Doc says I'm out in the sun too much and need to keep my ears covered better. Yes, I use sunscreen but apparently not enough and he has some concern about some spots on the ears. I do want to be careful.

Problem... I like to dress the part of a serious golfer. Almost always wear pants and well matched outfits. Slim shirts, cleans shoes, etc. Golf is a lifestyle for me.

So, what hats can I possibly find that will provide some shade for the ears and not make me look like Bubba Colbert? No offense to the bucket brigade, but just isn't my style.

Haven't seen a sweet Puma outback hat around...

Suggestions please, and feel free to add pics!

I don't know about style, but I just suck it up and wear it. Looking goofy is a better option than skin cancer. I wear a Titleist floppy hat, but I'm always on the look out for something else. Ultimately, I think it's the nature of the beast that they look a little silly.

The one thing I found that helps is to wear sunglasses with the hat. This can balance the look of the hat out with your face.

i rock a Fedora or similar when the sun is really brutal. plenty of different looks and styles out there that fit right and look tight.

EDIT: rhyme scheme

Being from Kansas you'd better watch your Colbert comments, lol!

I've had the same problem. Tilley is your best bet.

While I have yet to see one in person, I am really liking the look of the new TM Safari.

http://www.gppgolf.com/gppg/content/itemDe...?productId=6054

Saw a lot of guys wearing these this summer and ended up picking one up with some shop credit I had.

Although the issue of style may remain a matter of discussion, I think they certainly look better than the bucket hat and without a doubt, protect the ears and face.

The "Pelz" by Imperial headwear.



"Stay cool and protected from the sun in Imperial Headwear's "Pelz" hat, Dave Pelz's signature hat. This lightweight, full-brimmed hat with MCST Blocker and CoolMaxR sweatband provides an evaporative cooling effect by wicking away moisture. The dark underside of the brim enhances visibility and minimizes glare"


Look for one with a golf course or equipment mfgr logo, I don't think I would want to sport the "Pelz Golf" logo, but that's me.

I tried sporting a Titleist floppy hat over the summer but I noticed that when the wind picked up, the wide brim acted like a parachute and my head was getting nocked around. Anyone else have a solution to this? It was fine between shots, but over putts it got kind of annoying.

Several suggestions from a self pronounced hat guy. Go beyond the golf brands. You've got a lot of choices out there.

Outback style - looks good on most people and usually has a 3 inch brim. I have a wool felt one for autumn and winter golf.

Regular fedora - traditional brim where the brim in back is turned up and front is down. I wear a panama during the summer. (you have to be somewhat "fashion forward" to wear teh traditional fedora)

Fedora "safari" - This is a fedora with a turned down brim ala Indiana Jones. Can get them in brims sizes from 2 to 3 1/2 inches. I think they're better looking than a floppy style sun hat.

Tilley - has a varying brim. Longer in front and back than on the sides. Comes in several styles

If you want a straw hat then it needs to be a tight weave or have a sunblocking material on te underside of the brim.

Google "mens hats" and you'll get several online stores with good selections.

Good Luck!

Imperial makes a great hat!!

Get the "fisherman's cap" - regular cap w/long flaps on the back. Stays on better than a floppy.

I would say some of the best are from Tilley Endurables, I have a few different types. They are Great, guaranteed for life
http://www.tilley.com/

I wouldn't be concerned with style. Whatever you go with will eventually be in style. Conversely, Loudmouth prints will be out of style someday...soon I hope.

just let your hair grow out over your ears. Cheap, efficient.

I have the model LTM8, after a round on a hot day, when you sweat a lot, you just throw it in the washing machine and hang dry. Best hat on the market.

Just find one that's comfortable and does the job. You aren't going to look good in any of these hats, but it's better than cancer!

I have two Imperial Pelz hats from Pinehurst. I took flak the first week from the guys on the weekend. Now three others have them. Oh well, whatever. I have the safari hats and a few hundred others, but in the Texas sun, nothing beats that Pelz hat.

I wear an Imperial floppy hat. Very functional, but not exactly stylish. In fact, while playing golf with a member of this board, he had the nerve to call it my "Gilligan" hat.

If you move away from golf manufactures and move to high end department stores, youll find something that works and looks good. Try Nordstroms or Saks, I think the point is to cover your ears, not be floppy ( I hate those hats). I assume it doesn't have to say Titty, Cally, TM..etc etc. Golf hats have turned into NASCAR, I understand advertising but seriously 6 logos on a hat is a tad much.

As far as skin cancer goes , it should be function before fasion, but there is ALWAYS a happy medium.

Hehe...some of us don't have that option anymore!!

I too, have been called "Gilligan". It rolls off my shoulders though because I really do find the protection from the sun helps me focus better, and keeps my face & neck cooler.

I just bought a Scala Panama hat similar to this. Still stylish.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516i...PpL._AA280_.jpg

I too (this summer) changed from the typical baseball cap to a wider brim. My neck was getting too hot and burnt so a wider hat was necessary. I still feel a little "goofY' with it, but it definately is a better hat and much more comfortable (heat wise).

Walter Hagen hat from Dicks Sporting Goods.

Go to the Coolibar website. All they do is make sun protection apparel. Pricey, but very good quality.

Click to view attachment

Had to comment b/c I am pretty passionate about this product.....I bought a Pelz at Harbour Town this year b/c I had left my normal bucket at home and was tired of my darling wife giving me hell about my neck.

This is a fantastic hat. You will never win a style competition wearing much of anything that truly protects you, but this one absolutely blocks the sun-face neck ears. I think the bigger surprise was how much cooler (temperature, not Fonzie cool) I felt wearing it vs a cap or visor. Because they come in sizes it also stays on well in the wind which is a plus.

A bit pricey compared to a standard bucket, but less than the Tilleys which I may try in the cooler months.

Tim Rosaforte from TGC has thicker eyebrows than I have otherwise we share the same look/baldness.

The LTM8 from Tilley is made of hemp, not polyester. It has a felt-like absorbing band on the inside and on a 90°+ day, the sweat is absorbed into the material itself. It is a mesh hat all around, you can feel the lightest breeze yet, it keeps the sunlight at bay. The brim is oblong, the front and back part being slightly longer than the sides. As far as price is concerned, you buy one Tilley hat for life. Although it is not a Tilley (it came out later) I have a CROSS fisherman type rain hat. Should I need to wear it in the middle of a round, off comes the Tilley, bunch it up and stuff it in the bag without any precaution. Rain stops I pull it out and back it goes, not a wrinkle in the world. Although not waterproof the Tilley IS water resistant. 'Nuff said from me already! Talk about passion...Geeeezz!

I have one from Titleist. Needed to cover the neck. I play on a course with alot of wind so i have to play with the string under the chin to hold it in place. Looks kind of silly, but better than cancer on the neck.

Burns, Get a hat and WEAR IT!!! I have a friend my age (68), avid golfer just like me, who went for his Annual Physical, and the Doc found the "Little Spots" on his ears. I won't go into the details. HORROR STORY! Wear the Hat. Your health is more important than how you look on the course. What difference does it make.......At least you're still playing golf.

I rock the under armour tactical bucket hat. It's probably the most comfortable hat I've ever worn. Sure, its got the military styling in its heritage, but its not too over the top.

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/mens...Cap/8195003-001

On their website they only show black, but I got mine in Beige (desert sand). I think it can also be found in green and navy blue.

I like to walk and carry, and the southern sun is brutal in summer, so I am going to a larger hat this summer. At my course, that are a lot of guys who wear this style hat, and there are a lot of different types and styles. Some look good, others don't. I think you just need to look around to find the one that's right for you.

Some great suggestions in this thread.

Plus one for the Tilley's. They're the best hat you'll ever own. I bought one LTM8, and it wasn't long before I ordered another one LTM6 in a different color. These are both made from very light weight Nytillium (nylon). They don't get sweat stained and are machine washable. They're waterproof, so they're great in rain as well as sun. They also come in many more sizes than any hats I've ever seen.

The crazy thing about skin cancer, whether it be basel cell, squamous or the dreaded melanoma, is that most of the damage is done when you're just a kid. So, while covering up now is the right and prudent thing to do, you can still be going to see your local dermatologist or Mohs surgeon even if you cover up.

Not saying don't do it, but understand you still may be in danger. Biggest thing for me is to visit my Doc every six months for a full body scan, which all of us should do and doubly so as golfers. You could potentially have something that's very serious on your back or elsewhere that if you're not trained to look for it, will go unnoticed until it becomes something potentially dangerous or that requires some real cutting and pain.

On the hat thing, there is simply no way to look cool in those things. I'd personally suck it up and let my terrific personality on and off the course compensate for the goofiness of the hat.

Great thread. This is something that I have put off for awhile. I think this gave me the incentive to seek out a hat that will do the job. Thanks for all of the suggestions!

For anyone out there thinking about going to one of the bigger hats. DO IT! It will be the best thing you do this year. Forget about the "I will look goofy on the course" argument. The Gilligans, Sombreros, Plantation Owners, etc. are more purposely built and more comfortable. You will be saying "I should have done this long ago!" Just go ahead and do it. Your family will thank you for it. With SPF50+ you are stupid if you don't.

Again, check out Coolibar.com. Their stuff is second to none.