When booking a tee time, we all cross our fingers that the weather will be beautiful during our golf outing. It adds to the fun if it is a nice sunny day (with a little breeze hopefully!) when you are on the course. Even though playing in the sunshine is fun, we all know that too much sun is never good if you are not prepared. It is extremely important that you protect yourself from harmful sun rays and always wear sunscreen and a hat to shade your face. Personally, I like to wear my hair in a low ponytail when playing golf; when I forget my hat, my part gets sunburned and it is NOT fun to have a sunburned scalp. It is extremely unhealthy and very uncomfortable to get sunburn on your face or scalp.
Golf outings are typically 2-5 hours depending on if you are playing 9 or 18 holes. No matter if you walk or ride a course, you will inevitably be exposed to sun rays; even if it is a cloudy day. There are different types of hats that you can wear on the course – bucket hats, caps, and visors. Bucket hats offer the most sun protection for your face, neck and ears. Golf caps offer good sun protection, but not on your neck so make sure you still wear sunscreen! Lastly, for our high ponytail women or women who prefer to have more air – visors are another option to protect your face. We have broken our review into these sections; bucket hats, caps and visors.
Want to skip to the best part? Here’s our top Pick: Titleist Women’s Tour Performance Ball Marker Hat
Before we dive into our top picks, let’s quickly go over what you should consider in a golf hat…
Sun Protection
Sun protection is the biggest factor when choosing a golf hat. If you want the best golf hat for sun protection, we would suggest purchasing a golf bucket hat. Bucket hats provide shade and protection on your face, whole head, ears and neck. If you decide to go with a visor or cap, just make sure you are still applying sunscreen on the back of your neck, face and ears as there is not as much coverage provided. If you think that wearing sunscreen is enough and don’t wear a hat, we would highly suggest that you begin wearing one and urge your golf mates to wear hats as well. They make playing in the sun much more bearable and enjoyable while protecting you from harmful rays.
Breathable Material
Have you ever worn a hat and then realized it is actually making you HOTTER? We’ve been there too, and it’s undeniably terrible. It’s really beneficial when a hat has breathable material and air can actually flow in and out. If a hat has a sweatband inside and is made with light material, it assists with cooling you off. If you consistently play in warm conditions, having hats with breathable material is a great way to help stay cool and protected.
Comfort and Style
The golf hat you choose should fit well on your head and you should feel comfortable and confident wearing it. Many times when I get a hat, it is too large on my head and sometimes goes over my ears which I don’t like. The hats reviewed are all comfortable and have multiple styles and colors. A lot of feedback from women golfers regarding bucket hats is that they look a little bulky and may not be as stylish as other hats. The bucket hats we reviewed are not manly or bulky and will look fashionable on the course, along with the caps and visors we listed! You have to like the look of what you wear yet also have the protection needed.
Now let’s take a look at the best women’s golf hats!
Best Golf Bucket Hats:
Columbia Women’s Global Adventure Packable Hat II
This is one of my favorite bucket hats on the market because it does its job of keeping you totally shaded from the sun and is really attractive! A lot of bucket hats look kind of goofy but this one is fashionable and comes in several color options. It also is equipped with UPF 50 protection throughout the hats material. If you’re looking for a stylish option that will keep you out of the sun, this is our top pick.
- UPF 50 rated protection around brim
- Features Omni-Shade which blocks UVA and UVB rays to help prevent sunburns and skin damage.
- UV absorbent yarns throughout the tight weave material blocking harmful rays
- Flexible and easy to pack/fold
- Available in 5 colors
- Material is lightweight but could be a bit more breathable
Coolibar UPF 50+ Women’s Convertible Boating Hat
Even though this Coolibar Women’s hat is named the Boating Hat, we promise it is also a great golfing hat. It is a lightweight, breathable, UPF 50+ bucket hat that will keep you protected on the longest of sunny golf days. This is a great option if you know you will be walking 18 holes on a hot sunny day, or just want to stay cool and protected while driving in a cart. It also has a neck drape which can fold down to protect the back of your neck. To be honest, I never like the look of hats with that but it is really helpful if you have a sunburn that you want to protect. You can keep it rolled up in the hat or let it down – if you have it tucked up, it is extremely thin material so it will not look bulky.
- Breathable, lightweight material
- UPF 50+ protection
- Neck drape option
- Anti-glare under brim
- Removable chin cord with toggle
- Internal cooling sweatband
- Sporty looking
Callaway Golf 2020 Sun Hat
The Callaway Golf 2020 Sun Hat is an attractive, unisex golf bucket hat that is a great addition to any golf outfit. Available in black or white mesh material, or a lightweight straw option, this hat is a great choice to consider if you are looking for a golf bucket hat. It offers 50+ UV protection, is lightweight, and has a moisture wicking sweatband inside the brim. I love each color option equally – this is a really sleek looking hat and has the protection you need.
- Lightweight straw or mesh material depending on color
- 50+ UV Protection
- Moisture Wicking Sweatband inside
- Callaway name branded
- Only the straw option has the chin strap – black and white do not have drawstring
Muryobao Women’s Outdoor UV Protection Foldable Mesh Wide Brim
When reviewing bucket hats, this particular hat did stand out to me as it was one of the few that has a ponytail opening on the back. This hat is made out of a quick drying and breathable material, has a cooling mesh layer inside, and protects from harmful sun rays. If you like to wear your ponytail higher, and allow your neck to get air, this is a nice choice. The Muryobao Women’s Hat is available in 8 colors and is really easy to pack and travel with.
- Ponytail opening in back – keeps your neck cool
- Adjustable drawstring
- Doesn’t wrinkle – easy to pack and store
- Breathable mesh material
- Looks slightly bulkier
- Runs a bit large
Best Golf hats:
Titleist Women’s Tour Performance Ball Marker Hat
If you are looking for a great golf hat but don’t want a bucket hat, this Titleist Women’s Tour Performance Ball Marker Hat is an excellent option for a golf cap. The best feature about this hat is the magnetic ball marker on the brim. Personally, I always find myself fumbling to get my ball marker off of my glove or out of my pocket on the green. This magnetic ball marker is so convenient and easy – just reach up to your hat and there you go. The hat also has antimicrobial material to reduce odor and offers a moisture wicking sweatband.
- Magnetic Ball Marker on hat brim
- Colorful options
- Antimicrobial material to reduce odor
- Velcro tightening option on back
- Material is not as breathable as other options
GADIEMKENSD UPF 50+ Outdoor Hat Folding Reflective Running Cap
For a golf hat that has the best sun protection and breathable material, this is definitely a top contender. The Gadiemkensd cap has 50+ UPF protection, a reflective brim and edges, water repellent material, and is easy to fold and store. This is an extremely lightweight option, and the material allows air and breeze to come through to cool you down. The material is also water repellent, making water droplets simply roll off. In light rain or drizzles, this will do a great job of keeping you dry. This is also one of the few options that has a reflective trim which is nice for golfing in evenings or just simply walking around in the dusk or dark. For the price, this hat is packed with benefits.
- 50+ UPF Protection
- Water repellent material
- Extremely Breathable
- Reflective Edges and Trim
- Tri-Fold Brim for easy folding storage, but may feel a little different compared to normal brim
- Seams can begin to tear if you fold too often
Adidas Women’s Superlite Cap
The Adidas Women’s Superlite Cap lives up to its name; its extremely light weight and has the Adidas quality that is well known and durable. This cap is available in 20 different colors, offers ultimate air flow, has UPF 50 sun protection, a hook and loop back closure, and a non-glare under brim. I love the amount of color options this hat comes with – this hat would look great not only on the golf course but just for everyday use as well.
- Tons of color options
- Super lightweight and breathable mesh material
- UPF 50
- Hook and loop closure on back
- Brim is slightly shorter than other caps
- Large strip of Velcro – hair could get stuck if too much is exposed
TaylorMade Golf Women’s Radar Hat
For a lower price and great looks, this is a basic golf hat that will not disappoint. This hat fits great – it is rounded on top and fits well around your ears. One of my pet peeves is when a hat is too large and goes over your ears; this hat feels really comfortable and fits well. The material is 100% polyester and is your typical ball cap style and feel. There is a moisture wicking fabric around the inside to help keep you dry and cool. There is an adjustable hook and loop closure on the back to tighten or loosen the hat if need be as well. The colors are bright and cheery and you are sure to get some compliments on this attractive hat!
- Adjustable hook and loop closure on back
- Moisture wicking fabric inside to keep you dry
- Bright color options
- TaylorMade branding
- Made with polyester, not mesh or lighter materials
Best Golf Visors:
SAAKA Super Absorbent Visor for Women
For women who like to wear their hair up in a high ponytail or women with thick hair, a visor may be an option you would like. The SAAKA Super Absorbent Visor is crafted with ultra light materials; Viscose from Bamboo and an odor combating spandex microfiber. The material is fantastic at absorbing sweat and keeps any perspiration out of your face.This is a sleek looking option and has a fully adjustable closure system, making this as tight or as loose as it needs to be. The SAAKA visor is comfortable and soft, definitely a top choice in the golf visor market.
- Soft and comfortable
- Extremely absorbent
- Sleek design and colors
- Slightly smaller bill
Callaway Golf Women’s Clip Visor
Many times, when tightening Velcro closures, your hair may get caught and it is a frustration for ladies trying to get their hair up. This option is perfect for avoiding that, with no back closure at all! The visor is constructed with stay-put materials so you won’t have to worry about this visor constantly falling down. It is tight enough to stay in place but not too tight where it is uncomfortable. If you get hot with hats on, but want a lot of sun protection for your face, this is a great choice. There is also a terry cloth sweatband on the inside of the hat which helps absorb any sweat and helps keep it in place on your head.
- Large bill creating lots of sun protection for face
- No Velcro closure, which protects hair
- Terry cloth sweatband inside
- May feel a bit large compared to normal visors and hats
- Potential to slip if it does not properly fit
Final Thoughts
As there are tons of different brands and golf hats on the market, we wanted to do the research for you and list our favorite golf bucket hats, golf hats and golf visors. Our overall top pick is the Titleist Women’s Tour Performance Ball Marker Hat; we love the fit, color options and Marker that’s included.
For the most sun protection, we suggest looking into bucket hats or golf caps. Visors are great for facial protection, but please remember to take care of your scalp if you choose to wear these! Visors are excellent for high ponytails or thick hair where your scalp is not exposed.
Thank you for reading and we hope you love your new golf hat!
Check out our top picks for the Best Men’s Golf Hats for Sun Protection too!