The perfect summer afternoon means a day out on the course for many golf enthusiasts. However, a good golf course featured wide swaths of green grass without a tree in sight. While it’s perfect for a round of golf, it’s a disaster for staying safe from the sun! With no shade to be found, it’s up to you to protect yourself out on the green.
Today we’ll detail several of the best golf hats for sun protection. These hats have great SPF ratings and provide plenty of coverage. Some even have sweat-wicking technology that can help keep you cooler!
1. Coolibar Forguard
- UPF 50+ - blocks 98% of UVA/UVB rays
- FABRIC: Lightweight foam brim, internal sweatband, elastic draw cord at back of crown for adjustable fit and foldable brim for easy storage
If you want to shield your skin from getting fried while playing long courses, the Coolibar Forguard is a great pick.
This wide-brimmed men’s sun hat has UPF 50+ coverage to guard against harmful intense UV rays. With an elongated back rim, it provides additional neck coverage. The lightweight breathable material wicks moisture away from skin for daylong comfort while keeping the fabric soft, unlike stiffer styles that may be itchy or cause irritation.
Plus, this hat features an elastic drawcord at back of crown that allows for an adjustable fit. It includes a sweatband to keep sweat out of your eyes while you focus on your shot, and the brim is even foldable so you can pack it alongside your other golfing gear with ease.
PROS
- Elongated back rim for neck coverage
- Foldable for travel
- Adjustable draw cord on the crown
CONS
- Hand wash only
- No under neck cord which may be difficult on windy days
2. Callway Sun Hat
- 50+ UV Protection
- Breathable Mesh
- Lightweight, Unstructured Design
Callaway’s Sun Hat is a great choice for any golfer. The close-fitting design with an adjustable closure at the back of the hat allows the hat to stay on your head even when playing a round on a windy day.
Callaway’s bucket hat features a performance moisture-wicking sweatband that keeps you cool and dry as you play. With 50+ UV protection, this bucket hat will keep your face shielded from harmful rays while still looking stylish!
3. Stetson Gambler Seagrass Outdoorsman Hat
- From Stetson's Outdoors Collection, this handsome seagrass straw hat features a 3 1/4 inch brim and gambler crown
- There is a special added protection of a durable, sun blocking fabric under the front of the brim and top of the crown providing UPF 50 Plus...
- SMALL/MEDIUM: 6 3/4 - 7 1/8 (21 1/2" - 22 5/8")
Stetson’s Gambler Seagrass Outdoorsman Hat is a handsome seagrass straw hat featuring a 3 1/4″ brim and gambler crown, featuring a genuine leather band. Light-weight, well constructed, and with plenty of ventilation due to the weave, this hat will keep you safe from the sun whether golfing or enjoying a post-play lunch.
The hat offers the added protection of a built-in sun-blocking fabric under the front of the brim and crown, providing UPF 50+ protection. Plus, the soft and stretchy inner band can expand, allowing for a comfortable, adjustable fit.
PROS
- Comfortable
- Unique seagrass straw design
- UPF fabric in brim and crown
CONS
- The entirety of the hat is not UPF-protected
4. Mission Cooling Cap
- COOL DOWN TO DO MORE - Designed for everyday activities, from working out to sports games, this baseball-style cap not only keeps the sun out of your...
- PERFORMANCE FEATURES - Lightweight and breathable, this hat provides UPF 50 sun protection and features a chemical-free band for cooling and sweat...
- THE COOLEST TECHNOLOGY - With HydroActive Wet-to-Cool Technology, our fabric cools up to 30 degrees below average body temperature in under 1 minute &...
MISSION Cooling Performance Baseball Cap provides an easy solution to staying cool and on a 90+ degree golfing day!
This baseball cap provides UPF 50 protection from the sun and features unique technology that reacts with water to provide cooling relief for up to 2 hours. In fact, once activated with water, this cooling hat can cool to 30 degrees below average body temperature in under 30 seconds! To activate the cooling, just wet the hat, wring it out, and wave it.
The Mission Cooling Baseball Cap is lightweight and adjustable so it can be worn comfortably all day. It relies on an adjustable hook and loop tab on the back that allows the wearer to find their perfect fit. Its versatile design allows it to work well for a variety sports outside of just golf – for example, it serves as a great sun protection hat for runners as well!
This hat is even machine washable, and relies on chemical-free cooling fabric that will never wash out.
It comes in several color options including white, black, khaki, and navy!
PROS
- Cooling technology
- Lightweight
- Adjustable fit
CONS
- Baseball cap style does not provide a lot of coverage
5. Mission Bucket Hat
- COOL DOWN TO DO MORE - From the boat dock to the beach and beyond, this adventure-ready hat protects your face and neck while enjoying the great...
- PERFORMANCE FEATURES - Lightweight and breathable, this flip-up, wide-brim hat with pin snaps provides UPF 50 sun protection & a chemical-free band...
The Mission Bucket Hat is another hat from the Mission team, this time in bucket hat form!
The advantage of the bucket hat is that it provides more sun coverage, due to the wider, wrap-around brim.
Like the Mission Baseball Cap, this too has UPF 50 protection and unique cooling technology that allows the hat to provide cooling relief to 30 degrees below body temperature for up to two hours after being wetted and wrung-out.
The MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat is made with a lightweight, breathable fabric that allows air to flow through the hat and evaporate sweat. The 3″ brim of this bucket hat is reinforced with quilted stitching so it doesn’t flop down on your face, which is essential for getting that perfect shot!
For optimum comfort, there’s an adjustable elastic cord chin strap, and brass pin snaps on either side to pin the brim up when desired.
As a bonus, this hat is also machine washable and even comes in 8 different colors!
PROS
- Cooling technology built in
- Wide brim coverage
- Ability to snap up brim when desired
CONS
- Adjustable fit, but single size, which may be problematic for extra-large heads
6. Columbia Bora Bora Booney
- OMNI-SHADE: UV protection at its best, Omni-Shade materials block UVA and UVB rays to help prevent sunburns and long-term skin damage. The tight weave...
- OMNI-WICK: The ultimate moisture wicking technology for the outdoors. Omni-Wick quickly moves moisture from the skin into the fabric where it spreads...
- ALWAYS SUNNY: This sun hat features built-in UPF 50 shielding, an ultra-sweat-wicking headband, and a mesh vent panel for those hot outdoor days
The Columbia Bora Bora Booney fishing hat is perfect for a day of golf or fishing trip. The hat boasts UPF 50 Sun protection, a wide brim for maximum sun protection, as well as a mesh vent providing breeze-friendly ventilation to keep you cool.
The Bora Bora Booney is lightweight with an adjustable fit, due to the adjustable drawcord and toggle at the back of the hat. This hat also includes Columbia’s signature Omni-Wick fabric, which wicks moisture away from your skin and out onto the fabric where it can spread across the surface to quickly evaporate, keeping you comfortable while you play outdoors.
PROS
- Cooling technology built in
- Wide brim coverage
- Ability to snap up brim when desired
CONS
- Not many color options
All the hats listed here should offer solid protection from the sun whether you’re putting on the green or shooting at the driving range. For full sun protection, make sure to also consider sun sleeves and sun protection gloves as part of your golfing ensemble.
Did we miss any of your favorite sun hats for golf? Let us know your top picks in the comments, and if you have any other secret strategies for staying out of the sun while golfing, share your tips!
