Original Penguin Golf vs Three Putt: Retro American Icon or UK Streetwear
Updated on: October 1, 2026 • ~9 min read
Author: Graeme
We test golf apparel the way we play. Hard, social, and honest.
Pete the Penguin has been on golf shirts since 1955. Three Putt puts golf on the clothes you wear after the round. Here's who should buy which.
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 and Quick Pick
Original Penguin Golf is a full on-course wardrobe from a 1955 American icon: printed stretch polos, plus quarter-zips, gilets, trousers, shorts and a women's range. Three Putt is a Leeds golf streetwear brand selling graphic tees, long-sleeves, sweatshirts and hoodies for £24.99–£54.99. Buy Original Penguin for the course. Buy Three Putt for everything around it.
Best for off-course golf style on a budget: Three Putt. A graphic tee costs £24.99–£30.99 and a 430gsm hoodie tops out at £54.99, with free UK delivery on every order. The six golf designs suit the range, the pub and the sofa.
Best for retro on-course style and dress codes: Original Penguin Golf. Its printed polos wick sweat, stretch through the swing and carry the collar most clubs ask for. Add trousers, shorts, gilets and a women's line, and you can dress for a whole round from one brand.
Head-to-Head Comparison Summary
| Feature | Three Putt Golf | Original Penguin Golf |
|---|---|---|
| What it sells | Tees, long-sleeve tees, sweatshirts and hoodies, each in six golf graphic designs, plus golf polos | A golf wardrobe for men and women: polos, quarter-zips, hoodies, gilets, jackets, trousers and shorts, plus skorts and dresses |
| Key fabrics | 100% cotton 305gsm tees; 305gsm cotton long-sleeves; 400gsm cotton sweatshirts; 430gsm cotton/polyester hoodies | Stretch polyester polos, most with some recycled polyester (usually 30%); nylon/elastane trousers, shorts and hoodies; water-repellent jackets and gilets |
| Fit | Relaxed tees, oversized drop-shoulder long-sleeves, regular sweatshirts, oversized drop-shoulder hoodies | Men's size chart runs XS to XXXL, though not every style comes in every size; trousers in 30–42 waists |
| Typical UK prices | £24.99–£54.99 | Polos such as Pete's Tee Time at £55, quarter-zips and hoodies around £75, trousers and shorts £55–£95+, outerwear £75–£135+ (full price) |
| On-course use | Casual rounds, range sessions and relaxed courses; not technical wear | Built for it: wicking, stretch, proper collars, layers and bottoms |
| Off-course style | Strong: golf graphics on everyday cotton tees and hoodies | Retro clubhouse style with cocktail and Pete prints, though the stretch fabrics still look sporty |
| Sustainability claims | None made; tees are 100% cotton | Recycled polyester in most golf polos, plastic-collection funding through CleanHub, and packaging made from 50% recycled material |
| UK delivery | Free | £3.95 standard (free over £50), £4.95 next working day (free over £100), by DPD |
| UK returns | 14 days from delivery; email support first; you pay return postage | Free UK returns (see its returns page for the current window, which is shorter for sale items); no exchanges on direct orders |
| Customer support | Email: support@threeputtgolfclothing.co.uk | Web contact form, phone and email customer care, a detailed FAQ, plus UK golf retailers |
Best For…
| Situation or golfer | Pick |
|---|---|
| Your club insists on a collared shirt | Original Penguin Golf |
| A whole round outfit: polo, trousers and a gilet from one brand | Original Penguin Golf |
| Women's golf clothing | Original Penguin Golf |
| Retro printed polos with a sense of humour | Original Penguin Golf |
| A heavyweight hoodie for the range or the drive home, under £55 | Three Putt |
| A full-price golf gift under £30 | Three Putt |
| A golf graphic tee to wear off the course | Three Putt |
Brand Overview
Three Putt Golf
Three Putt is a UK golf streetwear brand based in Leeds. It keeps the range deliberately narrow: six graphic designs, called Contours, Happy Place, Tee Time, Reckless Driving, The Scenic Route and Three on the Green.
Everything costs between £24.99 and £54.99, with free UK delivery. What's missing matters just as much. There are no performance polos, trousers, shorts, outerwear, waterproofs, caps or women's-specific range. It's clothing for golfers rather than a full golf wardrobe.
Original Penguin Golf
Original Penguin's own story starts in 1955. Abbot Pederson, a salesman for the Minnesota firm Munsingwear, bought a stuffed penguin on a delayed trip home. He named it Pete, and Pete went on the company's golf shirts. The brand counts Sinatra, Crosby, Eastwood and Palmer among early wearers.
Ownership has moved twice since. Munsingwear sold its brands, the penguin included, to Supreme International in 1996, which renamed itself Perry Ellis International in 1999. In 2018 founder George Feldenkreis took the group private in a $437 million deal. His son Oscar Feldenkreis is chief executive, and the UK website is run by Perry Ellis Europe Limited.
Golf is still central. The UK site has its own men's golf collection and a separate women's golf range. Its 2026 tour roster includes PGA Tour winners Nico Echavarria and Brian Campbell.
Key Features and Fabrics
Three Putt Golf
- Tees: 100% cotton, 305gsm, relaxed fit, S–2XL, five colourways per design.
- Long-sleeve tees: 305gsm, 100% cotton, oversized drop-shoulder fit, S–XL.
- Sweatshirts: 400gsm cotton crewneck, regular fit, S–2XL.
- Hoodies: 430gsm, 56% cotton / 44% polyester, oversized drop-shoulder fit, S–2XL, four colourways per design.
This is cotton-led streetwear, not technical golf kit, with no moisture-wicking, stretch tech or weather protection claimed. The appeal is weight and feel.
Original Penguin Golf
- Pete's Tee Time Golf Polo (£55): lightweight single knit in 56% polyester / 30% recycled polyester / 14% elastane, with moisture-wicking and stretch.
- Performance Terry Golf Polo (£70): moisture-wicking double knit in 70% polyester / 25% lyocell / 5% elastane.
- Heritage Jacquard Colour Block Golf Polo (£65): double knit in 44% polyester / 36% recycled polyester / 20% nylon, with a knit-in penguin on the chest.
- Performance Earl Golf Hoodie (£75): a lightweight hooded base layer in 83% nylon / 17% elastane.
- The Player Golf Trousers (£70) and 9" Shorts (£60): flat-front tricot in 78% nylon / 22% elastane.
- Outerwear: water-repellent wind jackets and gilets, including a reversible insulated gilet (£110).
Original Penguin also makes golf caps and bucket hats with Pete on the front. Golf stockists are the place to look for those and for fully waterproof kit: Function18 has carried Original Penguin caps, bucket hats and an Earl Full Zip Waterproof Jacket (waterproof to 15,000mm, fully seam sealed) with matching waterproof trousers.
Price Comparison
| Category | Three Putt | Original Penguin Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Tees | £24.99–£30.99 | Not in the golf range |
| Polos | Not sold | £55 (Pete's Tee Time), £65 (Heritage Jacquard), £70 (Performance Terry) |
| Sweatshirts and midlayers | £37.99–£47.99 (crewnecks) | Around £75 for quarter-zips; £105 (Earl merino-blend golf sweater) |
| Hoodies | £45.99–£54.99 | £75 (Performance Earl), £90 (Earl Colour Block) |
| Trousers and shorts | Not sold | £55–£95+ |
| Gilets and jackets | Not sold | £75–£135+ |
| Women's golf | Not sold | £50–£100 (polos, skorts, dresses, vests) |
Original Penguin figures are full-price (RRP) UK prices in pounds. Its standard delivery is £3.95 but free over £50, so most full-price golf pieces ship free. Three Putt delivers free across the UK on every order.
Price Verdict
At full price, Three Putt is clearly cheaper: £45.99–£54.99 for a hoodie against £75 for Original Penguin's Performance Earl Golf Hoodie. But there's no Three Putt equivalent to its golf trousers. For off-course cotton, Three Putt wins on value. For on-course kit, Original Penguin's polos, such as Pete's Tee Time at £55, are fair value for a brand with this much golf heritage.
Fit and Sizing
Three Putt Golf
Three Putt keeps fits simple, with one cut per garment. Tees are relaxed and run S–2XL. Long-sleeve tees are an oversized drop-shoulder fit in S–XL, and sweatshirts a regular fit and hoodies an oversized drop-shoulder fit, both in S–2XL. There's no XS, nothing above 2XL and no women's-specific cut.
Original Penguin Golf
Original Penguin's men's size chart runs from XS (92–96cm chest) to XXXL (128–139cm), though not every style comes in every size. Golf trousers run in 30–42 waists, and the women's range in US sizes XS–XXL.
Check the size chart and each product page before you order, because there are no exchanges on direct orders: you return the item and reorder.
Fit Verdict
Original Penguin wins on range: golf polos, waist-sized trousers, a size chart from XS to XXXL and a women's line. Three Putt is easier for a roomy casual fit, with four clear cuts. If you want a neat polo for the course, choose Original Penguin. If you want a relaxed tee or hoodie, choose Three Putt.
Style and Versatility
Three Putt Golf
Three Putt is golf culture you wear off the course. The six designs put golf graphics on everyday cotton, so a tee works with jeans at the pub and a hoodie works on the range or the sofa. At a casual course, a driving range or a pitch and putt, they fit right in.
Graphic cotton tees aren't for formal clubs, though. Golfers at clubs with a collared-shirt dress code will want a polo rather than a tee. Our golf dress code guide covers the rules in more detail.
Original Penguin Golf
Original Penguin's golf style is retro and playful. Polos carry a Sake-Tini cocktail print, Pete in a bow tie, gingham checks and a 19th Hole design, alongside plainer colour-block options. Its Pete's Club capsule aims at "bridging the gap between on/off course and court style". The catch is that stretch polyester still reads as sportswear, and the louder prints won't suit every clubhouse.
Style Verdict
A split decision. Original Penguin is the better on-course choice, with characterful polos that still meet dress codes and work at the 19th. Three Putt is the better casual off-course choice, with graphic tees and heavyweight hoodies that look like streetwear rather than golf kit.
Quality, Durability and Sustainability
Three Putt Golf
Three Putt's quality case is fabric weight and composition, stated plainly: 305gsm 100% cotton tees and long-sleeves, 400gsm cotton sweatshirts and 430gsm cotton/polyester hoodies. A heavier fabric gives a tee or hoodie more body than lightweight basics. On sustainability, Three Putt makes no recycled-content or eco claims; its tees are 100% cotton.
Original Penguin Golf
Original Penguin publishes its golf fabrics product by product. Recycled polyester appears in most of its men's golf polos. It's usually 30% of the blend, rising to 92% on a few.
Beyond fabrics, its CleanHub impact report shows it funding plastic-waste collection in Indonesia. The UK FAQ says orders ship in branded plastic packaging made from 50% recycled material. The UK site also links to a Modern Slavery Act statement and a vendor code of conduct.
Quality Verdict
Original Penguin has the more developed sustainability story, with recycled content in most golf polos and a funded plastic-collection programme. Three Putt's case is simpler: heavyweight cotton with its weights and blends published, and no green claims. If recycled content matters to you, Original Penguin has the stronger record.
Customer Support and Returns
Three Putt Golf
Three Putt's support is by email at support@threeputtgolfclothing.co.uk. UK delivery is free. Returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery: email support first, then post the item back at your own cost.
Original Penguin Golf
Original Penguin's Help and FAQs page has a contact form, and its FAQ invites customers to call or email the customer care team. UK delivery is by DPD: £3.95 for 2–3 working days (free over £50) or £4.95 next working day (free over £100).
Returns are free through InPost lockers, Royal Mail or CollectPlus. Check the returns page for the current window, which is shorter for sale items. There are no exchanges on direct orders, online orders can't go back to a store, and faulty items can be returned within six months.
In UK golf shops, look for it at Function18, GolfOnline and Affordable Golf.
Support Verdict
Original Penguin wins. Free returns, phone and email support and stock at Function18 beat Three Putt's 14-day returns at your own cost and email-only support. Three Putt's answer is free UK delivery on every order and one direct inbox.
Our Pick
Buy Original Penguin Golf if you need clothes for the course itself. Its stretch polos, trousers, shorts and gilets handle a full round, meet collared-shirt dress codes and bring some retro humour to the first tee. Polos such as Pete's Tee Time cost £55 at full price. Our full Original Penguin Golf review covers the range in more depth.
Buy Three Putt if you want golf style for everything around the round. The graphic golf tees start at £24.99 and the 430gsm hoodies top out at £54.99. The 400gsm sweatshirts and long-sleeve tees fill the gap, and delivery is free across the UK.
Plenty of golfers will own both: an Original Penguin polo for the monthly medal and a Three Putt hoodie for the range. If Pete isn't for you, see our list of Original Penguin Golf alternatives, or browse more 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 Three Putt vs Original Penguin Golf
Is Three Putt a good alternative to Original Penguin Golf?
For off-course wear, yes. Three Putt's graphic tees and heavyweight hoodies cost £24.99–£54.99, and UK delivery is free. For on-course wear, not directly. Three Putt doesn't sell trousers or outerwear and makes no performance claims, so it can't replace Original Penguin's technical kit.
Which is better on the course?
Original Penguin, clearly. Its stretch polyester polos wick moisture, and the range adds golf trousers, shorts, quarter-zips and water-repellent gilets. Three Putt's cotton tees and hoodies are casual streetwear with no technical performance features. They suit a range session or a relaxed round, and golfers at collared-shirt clubs will want a polo rather than a tee.
Is Three Putt good quality?
Three Putt publishes exactly what you're buying. Tees are 100% cotton at 305gsm, long-sleeves 305gsm, sweatshirts 400gsm cotton, and hoodies 430gsm in a 56% cotton / 44% polyester blend. Those are substantial weights for casual wear. It doesn't claim technical performance, so judge it as streetwear rather than golf kit.
How do the fits differ?
Three Putt uses set cuts: relaxed tees, regular sweatshirts and oversized drop-shoulder hoodies in S–2XL, and oversized drop-shoulder long-sleeves in S–XL. Original Penguin's men's size chart runs from XS to XXXL, though not every style comes in every size. Its golf trousers come in 30–42 waists, and there's a women's range in XS–XXL.
Who owns Original Penguin?
Perry Ellis International, a privately held US apparel group. It bought the Munsingwear brands, including the penguin, in 1996, when it was still called Supreme International. Founder George Feldenkreis took it private in 2018, and his son Oscar Feldenkreis is chief executive. The UK website is run by Perry Ellis Europe Limited.
Are Original Penguin and Three Putt sustainable?
Original Penguin has the more developed programme. Most of its men's golf polos contain recycled polyester, usually 30% of the blend. It also funds plastic-waste collection through CleanHub, and its UK packaging is made from 50% recycled material. Three Putt makes no recycled-content or eco claims; its tees are 100% cotton.
Which is better value?
For casual clothing, Three Putt: a 430gsm hoodie costs £45.99–£54.99, and delivery is always free. For on-course kit, Original Penguin is fair value for its tier, with polos such as Pete's Tee Time at £55 and the Player Golf Trousers at £70.
Which ships better to the UK?
Three Putt delivers free on every UK order. Original Penguin charges £3.95 by DPD, free over £50, or £4.95 for next working day, free over £100. On returns, Original Penguin is better: they're free, against Three Putt's 14 days with return postage paid by you.
