7 Best Johnnie-O Alternatives in 2026 | Ranked

Updated on: October 1, 2026

Author: Graeme

Exploring the brands golfers turn to beyond Johnnie-O's West Coast Prep take on golf apparel.

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.

Top Picks

1. Criquet: Best overall alternative, with throwback cotton shirts priced in pounds
2. B.Draddy: Best for Pima cotton comfort across the whole family
3. Castore Golf: Best for British performance golfwear with free UK returns
4. Three Putt Golf: Best for golf streetwear off the course
5. Redvanly: Best for modern athletic tailoring and pull-on bottoms
6. Cutter & Buck: Best for certified recycled fabrics
7. Holderness & Bourne: Best for tailored premium shirts with tour pedigree

Why People Look Beyond Johnnie-O

UK golfers usually look beyond Johnnie-O for practical reasons rather than the clothes. It prices in US dollars, all of its stores are in America, and it does not accept returns on international orders except where the law requires. If a polo doesn't fit, a British buyer has far less room to put it right.

Johnnie-O was founded in 2005 by John O'Donnell, a Chicago native and former UCLA golfer who left two decades in the corporate world. He sold his first four-button polos out of his car. Today the brand calls its style West Coast Prep and dresses men, women and boys.

It's in good shape. Jake Knapp and J.T. Poston signed multi-year deals in January 2026, and Poston won the Memorial Tournament that June. In August 2026 it opened its first standalone Midwest store, in Wilmette, Illinois, and said it was on track to double its physical footprint that year. Every store is in the US.

The product itself is hard to fault. The $89 Original 4-Button Polo (about £68) is 95% cotton with a little stretch, and the performance polos start at $98. The catch is everything around the shirt: dollar pricing, international shipping, duties and a returns policy that stops at the US border. The seven brands below each solve part of that.

Best Pick For…

Play Style / Need	Best Brand
Cotton golf shirts priced in pounds	Criquet
Pima cotton polos with women's and juniors' ranges	B.Draddy
British performance golfwear with free UK returns	Castore Golf
Golf streetwear for after the round	Three Putt Golf
Athletic tailoring and pull-on trousers	Redvanly
Certified recycled fabrics	Cutter & Buck
Tailored premium shirts with tour pedigree	Holderness & Bourne

Detailed Breakdown by Brand

Criquet: Best Overall Alternative

Available on: criquetshirts.com · Read our full Criquet review

Key Features:

• Founded in Austin, Texas in 2010 by two lifelong friends, under the line "Pursuing A Life Comfortably Off-Course"
• Built around the Players Shirt, with Throwback and long-sleeve versions in 100% Pima cotton
• Range Polos in a 62% polyester, 31% cotton and 7% spandex blend, with removable collar stays
• MLS club and college ranges alongside the core men's collection

Pros:

• Shows UK visitors prices in pounds: the Throwback Players Shirt was £96 in October 2026
• 60 days to return or exchange unworn, unwashed items
• A soft cotton look that sits closer to Johnnie-O's Original polo than any performance shirt
• Layers beyond polos, including shackets, quilted hoodies and a jacket

Cons:

• Return postage on international orders is the customer's cost
• Its policies don't say whether UK import charges are included in the price
• No women's range and no waterproofs

Verdict:

Criquet and Johnnie-O chase the same golfer: one who prefers cotton to slick polyester and wants a shirt that works in the bar. Criquet is the one that prices in pounds and takes a return from Britain, even if you pay the postage. A £96 shirt costs more than Johnnie-O's converted $89, so you're paying for that convenience.

B.Draddy: Best for Pima Cotton Comfort Across the Whole Family

Available on: bdraddy.com · Read our full B.Draddy review

Key Features:

• Founded in 2013 by the family it calls the Brothers Draddy, the third generation of Draddys in sportswear
• Started with a polo in organic Peruvian Pima cotton; the Liam polo is now 92% Peruvian Pima and 8% spandex
• Describes its range as "luxe, lived-in essentials for the course, the clubhouse, the commute and beyond"
• Supplied the official team uniforms for the 2026 Presidents Cup at Medinah, and is named for the US Solheim Cup teams in 2026 and 2028

Pros:

• Prices in pounds for UK visitors: the Liam Cotton Polo was £93 in October 2026
• Men's, women's, juniors' and baby ranges, plus cashmere knitwear
• Accepts returns and exchanges on international orders
• Team-event credentials few lifestyle brands can match

Cons:

• Only 30 days to return, and international return postage is the customer's cost
• Doesn't spell out how UK import charges are handled
• Free shipping over $200 applies to US orders only

Verdict:

B.Draddy is the natural step up for anyone who likes Johnnie-O's cotton but wants a softer Pima fabric behind it. The Presidents Cup and Solheim Cup work is a real credential. For a UK buyer, the deciding point is that it will take a return from Britain, which Johnnie-O generally won't.

Castore Golf: Best for British Performance Golfwear with Free UK Returns

Available on: castore.com · Read our full Castore Golf review

Key Features:

• British brand run by brothers Tom and Phil Beahon, with its first golf collection launched in April 2019
• Named fabric technologies, including AerTek wicking, OTek odour control on some polos and the LVS venting system
• Apparel partner to Majesticks Golf Club, with a Castore x Paul Smith golf collection alongside
• Specialist Sports became its UK golf distributor from SS26

Pros:

• Sold in pounds from a UK warehouse, so no import duties; delivery is £3.95, or free over £60
• Fair full prices in October 2026: Essential polo £48, other polos £60–£65, Golf Trousers £65–£78
• Free returns within 28 days
• Golf trousers come in Regular and Long leg lengths

Cons:

• No women's golf clothing on castore.com
• No exchanges, so you return for a refund and reorder
• Jackets are water-resistant rather than waterproof, and golf sizes stop at 2XL

Verdict:

Castore is the answer if what you really want from Johnnie-O is a well-made polo you can send back for free. It's athletic performance kit rather than prep, so the look is sharper and less relaxed. In September 2026, reports said Castore had hired JP Morgan to explore options including a sale, so keep an eye on the brand's direction.

Three Putt Golf: Best for Golf Streetwear Off the Course

Available on: threeputtgolfclothing.co.uk · Read our full Johnnie-O vs Three Putt comparison

Key Features:

• UK golf streetwear brand based in Leeds, selling four garments in six graphic designs: Contours, Happy Place, Tee Time, Reckless Driving, The Scenic Route and Three on the Green
• Tees: 100% cotton, 305gsm, relaxed fit, S–2XL, £24.99–£30.99, five colourways per design
• Long-sleeve tees at 305gsm (100% cotton) for £28.99–£35.99, and 400gsm cotton crewneck sweatshirts for £37.99–£47.99
• Hoodies: 430gsm, 56% cotton and 44% polyester, oversized drop-shoulder fit, S–2XL, £45.99–£54.99

Pros:

• Priced in pounds, with free UK delivery
• Tees from £24.99 and hoodies from £45.99, both below the converted price of a Johnnie-O Original polo
• Published fabric weights and blends for every garment

Cons:

• No polos, trousers or outerwear, and no caps or women's-specific range
• Cotton streetwear, not technical kit: no moisture-wicking, stretch fabric or weather protection
• Returns within 14 days of delivery, emailing support@threeputtgolfclothing.co.uk first, with return postage at the customer's cost

Verdict:

Three Putt is our own brand, so weigh this entry with that in mind. It replaces the clubhouse half of a Johnnie-O wardrobe, not the on-course half. If your club has a collared-shirt dress code, you'll still need a polo from elsewhere, but for hoodies, sweatshirts and tees after the round it's a UK option priced in pounds.

Redvanly: Best for Modern Athletic Tailoring and Pull-On Bottoms

Available on: redvanly.com · Read our full Redvanly review

Key Features:

• New York family business started by Andrew Redvanly, with his cousin David on sales and Eric Redvanly running logistics
• Named fabric systems with published blends, such as PUREpoly (88% polyester, 12% spandex) and STRETCHknit
• Pull-on golf trousers and shorts, a format Redvanly says it introduced to golf
• Ambassadors include DP World Tour players Ricardo Gouveia and Thomas Aiken, and darts player Luke Humphries

Pros:

• Shows UK prices in pounds: the Edmund Pique Polo was £85 and the Kent Pull-On Trouser £120 in October 2026
• Elastic pull-on waistbands sidestep the waist-sizing problem
• Accepts international returns, arranged by email
• Signed YouTuber Rick Shiels as official apparel partner in June 2025

Cons:

• International shipping is a flat $50 (about £38) per order
• Doesn't say whether UK import charges are included
• No women's range

Verdict:

Redvanly suits the golfer who likes Johnnie-O's relaxed attitude but wants sharper, more athletic cuts. The pull-on trousers and published fabric blends are a genuine point of difference. The $50 shipping charge makes it a brand to buy in one bigger order rather than piece by piece.

Cutter & Buck: Best for Certified Recycled Fabrics

Available on: cutterbuck.com · Read our full Cutter & Buck review

Key Features:

• Founded on Seattle's waterfront in 1989 and owned by Sweden's New Wave Group
• Title sponsor of the Swedish men's Cutter & Buck Tour under a four-year deal from 2024
• Official apparel collections for the 2026 U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and PGA Championship
• Virtue polos in 95% recycled polyester, made with materials certified to the Global Recycled Standard

Pros:

• Standards you can check: GRS-certified materials, amfori BSCI and the Fair Labor Association
• Virtue polos cost $40–$60 (about £31–£46) on its US site in October 2026
• Men's, women's and big and tall ranges
• Says it moves product by sea freight only, to cut shipping emissions

Cons:

• Its own website ships only within the US
• In Europe its golf range goes through a licensee, PGB Sports in Cork, so UK availability depends on your shop
• Styling leans classic and corporate rather than prep

Verdict:

Cutter & Buck has the clearest certification story here, while Johnnie-O publishes no environmental programme at all. It's harder to buy from Britain, though, because Johnnie-O will at least post to you. Unless your pro shop carries it, this is a brand to admire more than buy.

Holderness & Bourne: Best for Tailored Premium Shirts with Tour Pedigree

Available on: holdernessandbourne.com · Read our full Holderness & Bourne review

Key Features:

• Founded by Alex Holderness and John Bourne, who grew up around the game in North Carolina and on Long Island
• Rejects the "exhaustive branding and hyper-athletic looks" of most modern golf apparel
• The Anderson Shirt starts at $115, most polos run $115–$135 and the Anson chino is $185 (October 2026)
• Licensed apparel for the 2026 PGA Championship

Pros:

• Sold in pounds at the St Andrews Links shop, where an Old Course Maxwell polo is £150
• Its sustainability page names bluesign-certified dyes and WRAP, SAC and BSCI compliance
• Tour staff include Ben Griffin and Bud Cauley, plus amateur Mason Howell
• A boys' range alongside the men's

Cons:

• Ships within the US and to Canada only, so no UK orders from its site
• No women's range
• UK pro-shop pricing of about £150 sits well above the $115–$135 (about £88–£104) US price

Verdict:

Holderness & Bourne makes the more tailored shirt of the two, with a structured collar and a trimmer body than Johnnie-O's relaxed prep fit. The catch runs the other way round: Johnnie-O will post to Britain, while H&B won't. Unless you're passing through St Andrews, it's a hard brand to get hold of.

Quick Comparison Grid

Brand	Best For	Price Range	Sustainability
Johnnie-O	West Coast Prep with cotton comfort	£££	Low (recycled nylon in one rain jacket; supplier code of conduct)
Criquet	Cotton throwback shirts priced in pounds	£££	Low (Pima cotton; recycled fill in one shacket)
B.Draddy	Pima cotton comfort for the whole family	£££	Low (organic Pima cotton claim, no certifications named)
Castore Golf	British performance golfwear with free UK returns	££	Not stated on golf product pages
Three Putt Golf	Golf streetwear off the course	££	No recycled-content or eco claims; tees are 100% cotton
Redvanly	Athletic tailoring and pull-on bottoms	£££	Not stated
Cutter & Buck	Certified recycled fabrics	££	Moderate (GRS-certified Virtue range, amfori BSCI, Fair Labor Association)
Holderness & Bourne	Tailored premium shirts with tour pedigree	£££	Moderate (bluesign dyes; WRAP, SAC and BSCI compliance)

Summary

Johnnie-O has spent more than two decades building an American prep brand that golfers wear because it doesn't look like typical golf clothing. In 2026 it's growing fast at home, with a Memorial winner on its books and a plan to double its store footprint.

For a British buyer, the sticking points are practical: dollar pricing, no returns on international orders except where the law requires, and no stores outside the US.

Each brand here fixes a different part of that. Criquet, B.Draddy and Redvanly show UK prices in pounds and accept returns from abroad. Castore is British, with free returns. Three Putt covers the hoodies, sweatshirts and tees you wear after the round, but not the polo. Cutter & Buck and Holderness & Bourne make excellent shirts, though neither will post one to the UK from its own site.

For more US labels and how they treat UK buyers, 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 Johnnie-O

What is Johnnie-O known for?

Johnnie-O is known for what it calls West Coast Prep, sitting at "the crossroads of East Coast tradition and West Coast casual". Its signature is the Original 4-Button Polo, with four buttons and a chest pocket like the 2005 original. In October 2026 it costs $89 (about £68), in 95% cotton and 5% spandex.

When was Johnnie-O founded?

Johnnie-O was founded in 2005 by John O'Donnell, a Chicago native and former UCLA golfer who left two decades in the corporate world to make golf shirts. The brand says he sold the first four-button polos out of his car. It now sells men's, women's and boys' clothing across more than 20 US stores.

Does Johnnie-O ship to the UK?

Johnnie-O ships internationally and shows the countries it serves at checkout. Its FAQ says duties and taxes are usually paid at checkout and guaranteed, so nothing is due on delivery, though a few orders may be charged on arrival. Standard international delivery takes 6–14 business days and Express 1–5, before any customs delays. Prices are in US dollars.

Can I return Johnnie-O clothing from the UK?

Don't count on it. Johnnie-O does not accept returns on international orders, except where applicable law requires. US customers get 60 days to return unworn, unwashed items, and EU customers have a 14-day right of withdrawal, which doesn't extend to the UK. Check the size guide carefully and treat a Johnnie-O order from Britain as hard to send back.

Is Johnnie-O expensive?

It sits in the premium bracket. In October 2026 the Original 4-Button Polo is $89 (about £68), striped versions $98, Performance Jersey polos $98–$105 and Performance Mesh polos $118. The Cross Country Flex Performance Pant is $148 and the Monterey Trouser $228. UK buyers also pay international shipping and, usually at checkout, import duties and taxes.

How does Johnnie-O clothing fit?

Johnnie-O cuts its Original 4-Button Polo two inches shorter than its other polos so it looks right untucked. It comes in S to XXXL, with separate big and tall and boys' sizes. The performance polos use a lightweight, moisture-wicking jersey of 93% polyester and 7% spandex with UPF 50 sun protection, a better pick for hot days.

Where can I buy Johnnie-O clothing?

Johnnie-O sells direct at johnnie-o.com, through its own US stores and through third-party retailers such as Nordstrom and golf pro shops. It has no stores in the UK.

Which tour players wear Johnnie-O?

Johnnie-O signed PGA Tour players Jake Knapp and J.T. Poston to multi-year deals in January 2026. Poston won the Memorial Tournament in June 2026 after a two-hole playoff with Ryan Gerard. Its wider roster includes Scott Stallings and two UK golf YouTubers, Peter Finch and Danny Maude.