Whereas golf apparel was once a uniform of sorts, easily distinguishable from a person’s every-day wardrobe, the advent of athleisure and performance fabrics have helped blur the once-solid line between athletic apparel and business casual.
Stretchy, moisture-wicking pants with UPF fabrics now look professional enough to wear to the office and a sit-down dinner, with a round of 18 in between. This year, when I polled my colleagues to find out which pants were topping their list of favorites this year, the ability to wear one pair for all things was a recurring theme. The desire to look tailored and put-together on and off the course is one thing, but when you can do that comfortably? That’s a home run.
The seven pairs of pants highlighted below offer all that and more — casual elegance in easy to wear and comfortable silhouettes. Browse through our favorites, and if you happen to feel inspired to add to your apparel arsenal, click the links to shop now.
Holderness & Bourne McDaniel
My husband is a club pro, so once nice perk is that he gets to see a lot of the latest and greatest gear come in and out of the golf shop. He also wears golf pants to work every day, so he’s quite a connoisseur on this topic. Last year, he became a big fan of Holderness & Bourne’s Parker Pant and ordered a pair in every color. This year, H&B’s newest offering is the McDaniel pant, which features the same super-flattering fit and a stylish taper with plenty of stretch and room in the thighs. The look is tailored and fresh, with the only difference being a more matte fabric finish than the Parker, for a more natural, versatile look. As an added bonus, there’s also no-slip lining in the waistband to help keep your polo tucked in. —Jessica Marksbury
Holderness & Bourne The McDaniel Pant
Keep a sharp look on the course, at the office, and everywhere else with The McDaniel. Our five-pocket performance pants resist wrinkles and water, and dry in a flash.
Rhone Commuter Pro Trouser
No disrespect to any of the terrific options above and below (brands I wear regularly!), but I’ve got an ace in the hole here. Rhone has been a favorite athleisure brand of mine for some time now (their workout gear is top-notch), but their new Commuter Pro pants have earned a special spot in my heart. Something I haven’t loved about the shift toward synthetic pants is the material weight. I understand the allure of light, breathable pants, but I generally prefer something with a bit more oomph. The material for the Commuter Pro is thicker and more substantial than the typical Commuter pants, and the three separate styles (slim fit, athletic fit and five-pocket) provide lots of optionality for dressing up or down in non-golf settings. —James Colgan
RHONE Commuter Pro Trouser
Crafted from an evolution of our best-selling fabric with a structured yet flexible feel, this trouser features an adjustable button waistband and permanent pressed pleats for a sharp, refined look.
Lululemon ABC Slim-Fit Trouser Warpstreme
All my previous golf pants have now been replaced by Lululemon’s ABC Slim-Fit Trouser Warpstreme. For those who need bigger waist sizes, this fit is wonderfully slimming, but not tight anywhere on the legs. The Warpstreme fabric is stretchy and breathable, perfect for the summer, but it’s never felt too cold trying to play with these in the winter months. You’ll almost always find a deal on Lulu’s website. These run true to size. —Connor Federico
ABC Slim-Fit Trouser 32L Warpstreme
Pro-approved by Min Woo Lee, from work day to weekend, these trousers never look out of place.
Flint and Tender 365 5-Pocket
The 365 5-Pocket Pant from Flint and Tender, my go-to pants, can be worn on the golf course. And they can be worn off the golf course. And they can be worn at work. And they can be worn away from work. I also like the color options and the fit. But their flexibility sets them apart. —Nick Piastowski
Flint and Tinder 365 5-Pocket Pant
An all-time best seller, the 365 5-Pocket Pant is cut like a jean and stretches like a performance pant.
DU/ER NuStretch High Rise Trouser
DU/ER first got on my radar when a colleague mentioned how much he liked their men’s styles. So when I passed the DU/ER booth at this year’s PGA Show, I was intrigued! After taking home a sample from the ladies’ line, I now see what all the fuss is about. High-rise, flattering fit? Check. Trendy wide leg? Check. Stretchy, yet elegant? Check. Suitable for both work and play? Check, check, check! —Jessica Marksbury
DU/ER NuStretch High Rise Trouser
A high rise wide-leg trouser that combines a slim fit through the hip with extra thigh room that extends to a wider leg for a full-length style. Ideal for both work and travel.
Lululemon ABC Slim-Fit Trouser
I was reluctant to spend the money on Lululemon pants for years, but then I finally did and haven’t looked back. At first I wore them just for work or casually, but I recently started wearing them on the golf course too. Comfortable. Stretchy. And they look professional enough to wear to the nicest clubs. A must-buy. —Josh Berhow
Lululemon ABC Slim-Fit Trouser 30L Stretch Cotton VersaTwill
These slim-fit trousers deliver all-day comfort with an elevated look.
Under Armour UA Drive
Under Armour has severely underrated pants. Because I’ve got little legs (insert the meme) I have to get my pants tailored so I don’t step on them and the employees at the suit shop that I visit thought they were dress pants. The second time I walked in there, two of them were wearing Under Armour golf pants at work. Plus, they are a great combination of stretchy and breathable. They’re the only pants I’ll wear when working Tour events. —Jake Morrow
Under Armour UA Drive
These golf pants are all about one thing: letting you move the way you need to on the course. They’re built with a high-performance, mobile fabric, and a streamlined fit to reduce drag on every swing.
