Field Notes

BOURBON, MO (June 11, 2025) — Imperial, the premium headwear brand known for quality, fit, and style, is proud to announce its newest partnership as the Official Headwear Partner of CityPickle, a leading provider of pickleball experiences in urban cities across the U.S. CityPickle has redefined pickleball in New York City and beyond, offering accessible, high-quality courts and experiences in iconic locations including Wollman Rink in Central Park, Hudson Yards, Industry City, and Union Square.  “Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and Imperial is committed to being a part of that momentum,” said Jerry Biag, Director of Marketing at Imperial.  “We’re proud to partner with CityPickle, a leader in bringing this sport to vibrant urban communities. Being named their Official Headwear Partner is an honor and an exciting next step in our efforts to serve the pickleball community.” “At CityPickle, we’re always looking for ways to elevate the player experience both on and off the court and Imperial is the perfect partner to help us do that,” said Co-Founder of CityPickle Erica Desai. “Imperial’s premium headwear brings style and functionality to the court, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with a brand that gets pickleball and understands our mission to grow the game in exciting, urban spaces across the US,” said Co-Founder of CityPickle Mary Cannon.  Visit www.imperial1916.com. About Imperial Founded in 1916, Imperial is a CPC company with expertise in design, marketing, manufacturing, and distribution. Imperial owns and operates several brands and companies, including Imperial, Pukka®, and the Peter Millar Licensing Company. These brands serve diverse markets, including direct-to-consumer (DTC), golf, corporate, destination & leisure, team dealer, and supply chain channels.  Imperial is the Official Licensed Headwear of Major League Pickleball and other pickleball communities.  Imperial’s customers include prestigious golf events such as the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Open Championship, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and Solheim Cup. The company also maintains manufacturing and licensing partnerships with global brands like Nike, Peter Millar, and Tommy Hilfiger.  Imperial supports the Imperial Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to fostering the growth and vitality of sports—especially golf—and enhancing the well-being of communities it serves. CPC, Imperial’s parent company, is a Kansas City-based investment holding firm focused on a long-term strategy to buy, build, and hold™ great companies. For further information please visit Imperial1916.com. Follow Imperial on LinkedIn at @imperial-headwear or Instagram at @ImperialHats. About CityPIckle CityPickle is New York City’s home for pickleball. The lifestyle brand debuted NYC’s first indoor pickleball club in Long Island City. The club features climate-controlled courts and a full bar and restaurant, making it the ideal destination to connect in person, spend quality time, and host events. CityPickle operates 14 courts in Central Park’s Wollman Rink during the spring, summer, and early fall. The brand brings the joy and community of pickleball to thousands through its seasonal activations; locations include Hudson Yards, Union Square, Brooklyn’s Industry City, and Philadelphia’s Dilworth Park at City Hall.

PGA Tour player and Imperial brand ambassador, Keith Mitchell, is known not only for his athletic prowess but also for his commitment to give back to the community. We’re thrilled to announce an exciting partnership between Keith Mitchell, Imperial, Cisco, and Mizuno to bring golf fans a Charity Game Imperial Tour Visor®. This special visor is inspired by the iconic tournament visor that Keith Mitchell wears on Tour and is designed to raise awareness and funds for a cause close to Keith's heart: the Nantz National Alzheimer Center. In our recent interview, Keith shared with us his personal connection to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center, the inspiration behind the Charity Game Imperial Tour Visor®, and how this collaboration came to life. The proceeds from this project will support the center's vital work in Alzheimer's research and patient care, a cause Keith is proud to champion. What is your personal connection to the Nantz National Alzheimer Center? "The Nantz National Alzheimer Center has been an invaluable resource for my family," Keith explained. “They provide state of the art care, and are on the cutting edge of research in fighting the battle against Alzhiemers disease” Keith's connection to the center is rooted in his family’s experience with Alzheimer's disease. "I have had four members of my family affected by Alzheimer's.” he shared. “The Nantz National Alzheimer Center is the leader in its field and has given our family great care and results in fighting the disease.” This firsthand experience has shaped Keith's deep admiration for what the center does. In your experience, how is The Nantz National Alzheimer Center leading the charge in Alzheimer's care? "The center invests in the world's best doctors, researchers, and facilities to fight Alzheimer's, with the desire to detect and beat the disease before its symptoms ever arise. The technology and advancements they have made in the last few years is truly incredible.” Tell us about your idea for The Charity Game Imperial Tour Visor®. In your mind, how is this a symbol of both support and style? “We wanted to give access to our Tour Visor, but do it in a way that positively impacts a cause that means so much to me and my family," Keith said. "This visor represents my on course headwear and our commitment to supporting the Nantz National Alzheimer Center and its mission to help those impacted by Alzheimer’s.” This edition of Charity Game Tour Visor® was inspired by the iconic visor Keith wears on the PGA Tour and is designed to combine style with a powerful message. Featuring Keith's signature look, the visor represents more than just a piece of golf equipment; it serves as a symbol of the fight against Alzheimer's and a call to action for all who wear it. This special visor is made possible through the partnership of four organizations: Keith Mitchell, Imperial, Cisco, and Mizuno. Each partner has come together with a shared vision of supporting Alzheimer’s research and patient care.  "Working with these great partners has been a dream come true.” Keith said. “Imperial’s craftsmanship, Cisco’s foresight in technology, and Mizuno’s focus on performance and design, are companies and values that I am honored to represent,” The visor will be available for purchase and all proceeds will benefit the Nantz National Alzheimer Center. It’s a unique opportunity for golf fans to support Alzheimer's research while showing their love for the game and for a meaningful cause. You’re well known for your personal style, what is your connection with The Imperial Tour Visor®? “My connection to the tour visor runs deep,” he shared, explaining that his love for the style dates back to his childhood, where he was often seen wearing a visor similar to the ones his father wore. “I have old pictures of myself as a kid wearing a visor just like the one I wear on Tour today,” Keith said with a smile. “My dad always wore one, and I as a kid, I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. It became part of my style, and it’s something I’ve kept most of my golf career.” For Keith, the visor is more than just a piece of golf equipment; it's a link to the past when golf to him was the time for father and son bonding. This personal connection adds even more meaning to the Charity Game Tour Visor®, as it carries the essence of tradition, family, and giving back. What advice would you give to someone wanting to get involved with supporting Alzheimer’s disease research and care? “The first edition of Charity Game Tour Visors® is now available for purchase, and by wearing it, you are showing your support by helping the Nantz National Alzheimer Center in its mission to fight Alzheimer's disease. This project is directly supporting the center’s research and patient care programs. We want to make a big difference, and this is just one small way we can do that,” Keith said. “The support from golf fans, our partners, and everyone involved will help the Nantz National Alzheimer Center continue its important work.” Conclusion: A Legacy of Giving Back Keith Mitchell’s partnership with Imperial, Cisco, and Mizuno to support the Nantz National Alzheimer Center through the Charity Game Tour Visor® is a testament to the power of sports in making a positive impact. With his personal connection to the disease and his family’s experience with the center, Keith is using his platform to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research and care. By purchasing the visor, you're not only supporting Keith's charitable efforts but also contributing to a brighter future for those affected by Alzheimer's. Join us in this important cause and help make a lasting difference in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

BOURBON, MO – Imperial, voted the #1 headwear brand for private and resort golf facilities for seven consecutive years by the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) and reported as the “#1 headwear brand in the combined on and off course retail golf channels” by Golf Datatech, is proud to announce that a partnership with Honcho Pickleball.  This partnership will name Imperial as the “Official Headwear Sponsor of Honcho Pickleball” for the 2025 season.  Honcho Pickleball is a premier pickleball amateur league organization operating in over 40 markets across the United States.   Each eight-week session allows players of all levels to participate in one of the fastest growing sports.   “Imperial is thrilled to engage with and support amateur pickleball players. This collaboration strengthens our grassroots initiatives and deepens our commitment to the growing pickleball community. ” said Jerry Biag, Director of Marketing.  About Imperial Imperial is a consumer apparel brand founded in 1916 with design, marketing, manufacturing, and distribution capabilities. Imperial sells its products into several markets, including the direct-to-consumer (DTC), golf, corporate, and supply chain channels. Customers include the U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Open Championship, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and Solheim Cup. Imperial also has manufacturing and licensing relationships with Nike, Peter Millar, Tommy Hilfiger, Vans, adidas and many other global brands. Imperial products can be found at all Top 100 and over 75% of the Top 400 golf courses in the United States and has been voted the #1 headwear brand for private and resort golf facilities for six consecutive years by the Association of Golf Merchandisers (AGM) and reported as the “#1 headwear brand in the combined on and off course retail golf channels” by Golf Datatech. Imperial is also proud to fund the Imperial Foundation, a separate philanthropic organization committed to the growth and vitality of sports—especially the game of golf and those who support it—as well as the overall health and well-being of the people in the communities Imperial serves. For further information please visit Imperial1916.com. Follow Imperial on Instagram at @ImperialHats.  About Honcho Pickleball Honcho Pickleball is the premier amateur pickleball experience & community in the country, currently hosting multi-skillset weekly leagues across 40+ markets across 20 states! Poised to have a presence in over 100 markets by the end of this upcoming year, 2025 will have Honcho positioned to, leveraging their expansive venue-partner-relationships across the nation and their strong player database of thousands of active players in 2024, open up their breadth of services into a new service offerings, such as their Multi-Stop Amateur Tour, National Tournaments, Local Corporate/Culture Events, Clinics/Trainings, E-Comm/Merch, etc.. as they continue to grow the largest amateur pickleball community across the nation!

The products featured in Golf Digest’s Father’s Day Gift Guide are hand-picked by the editors each year. This year the new Imperial x Slackertide “crush it” rope hat was their choice of headwear for the feature. Father’s Day is a great way to show the dad in your life how much you care, read the full gift guide here, and shop the full Imperial x Slackertide collection here.