Field Notes

This week, Imperial announced a multi-year sponsorship of rising golf phenomenon, and ‘best dressed man on Tour,’ Keith Mitchell. The 31-year old PGA Tour pro makes his second appearance at The Masters this week in Augusta, GA. He will be wearing a custom green and gold Imperial Tour Visor® at the major, featuring the embroidered logos of his other sponsors Cisco and Mizuno. The iconic, Imperial original style has become Keith’s signature accessory and he’s well known for wearing one exclusively while on Tour. “This partnership took shape in a really organic way. My dad introduced me to the idea of wearing a visor on the golf course at a very young age, so it’s sort of always been a part of my look. Imperial is an historic brand that makes some of the best hats in golf, so picking a classic like the high crown Tour Visor® to wear while I play seemed like a natural fit.” Keith Mitchell The Imperial Tour Visor® is proudly made in the USA from Oeko-Tex® certified organic cotton, and ‘Cashmere Keith’ has been utilizing a variety in his throwback styling for years. Dressing like the old school greats has fans crediting him with bringing back classic golf style. While most professional golfers don spandex and other synthetic performance fabrics, Mitchell famously opts for all natural fibers like cotton, wool or cashmere, making him a standout both on and off the course. “I’m thrilled to welcome Keith to the Imperial team as an official brand ambassador. I’ve personally followed his career and cheered him on as he developed. Being a part of his next chapter and supporting him along the way is a very special opportunity.” David Shaffer, Senior Vice President of Sales at Imperial

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