Why Grammy award-winning rapper Macklemore is making golf garments 

The recognition of golf has surged lately and in the course of the pandemic, with new golfers and the additional unfold of non-traditional methods to play like TopGolf serving to to begin to shed the game’s stodgy status.

Grammy award-winning rapper Macklemore, finest recognized for his hit track “Thrift Store,” not too long ago fell in love with golf, however discovered that the garments marketed to gamers did not enchantment to him.

“On trip, I obtained dragged out onto the golf course and did not wish to go – I undoubtedly hit a few homes,” Macklemore advised CNBC’s Dominic Chu on the CNBC Small Enterprise Playbook digital summit on Wednesday. “Lastly, I pure a 5 iron out of a fairway bunker, and I used to be enthralled. Like, what was that feeling? I would like that once more.”

Macklemore, whose actual identify is Ben Haggerty, mentioned that shortly thereafter he went to a sporting items retailer, however realized that “the pickings when it comes to golf vogue have been very slim, and that is being beneficiant.”

“Golf garments have one archetype of a male, white dude in thoughts,” he mentioned. “Golf is far larger than that.”

Golf struggled to shed that notion, even throughout Tiger Woods’ ascendance to changing into one of many best gamers within the historical past of the game.

However there may be hope that an inflow of latest gamers will assist shift that archetype. An estimated 3.2 million folks performed on a golf course for the primary time in 2021, up 33% from 2019 and properly exceeding the quantity of people that flocked to the sport following Woods’ early successes in 1999 and 2000, based on The Nationwide Golf Basis. Extra rounds have been performed final 12 months than ever earlier than in historical past, based on NGF.

Whereas a few of that momentum has slowed — rounds performed in 2022 are down roughly 6% in comparison with final 12 months — that inflow of latest, youthful gamers has helped to energise the sport, Macklemore mentioned.

“There’s a complete era of younger people who obtained into golf within the final one to a few years that do not wish to seem like they promote actual property, and I believe that is nice,” he mentioned.

A fan of Seventies- and Eighties-era golf vogue even earlier than changing into a golfer, the will to fill the clothes want for golfers reminiscent of himself led Macklemore to start out the Bogey Boys attire model.

The model, which options gadgets like Cheetah print knit vests, pinstriped sweaters, and colourful polos, is designed to enchantment to each golfers and high-fashion lovers alike, Macklemore mentioned, one thing that lots of the typical manufacturers within the golf-wear house don’t contemplate.

“I believe for thus many different manufacturers, it is contingent upon folks taking part in golf, or else you are not going to put on these garments,” he mentioned. “One thing I believe that has occurred with the pandemic and golf skyrocketing is that you just’re seeing a shred of golf vogue within the streetwear house – you possibly can go to [fashion website] Hypebeast and see articles on golf, that is one thing very new.”

Macklemore just isn’t the primary golf-enthusiast entertainer to attempt to shake up the game’s look. In 2011, Justin Timberlake was named the inventive director of Callaway Golf, engaged on the membership and attire maker’s “visible illustration.” Invoice Murray, well-known for his position in “Caddyshack,” began William Murray Golf in 2016. NBA star Steph Curry began creating golf attire with Below Armour in 2019, resulting in the launch of his golf line below his Curry Model offshoot.

That uptick in new gamers in addition to new merchandise has been a boon for golf attire, sometimes led by corporations like Adidas, Nike, Callaway, and Acushnet-owned Footjoy. Greater than $150 million of golf attire was offered in April, with 21 of the final 22 months seeing gross sales will increase month-over-month, based on golf product business tracker Golf Datatech.

However even when the expansion of golf tapers off, Macklemore mentioned the concentrate on vogue not like different golf-focused attire will nonetheless profit Bogey Boys.

“Any sport waxes and wanes, that is okay,” he mentioned. “The garments are nonetheless going to be top-notch, the standard goes to be nice, and persons are going to really feel nice and look nice within the clothes.”