One of the most popular methods of customizing a golf setup to fit one’s personality has always been through custom headcovers. While it seems that by the year we are seeing more and more options, one of the most well-known names in the headcover game is that of Jan Craig, a company that has been around for over 50 years and has provided headcovers for some of the biggest names to ever play the game.
About “Jan Craig Headcovers”:
Jan Craig Headcovers began in the early 1960s when Jan, an avid golfer, couldn’t find a set of headcovers to match the quality of her new clubs. Being handy with yarn and needles, Jan decided to knit her own. The result was a combination of sensibility and style that family and friends noticed – and it wasn’t long before she was taking orders.
In the mid-1960s, a young touring professional named Jack Nicklaus ordered a set, and as his success grew, so did recognition of his ever-present Jan Craigs Headcovers. The tradition continues today with the same design as her originals. And like always, every cover is handmade in the USA.
Jan Craigs have graced all kinds of bags over the years: some of them carrying the sticks of the best players in the world. But most of those bags just hold the clubs of golfers who (like us) love to play the game for fun. Whatever your level of play Jan Craig Headcovers are the classic accessory for golfers who favor good looks, style and tradition.
Headcover Availability and Options:
There is no doubt that when it comes to custom headcovers Jan Craig has a history unlike any other, but while history is always good to have on your side, options are what appeal to the masses. Jan Craig offers headcovers for drivers, fairways, hybrids, and even putters (mallet and blade). Additionally each club has the option of a plain top, tassel, or pom-pom (two size options in the driver and fairway). The covers are made out of 100% wool and are hand knitted here in the U.S. as they have been since Jan herself started the company.
While there are a few stock/ready-to-ship color options available, where they really shine is with the detailed customization tool on their website. This tool allows the consumer to fully personalize everything about the headcovers as well as make special requests if need be. All told, Jan Craig offers 39 different color options through the website and they can be combined in a variety of options.
Also worth noting, the design for these headcovers has only undergone one change in 50 years, which is staggering when you think about it. They have added elastic in the driver cover to help better fit and hold on to the modern 460cc heads. Another nice aspect is that they are guaranteed for as long as you own them. If something goes awry with the cover, they will repair it for free.
Overall Thoughts:
Jan Craig was kind enough to send THP two fairway wood and one hybrid headcover for this spotlight and allowed us to pick the color scheme. Naturally this tester went with lime, dark grey, and white.
First and foremost, we know that the pom-pom or tassel look isn’t for everyone, but for those who do like that style, it’s not a stretch to say no one does it as well as Jan Craig. This reviewer has owned and been around many different knit headcovers, but the quality of the Jan Craig versions stand out from the second they are in-hand. The wool is thick and durable, but there is enough give in the design that the process of on and off was never an issue. They situate well in the bag dividers without getting bunched up and the neck adequately protects the shaft while keeping the cover secure. The bottom line is that the headcovers are of significant quality and built to last for a very long time, something that you like to see given the price range of $33.00 to $57.00 per headcover (depending on the club and options).
More information on all of the different options Jan Craig Headcovers offer as well as more detail of their history in the game can be found on their website, www.JanCraigHeadcovers.com.
Some great history with this head cover. And they look amazing. With 39 color options, I think anyone could find a combination that would be perfect .
Nice spotlight here James and cool to hear about the Nicklaus order that likely really kicked things off for them.
Solid looking covers and no doubt made well…but I have a hard time spending that much. Perhaps if there was a “package” where you could get 4 or 5 covers in different sizes and design, etc then a deal could be worked and make this more realistic for someone like me.
Nice review James and timely. I’ve been pondering some knitted head covers. Jan Craig’s web site is cool where you can design your own custom look.
great spotlight James, some cool history behind the company and with 39 color options there’s a color combo for everyone
Nice review James, I’ve been thinking about a knitted headcover for a while and with these the possibilities are endless.
Well done.
Great review James, love the THP green on that one. Looks like a great knitted option, would look cool in the bag for sure!
Nice review. I like the old school look. Very interesting Jack Nicklaus fact. They seem a bit pricey to me. But, definitely fall in the “great gift” category. And, it’s nice that the size changes for driver, fairway and hybrid. It is hard to find goog knit covers fitted to fairways and hybrids.
While lots of people love this style, but it’s never done it for me. Pretty spendy at a $33 starting point.
There is definitely a market for them out there and I think they will sell well since so many love the old style.
Nice spotlight. Interesting to read the history behind the company. These type of covers aren’t for me, but the quality is apparent & for those that like them I can see where this is an option.
Good looking headcovers, being able to customize them to your liking goes a long way. The lifetime guarantee is the key aspect in my mind because you never know what could happen with a knitted cover.
Love these retro head covers. So many color options too!
Great writeup James. Their website is very easy to work with, and the color combinations are endless. I also think the price is right in line with other knit headcover companies–that don’t have the customization that these Jan Craig ones do.
Solid write-up James. Great color scheme you picked. Those look awesome, I’m a big fan of the retro looks.
have used Jan Craigs for years…simply the best!
I’m into year 7 on my set of Jan Craig’s! While the acquisition was a little expensive, they have held up extremely well! Highly recommend
Great review on some awesome looking covers James.
I’m with smalls. I’ve seen the Jan Craig covers in person. They sort of look like something you’d find on Etsy — just not a tight enough weave for my tastes, particularly at the price point.
If someone took the Mashie head covers and made them with color and striping options, I’d be all over that in a second. That’s still my favorite head cover.
Cool spotlight. Like reading about the history. A now have an idea for some cool birthday gifts.
My mother in law used to custom knit covers exactly like these for me. Usually either a USAF color scheme or one of my favorite teams and often she’d knit in my initials. I never really appreciated them or the work she must’ve put into them … buy hey it was my mother in law. Cool to see the Jan Craig line is still around.