Lady Golfer Fashion: Cool Britania

Justine Board on how the Lady Golfer team put together our first ever fashion shoot

Don’t get me wrong, I like snow. Sometimes I love it. I heart white Christmases, fresh powder on an Alpine ski slope, the satisfying underfoot creak when you tramp though the stuff. I just don’t like it when it is officially Spring and I am trying to organise a Spring/Summer golf fashion shoot. Outside. AND IT IS SNOWING.

It’s not just the unhappy combination of thin cotton singlet and biting wind – this is the UK, that happens in August.

It is the huge, can’t-ignore-them, settling-on-your- eyelashes snowflakes, covering the greens, drifting in the air, photo-bombing our pictures and scuppering our best-laid plans.

I should explain. Here at Lady Golfer we decided it was high time we showcased women’s golf wear in the environment it is designed for – out on the course on actual Lady Golfers, so that you, the reader, can see how the clothes will realistically look, move and perform.

We recruited the services of some magnificent Yorkshire ladies, members at Rudding Park and Ripon, and after being blighted by the white stuff at our original shoot location, Rudding Park, still blanketed in snow and freezing temperatures five days after the initial snowfall, we re-directed models, photographer, hair and make-up, clothes, props and equipment to the snow-free Aldwark Manor.

There is a patron saint of golf – St Andrew predictably – but he must have been otherwise engaged that morning because right on cue, the moment we had all assembled, the heavens opened and down it came like God’s dandruff.

And so here we are, our inaugural Spring/Summer fashion shoot. In the snow.

But then we started thinking… surely this is what golf is about? Taking on the elements, out in all weathers, battling both yourself and whatever nature can throw at you. Just look at Scott and Cabrera duking it out at Augusta under heavy April showers.

And with golf clubs struggling after a long, harsh winter, with spectator numbers dwindling at domestic competitions to the extent that the European Tour now includes events in Dubai, maybe we need a rallying cry to encourage everyone to support British golf this summer, whether by playing at your local club or turning out at domestic events and cheering on our players at all levels.

Maybe we need to follow the example of the Yorkshire ladies in our shoot, and get out there and get stuck in, whatever the weather.

We hope you enjoy our first ever fashion feature, focusing this issue on the classic, super-smart (and patriotic) colour combination of red, white and blue. Luckily including waterproofs.

It was cool. In fact it was positively freezing There is a patron saint of golf – St Andrew predictably – but he must have been otherwise engaged that morning because right on cue, the moment we had all assembled, the heavens opened and down it came like God’s dandruff.

And so here we are, our inaugural Spring/Summer fashion shoot. In the snow.

But then we started thinking… surely this is what golf is about? Taking on the elements, out in all weathers, battling both yourself and whatever nature can throw at you. Just look at Scott and Cabrera duking it out at Augusta under heavy April showers.

And with golf clubs struggling after a long, harsh winter, with spectator numbers dwindling at domestic competitions to the extent that the European Tour now includes events in Dubai, maybe we need a rallying cry to encourage everyone to support British golf this summer, whether by playing at your local club or turning out at domestic events and cheering on our players at all levels.

Maybe we need to follow the example of the Yorkshire ladies in our shoot, and get out there and get stuck in, whatever the weather.

We hope you enjoy our first ever fashion feature, focusing this issue on the classic, super-smart (and patriotic) colour combination of red, white and blue. Luckily including waterproofs.

Like any of the clothes you’ve seen? Click here to view WHERE TO SHOP

MEET THE LADIES

Pam
Handicap 23

Favourite course: The Emerald Course at Wailea in Maui. Stunning views of the Pacific on every hole, beautiful flowers and shrubs everywhere, course in perfect condition and I played it well!

Favourite golfer: My favourite is Luke Donald. Perfect temperament on and off the course, lovely golf swing, good-looking and English!

Ultralite Sophie jacket, £90, ProQuip Carrie sweater, £57.99, and Gabriel trousers, £54.99, both Ping Collection

Visor, £10.95, Daily Sports
Biom Hybrid shoes, £150, Ecco

Sue
Handicap 16

Favourite course: The Sultan at PGA Antalya in Turkey, a very pretty and challenging course Favourite golfer: Phil Mickelson, because of his sportsmanship and the way he conducts himself on the golf course

Wind Shirt, £52.50, FootJoy
Cleek trousers, £79.99, Abacus
Wind Vest, £69.99, Abacus. AQL shoes, £72.50, FootJoy

Ann
Handicap 21

Favourite course: The Ailsa at Turnberry in Scotland. This is a beautiful links course where I played my best-ever round. I also played the Lighthouse hole with Colin Montgomerie, which was very special Favourite golfer: Ian Poulter, because of the way he conducts himself in the Ryder Cup. He is a real team player

Cindy jacket, £149.95, and Christel hat, £35.95, both Daily Sports
Freya lined sweater, £55, ProQuip
AQL shoes, £72.50, FootJoy

Jean
Handicap 16

Favourite course: Well, it has to be in Yorkshire though Scotland has some pretty fantastic ones. I’ll say Ilkley: magnificent views and if the golf isn’t good the walk is spectacular. Some very interesting and testing holes

Favourite golfer: Laura Davies, because she does it her way. Never had a lesson, always has a smile and time to sign autographs. She has not the fashion model figure and doesn’t seem to give two hoots about it yet she is always smart

Argyle pullover, £57.95, Daily Sports
Capri Shorts, £47.95, Daily Sports
Pique shirt, £15, ProQuip DryJoy shoes, £105, FootJoy

Margaret
Handicap 13

Favourite course: Ripon City because it is my home club

Favourite golfer: Lee Westwood, because he is so very relaxed about missing soooo many putts

Merino V-neck, £89.99, Glenbrae. Isadora polo, £49.99, Ping Collection
Cleek trousers, £79.99, Abacus Gore-Tex cap, £24.99, Sunice
DryJoy shoes, £105, FootJoy

Melanie
Handicap 12

Favourite course: I enjoy playing at Silloth which is a true links course, it also means we can go walking in the Lake District. Actually, any course I’ve played well ranks among the favourites!

Favourite golfer: Darren Clarke – he doesn’t take himself too seriously, he smiles and interacts with the crowd and also likes a drink and cigar!

Techno Fleece jacket, £199, Golfino. Microfibre trousers, £49.95, Green Lamb