Field Notes

Imperial has been in the business of providing quality hats, shirts and other accessories to round out your arsenal of golf attire. We’ve worked with designers, professional athletes, artists and more to craft exceptional gear that boosts performance and shows off your inner style. And thanks to a recent acquisition, Imperial is adding golf belts to our product offering. We’re introducing an exciting line of comfortable, functional golf belts to give your game, and your fashion on the golf course, a bit of a helpful boost. Getting Into the Golf Belt Game After the acquisition of J.T. Spencer belts, Imperial is building upon their strong legacy. According to Steve DeWalle, President of J.T. Spencer: “When we started J.T.Spencer eight years ago, I could not have imagined the successful journey we would have in the golf world, and joining the Imperial family is just the next step in continuing our incredible growth trajectory.” With this acquisition, Imperial is excited to announce a new line of creative belts to add to their other stylish offerings. Just like with hats, belts have their own history, full of trends and changes that have shaped their place in the golf world today. Let’s dive in. A Brief History of Luxury Golf Belts Belts have long been tied to golf, ever since the conception of the sport. In fact, before trophies, winners of golf tournaments were actually awarded belts. The most famous belt in golf was the Challenge Belt, which was awarded to The Open Championship golf winner from 1860 to 1870. Of course, this belt wasn’t a fashion statement and was quickly replaced by trophies like the Claret Jug, but it goes to show just how prevalent this accessory can be. Golf belts have been a staple for players since the sport began. How else were players supposed to make it through 18 holes without their pants falling down? Golf belts have become slimmer, sleeker and more functional over the years. There’s been an increased push for high-quality materials, playful logos and additions that have upgraded the outfit game on the golf course. Many brands utilize a mix of top-quality leather, cotton and other materials to create a comfortable, classy belt that also shows off your pride, prowess and playful personality. Imperial provides luxury logo golf belts that include a variety of designs – from golf clubs and tees to creative drink icons, animals, embroidered designs and more. Today, golf belts are all about fashion and function. That’s why this acquisition opened so many doors, allowing our team to create a full line of exciting, embroidered golf belts that make it easier for you to dial in that next shot while exuding personality and style. Fun and Funky Golf Belts for Men Imperial is kicking off its men’s golf belt offering with a variety of colors, styles, designs, embroidery, and more to help round out your golf wardrobe the next time you make it out to the golf course. Our line of Imperial belts are 1.25” wide and will feature a repeating icon design across the band. We’ve incorporated only the best, high-quality materials, including premium cotton, full-grain leather, and a solid brass buckle. There are 18 color combinations to choose from depending on your own personal preference. In addition to these, Imperial is rolling out a huge catalog of icons and designs so you can pair your favorite performance hat with a belt of the same design. Embroidered icons and designs include animals - like dogs and ducks - golf clubs, pimento cheese sandwiches, flags, shamrocks, and more. The possibilities - and combinations - are endless. Pair Your Golf Belt With a Customized Hat Our online hat maker makes it easier than ever to create a custom design that you can quickly and easily pair with your new, luxury golf belt. Take this Tour Visor® bedazzled with the cutest golden retriever you’ve ever seen – you can create a custom design like this one to match the little puppies on your belt. That creates a truly all-encompassing look that will make you feel good as you make your way to the final hole. Here at Imperial, we care about providing our customers with cool, high-quality products that boost performance and make life fun. And these golf belts are just another way we’re helping you complete your next outdoor look. Find the Best Golf Belts for You Imperial might just be entering the luxury golf belt game, but we’re no stranger to first-rate products to help boost performance, comfort, and confidence whether on the golf course, on the pickleball court or simply enjoying a day out with friends and family. Thanks to our acquisition, we can continue to provide our customers with the exciting golf attire that helps them win, and have fun while doing so. We’ve infused the same care and passion we put into our other golf attire options into our golf belt offering to provide a top-notch experience on and off the course. Wear your golf belt to your next tournament or rock it at a family barbeque. The versatility, durability, and cleverness of these belts make them perfect for any and all occasions. Grab your cap, get your belt buckled, and get ready to have some fun.

The performance hat is a staple accessory for anyone engaging in outdoor sports and activities. These hats are built to last, created with the finest materials to help you make the most out of your next match. These classic hats offer moisture-wicking sweatbands, sun protection, and a touch of style to your next day out – and their popularity certainly makes them a winning choice to add to any outfit. What makes a performance hat just that is its ability to help you move throughout your sport or activity with ease. Where does the performance hat come from and how can you rock this look today? What Is a Performance Hat? Performance hats are caps built for movement. They’re created with specialized materials to be lightweight, durable and moisture-resistant to help you stay cool, safe and at the top of your game. These breathable golf hats are great options for athletes spending a lot of time outdoors where it can get hot and bright. These caps provide much-needed protection from falling sweat, loose hair and the glare of the sun. The best part? They come in a variety of styles, shapes and sizes to fit the needs of everyone. They might have started off as a traditional baseball cap, but they’ve certainly transformed into something more. The History of Performance Hats Like most caps, the performance hat stemmed from the traditional baseball hats of the early days. The early 1900s saw the introduction of a more traditional baseball cap when the Detroit Tigers added it to their uniform roster. Since then, performance caps have morphed depending on trends in pop culture – like the rise of Hip Hop. Today, you can find performance caps across all major sports brands. And just like with rope hats, performance hats have easily made their presence known in the golf world. Today, you’ll see a variety of custom logo golf hats for men and women making their rounds on tour. Are you ready to join the ranks? Explore some crafty options from our catalog of exciting performance golf hats. Imperial Performance Hats Stand Out From the Crowd Ready to hit the ground running but not sure what cool golf hat or funky sports cap to wear to the next event? Imperial has a wide variety of fitted hats and other golf apparel to get your head in the game – you can even design your own golf hat if that’s better for you! Get Golf-Ready With Clever Designs If you want to kill it on the golf course but want to look cool doing so, this flamingo golf hat is the perfect choice. It’s a lightweight, breathable cap with a cool, casual look and feel perfect for keeping the sun out of your eyes as you make your way around the golf course. Here at Imperial, we have a large variety of golf-inspired designs that are playful, unique and creative. Show off your own passions and see how they can all come together over a fun game of golf. Shop the Flamingo Golf Hat Show Off Your State Pride Another great performance hat option is this ladies performance hat inspired by Alabama’s state flower. In fact, you can represent all of the states thanks to our State Flower Collection of designs. Have fun in the stands, in the outfield, on the beach, or on the court with this eye-catching, playful, and fun performance hat. Shop the State Flower Hat Collection Stay Cool With Refreshing Imagery If you’re looking to beat the heat, get some air circulation and stay cool, this meshback performance cap is a great option. The durable build, breathable design, and moisture-wicking material make it a stellar choice for hot days where you know you’ll get your sweat on. Pair it with a fun and funky design inspired by our Refreshments Collection to show off your fun-loving side. Or maybe, you’re just looking to have a good time and you want everyone to know it. Whatever your decision, this clever cap is a great option to keep you cool and focused on the day ahead. Shop the Refreshments Collection Create Your Own Performance Hat Looking for something more your speed? We’ve got you covered. Design your own customized performance hat today thanks to our robust online hat maker. With it, you can take any hat design and make it your own, choosing the right colors, patches, embroidered icons, and more to let the world know who you really are. You can also upload your own to design and take the customization one step further. Our design-your-own-hat option is a great choice for people that dare to be different. Not only that, but custom hat design with Imperial is a breeze – it’s never been easier to create a custom golf hat that looks the part while also being extremely functional. And who doesn’t love tacos, right? This taco-inspired golf hat is a cool, creative, and cleverly designed cap that puts a smile on everyones’ face. Have it on hand the next time you hit the golf course or pack it in your bag for your next outdoor adventure. When you wear an Imperial hat, you know you can handle anything.

The “#1 headwear brand in the combined on and off course retail golf channels in 2022” as reported by Golf Datatech, is proud to announce its Golf Retirement Plus™ incentive program in conjunction with the PGA™ of America. On behalf of our 28,000 PGA Professionals we thank Imperial for their dedication to the green grass business and their support of the PGA's Golf Retirement Plus program. Imperial's offerings in the program continue to provide substantive annual royalties for our PGA Professionals who benefit greatly from their participation. We are pleased that Imperial will continue to support GRP. Dan Baker, Senior Director, Industry Partnerships, PGA of America. The Golf Retirement Plus™ program is managed by PGA Golf Enterprises, Inc. and allows its members and associates who are enrolled in the program to save for a secure retirement. Imperial Headwear has an established incentives program through Golf Retirement Plus™, and now offers a convenient online application form for those who wish to register: https://imperial1916.com/pages/pgagrp/ All members or associates of the PGA of America in good standing are immediately eligible to enroll and participate in the program. GRP offers a variety of fund that span the investment spectrum so Members can build and investment mix that suits individual circumstances. Golf Facility owner/operators that allow PGA Professional employees to participate in the partner programs provide a great way to attract, reward and retain employees. Through the Imperial x PGA Golf Retirement Plus™ Program, participants have the opportunity to earn a 3% contribution to their GRP account on all eligible sales when $1,000 of Imperial products are purchased annually. Imperial is deeply dedicated to the game of golf and supporting all who maintain the health of our great sport. We recognize that PGA professionals play an imperative role in this process every day and we strive to provide them with the best product and service possible. We’re honored to participate in a program that provides PGA members the opportunity for a secure retirement. David Shaffer, Senior Vice President of Sales at Imperial

The U.S. Open is right around the corner, and luckily, the Imperial team comes prepared with a host of fun, exciting, and eye-catching U.S. Open hats, visors, and other gear to get you ready for tee-off. This year, the Imperial team again collaborated on a fun and funky new design to adorn hats, visors, and even t-shirts and posters, thanks to famous artist Lee Wybranski. There’s a lot in the works for the U.S. Open and Imperial in 2023, and we’re excited to see you at LACC! Preparing for the 2023 U.S. Open The 123rd U.S. Open is a major championship stop on the PGA Tour. Players and fans alike will convene June 15th through 18th on the North Course of Los Angeles Country Club, located, of course, in L.A. This tournament is a fan favorite on the schedule, and it’s one of ours as well. That’s why we’ve designed 2023 U.S. Open golf hats to help players and fans alike watch and play in style. This year, we have dozens of options to choose from including bucket hats, visors, t-shirts, trucker hats, and more. Get some inspiration from the different styles below and get a sneak peek of the U.S. Open t-shirts and hats that’ll be onsite at LACC. Shop 2023 U.S. Open Golf Hats Play With Fun Patterns on Your Golf Hats Make a statement at this year’s U.S. Open with a bright, colorfully-patterned rope cap. The checkerboard pattern stands out from the crowd, mimicking the high-energy, fast-paced nature of a tried and true race flag. This style comes in a variety of colors, giving you the option to customize your Imperial hat for the U.S. Open with ease and satisfaction. This cap is a fun, eye-catching option to show your passion and let your style shine while watching from the sidelines. Shop the LACC Square One Rope Hat Go With an Edgy, Distressed U.S. Open Look This washed cotton rope hat offers an effortless charm that can’t be beat. There’s a laid-back vibe to the cap that makes it an easy choice for casual fans watching from a local sports bar or even their own couch. Comfortable, durable, and lightweight, this is a great U.S. Open cap to wear to show off your love for the tournament with comfort and coolness. Shop the USO Washed Cotton Rope Hat Keep it Classic With a Tour Visor® Match the rich shades of the green with this U.S. Open visor. Imperial’s Tour Visor® is a classic option, one that’s commonplace on and off the course. It’s a timeless option for the true golf enthusiasts out there. Wearers of this golf visor will fit right in during the 2023 U.S. Open. We’re proud of the styles and designs we’ve put together for this year’s major, but we didn’t just stop there. The U.S. Open is a special tournament, so we’ve collaborated with a man that embodies that golfing spirit and passion to bring to life a wide variety of golf gear to get you in the zone. Shop the 2023 U.S. Open Tour Visor® Imperial’s U.S. Open Partnership With Lee Wybranski We’ve partnered with Lee Wybranski, a world-class artist working in the golf industry, to create a robust selection of hats, attire, and posters to bring the sport to life. His love for golf and for the art itself exudes the passion we see from the players on the green. With the 2023 U.S. Open quickly approaching, we reached out to Wybranski to learn more about his creative process and how golf has impacted his professional and personal life. 1. How and when did you find your passion to become an artist? Lee Wybranksi: I loved comics when I was a kid and began by drawing Spiderman and Batman. 2. How did you find your artistic niche in the golf industry, especially with golf hats and apparel? L.W: As an artist, my first commission in golf was a drawing of Winged Foot’s famous clubhouse. That project opened a lot of doors and pretty soon I was a golf artist. As a designer, the first Logo/Branding project was for Atlantic City CC in New Jersey and was very well received. Logos play a big role in the golf space, especially when it comes to merchandise and apparel, and at the time there were no designers who really specialized in golf, so we worked to satisfy that need. 3. What do you think art's place is in the golf world? L.W: One of the things that makes golf great is that it has inspired a vast body of art, literature, and photography. All of these genres serve to document important moments in a game that has a very long history and is always changing. 4. What is your artistic process like? L.W: My artistic process is fairly methodical - I have the same pre-shot routine for every project. I begin by identifying the key elements in the golf course and create a composition that showcases these elements. Once the layout is approved I start painting (which I am still trying to figure out how to do more quickly!). 5. How would you best describe your style? L.W: My style is a mix of favorite artists and genres that are my greatest influences, and ideally it’ll evolve over time as new influences come along. My posters generally are very influenced by the great design traditions of the 1920s and 30s – from French and Italian travel posters, to the British Rail posters and to the National Parks and WPA posters here in the U.S. 6. What is your favorite U.S. Open golf hat design? L.W: The Original Rope Cap, without a doubt. 7. What inspired you to partner with Imperial to create custom hat designs for the U.S. Open? L.W: Imperial is one of the greatest brands in golf, and I always try to associate with the best. Plus, I love the combination of tradition, style, and playful creativity. Lee Wybranski Styles to Rock During the 2023 U.S. Open This limited edition Lee Wybranski U.S. Open poster t-shirt is a staple for this year's major, displaying his iconic artistic style in the U.S. Open design to create a shirt that embodies the spirit of the championship. The vintage poster design definitely stands out, adding a touch of creativity and fun to the week. Shop the Lee Wybranski U.S. Open T-shirt Design Your Own U.S. Open Hat Want to create your own U.S. Open look? We’ve got you covered, literally. Our handy online hat maker also offers unlimited opportunities for a customized U.S. Open hat to wear during the upcoming event. Stay cool under the sun with a clever, customized U.S. Open bucket hat. L.A. can get warm – make sure you’re protecting your head, face and eyes with a full-coverage bucket hat. Comfortable, durable and lightweight, our bucket hat styles are a great choice for a day outdoors. Plus, the ability to customize the style to suit your own personality makes choosing this option a no-brainer. This year, we have two options for the U.S. Open icons – so explore a few looks and have fun with it. Design Your U.S. Open Hat Now Get U.S. Open-Ready With Imperial We’re getting pumped for the 2023 U.S. Open, which is celebrating its 123rd year. In honor of this feat, we created two iconic designs that can be worn across a variety of hat styles. We’ve even partnered with legendary artist Lee Wybranski to create a poster-inspired t-shirt to truly complete the golf look. With over a dozen designs to choose from, you should have no problem getting into the U.S. Open zone with one or a few of these pieces. We can’t wait for tee-off, where we’ll be rocking our own gear. We hope to see you enjoying it and adding your own personal flair, too!