I gotta feeling I’m the type of golfer Proud 90 founder Rick Versace was thinking about when he developed the concept for his golf clothing company.
“My idea was to create golf wear for guys who are pretty much 90s shooters that don’t have the time or inclination to take the game too seriously,” Versace says. “I wanted the look to convey that love for the game with an emphasis on having a great time rather than the overemphasis on the score. As it turns out, low handicappers like our look, too.”
Versace, who formerly worked in the finance industry in New York before moving to Florida, says the proverbial lightbulb went on a few years ago when he saw a video on social media of Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Smylie Kaufman playing golf on a so called “Spring Break” in the Bahamas.
“They were wearing bathing suits, with their hats on backwards and no shoes,” Versace recalls. “It looked like they were having a blast and I started thinking how I could design fun and functional golf wear to try and capture that attitude.”
Five years ago, he started his south Florida-based company and apparently there are lots of golfers out there “who just wanna have fun.”
Let’s face it, the average score in the U.S.A. for 18 holes of golf is 91. So, Versace has a fairly large market to tap, ya think.
I fit right into his golf score parameters. On a great day, when I’m knocking in wild 20 footers to save par, I can score in the high 80s. On other days, when I’m spraying the ball all over the course, breaking 100 is a major accomplishment.
I recently took a test run with some Proud 90 gear. On a steamy 94 degree Florida day I hit the range to swat some golf balls wearing one of their polos.
The first thing I noticed is the shirt is made in the U.S.A. and it definitely looks and feels like high quality apparel. Once I put it on I liked the soft feel and flexibility of the fabric, which has a modicum of stretch to it. The shirt is made of 92% polyester and 8% spandex.
While pounding balls for about 45 minutes and working up a good ol’ Florida sweat, I found the shirt to be very breathable. I headed to the clubhouse snack bar for a frosty brew and the shirt was already starting to dry and it looked just as good as when I started.
Proud 90 has an eclectic assortment of shirts to appeal to just about any golfer’s attitude, color and design tastes.
If you don’t find what you want, just wait a bit and check back because Versace says they’re constantly coming out with new product and dropping new designs regularly.
Guru Verdict
Proud 90 is an exceptional new apparel line that appeals to golfers who play the game seriously, but don’t take themselves (or their scores) too serious. Best of all, the fabrics are high-quality and the shirts are constructed in the U.S.A, which I think bodes well for long-lasting wear. Whether you’re a hopeless hacker still seeking to bust the century mark or a 70s shooter with a great attitude, the Proud 90 look will work for you.
My humble and well-intentioned advice: Trash your bland golf clothing and head to the Proud 90 site and order up some really great looking gear.
