Why Do People Wear Golf Hats? Does wearing a hat help in golf?

Why do people wear golf hats?

Simply put, a golf hat is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself from the sun and glare, stay comfortable, and keep focused on your game.

In fact, wearing a hat is so useful it’s practically part of golf culture. A golf hat basically refers to any headwear a golfer wears on the course – typically a baseball-style cap or visor, but it can also be a bucket hat, or even a beanie in winter.

In this guide, we’ll break down how golf hats actually help your game, the real benefits they offer, the different types of golf hats (and when to wear each), what the pros wear, plus a few notes on hat etiquette on the golf course.

Do Golf Hats Help in Golf?

Yes – absolutely.

Golf hats provide practical benefits that make those 4+ hours in the sun more enjoyable and less taxing. Here’s how a good hat can give you an edge:

1. Sun & UV Protection

A hat with a brim acts like portable shade for your face, neck, and head. This helps prevent sunburn and reduces your exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which over time can cause skin damage or even skin cancer.

In fact, golfers get a ton of sun – one analysis found that professional golfers receive hundreds of times the UV exposure needed to cause sunburn over a year, and even amateurs can get 3 to 5 times the sunburn-level UV dose each hour on the course.

Golf hats often come with a UPF rating (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) on their fabric, indicating how well they block UV.

For example, a fabric rated UPF 50 will block about 98% of the sun’s UV rays, allowing only 1/50th through.

That means it significantly reduces the UV hitting your skin. The brim itself further guards your face and even your eyes – according to eye health experts, a wide-brimmed hat can block about 50% of UV rays that would reach your eyes and face.

As Australian golf legend Adam Scott put it, “Slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat. It’s just part of the job.”

2. Glare & Visibility Management

Golf is a visual game – you need to track a little white ball against the sky and read subtle breaks on the green. A hat helps reduce glare and improve your visibility.

The bill of a cap or visor acts like a shield, blocking bright sunlight from directly hitting your eyes. This means you won’t have to squint as much when looking down the fairway or standing over a putt.

Many golfers also pair their hat with quality sunglasses for maximum eye protection and contrast enhancement – wearing sunglasses plus a hat brim is the safest combo for your eyes.

 

Check out the best golf sunglasses that suit your needs: The Best Golf Sunglasses for 2025.

 

3. Temperature & Sweat Control

Golf hats also help you manage heat and sweat, keeping you more comfortable so you can play your best.

In hot weather, a hat provides shade that can keep your head a bit cooler than direct sun. Modern performance golf hats use lightweight, breathable materials (like polyester microfiber or mesh panels) and built-in sweatbands to deal with heat.

Many caps are designed to be moisture-wicking, meaning they pull sweat away from your skin so it can evaporate.

Think of it this way: your head plays a role in regulating body temperature, and about 10% of your body’s heat can escape from your head area.  If the sun is beating down on your bare head, you’re heating up faster.

Conversely, in cold weather, winter golf hats (like knit beanies) keep your head and ears warm. This keeps you comfortable in chillier rounds so your muscles stay warm and loose. 

And let’s not forget sweat control: most golf hats have an inner sweatband that catches perspiration.

This keeps sweat from running down your face or onto your hands/grip. Some hats use special anti-microbial or quick-dry headbands to stop odor and dry faster.  

 

 

Types of Golf Hats (and What They’re Best For)

Golf hats come in many styles, and each has its pros and cons on the course.

 Let’s look at each category in detail.

Cap (Baseball-Style Golf Cap)

The golf cap is a traditional baseball-style cap and by far the most popular choice.

It has a rounded crown that fits over your head and a firm, curved brim in front.

Golf caps usually come with an adjustable strap or snapback, or in fitted sizes, so you can get a snug fit.

Most pro golfers on tour wear branded caps – you’ll see logos of Titleist, Callaway, Nike, etc., on their hats, since the cap is prime sponsorship real estate.

But beyond the branding, golfers love caps because they are comfortable, familiar, and effective.

A good cap shades your face and eyes from the sun, helping reduce glare (though not as much as a 360° brim would).

However, caps leave your ears and neck exposed, so you might still need sunscreen there, but they cover the key areas up top.

They are made of lightweight cotton, polyester, or tech blends, often with ventilation eyelets or mesh back panels to let your head breathe.

Best for:

Almost any golf outing, especially if you want a mix of sun protection and style. Caps are ideal in moderate to hot weather with sun, and they handle wind well.

Keep in mind:

Caps don’t shade your lower face or neck, so use sunscreen there. Also, in extremely high heat, a dark-colored cap might trap warmth – consider a cap with mesh or a white cap in those conditions.

Visor

A golf visor is essentially a cap without the top.

It has the same firm brim in front to block sun, but instead of a full crown, it’s open on top with just an adjustable band around the sides and back of your head.

Visors are a longtime favorite for many golfers, especially in hot climates. The big advantage is maximum ventilation – since the top of your head is uncovered, heat can escape easily and you get air flow (plus no “hat hair”!).

The trade-off is that a visor leaves your scalp exposed to the sun. If you have short or thinning hair, this can be a sunburn risk.

That said, many golfers find visors super comfy.

They’re lightweight and put less pressure on your head (since there’s no crown). Women golfers often like visors because they can accommodate a ponytail or bun easily through the open top.

Some famous pro golfers, like Phil Mickelson in his earlier days, were known for sporting visors as their signature look. Visors can be quite stylish – you can tilt the brim up a bit for a relaxed vibe or keep it straight for full sun blockage.

Best for:

Hot, sunny days when you want more airflow and don’t need full head coverage.

Keep in mind:

Use sunscreen on your scalp (or wear a headband/buff) if you wear a visor and have exposed skin on top. Also, visors can be slightly less secure in strong wind compared to caps – make sure the velcro or strap is snug.

Bucket Hat

Check out the Fiori Golf store for cool looking golf bucket hats.

The bucket hat has made a big comeback in golf recently.

This is the soft cloth hat with a full circular brim that slopes downwards, all the way around your head (imagine an upside-down bucket – hence the name).

Bucket hats offer excellent sun protection and comfort. The brim, typically 2 to 3 inches wide, shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck all at once.

That’s coverage a regular cap can’t match (caps leave your neck exposed).

Today’s bucket hats are designed for performance.

They’re often made from lightweight, breathable fabric (like nylon or polyester blends) and many come with UPF 50+ ratings for sun protection.

The brim is usually flexible and not too stiff, so it won’t interfere with your swing or your view of the ball.

You can also easily stash a soft bucket hat in your golf bag – they’re crushable and packable without losing shape, making them great as a backup hat on unpredictable weather days.

An added bonus: many bucket hats are rain-resistant or even waterproof (some are made of Gore-Tex or similar material).

Best for:

Extremely sunny conditions (midday summer rounds, trips to the tropics) or whenever you want maximum sun coverage. Also great for drizzly/rainy rounds (pair it with a rain jacket and you’re good to go).

Keep in mind:

Because of the wider brim, bucket hats can catch the wind – a strong gust might send it flying if it’s not snug or if it lacks a chin strap.

Also, while most people find the soft brim okay, a very wide brim (3+ inches) could slightly block your upward vision (for instance, when tracking a high drive); golfers usually just tilt the brim up a touch in those cases.

Beanie (Winter Golf Hat)

Picture credit: National Club Golfer

A golf beanie is basically a knit or fleece ski cap that hugs your head and covers your ears. While not a “golf hat” in the sun-protection sense, it absolutely counts as a golf hat for winter play.

You’ll see pros donning beanies during cold-weather tournaments (think the Open Championship in a chilly UK wind or early spring/fall rounds).

The beanie’s job is simple: retain your body heat so you stay warm and loose.

Remember that a lot of heat escapes from your head – wearing a beanie can make a cold 45°F round feel tenable. It keeps your ears from going numb and prevents that distracting cold ache on your forehead when the wind is whipping.

Golf beanies are usually made of stretchy knit wool, acrylic, or thermal fleece material. Because they fit tight to your head, beanies won’t budge in the wind at all – that’s a plus in blustery conditions. 

Best for:

Cold, windy conditions where warmth is more important than sun. Late fall or winter golf, early morning rounds in the 40s/50s °F, etc. If you’re playing golf in winter, a beanie is almost a must-have in the bag.

Keep in mind:

Beanies obviously provide zero sun visor, so if it’s sunny and snowy (or low winter sun), you might still squint – some golfers will wear a cap and a beanie (cap during play, beanie between shots).

Or you can wear sunglasses to offset the sun since your hat won’t help with that.

FAQs

Why do people wear golf hats?

To block UV and glare so you don’t squint, stay comfortable, and keep focus. A brim + fabric with UPF helps protect skin and eyes.

What hats do pro golfers wear?

Mostly baseball-style caps (have great eye shade and sponsor space). Some pros use visors or bucket hats for comfort or sun coverage—style varies, function first.

Why do golfers wear visors instead of hats?

Visors have better airflow. A visor keeps the brim for glare control but leaves the top open to release heat—cooler feel, less “hat hair,” but less scalp protection (use sunscreen).

Is it golf etiquette to wear a hat?

Not required, but do remove your hat for handshakes on 18 and indoors (clubhouse/dining). That’s the common courtesy in most clubs.

What is a golf hat?

Any hat used for golf (cap, visor, bucket, wide-brim, or winter beanie) that’s breathable, comfortable, and helps with sun, glare, or weather.