If you watch the professionals in action on the PGA, European and LPGA Tour you will notice many of them wearing sunglasses whilst out on the course. They certainly look cool and sunglasses can complete the outfit for a golfer, however, there are many reasons why you should wear sunglasses when playing golf.

Hint, it is not only to look cool.

Sunglasses actually provide protection from the suns harmful rays. If you’re lucky enough to regularly play golf in sunny locations or occasionally go on golf holidays, then a decent pair of sunglasses should be part of your attire.  

You don’t have to wear them all the time on the course. Some pros on tour remove their sunglasses before playing a shot but wear them in between shots. Others wear them whilst playing too. It’s generally down to personal preference.

Below we take a look at some of the best golf sunglasses available on the market today but before we do, what are the major considerations when buying golf sunglasses?

Considerations Before Purchasing Golf Sunglasses

There are five main considerations when purchasing golf sunglasses, Beginning with the design and style.

Design 

Of course, you want to look the part when on the golf course but style is not just about how good you look playing towards the 18^th hole in-front of the clubhouse. 

There are several styles of sunglasses available including Aviator, Clubmaster, Rectangle, Round, Shield, Wraparound, and Wayfarer. However, these are all traditional styles of sunglasses and not all will be suitable for playing golf. 

You need to consider if you’re the type of golfer that will wear them when playing shots or not. If you don’t plan on wearing them whilst playing shots then the style is down to personal preference. However if you’re planning to play golf in sunglasses, choose some which have less of a gap between the bottom of the rim and your face.

Lenses

In terms of the lenses, the main decision comes down to polarised or not. 

Polarised lenses reduce the amount of reflecting which can help on links courses by the sea, golf courses with lots of water or even from the reflections from golf clubs in your golf bag. This is particularly important if you’re playing with sunglasses, as you wouldn’t want a bad shot to be the cause of glare from your golf clubs. 

They also reduce glare making your view sharper and clearer. Of course, this comes at a premium price, so you need to decide whether it’s worth it for you, or not. 

It’s also worth considering the tint of the lenses. 

Grey lenses tend to increase sharpness and contrast, making them a good choice in sunny days whereas yellow and red lenses increase depth and contrast, making them a better choice on overcast days.

Durability

Chances are you will be taking the sunglasses on and off regularly during a round of golf. You may be throwing them in the buggy putting them in and out of a pocket in your golf bag, which increases the chances of the lenses being scratched.

You’ll want to aim for something that is scratchproof or easy to replace. 

The frame, and arms of the sunglasses should also be durable too and able to with stand constant removal from the face.

UV Protection

This is a key aspect when purchasing any type of sunglasses but especially those for playing golf. 

The primary reason for wearing sunglasses is to protect the eyes against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. 

When playing a round of golf in sunny conditions, you could be out on the course for most of the day. It is imperative you protect your eyes using sunglasses with high UV protection to avoid permanent damage.

Comfort

You may be out on the golf course for up to 5 hours at a time. Therefore, you want your sunglasses to be as comfortable as possible because you will be wearing them for long periods. 

If you’re going to be playing your shots with your sunglasses on too, make sure they fit snug and don’t fall off when swinging the club.

Best Golf Sunglasses  – The List

We begin looking at the best golf sunglasses available by assessing the best value sunglasses. Some of these are not necessarily specific to golf but have been designed with sport in mind.

Best Value Golf Sunglasses

One of the key elements of the ZILLERATE Polarised Sports Sunglasses is the material used in their design. They are made from a polycarbonate material with rubber-padded arms. So, not only do they feel comfortable they also remain in place when playing golf.

In comparison to the sunglasses highlighted above, the Bolle Python Sunglasses have been designed specifically with golf in mind. They come in a variety of frame colours and lenses enabling you to select the pair best suited to your golf attire.

These sunglasses have been designed with a range of sports in mind including golf. 

The Duduma Polarised Sports Mens Sunglasses come with 100% UV400 protection coating and a quality stress-resistant polycarbonate frame. 

Suitable for sports including running and cycling, they will have little trouble remaining comfortably on your face when playing golf.

We finish off our budget range of best golf sunglasses with the Sunwise Equinox Sports Sunglasses. Complete with levelled air-flow technology, these sunglasses are suitable when playing sports over a long period of time, making them ideal for golf.

Best Mid-Range Golf Sunglasses

The price of golf sunglasses begins to creep up as we enter the mid-range section. However, with that comes sunglasses designed specifically for golf and one of the biggest names in golf equipment, Callaway.

The filtering of light is what makes the Callaway Eagle Golf Sunglasses a great buy. They allow in twice as much light and this aids your ability to read greens. 

The polyamide injection-moulded temples and metal front provide both comfort and stability on the golf course. They come complete with adjustable silicon nose pads and they ensure you get the exact fit for your face.

Much like the Callaway sunglasses above, adjustability is one of the key features of the Bolle Bolt Photo V3 Golf Oleo AF Sunglasses. 

The adjustable nosepieces mean you do not have to settle for the way the sunglasses fit around your nose, you can tailor them to the perfect fit. This is important because you do not want the sunglasses to be sliding off your face during a round of golf. 

In addition, the Bolle Bolt Photo V3 Golf Oleo AF Sunglasses come with polarised, photocromatic and mirror lenses.

Best Premium Golf Sunglasses

As we enter the best premium golf sunglasses section, you will notice some of the leading brand names begin to appear. These are more expensive than the previous pairs of sunglasses in the two groups above but as you will see, they come with added benefits.

You will struggle to find these Oakley Sunglasses for under £120 but they offer a fantastic fit. 

They are also extremely lightweight meaning you can forget they are on your face when playing golf. Even on the hottest of days, they will remain on your face during a round of golf.

We go higher in price again with the Under Armour Octane Wrap Sunglasses. 

For those golfers who may be worried about sunglasses sliding off their face, the wrap style of the frame and legs ensures they remain in place. The non-polarised lenses provide complete UV protection and distortion free vision across the lens, great for playing golf shots.

The Prizm Deep Water Polarized enhances both colour and contrast, providing great clarity when playing that all-important approach shot. The lenses are also glare-free, meaning there can be no blaming the sunny conditions if a shot does not go according to plan. 

Complete with interchangeable temples and nose pads, the Oakley Crossrange Sunglasses are comfortable and great for playing golf.

The Best Golf Sunglasses Conclusion

The pair of sunglasses you decide to purchase is a personal choice but you will find many of the best golf sunglasses in the three sections above. Budget always has a role to play when buying any type of golf equipment and sunglasses is no different. 

However, you must consider other factors such as the comfort, protection, and lenses. Think about the conditions in which you regularly play golf before you commit to buying a pair!