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Heritage in the making: Callaway’s new Tour Authentic Collection

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7 years ago

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Callaway Apparel announced the launch of the new Tour Authentic Collection, which the company describes as “an exclusive and concise collection of ultra-premium garments.”

Two years in research and development, leaders in technical apparel specifically designed the apparel for the formal and functional needs of golfers looking for heritage styles in modern incarnations.

“We are excited to bring the exclusive Tour Authentic collection to market,” stated Gregg Hemphill, Senior Director Global Soft Goods and Licensing at Callaway Golf. “Tour Authentic’s upscale men’s golf apparel is appealing to all customers, whether or not they enjoy the game of golf, thanks to active styles that go far beyond the fairway. Callaway Apparel pledges innovation, quality, and performance, which have always been our core attributes.”

The 2018 Tour Authentic Collection includes polos, 100% cashmere sweaters, shorts, and pants; all of which are crafted from high-quality materials, and all of which feature a range of precisely considered technologies.

To talk through this unique collection and its development, I spoke with Alexander DePallo, Brand and Marketing Manager for Callaway Apparel.

BA: Where did this collection come from? It’s a departure from Callaway’s usual apparel philosophy. What was development like?

AD: Basically, over the past year-and-a-half we…as Callaway Apparel, pivoted in our strategy in adjusting our business model. In the past, we had been very focused on department stores and wider outlets, versus now, we’re pivoting and implementing that pricing, we’ve closed up our distribution we’ve made it more focused on selling full-priced products, golf specialty…honing on on where golfers are going to buy product and elevating the full platform for Callaway Apparel.

We’ve really been building up our green grass presence…We’ve found that at these high-end green grass locations, we didn’t have products that were meeting their needs. Our design team went out and had the task to build a luxury golf line that’s build for high-end green grass. That is what Tour Authentic is.

They spent 18 months developing the products. They went to five different countries; pulling fabrics from Japan, from Germany, from Switzerland, finding the right materials and coming up with product construction that was not in the market. Looking at the solid poly with the Japanese yarn or the Mongolian cashmere sweaters or the Schoeller fabric in the pants…there’s so much technology but still a refined craftsmanship.

BA: Taking a look at the polo shirts. Merino wool. Japanese yarn. Mercerized cotton. Some quality materials there but also plenty of technology…

AD: With the polos, we wanted to have a variety of materials while making sure we’re meeting the demand of the higher-end consumer. It’s a more tailored fit. The materials are of a more substantial quality. The Japanese yarn. The Merino wool–that’s something you don’t see in the market. We’ve gotten great feedback on the wool. The mercerized cotton with the moisture management technology…that’s only in our cotton polos…you have no white marks, no sweat marks through the shirt. It’s incredible.

Really having high-quality construction with a tailored fit, and repeatable: all of the seams are laser cut and seam sealed. There are no seams when it comes to the sleeves and the placket…there’s no stitching on that…even down to the detail of the alloy buttons, there’s just such an attention to detail, and we’ve very proud of what we have. We had 99 percent sell through at Whistling Straits within 60 days.

This collection is only available at high-end green grass shops and on our website. It’s very limited. There’s probably about 35 U.S. clubs that are carrying it and probably 25-30 in the U.K.

BA: Great. So how about a bit about the Mongolian cashmere sweater? Obviously, the sweater has historically been a staple of the golfer’s wardrobe, but on the Tour, it’s kind of been overtaken by performance layers and shells. I’m not sure if the same is true for golfers at higher-end courses. And certainly, the sweater has a measure of versatility the zip-up wind jacket doesn’t. I assume that’s part of the idea?

AD: Right. This Mongolian long staple cashmere is truly the best that you can get. We wanted to have a piece that, exactly as you said, our target consumer is going to wear this on the golf course, but also in the grill room, and the board room. This is a piece that can transition. It’s a little more refined versus performance material or outerwear…this person wants something that’s different, more refined, more dressy.

We didn’t want to be just like everybody else and just do a high-performance cotton quarter-zip. We wanted to do something different than what’s in the market…this piece is refined, but it still has a tailored fit and has some performance elements to it. It’s going to complete the look.

BA: The pants and shorts have a wealth of technology, and honestly, I could have seen you going with a cotton or cotton blend and calling it a day, but these seem to blend traditional elements of, say, a cotton or wool dress pant with some modern features. I imagine finding the right balance was a process?

AD: Yeah. These really bridge the gap between the person that only wears traditional cotton and the person that wants performance. It’s a blend [cotton/nylon/elastane]. The Schoeller technology is truly unbelievable. I do this test kind of to show the product off…I’ll take a glass of water and pour a quarter glass of water on the pants then flip the pants up and they’ll be totally dry.

So that will pique your interest, but in addition to that, the weight, the cut, all of that it..it has more of a feel like a traditional trouser, but it has this performance element to it and it has more of a tailored fit. It’s got your active waistband, but it’s not the overtly loud…active waistband you’re used to seeing in the more athletic brands. We keep it tight in that it’s two color: navy and khaki and every polo can work with those two. It’s different from what we’re doing in our main line. And it’s different from what you’re going to see in the market.

BA: Anything else you’d like the readership to know, before I let you off the hook?

AD: This is all very much in the infancy stages. In the fall, we’ll have a new array of products. We’re going to continue this line, and we’re really excited about the potential it has.

BA: Right. Because this is kind of a concept, a philosophy, that’s evolving, and this is the first articulation of that, right? You can expand it. You can take it into other realms.

AD: We say, “heritage in the making.” Paying homage to what was. Having that classical style, but with the really technical, forward-thinking construction and materials. We think that blend is very interesting and finds a niche in the market.

You can check out Callaway’s Tour Authentic Collection here. Additionally, Callaway Apparel’s VP of Product Design, Lupe Benitez, joined Michael Williams on the 19th Hole podcast (10:15 mark).

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Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Art Williams

    Jun 29, 2018 at 11:49 am

    I hope they still make the current clothes we like and purchase here in the USA or I won’t be wearing any of their clothing. The only people who can afford these threads are those at high end private clubs and resorts so I guess if that is their target they’ll do OK. I suppose they don’t want any of us public players wearing Callaway names or logos. Funny how their recent success has driven up the prices on everything they make.

    Reply Report comment

  2. Rich

    Jun 28, 2018 at 5:18 pm

    Just who’s business did they buy out at a dime on the dollar ? This hairy looking material must be for the colder euro market because it won’t cut it in the USA. Ugly!!!!

    Reply Report comment

  3. Shooter McGavin

    Jun 28, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    Looks nice. I’ll be on the lookout for these at TJ Maxx next year.

    Reply Report comment

  4. Dave r

    Jun 28, 2018 at 10:09 am

    What no material from the USA. Yikes!

    Reply Report comment

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News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

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Aug 4, 2025

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I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear

OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.

LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break

Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.

Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.

On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.

On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.

On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.

PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home

Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.

On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?

Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.

Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?

PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates

Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.

Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.

Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jul 29, 2025

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GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.

Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.

Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.

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See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

 

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BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

4 weeks ago

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Jul 28, 2025

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Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX

7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)

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