Cotton blends, a brilliant color palette, plus new layers and pants highlight PING’s Spring/Summer 2019 Collection
Plain and simple, PING is a golf company. From the time Karsten Solheim created the 1-A putter in 1959 to the G410 driver of today, the brand has lived on the cutting edge of technology. Rightfully so, most golfers associate PING with innovative equipment. However, the brand has made strong inroads on the soft goods side over the last few years by bringing that same thirst for innovation to its apparel collections.
PING Karsten III Polo in Iron Red 
PING Sonoran Polo in White/Deep Sea Coral; Players Pant in Black
As we look at PING’s SS’19 Collection, four big stories emerge:
1. New fabrics that combine comfort and performance
2. A striking color palette that is both stylish and masculine
3. New layering pieces for the variety of Spring conditions
4. A new, lightweight 5-pocket pant
Let’s dig in.
New Fabrics
One of the biggest trends in golf fashion this year is the return of cotton. Not those heavy 100% cotton shirts that quickly absorb moisture and never let it go, though. We’re talking about blends fabricated from the perfect cocktail of cotton, technical polyester, and a stretchy fiber like Lycra.
Why are blends now the bomb? Well, after years of going all-in on the tech craze, most of us have realized that nothing feels quite like a classic cotton polo. Besides, those shiny performance polos just don’t work off the course.
This has sent many golf apparel brands scouring the Earth in search of the Holy Grail of fabrics; one that performs as well as a gym shirt but looks and feels as good as a classic cotton polo. PING’s solution to this performance vs. comfort riddle is the new SensorCool Cotton that is engineered with CoolMax. SensorCool Cotton brings that soft, luxurious feel that we all want from cotton and combines it with top-shelf performance.
We can’t think of a better way to showcase this cotton performance blend than with the Karsten III Polo. A classic chest-pocket polo was Karsten Solheim’s signature look and the Karsten III is a stylish tribute to the PING founder. With an updated pocket design, a thin 4-button placket, concealed button-down collar, and marl texture, the Karsten III is a true modern classic.
Joining the Karsten III in the SensorCool Cotton range are the Raymond Polo and Herman Pullover. Both possess that soft natural hand feel that will have you reaching for them round after round. The mix of classic good looks and high-performance blends allows them to easily transition from the course to the back patio of the clubhouse for a post-round beverage.
Striking Color Palette
Season after season PING turns out many of our favorite color stories. Its colors are masculine and easy for guys to wear. Plus, many of the colorways for one color story can easily be paired with those in another story. As a result, PING’s pieces are simple to display and merchandise in pro shop settings.
For SS/19, PING didn’t go far for inspiration. The Phoenix-based brand looked north to the picturesque natural landscape of Sedona. The area’s unique red sandstone formations were the muse for the intense reds and oranges in the Iron Red color story.
Blues look great on everyone and never go out of style. Giving blues extra cache this Spring is the fact that navy is the color of the season. PING gives us not one, but two color stories filled with cool hues. The Sky Azure story pays tribute to the high desert’s brilliant skies by mixing and matching navy blues with lighter shades. Splashes of bright yellow capture Sedona’s stunning golden sunsets and are woven into the Deep Water color story.
Layers for Any Day
Mother Nature tends to be a bit moody in the Spring. Warm and sunny one minute, cool and windy the next. Luckily, PING has a variety of layering pieces to take on any condition. The Elden, with a soft waffle-like texture, is the smart choice for those cool early morning rounds. It has already become one of my favorites this season. The perfect mid-layer, you can slip the Elden over a polo shirt or layer it under a technical vest in a coordinating color for extra warmth. PING’s SensorWarm technology allows the Elden to trap warmth without added weight. At the same time, the Polyester/Elastane blend permits heat to escape as the temperature rises.
When Mother Nature turns on the fan, reach in the bag for the Vermillion, a contemporary interpretation of the ol’ golf windbreaker. In high school, I remember gearing up in one of those nylon windbreakers that were noisy and blocked as much wind as a driving range net. Looking back at it, I wish I had the Vermillion. The outer shell is soft and flexible, but sturdy enough to block those harsh Spring breezes.
My favorite feature on the Vermillion is the elastic cuffs. I really dislike having material near my hands and wrists while making a swing. I find it distracting. The elastic cuffs make it easy to roll up the sleeves and the gripper elements help the sleeves to stay in place on the forearm. Designers added the same combination of elastic and gripper elements on the hem to prevent cold air and wind from sneaking up the jacket.
Players 5-Pocket Pant
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. How many times have you heard that? It was also my first thought when I heard PING was retiring its Lennox Pant in favor of the new Players Pant. The Lennox was one of my favorites over the past few seasons. Everything about it worked for me—style, fit, performance, colors, and even the gripper tape around the inner waistband and back right pocket. Needless to say, I was a bit apprehensive about giving the Players Pant a go.
Thankfully with the Players Pant, PING kept all the things that were great about Lennox. The same fit, same casual 5-pocket style, same classic colors, and same gripper tape. The one big improvement with the Players Pant is the fabric. Not that the fabric on the Lennox was heavy, but the Poly/Elastane blend on the Players takes lightweight and flexibility to new levels. Looks like I’ll need to replace my collection of Lennox Pants with the Players in every colorway.
Ping has come full circle. Their pieces are now more polished and look great.