Straight Down vs Three Putt: US-Only California Polos or UK Golf Streetwear
Updated on: October 2, 2026 • ~10 min read
Author: Graeme
We test golf apparel the way we play. Hard, social, and honest.
A family-run California label with featherweight polos and merino knitwear, against a Leeds streetwear brand that sells four heavyweight garments. Only one of them will post to a British address.
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
Straight Down is a family-owned California brand selling polos, merino knitwear, trousers and shoes, but it ships only within the United States. Three Putt is a Leeds streetwear brand selling heavyweight tees and hoodies from £24.99, with free UK delivery. Pick Straight Down for dress-code polos on a US trip, and Three Putt for off-course golf style at home.
Best for golf style off the course in the UK: Three Putt. Heavyweight cotton tees, sweatshirts and hoodies with golf graphics, priced in pounds from £24.99 to £54.99 with free UK delivery. It is casual wear, not performance kit.
Best for dress-code polos, knitwear and a full golf wardrobe: Straight Down. Featherweight Air Mesh polos, real merino sweaters, golf trousers, its own shoes and a women's line. The catch is access: no UK delivery, no UK stockists and no UK returns route, so it suits golfers buying in America.
Head-to-Head Comparison Summary
| Feature | Three Putt Golf | Straight Down |
|---|---|---|
| What it sells | Tees, long-sleeve tees, sweatshirts and hoodies, each in six graphic designs, plus golf polos | More than 300 styles: polos, tees, hoodies, quarter-zips, merino knitwear, trousers, shorts, vests, jackets, golf shoes, belts and hats, including around 110 women's styles |
| Key fabrics | 305gsm 100% cotton tees; 305gsm cotton long-sleeves; 400gsm cotton sweatshirts; 430gsm cotton/polyester hoodies | Air Mesh polos (92% micro-polyester, 8% spandex, UPF 15+); merino and merino-cashmere knitwear; fleece made from recycled T-shirts; four-way stretch trousers |
| Fit | Relaxed tees, oversized drop-shoulder long-sleeves, regular-fit sweatshirts, oversized drop-shoulder hoodies | Relaxed, straight-cut polos (size down for slim); true-to-size, classic quarter-zips and knitwear; men's tops S–3XL, women's XS–2XL |
| Typical UK prices | £24.99–£54.99 | US dollars only. Most polos $110 (about £85), hoodies $80–$150, merino up to $490, in October 2026 |
| On-course use | Casual rounds and relaxed clubs; not technical wear | Built for it: wicking, UPF-rated polos for any dress code, rivet-free golf trousers and its own golf shoes. No waterproof jackets |
| Off-course style | Streetwear cuts and heavyweight fabric with golf graphics | Understated California Americana: merino knits, five-pocket trousers and woven shirts |
| Sustainability claims | No recycled-content or eco claims; tees are 100% cotton | Fleece made from recycled T-shirts, recycled PET in some shoes and a solar-powered HQ; no published target or certification |
| UK delivery | Free UK delivery | None. US addresses only, so UK buyers need a parcel forwarder, plus 20% import VAT and possibly duty |
| UK returns | 14 days from delivery; email support first; customer pays return postage | No UK returns route. US orders: 30 days from the order date, unworn with tags, no exchanges, final sale excluded |
| Customer support | Email: support@threeputtgolfclothing.co.uk | Email (info@straightdown.com) and a contact form; no phone line listed |
Best For…
| Situation or golfer | Pick |
|---|---|
| Your club insists on a collared shirt, and you're buying in the US | Straight Down |
| You want featherweight polos for hot-weather golf | Straight Down |
| You want merino knitwear or proper golf trousers | Straight Down |
| You are buying for a woman golfer | Straight Down |
| You want to order to a UK address with free delivery | Three Putt |
| You want golf-themed clothes for under £30 | Three Putt |
| You want a heavyweight hoodie for cold mornings and the pub after | Three Putt |
Brand Overview
Three Putt Golf
Three Putt is a UK golf streetwear brand based in Leeds. The range is deliberately narrow: tees, long-sleeve tees, sweatshirts and hoodies.
Each comes in six graphic designs: Contours, Happy Place, Tee Time, Reckless Driving, The Scenic Route and Three on the Green. The idea is golf culture you can wear anywhere, not a full on-course wardrobe.
That brings honest limits. The range has no performance polos, trousers, shorts, outerwear, waterproofs or caps, and no women's-specific line. If your club has a collared-shirt dress code, you will want a polo rather than a tee.
Straight Down
Straight Down is a family-owned golf lifestyle brand from San Luis Obispo, California. Mike Rowley founded it in 1989 as a small T-shirt company for the volleyball and water polo crowd, then moved it into golf.
It sells through more than 2,000 US pro shops and resorts as well as its own website. The range runs to more than 300 styles, from Air Mesh polos and merino sweaters to trousers, golf shoes and around 110 women's styles. A nine-style Made in USA collection includes Henderson trousers cut and sewn in Los Angeles.
Its ambassadors include PGA Tour players Sam Stevens and Robert Streb.
For British golfers, the story stops at the border. The brand's FAQ says "We ship only within the United States", and the store shows UK visitors US dollar prices. There are no UK stockists.
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.
These are heavyweight casual garments, not technical performance wear. Don't expect moisture-wicking, stretch fabric or weather protection.
Straight Down
- Air Mesh polos: the Sullivan and its siblings use a micro-mesh of 92% micro-polyester and 8% spandex. It is moisture-wicking, quick-drying and UPF 15+, with a self-fabric collar the brand says stays flat wash after wash.
- Dressier polos and tees: the Cambridge Long Sleeve Polo blends Pima cotton and modal with polyester and spandex. The Luxe Tee is 100% Pima cotton, made in Peru.
- Knitwear: the Links crewneck is half merino, the Connery V-neck is 100% merino and the Hickam reversible sweater hoodie is extra-fine merino. The Lakeside and Ballesteros blend merino with cashmere.
- Fleece: the US-made Leucadia pullover uses Eco2cotton fleece, made from recycled T-shirts, brushed outside with a jersey inside.
- Trousers: the Hero Pant is a four-way stretch warp knit with a rivet-free five-pocket design, built to meet course dress codes.
- Outerwear: vests, quilted and hybrid jackets, and the Sarazen knit bomber in extra-fine merino. There is no waterproof jacket in the range.
One garment from each sums up the gap. A Three Putt hoodie is a 430gsm cotton-blend layer for a cold morning and the pub after. A Straight Down Air Mesh polo is a featherweight collared shirt for a hot afternoon round.
Price Comparison
| Category | Three Putt | Straight Down |
|---|---|---|
| Tees | £24.99–£30.99 | $50 for the Sierra graphic tee (about £38); $64 for the Pima Luxe Tee (about £49) |
| Long-sleeve tops | £28.99–£35.99 long-sleeve tees | $145 for the Cambridge Long Sleeve Polo (about £112) |
| Polos | Not in the range | $98–$146, most $110 (about £75–£112) |
| Sweatshirts and quarter-zips | £37.99–£47.99 sweatshirts | $114–$204 quarter-zips (about £88–£157) |
| Hoodies | £45.99–£54.99 | $80–$150 (about £62–£115) |
| Merino knitwear | Not in the range | $180 Links crewneck to $490 Hickam (about £138–£377) |
| Trousers and shorts | Not in the range | Shorts $125–$130; trousers $136–$240 (about £96–£185) |
| Outerwear | Not in the range | Vests and jackets $112–$295 (about £86–£227) |
| Caps | Not in the range | Hats $48–$50 (about £37–£38) |
Straight Down's store shows UK visitors US dollars and won't ship to a UK address. Pound figures are rough conversions at about $1.30 to the pound, at full price, in October 2026, before any forwarding, VAT or duty.
The only way to get an order to Britain is a US parcel-forwarding service, which adds its own postage and fees. Under UK rules on goods from abroad, 20% import VAT applies, and customs duty can be due on parcels worth over £135.
Two standard $110 polos come to about £170. Import VAT alone would add about £34, before forwarding fees and any duty.
Price Verdict
Three Putt's dearest item, a £54.99 hoodie, costs less than Straight Down's cheapest polo at about £75, before forwarding and VAT. Straight Down's prices buy technical fabrics, merino and a collar, and are fair by US premium standards. For a UK buyer paying in pounds, Three Putt is far cheaper and far simpler.
Fit and Sizing
Three Putt Golf
Three Putt sizes run S–2XL, except the long-sleeves, which are cut oversized and run S–XL. Tees have a relaxed fit, long-sleeves a loose drop shoulder, and sweatshirts a regular fit. Hoodies are oversized with a drop shoulder, so size down if you want a closer look.
Straight Down
The Air Mesh polos are cut relaxed and straight through the body, and the brand's own tip is that smaller golfers wanting a slim fit should size down. Quarter-zips and merino sweaters are true to size, with a classic, straight cut.
Men's tops run S–3XL. Trousers come in 30–42 waists with 32 or 34 inch inseams, and cuts vary: the Claremont is slim, the Hero regular and the Henderson classic. Women's sizes run XS–2XL. Men's shoes come in whole sizes 8–14, in standard width only.
Fit Verdict
Straight Down wins on range: 3XL across men's tops, waist-and-inseam trousers and a women's line. The bigger difference is shape: Straight Down's polos are relaxed golf cuts, while Three Putt's hoodies are oversized streetwear. A wrong Straight Down size can't be exchanged, even in the US.
Style and Versatility
Three Putt Golf
Three Putt is golf streetwear: golf-themed graphics on heavyweight fabric, cut in relaxed and oversized shapes. A hoodie works for a casual range session, the pub after a round or a weekend layer. It isn't the right shirt for a members' competition at a traditional club, so check your golf dress code first.
Straight Down
Straight Down's look is understated California Americana. The range mixes clean polos and knitwear with conversational prints, such as the chilli-pepper Hot Shot polo.
Off the course, a Links crewneck over a polo with Henderson five-pockets reads as smart-casual, and $135 woven shirts cover a summer evening. What Straight Down doesn't do is streetwear. It sells graphic tees and hoodies, but they sit alongside the polos rather than define the brand.
Style Verdict
Both brands cross over, in different directions. Straight Down moves from the course to the clubhouse and a smart-casual dinner. Three Putt moves from golf culture into everyday streetwear. Choose by where you'll wear it most, and by whether you can actually buy it.
Quality, Durability and Sustainability
Three Putt Golf
Three Putt's quality story is weight. Tees are 305gsm cotton, sweatshirts are 400gsm and hoodies are 430gsm. On sustainability, Three Putt makes no recycled-content or eco claims. Its tees are 100% cotton.
Straight Down
Straight Down's quality case is fibre and finish. The knitwear uses real merino and merino-cashmere, the Luxe Tee is Pima cotton and the polo collar is built to stay flat. The Hackers Paradise rated its polo fabric among the lightest in golf and praised its durability.
Independent reviews are few, though, because the brand sells mainly through US pro shops.
The Made in USA collection is nine styles, including the Henderson trousers and the Leucadia, whose fleece is made from recycled T-shirts. Most other product pages don't state a country of origin. The headquarters is solar-powered, but there is no published recycled-content target or third-party certification.
Quality Verdict
Straight Down wins on materials, from Air Mesh to merino, and on a genuine if small US-made line. Its sustainability claims are modest and specific rather than sweeping. Three Putt wins on heavyweight fabric at a low price, and makes no eco claims at all.
Customer Support and Returns
Three Putt Golf
Delivery is free across the UK. Returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery. Email support@threeputtgolfclothing.co.uk first, and note that you pay the return postage. Support is by email.
Straight Down
Straight Down doesn't deliver to the UK, so its policies only help a golfer who buys in America. Its returns page allows 30 days from the original order date, through an online portal, for clean, unworn items with tags attached.
Final-sale items can't be returned. There are no exchanges: you return the item and place a new order. Refunds are processed 5–8 business days after the parcel arrives back.
Support is by email at info@straightdown.com or through a contact form, with no phone line listed. From Britain, a return on a forwarded order would mean posting back to California within 30 days of the original order date, which is impractical.
Support Verdict
For American customers, Straight Down's 30-day window beats Three Putt's 14 days, though Straight Down offers no exchanges. For a UK buyer it isn't close: Three Putt delivers free to a UK address in pounds, and Straight Down won't take the order.
Our Pick
Buy Straight Down if you live in the US, or have a trip planned, and want premium golfwear with a quiet California accent. Its Air Mesh polos handle a hot dress-code round, the Hero Pant covers the trousers and a $180 Links crewneck covers a cool morning. For British rain, you'll need waterproof golf clothing from elsewhere. Our full Straight Down golf clothing review covers the range in more depth.
Buy Three Putt if you want golf style for everywhere else, priced in pounds with free UK delivery. Heavyweight tees from £24.99 and hoodies under £55 cover the range session and the pub after. A sweatshirt or long-sleeve tee rounds it out. If your club requires a collar, you will want a polo rather than a tee.
For more US labels and how they treat UK buyers, see our guide to American golf brands.
Want something like Straight Down at a different price? See our best Straight Down alternatives.
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 Straight Down
Is Three Putt a good alternative to Straight Down?
For off-course style, yes, and you can actually order it in Britain. Three Putt sells long-sleeves and heavyweight tees, sweatshirts and hoodies from £24.99, with free UK delivery. It isn't a full alternative for a dress-code round, because the range has no trousers or outerwear. For that, Straight Down is the stronger brand, if you can buy it in the US.
Does Straight Down ship to the UK?
No. Straight Down ships only within the United States, and its store shows UK visitors prices in US dollars. The only route is a US parcel-forwarding service, which adds postage, fees, 20% import VAT and possibly customs duty. A return would mean posting back to California within 30 days of the original order date. There are no UK stockists.
How much does Straight Down cost in pounds?
In October 2026, most Straight Down polos cost $110, about £85 at $1.30 to the pound. Polos run $98–$146, hoodies $80–$150, quarter-zips $114–$204 and trousers $136–$240. Merino sweaters reach $490, about £377. All of them exclude forwarding fees, import VAT and any duty.
Which is better on the course?
Straight Down, clearly. Its Air Mesh polos are wicking, quick-drying and UPF 15+, with a collar for any dress code, and it sells rivet-free golf trousers, shorts and its own golf shoes. Three Putt's tees and hoodies suit a relaxed round at an easy-going club, but offer no performance fabric or weather protection. Neither brand sells a waterproof jacket.
Is Three Putt good quality?
Three Putt's quality case rests on fabric weight: 305gsm 100% cotton tees, 400gsm cotton sweatshirts and 430gsm cotton/polyester hoodies. That is substantial for casual wear at £24.99–£54.99. Straight Down works in lighter technical fabrics and natural fibres, from Air Mesh to merino, at several times the price.
How do the fits differ?
Straight Down's polos run relaxed and straight, and the brand suggests smaller golfers size down for a slim fit. Its quarter-zips and knitwear are true to size, and men's tops run S–3XL. Three Putt cuts are roomier streetwear shapes, from relaxed tees to oversized hoodies, in S–2XL, with the long-sleeves in S–XL.
Are Straight Down and Three Putt sustainable?
Neither makes sweeping claims. Straight Down uses fleece made from recycled T-shirts in several US-made pieces and recycled PET in some shoes, and runs a solar-powered headquarters. It publishes no recycled-content target or certification. Three Putt makes no recycled-content or eco claims. Its tees are 100% cotton.
Which is better value?
For a UK buyer, Three Putt. Its whole range sits between £24.99 and £54.99, with free UK delivery. A standard Straight Down polo is $110, about £85, before forwarding fees and import VAT, and a wrong size can't be exchanged. Straight Down's prices buy finer fabrics and a collar, but pound for pound, Three Putt costs far less.
