Rolling Links combined the cultures at Extra Butter

When it comes to golf, Extra Butter is not a name that many people would think of as being a big part of the sport. In fact, for many years the sneakers and skate products that the lower east side streetwear store sold had nothing to do with golf whatsoever. Some crotchety country club cranks might have even called it the antithesis to the serene gentleman’s game. Now that we find ourselves in a time where the two are beginning to align, Extra Butter has decided join in full force. This began when they held their Extra Butter x Adidas Golf tournament at Douglaston Golf Course in Queens, to promote their very own collaboration with Adidas Golf. Now, they sell their very own golf clothing in store, as well as other products from beloved brands like Malbon and Students. Extra Butter is one of the leaders in the charge for streetwear brands to become a part of golf, where what we have seen typically in the last 5 years is an influx of golf brands that are influenced by streetwear. This goes to show that Extra Butter knows what they’re doing when it comes to golf, which stems from the two cofounders love for the sport. Adidas, as I’ve mentioned, has already taken note of this, and now that they have made their own foray into combining golf and streetwear, who else have they called for an assist other than Extra Butter.

Yesterday marked the release of Adidas Golf’s collaboration with… Adidas Skateboarding? Yes, the Skate team at Adidas was tapped to help combine and create new silhouettes from the skating line and make them ready for a day playing 18. This collection, known as Rolling Links, is interesting for multiple reasons, obviously the first being an in-company collaboration. Rare, but not the first time this has ever happened. But, instead of bringing the teams together to create new designs, a majority of the pieces are from the skate line that have been “golf-ified” for the course. The on-clothing designs of these pieces are wholly new for the collection, and the two departments did a great job throughout. Superstars with rubber spikes (and a kiltie, which I’m a sucker for) were released next to classic cleated pairs of saddle shoes, complete with the three stripes. Baggy crewnecks were hit with a dose of vertical stripes and a thin collar, upgrading their look from skate park to Forest Park. Shorts had added buttons, increased pleating and a different cut around the legs to make it a little less loose fitting. All the clothes share a motif of deep greens and blues, with a mirrored trefoil logo reflected vertically. It can be dressed down or up, with baggy chinos perfect for skating as well as driving (the ball), and jersey inspired polos bring an air of sportiness to clash finely with the more elegant sweaters.

As I have written about many times, the importance of growth in this industry and especially this niche of golf fashion is very dependent on in-person activation. That’s why I was delighted when I walked into Extra Butter to see a putting green and golf decorations all over the store, with “Rolling Links” plastered in large font on the front of the facade. One of the employees was ollie-ing over a plant onto the green then trying to drop the ball in the hole. Took him 3 tries. People mingled around while a DJ blasted tunes, checking out the collection and trying their hand on the putting green. I had the pleasure of speaking with Luke Elson, who envisions and sets up these type of partnerships and events for Extra Butter. He talked to me about EB’s eagerness to get into this world of golf, stemming from the passion for the sport itself shared by the two cofounders, and how he was able to help set up the Douglaston event last May. With more on the way, this event was made to help bring the community together and showcase the clothing in a way that appeals to both golfers and skaters alike. With Adidas now trying to infuse skate into their own line of golf clothing, Extra Butter isn’t just a guiding hand on how to do it, but where to do it.

The lower east side is rife with different brands and stores, big and small, retail and vintage, all different styles and fashions. So, with such a mix of interests and ideas all in the same area mingling around, this is the perfect place to launch a collaboration that just a few years ago, would seem like an impossible pairing. But, it becomes more obvious with every new brand created or collaboration invented that golf and streetwear complement and feed off of each other. At an event like the one at Extra Butter, skaters and golfers alike can connect and learn from one another, whether it’s about their respective mediums, different clothing brands, work, school, life, anything. When I was talking with Luke, he mentioned how the Rolling Links collection mixed skate wear with “traditional” golf attire. As I looked across the collection, not one piece really stood out to me as looking like traditional golf clothing. In fact, everything almost looked like it was of its own design, inspired by not one more than the other. The amalgamation of golf and skate creating an entirely new type of clothing, one that mixes conformity with casualness, the unrest of skater culture with the calmness of the golf course. A perfect clashing between the two that come together to bring clothes that stand out not just for what they look like, but what they stand for.

Shop the collection below.

Adidas

Extra Butter