Honest Straight Down Golf Clothing Review 2026 | Three Putt Golf

Updated on: October 1, 2026 • ~11 min read

Author: Graeme

We test golf apparel the way we play. Hard, social, and honest.

California heritage, featherweight polos and a collar built to stay flat. Quietly excellent, and still out of reach for UK golfers.

How We Review Golf Clothing Brands

Every review on the Three Putt journal is written by Graeme Whiles, the founder of Three Putt Golf Clothing. As a competing brand, we have an obvious conflict of interest. We take this seriously and address it directly in our review methodology, which explains how we assess brands consistently regardless of whether they compete with us.

Verdict: 7.3/10

Straight Down is a family-owned golf lifestyle brand from San Luis Obispo, California, founded by Mike Rowley in 1989 and carried in more than 2,000 US pro shops and resorts. We liked the featherweight Air Mesh polos with a collar built to stay flat, the merino knitwear and a small Made in USA line.

It's deeper than its low profile suggests: more than 300 styles, a new American Standard capsule this autumn, and ambassador Steven Alker winning back-to-back PGA Tour Champions events in August.

Where it falls short for UK golfers: Straight Down ships only within the United States. There are no UK stockists, no UK returns route and no waterproof jackets. Support is email-only, and there are no exchanges even for American customers.

This brand is best for US golfers, or Brits with a stateside trip planned, who want understated, well-made golfwear with a quiet California accent.

Key Features

• Signature tech/fabric: Air Mesh polos (92% micro-polyester / 8% spandex, UPF 15+) with a durable self-collar, Eco2cotton recycled-cotton fleece, and merino knitwear
• Design language: Understated California Americana under the "Designed for Sport, Crafted for Life" banner, with conversational prints for those who want them
• Fit profile: Mostly classic and true to size; the Air Mesh polos run relaxed and straight, so size down for a slimmer look
• Range depth: Around 210 men's and 110 women's styles, from polos and merino sweaters to golf shoes, belts, headcovers and luggage

Pros

• Featherweight Air Mesh polos with a self-collar the brand says stays flat wash after wash
• Real knitwear depth: merino, merino-cashmere, Pima-blend and recycled-cotton pieces, not just poly quarter-zips
• A genuine Made in USA line, including Henderson trousers cut and sewn in Los Angeles
• Head to toe: its own golf shoes, belts and headcovers, plus a sizeable women's line

Cons

• Ships only within the United States: no UK delivery, stockists or returns
• No waterproof jackets, so it can't dress a British winter round
• Email-only support, and no exchanges: you return and reorder
• Premium US pricing, with real discounts mostly confined to the outlet and final sale

Straight Down Pricing

Straight Down prices like the premium American brand it is: most polos are $110, quarter-zips cluster at $125–$135 and merino knitwear climbs to $490. The store shows UK visitors dollars and ships only to US addresses, so the pounds below are for orientation.

Category	Entry	Typical	Premium
Polos/Tees	£37	£85	£112
Midlayers	£62	£96–£104	£192–£377
Trousers/Shorts	£96	£114–£127	£185
Outerwear	£86	£108	£162–£227
Caps	£37	£37–£38	£69

Approximate GBP equivalents at about $1.30 to the pound, before any forwarding, VAT or duty: tees $48–$64, polos $98–$146 (most $110), hoodies $80–$150, quarter-zips $114–$204, sweaters $180–$490, shorts $125–$130, trousers $136–$240, vests and jackets $112–$295, hats $48–$50 (straw hat $90), belts $140–$150, driver headcovers $110 and golf shoes $150–$230.

Comparison:

• Straight Down vs Three Putt: Different jobs entirely. Straight Down is understated California premium, with $110 polos and merino sweaters you can't order to a UK address. Three Putt is a UK brand with tees from £23.99, heavyweight hoodies at £45.99–£51.99 and free UK delivery.
• Straight Down vs Peter Millar: Both are quiet-luxury American labels that skip the shouty logos. Peter Millar is the bigger name, owned by Richemont since 2012, and sells in pounds through UK stockists. Straight Down is the family-run sleeper you can only buy stateside.
• Straight Down vs Linksoul: California's two laid-back golf lifestyle brands, both started by lifelong golfers. Linksoul leans on cotton and natural fibres; Straight Down on featherweight Air Mesh and merino. Linksoul will post to Britain at a price; Straight Down won't post here at all.
• Straight Down vs Holderness & Bourne: Two American brands that sell on the collar. H&B's structured collar and trim tailoring cost $115–$150 a polo; Straight Down's relaxed Air Mesh polos mostly sit at $110. Pick H&B for tailoring, Straight Down for breezy comfort.

Promos/Outlet Notes: The main line rarely discounts. Real reductions live in a permanent Outlet, with around 40 styles at roughly half price: the Palmetto Quarter Zip is on sale at $85, down from $170. Some shoes are final-sale clearance, such as the Victory Classic at $92. Sitewide sales land around US holidays like Labor Day, and final-sale items can't be returned.

Verdict: 6.0/10

Fair money for the quality at US prices, and the outlet is genuinely generous. For a UK golfer it's academic: the store won't take the order, and a forwarded parcel adds VAT, duty and fees on top.

Straight Down Fit & Sizing (Usability)

Straight Down cuts mostly classic and true to size, with fit notes and model sizes on product pages. The polos are the exception: relaxed and straight through the body, and the brand itself suggests smaller golfers size down for a slim fit. The Hackers Paradise found its polo true to size with a slightly athletic lean.

Notes:

• Polos/Tees: Air Mesh and Pima-blend polos alike run relaxed with a straight cut; size down for slim. Tees are a classic, straight cut.
• Midlayers: Quarter-zips and merino sweaters are true to size and classic, with a straight body. The Foothill V2 fleece is cut slimmer than the original.
• Trousers/Shorts: Waist sizes 30–42 with 32 or 34 inch inseams. Cuts vary: the Claremont is slim, the Hero regular and the Henderson classic, and the brand says to buy your normal size.
• Outerwear: Vests and quilted jackets are true to size, classic and straight through the body, which leaves room to layer.
• Heat/Humidity: Air Mesh is very light and quick-drying with UPF 15+, and around 120 styles carry a UPF rating. Good for a heatwave, less use in a Pennine wind.
• Size Charts: A general size chart in inches and US sizes, plus fit notes on each product.

Accessibility/Range:

• Men's tops run S–3XL (chest up to 50–52 inches); there's no XS and no 4XL for men.
• The women's line is substantial: around 110 styles in XS–2XL, with some bottoms in numeric sizes 0–14.
• Men's shoes come in whole sizes 8–14 in standard width only (half sizes exist on a few older models); if you're between sizes, the brand says size up.

Verdict: 7.7/10

Consistent, honestly labelled fits and a proper women's range. The relaxed polo cut and the lack of half-size shoes are the only real catches.

Straight Down Core Product Categories

Polos & Tees

The core of the brand: around 70 men's polo styles, most at $110. Entry polos such as the Sullivan and Olympic cost $98, rising to the $145 Cambridge Long Sleeve in a Pima-modal blend. Air Mesh is 92% micro-polyester and 8% spandex, moisture-wicking and UPF 15+, and the brand promises its self-collar stays flat wash after wash. Tees cost $48–$64, and new $135 woven shirts arrived this autumn.

Verdict: 8.0/10

Midlayers (crews/hoodies/half-zips)

The deepest category. There are around 30 men's quarter-zip styles at $114–$204, several in the brand's signature waffle knit. Hoodies run from the $80 Freedom (performance jersey) to $150. US-made Eco2cotton fleeces, made from recycled T-shirts, cost $150–$160. Then there's real knitwear: the $180 Links crewneck (half merino), the $250 Connery V-neck, the $280 merino-cashmere Lakeside quarter-zip and the $490 Hickam reversible merino sweater hoodie.

Verdict: 8.0/10

Trousers/Shorts

Nine men's styles, and only two of them are shorts: the $125 Flex Short and the $130 Maverick Twill Short. Trousers start with the $136 Claremont five-pocket twill and Smithson corduroy, then the $148 Maverick Twill and the $165 Hero Pant, a four-way stretch, rivet-free best-seller rated 4.7/5 from 23 on-site reviews. The $240 Henderson five-pocket is made in Los Angeles.

Verdict: 7.5/10

Outerwear

Vests and jackets run $112–$295: the $112 Carson vest and $118 Zephyr hybrid vest, the $140 Patton 2.0 jacket, the insulated $170 Okemo hybrid fleece and a new $175 Big Sky quilted jacket. The $295 Sarazen "bomber" is really a merino sweater-jacket. Everything here is a wind-and-chill layer for a Californian morning. There's no waterproof jacket, which matters in Britain.

Verdict: 7.2/10

Caps, Accessories & Footwear

Straight Down makes its own shoes, which few brands this size do. Around 17 men's styles mix golf shoes and casual sneakers, with full prices from the $160 Defender and Rally to the $220 Derby. Several models, including the $230 Victory Classic and $220 Challenger, are now final-sale clearance at $88–$92. Hats cost $48–$50 (a straw hat is $90), belts $140–$150 and driver headcovers $110.

Verdict: 7.6/10

Straight Down Materials & Tech (Construction, Sustainability)

Straight Down's fabric story is better than most premium American brands, with real natural fibres and a genuine domestic line. Read the origin claims carefully, though, because "Made in USA" covers a small part of the range.

Backend (manufacturing & standards):

• Family-owned and independent since 1989, based in San Luis Obispo, with a solar-powered headquarters.
• The Made in USA collection is nine styles: the Henderson trousers are cut, sewn and finished in Los Angeles, and the Leucadia's recycled fleece is knitted in North Carolina.
• A wider "Made in the Americas" edit exists, but most product pages don't state country of origin.
• We couldn't find a published recycled-content target or third-party certification.

Application (on-garment features):

• Polos: Air Mesh (92% micro-polyester / 8% spandex), moisture-wicking, quick-drying, UPF 15+, with a self-fabric collar; Pima-modal blends on the dressier polos.
• Fleece: 74% Eco2cotton recycled cotton, brushed outside with a jersey inside.
• Knitwear: 100% extra-fine merino on the Hickam, Crenshaw and Sarazen pieces, and 90/10 merino-cashmere on the Lakeside and Ballesteros.
• Trousers and shoes: rivet-free stretch warp-knit trousers, and recycled rPET in shoes such as the Rally.

Verdict: 7.7/10

Credible materials with genuine merino and a real US-made capsule. The sustainability messaging is sincere but thin on hard targets, and most of the range doesn't say where it's made.

Straight Down Customer Support

A small, traditional operation that looks after American customers and stops at the border, which is the defining problem for a UK reader.

Channels & Hours

• Email (info@straightdown.com) and a contact form; no phone line or live chat is listed, and hours aren't stated.
• Local pickup from the San Luis Obispo warehouse.

Policies

• Returns within 30 days of the original order date, through an online portal, for clean, unworn items with tags attached.
• Shoes need the original box, shoe bag and spare laces; final-sale items can't be returned.
• No exchanges: return the item and place a new order. Original shipping isn't refunded, and refunds take 5–8 business days after arrival.
• Orders placed from 1 November can be returned until 15 January.

Self-Serve

• Orders leave San Luis Obispo in 1–2 business days, with ground delivery in 3–6 business days.
• Ground shipping is $13.95, or free over $250 (the FAQ still says $199). Express costs $29.95 and Overnight $49.99.
• Ships only within the United States: no UK delivery, no duties handling and no UK returns route.

Verdict: 6.0/10

Solid for American customers, a closed door for British ones. Email-only support and no international shipping make this one of the hardest brands in the series to buy from the UK.

What Are Straight Down's Review Ratings from Review Sites?

(As of October 2026)

• Trustpilot: Effectively unrated: an unclaimed profile with one five-star review (February 2026) praising consistent quality and sizing, for a TrustScore of 3.7. Not a usable sample.
• On-site reviews: Ratings are split by colourway, so volumes look thin. The best-selling Hero Pant holds 4.7/5 from 23 reviews; the Sullivan Polo in Celery shows just two.
• Editorial: The Hackers Paradise called its polo fabric "one of the absolute lightest performance golf polo materials anywhere on the marketplace" and praised its durability. An older Three Guys Golf review was impressed by the styling and construction.
• Credibility Signals: A real tour roster. Sam Stevens (Masters debut, April 2026) and Robert Streb play the PGA Tour, and Tim Widing the Korn Ferry Tour. Steven Alker, Kenny Perry and Rod Pampling represent it on PGA Tour Champions, where Alker's back-to-back August wins made three for 2026. Instagram sits around 32K followers.

Synthesis:

The independent verdicts are consistently good on fabric and build, but there aren't many of them. Straight Down sells through 2,000-plus pro shops and resorts rather than chasing online noise, so it's respected where it's known and simply unknown to most UK golfers.

Is Straight Down a Good Golf Brand?

Yes. Straight Down is a genuinely good golf brand: featherweight polos, proper merino knitwear, a small but real Made in USA line and its own shoes, from a family firm 37 years in. The problem for British golfers isn't quality, it's access: no UK shipping, no stockists, no returns route and no waterproofs. If you want golf-culture clothing from a UK brand with free UK delivery, Three Putt's golf tees and heavyweight hoodies arrive without the import friction. For more US labels, see our guide to American golf brands.

About the Author

Graeme is a golf enthusiast and writer who believes the best golfwear should work as hard off the course as it does on it. Drawing on years of testing brands across every level, from high street to heritage, he writes honest, wearable reviews that cut through the marketing noise. When he's not reviewing the latest drops, you'll find him on the fairways of West Yorkshire, usually three-putting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Straight Down

Who owns Straight Down?

Straight Down is family-owned and independent. Mike Rowley founded it in San Luis Obispo, California, in 1989 as a small T-shirt company for the volleyball and water polo crowd. Rowley, who has played in several USGA championships, moved it into golf, and the brand turned 37 in August 2026.

Where is Straight Down made?

Partly in the USA. A nine-style Made in USA collection includes the Henderson trousers, cut and sewn in Los Angeles, and the Leucadia pullover, whose recycled-cotton fleece is knitted in North Carolina. Most other product pages don't state country of origin, so don't read the American heritage as whole-range US manufacturing.

Does Straight Down ship to the UK?

No. Straight Down ships only within the United States, and the store shows UK visitors US dollar prices. The only route is a US parcel-forwarding service, which adds postage, fees, 20% import VAT and customs duty. Returns would mean posting back to California within 30 days of the original order, which is impractical from Britain.

Where can I buy Straight Down in the UK?

We couldn't find a UK stockist. American Golf, Scottsdale Golf, Function18, Clubhouse Golf and GolfOnline don't list the brand, and it has no shops of its own. It sells through its US website and more than 2,000 American pro shops and resorts, so a US golf trip is the realistic route.

How does Straight Down sizing run?

Mostly true to size with a classic cut. The Air Mesh polos run relaxed and straight, so size down if you want a slim fit. Men's tops come in S–3XL and trousers in 30–42 waists with 32 or 34 inch inseams. Women's sizes run XS–2XL, and men's shoes come in whole sizes 8–14.

Is Straight Down good quality?

Yes, on the evidence available. An independent review rated its polo fabric among the lightest in golf, with good durability, and the knitwear uses real merino and merino-cashmere. Customer reviews are positive, such as 4.7/5 for the Hero Pant, but third-party review volume is small because the brand sells mainly through US pro shops.

What is Straight Down's return policy?

Thirty days from the original order date for clean, unworn items with tags attached, started through an online returns portal. Final-sale items can't be returned, there are no exchanges (you return and reorder), and original shipping isn't refunded. Orders placed from 1 November can be returned until 15 January. It all applies to US orders only.

Does Straight Down make golf shoes?

Yes. Straight Down sells around 17 men's shoe styles, mixing golf shoes and casual sneakers, with full prices from the $160 Defender and Rally to the $220 Derby. Some use recycled rPET. Sizes run 8–14 in standard width only, and several models are now final-sale clearance at under $100.