Welcome back, Weekend Warriors!

This week, we’re reflecting and looking back on a phenomenal year, one filled with events, releases, great golf fits and average golf shots (save for one or two lucky ones!). In this newsletter, you’ll find a subjective list of the top products, moments, fails, and more of 2024. Most products, I aim to include only items that I have owned or tried over the last year.

I hope you enjoy!

Shots of the Year

1. Matthew McKean

   Matt aced the 7th hole, a par 3, at Deering Bay this past spring. It was playing 160 yards, on a blind tee shot where he couldn’t see the hole, just the top of the flag.

2. Nacho Ulivi

   In 2 separate rounds in the span of 3 days, Nacho recorded two eagles, both on a par 5, and one being a hole out chip, one at Iberostar and one at Corales, both in the Dominican Republic.

3. Brian Park

   Brian eagled the par 5 4th hole at Trump National Doral Golden Palms. His driver carried the water over 300 yards, and then he placed it to 6 feet with an iron. He sank the putt.

Shoes

1. Eastside Golf Nike

   These shoes are insane, inside and out, top to bottom and especially the sides. The insole and bottoms both have a beautiful design, while the removable swooshes are an extremely cool addition I’ve never seen before, especially in golf. Both the Zoom Victory Tour and the Air Max 1 are my pick for shoe of the year.

   

2. New Balance

   Expect to see a lot of people starting to wear New Balance out on the course, both in classic street styles like the 550 and the 574, which both got golfified with expanded bottoms and cushioning.

3. Jordan/Nike

   Jordan and Nike reign supreme when it comes to retro styles coming to the course as well as pushing the envelope on technology. Jordan saw an insane year with 6’s, 4’s, 1’s, and more all becoming golf ready. Not to mention the Air Zoom Next % being the PGA TOUR favorite for some of the world’s best golfers.

4. Sun Day Red

   A late pick, the shoes from Tiger’s brand have a lot on their plate; convincing the Tiger faithful to disregard Nike and Footjoy and believe that this shoe is truly the complete mixture of Tiger’s needs. They also need to look good. While I have not taken them out on the course just yet, they are honestly the nicest feeling, looking, and packaged shoes I’ve received all 2024.

5. Asics

   Sleeper hit of the year, these dad shoes were spiked up and laced down tight to ensure that your swing stays stable. While not the sleekest golf shoe, it brings that chunky shoe vibe to the course like no other, while also genuinely being the most comfortable golf shoe I own. I was as surprised as you are reading this.

Polos

1. Quiet Golf

   With their explicit eye for details, Quiet’s combination of material, design, and hues led them to create 4 color ways of the best polo in golf in 2024.

   

2. Malbon UNDFTD

   A collection full of streetwear inspired beauties, the polos in this drop stand out for their logo blocking, same-colo-camoflauge design, and elite stitching.

3. Sun Day Red

   This company had ginormous expectations from the start, directly competing with Nike. But, as the lightest polo in my collection and a beautiful design inspired by a classic Tiger outfit, they are on the right track.

4. Kith Taylormade

   This drop didn’t have the same all out Kith madness as the first one, but still delivered some awesome gear and accessories, like the Navy polo with the futuristic style logo. It’s material and button system helps set it apart.

5. Eastside Snap Placket

   The material, color, buttoning, and logo on this polo make it stand out as functional in many elements as well as stylish for on and off the course.

Outerwear

1. Aime Leon Dore

   Aime Leon Dore’s first ever golf capsule showed how the brand that embodies refined elegance in streetwear can easily imagine itself out on the course. The outerwear, although easy to get dirty, looks amazing, has high quali

   ty details, and fits like a dream.

2. Malbon UNDFTD

   The highlight of this collection, the quarter zip is made for the elements with its weather resistant material, and the camp elements as well as the scripting ensure you can look fly in any weather.

   

3. Quiet Golf Knit

   For those colder weather days, Quiet’s knit is supreme quality, stitched together perfectly, and is 100% soft, 0% scratchy. The font they chose is also, in my opinion, one of their better picks.

   

4. Adidas SB x Adidas Golf

   This under the radar (somehow) collection infused skating vibes with more traditional country club style pieces to create something wholly new and different. The oversized, collared and striped crewneck, with its perfectly lengthed sleeves and use of multiple colors, is one of my favorite golf pieces of anything all year. Shoutout Bradley Lienhart for knowing what’s good.

   

5. Country Club Adjacent Rugby Shirt

   CCA came out swinging with their merch collection, and landed punches with every piece. But, none were as nice as the striped crewneck, expertly color blocked, and with a buttoned collar to boot, it’s the perfect mix of that off-color irreverence and love for the game that CCA brings to everything they do.

Hats

1. Eastside Golf UNC Hat

   Eastside drops heat after heat, from head to toe, but their white and blue hat with the scripted “E” doesn’t just look the best, but fits the best as well.

2. Malbon x UNDFTD Bucket

Another piece of fire from the UNDFTD and Malbon collaboration, the hat keeps that camo motif and blends it with streetwear inspired functionality.

3. Cafecito Golf Club

A local Miami crew, Cafecito golf hats feature one of my favorite logos in any industry, multiple colors, rope or no rope options, and a hat design that allows for breathability even on the hottest of Miami days.

4. Aime Leon Dore

Another beautiful elevated piece from Aime, this hat uses materials and shapes that are not usually seen in golf, but fit perfectly in the sport. Not often do pieces focus on form over function to such a degree, but Aime’s expert design allows it to look good and play good.

5. Nike Golf

Tried and true, I had to include Nike as their frequent collaborations, use of different styles, colors, and materials allow the brand to remain the king of the ubiquitous, big box golf hat.

Collaborations

1. Quiet x Seamus

   Two of the most detail oriented brands in golf came together to create a small yet eye pleasing collection of ball markers, head covers, and accessories.

2. Eastside x Nike/Jordan

   This year saw not just the release of multiple Eastside Golf x Jordan golf shoes, whether it be a 1, 6, 12, etc. But, it also sees the release of not just 1, but 2 Nike shoes. Not to mention the swath of clothing collections they’ve released.

3. Malbon x UNDFTD

   This drop didn’t just bring a lot of amazing clothes and accessories, but also brought together hundreds of people at the launch event and Buckets Club tournament, both held in Miami. It was a big reminder that the streetwear and golf fusion continues to evolve and borrow from each other at rates faster than ever.

4. Adidas Golf x Adidas SB Rolling Links

   Polos, t shirts, shoes, shorts, pants, jackets, this collection had it all, and did it all while keeping a united vibe and color palette throughout all the pieces. With the high quality of Adidas products combined with the chops of two separate design teams, it was a cool idea that was brought to fruition swimmingly.

5. Malbon x Ghostface Killah

   This one has a special place in my heart, not to mention that the entire collection was dope. It’s even my pick for golf bag and ball marker of the year. But, as a big fan of the Wu Tang Clan, and aware of the potential for this collection for over 3 years, seeing it actually release was a dream come true.

Ball Markers

1. Malbon x Ghostface

2. Malbon x UNDFTD

3. Quiet Golf x Seamus

4. The Silent Golfer

5. Sun Day Red

Yearly Advisor

This section was created to give out a tip for golf, whether mental or physical, that you would not find anywhere else. Drawing from personal experiences, friends, and mentors, I hope that you were able to find something positive for your game here. The best advice I heard all year, one that was featured in an earlier newsletter, comes from my friend Shawn.

“You’re not that good to get that mad”

Course of the Year

I was lucky enough to play a bunch of courses this year, although only between the states of NY and Florida, but that gave me plenty to choose from! From dogtrack munis (which have a special place in my heart), to courses sandwiched between the highways of The Bronx, to resort courses made of moved earth that look straight out of a sci fi movie, I had my fill. But, one course this year gave me golf like no other, tested me in ways I was beforehand unaware of, and forced me to play some of my best golf yet. Streamsong Black, the Weekenders Weekly 2024 Course of the Year, is an insane test of skill and strategy that allows you to be as creative as you can be courageous. I highly recommend to anyone who gets the chance, especially my fellow Floridians, as they give out amazing tee time deals throughout the year.

Story from the Sticks of the Year

This is a little fireside chat where I can share moments and experiences I and others have received from playing and loving golf. Some have been bad, some have been good, all aim to dole out an important lesson or piece of history or piece of advice that goes belong the technicalities or mental maladies of a golf game. I want to call back to only a few issues ago, to a quote that although used recently, is easily the one that stuck with me the most. From an old Japanese proverb.

“Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”

Stupid Golf Story of the Year

I have encountered a lot of stupid stuff while playing golf this year, as one does multiple times a round. Stupidity can come from legitimate, absolute ineptness, like someone making a mistake or not thinking. But, golf stupidity can also be when you top a wedge and it rolls all the way to the center of the green. The stupidest thing I’ve encountered all year on the golf course is my innate ability to overcomplicate what is truly a simple game. At the end of the day, golf can and should boiled down to playing the simples, safest shot in the most controlled and relaxed manner. Too often, I find myself doing things and thinking in ways that overcomplicate the shot, tense my body up, and get my mind thinking about too many possibilities. I can only assume from what I know and observe many other amateurs feel the same way. Keep it simple, stupid.

I hope you enjoyed the final edition of Weekenders Weekly in 2024! This journey is just getting started, everything you’ve come to know and love from Weekenders will only be done more creatively, more consistently, and more polished. More videos, more articles, more interviews, more reviews, more tourneys (!), and a whole lot of golf to be shared. For everyone following and supporting, reading or liking or watching or texting or just thinking to yourself at least once “damn, that was pretty cool”, thank you so much. I hope to continue to create content and pieces that make golf inviting, easier, and cooler than it ever was before. A very special thank you to everyone involved in the Crest Cup, whether you played, attended, or contributed, I appreciate every little bit. Can’t wait for the next one. 2025 we’re taking over!