course too.

The Jaid Bodysuit is worth knowing about if you want a little more coverage up top. It's not a heavy piece — it actually moves with you — but it gives you a polished look that holds up even when you're sweating through a back nine. This one also layers really well if you're teeing off early morning when there's still a chill. Arizona mornings in fall can fool you.

Why Your Hat Color Actually Matters More Than You Think

White and light colors reflect heat. Dark colors absorb it. This seems obvious but you'd be amazed how many people grab their all-black kit for a noon tee time in the middle of summer and wonder why they're overheating. For hot weather golf, lean toward white, light grey, or tan. Save the darker hats for fall and winter when the sun angle isn't punishing you straight down.

What to Skip When It's Hot

A few things people insist on wearing in the heat that genuinely make it worse:

• Heavy cotton polos — just don't. Performance fabric is better in literally every way for a hot round.
• Long pants when it's over 90 — unless your course has a strict dress code, there's no reason for it. Shorts exist for a reason.
• An undershirt under your polo — if it's 100 degrees, you're just trapping heat. Cut the layer.
• Anything that fits too tight — airflow matters. Something that fits close but isn't restrictive is the sweet spot. Hugging too tight and you'll feel it by hole 12.

The Desert Golfer's Hot-Weather Kit

Here's what a dialed-in summer round looks like:

For him: Joey Tee or Nathan Tank on the really hot days, performance shorts, Carter Hat in white, Brown Polarized sunglasses. That's it. You don't need more.

For her: Ava Sports Bra or Jaid Bodysuit, a skirt or short that actually breathes, same hat rule — go lighter colors. Polarized sunglasses, because the Arizona sun doesn't care who you are.

The whole point of dressing for heat is removing obstacles between you and actually enjoying the round. You paid for 18 holes. You should feel good through all of them — not just survive them. Check out the full summer lineup and find what works for your game.