The golf apparel market is a crowded one these days. E-commerce and easy access to overseas manufacturing have made it possible for just about anybody to start an apparel brand, and it seems like we see a new one pop up every day. Options are great, but if we’re being honest – all these brands seem to blend into one another quickly. While we see some brands find their identity in their marketing, logos, or prints, it seems like every shirt feels the same. So, how does an apparel brand stand out from the crowd? Turtleson, based out of Bristol, Tennessee and lead by a couple industry giants, is banking that craftsmanship, quality, and exceptional in-hand feel is the answer.
Who is Turtleson?
Turtleson is far from a new company. Its founding dates to the early 2010’s, and the two founders, Greg Oakley and Chet Sikorski, have a strong pedigree in golf apparel. Maybe you’ve heard of Peter Millar? They founded that company in 2001 and eventually sold it. That should at least give you an idea of what the two men are capable of when they put their energies together.
Though they do offer online sales direct to consumers, Turtleson Golf Apparel has primarily been a green grass operation over the years, meaning you’ll mostly find them in pro shops at high end clubs and courses. They do maintain a presence at many premium-level retailers as well. There’s one great advantage to this way of doing business. It gives consumers a chance to see, and more importantly feel the products in hand. A great shirt speaks to the senses, but especially to the sense of touch.
We sampled three items from the Turtleson collection, and instantly saw the shelf appeal the brand brings to the table. They even found a way to improve the mail-order experience, with the items wrapped individually in paper and arriving in a flat, black box. Turtleson supplied a solid outfit for late Spring golf consisting of the Chris Performance Polo, Avery Stripe Q Zip, and Tri-Cities II Stretch Performance Shorts.
Turtleson Golf Apparel – Chris Performance Polo
The polo is often the face of an apparel brand. It’s what we usually see first on mannequins and displays at pro shops, so making a great first impression matters. In the Luxe Blue color we sampled, the Chris Performance Polo presents itself as an upscale, yet modern looking option. The color and pattern both present classic country club styling from a distance, but small accents reveal more up close. A geometric patten, almost resembling a series of snowflakes, manages to pop out up close while virtually disappearing from a distance. The slightly elongated three-button placket includes a pointed end that subtly gives hints that this isn’t your father’s polo shirt.
To further add to the modern-day styling, the Chris features a squared-off shoulder structure that helps add definition to the upper torso while slimming the trunk. The collar, which is constructed of multiple layers, is somewhat wide-set and impressed us with its ability to retain shape through multiple washes.
Most of all though, the Chris feels amazing in hand. While our senses may be used to the generic “performance” fabric that so many shirts are made of today, the Chris offers a completely different experience. The polyester/spandex blend is thin without being sheer, soft and luxurious like a natural fiber, and feels great on the skin in both moderate and warm temperatures. The fabric is easily among our favorites when we consider other premium brands in the golf apparel space.
Turtleson has gained a reputation at times for delivering somewhat roomier fits. Our experience with the Chris was that it was a skillful blend of athletic taper in the shoulders and chest while offering a bit more room in the midsection. At 6’ tall and 195 pounds, a size large offered a comfortable and flattering look. If you prefer a form-fitting polo, we suggest sizing down, but much of the North American market should be comfortable in their normal size.
The Chris Performance Polo retails for $110 and is available in retail locations and online.
Turtleson Golf Apparel – Avery Stripe Q Zip
Turtleson’s catalogue is not short on layering options, with a full line of choices that provide different styles, fabrics, and fits. We sampled the Avery Stripe Q Zip in the Fresh/Navy color combo. The coloring is subtle, with the washed-out navy blending into the dominant green. While Turtleson does offer standard performance fabrics in many of their layering pieces, the Avery Stripe is slightly different. It’s made of a combination of materials; 4% cotton, 4% spandex, and 92% drirelease®, which is a proprietary fabric. We don’t really know much about drirelease® since Turtleson doesn’t provide many details about it, but they do state the following:
“drirelease® offers superior moisture-wicking, quick-drying performance, and all-day comfort. Unlike traditional fabrics, drirelease® naturally pulls moisture away from the skin without chemical treatments, keeping you cool, dry, and fresh whether you’re on the course, traveling, or relaxing. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to care for—machine washable, wrinkle-resistant, and designed to maintain its shape and color wear after wear.”
In reality, that quote doesn’t tell us much, so we’ll do our best to describe our takeaways after time wearing the Avery Stripe. To us, it feels very much like a light cotton blend. It’s soft and smooth to the touch, with the very subtle feeling of soft woven fibers that only well-worn cotton can offer. Think about your favorite soft t-shirt. That’s close to describing the feeling, though it’s certainly a bit thicker than that. At the same time, none of the downsides of a natural fiber seemed to be there. The Avery washed and dried incredibly well. It provided warmth on cool mornings, but was still quite wearable into the 70’s as the sun warmed us. At no times did we feel heaviness or the smothering sensation of drowning in sweat. Really, it was quite remarkable. It’s different, but it’s different in a good way.
One thing to note about the Avery Stripe is that it’s built with a solid amount of room in the midsection, which is further enhanced by a bottom hem that isn’t banded or overly elasticized. In other words, it flows loosely around the waist. Again, if you prefer a form fitting garment, this probably isn’t the one for you, but we want to make clear that we don’t feel like it’s oversized, at least as far as outerwear goes. If you’re between sizes, the smaller option is probably better, but it provides a fit that many will love, and it still sits wonderfully on the shoulders. Turtleson offers banded hems on much of their outerwear for those that prefer that look.
The Avery Stripe Q Zip retails for $145 and is also available in a hoodie.
Turtleson Golf Apparel – Tri-Cities II Stretch Performance Shorts
A great pair of shorts is irreplaceable, and Turtleson’s Tri-Cities II Stretch Performance Shorts are great. Bottom line. We enjoyed every piece from the Spring 2025 collection, but we’ll be buying the Tri-Cities II in every color.
The 8-inch inseam sat nicely above the knee without revealing too much upper leg. This design ensures that you have a modern looking pair of shorts but still can remain comfortable and confident in any setting.
The Tri-Cities II Shorts are constructed of 90% Polyester/10% Nylon, but we just had a hard time believing that. The material is unlike anything we’ve experienced before. It’s slightly thicker and almost feels like it’s bordering on being a natural fiber. It appears that the surface has been brushed in processing, which provides an incredibly plush level of softness to both the hands and the legs. In addition, it stretches perfectly on the waist and on the legs, giving both a comfortable fit and plenty of room for the athleticism needed in golf. It’s both moisture wicking and water resistant, and we felt perfectly comfortable in the navy color option in 80-degree temperatures. This is a great pair of shorts, and we highly recommend you take the time to try a pair on.
The Turtleson Golf Apparel Tri-Cities II Performance Shorts retail for $125 and are available in five color options. In addition, there is an option to have the same feel and fit in a pair of pants, the Tri-Cities II Stretch 5 Pocket Pants.
The Details
Each Turtleson offering shown above is available at select retailers or on the company’s website, turtleson.com. Custom embroidery options are available.
