Summer, as a cultural experience, seems to be gasping its final breaths. The season, once marked by carefree leisure and vibrant traditions, now appears fractured. There is no widely accepted summer cocktail to unify social gatherings, playlist selections intended to evoke poolside relaxation fall disappointingly short, and corporate America has already disrupted the seasonal mood with its premature obsession with pumpkin spice. To make matters more exasperating, the amorphous group of irritations—playfully referred to here as the Labubus—seems to grate on already frayed nerves. In this atmosphere of fading seasonal vitality, Business Insider has chosen to retrace one of the rare enduring trends of the current summer: the ubiquity of golf polos.
Specifically, attention has centered on the sleek yet status-laden genre of golf polo that has become emblematic of finance culture. These polos, often sold as merchandise from revered golf courses, function simultaneously as comfortable apparel and as social signals. Wearing one can silently communicate messages such as: “I am financially successful,” “I’m entrenched in the banking world,” or “I belong, directly or by association, to rarefied country-club circles.” Typically adorned with discrete but recognizable logos from storied institutions like Winged Foot, Shinnecock Hills, or Sleepy Hollow, the shirts have evolved into coveted identity markers. Their symbolic weight has been strong enough to set the upper echelons of Wall Street buzzing during the warmest months. My colleague, Emily Stewart, noted this phenomenon in July, observing the conspicuous presence of these polos inside corporate offices populated largely by New York’s ambitious men.
According to Emily’s reporting, an unwritten but widely understood etiquette governs the proper wearing of these polos. Among those indoctrinated into this sartorial subculture, it is viewed as unacceptable to brandish the insignia of a course one has not personally played. Accumulating identical polos with the same logo is permissible only if one holds an official membership at that course, and purchasing secondhand shirts via online marketplaces like eBay is deemed a serious affront to authenticity. Furthermore, if a polo bears the insignia of a corporation on its sleeve, it loses its prestige and should be consigned immediately to charitable donation bins. Respecting these delicate protocols ensures that when a man does wear a polo featuring an emblem from a sufficiently prestigious golf course, the garment earns him not only admiration but also camaraderie among fellow finance professionals. Essentially, within this subculture, recognition and respect are awarded in the same way insider traders recognize one another—elite signals are decoded instantly.
Business Insider attempted to capture live examples of this trend in various social settings. Reporters visited several geographic focal points of financial and social activity: the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, the bustling corridors of Madison and Park Avenues during peak commuting hours, and the Hamptons during a quintessential summer weekend. Interestingly, those encountered proved unexpectedly evasive; many sporting a golf polo declined to pose for photos or even provide their names. Several hurried away, citing urgent obligations. Rather than diminishing the intrigue, this reluctance only heightened fascination. In our present digital era—defined by artificial intelligence content churn and an exhausting bombardment of online noise—an intentionally minimal public footprint now serves as a potent luxury symbol. To be elusive is to embody privilege.
Nevertheless, a handful of individuals did pause long enough to explain what these shirts represent in their personal wardrobes. Some acknowledged openly that polos serve as status markers, while others emphasized their practical appeal, particularly the moisture-wicking fabrics that provide both comfort and ease of wear in hot climates. Still others keep their shirts as souvenirs of memorable days spent on the course, treating each garment as both clothing and cherished artifact. A number of enthusiasts described themselves as collectors, proudly acquiring a polo from every new course they play, thereby curating a wardrobe that doubles as a chronicle of their golfing journeys. Club members expressed pride in representing their institutions, while nonmembers were grateful for relationships—whether familial, professional, or social—that enabled them access to such prestigious fairways.
Among the many encounters, several notable snapshots stand out:
**The Vacationing Pastor** – Photographer Lanna Apisukh captured Ed Zumwink, a 60-year-old pastor, who appeared in front of the Wall Street Stock Exchange clad in a baby-blue polo from the Congressional Country Club. On holiday in New York with his son, Zumwink saw wearing his polo as both a fashion choice and a personal expression of connection to his beloved course. Although not a member of the exclusive Maryland club, which hosts PGA-level tournaments and commands nationwide reverence, he has unique access that allows him to practice on its famously pristine grounds. For him, golf carries spiritual resonance. He described it as a form of discipline that forces him to decelerate, to live more intentionally. With a laugh, he admitted his handicap is abysmal—but his devotion to the game is undiminished.
**The Fabric Enthusiast** – Photographer Jeremy Garretson documented Larry, a 73-year-old man who spent the day in Bridgehampton wearing a lavender PGA National polo. Larry originally purchased the shirt years ago while staying in Palm Beach Gardens. For him, its significance lies not in prestige or social signaling, but in its comfort. He prefers its lightweight, breathable material to cotton, which wrinkles unflatteringly with little effort. To Larry, the shirt is first and foremost about functionality.
**The Nostalgic Golfer** – Another interviewee, a man in his thirties, described himself as fortunate enough to have played a round at Cypress Point, one of the world’s most exclusive courses situated in Pebble Beach, California. Reluctant to miss an opportunity to mark the memory, he acquired the polo as a keepsake, treating the shirt less as a display of status and more as a personal reminder of an extraordinary experience.
**The Hamptons Local with a Secret** – Finally, a local resident from Southampton offered a slight twist to the narrative. Outfitted in a pastel pink Shinnecock Hills Golf Club polo and a complementary hat, he projected the appearance of loyalty to one of the area’s most famous clubs. Yet he revealed he was actually a member of Shinnecock’s rival, the Southampton Golf Club—a course sometimes preferred by those who truly identify with the Hamptons community. His wife joked about his expansive collection, insisting golf polos dominate his wardrobe. For him, and likely for many others, these polos function simultaneously as fashion staples, personal symbols, and social markers.
Ultimately, these observations illustrate why the golf polo has become the symbolic garment of summer. It merges comfort with exclusivity, practicality with social prestige. Whether worn by a finance professional racing between meetings, a pastor seeking spiritual alignment through golf, or a retiree relishing breathable fabric, the polo shirt straddles the line between casual attire and credential of belonging. Its quiet power lies in the fact that it communicates volumes—without the wearer ever needing to say a word.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/golf-polo-wall-street-finance-bro-fad-interviews-2025-8
