The quiet clothing brand has an unexpected presence at the US Open

Dunning Golf is an under-the-radar apparel company that focuses on the marriage between material technology and style. It’s not a product every golfer can honestly say they’re thinking about, and it’s usually reserved for your local country club store.

However, thanks to Russell Henley, Dunning is thrown into the spotlight.

I had the opportunity to visit Dunning last fall when I started in GOLF. I’ve gotten to know their team quite a bit, especially Dunning Creative Director Omar Jermaine, who is not only one of the funnest people I’ve ever been around, but has a unique ability to talk about material technology. One of the things I connected to was this little marketing cube that Omar has in his office with the word graphene on it. Graphene is a very unusual material that has been used in other golf carts before, so it piqued my interest. At the PGA Show, I had my friend Cordie Walker talk to Omar about this.

The use of graphene is just one example of how Dunning’s team is distinguishing itself as a valuable technology product, not just another commodity. And they are very specific about how they test the product. Two of my best friends, Hannah Gregg and Fredrik Lindblom, have been Dunning ambassadors for several years now, and it was my first real introduction to the brand. They spoke highly of Dunning, and their advice on trying on Dunning pants and shorts was among the best I’ve ever received.

Signing an apparel contract is a big deal for professional golfers. Being comfortable on the golf course as an athlete can be a challenge, but that’s in Dunning’s DNA. They test their product on the course with athletes. They fit clothes using sports models who can give feedback on their performance before they are even tested on things, and listen to their trained staff when they are given feedback.

If you look across Dunning’s line, you can see this promotion of athleticism and technology everywhere. From the “shops in” rain gear to their breathable sweat wicking polo, it’s easy to feel comfortable on the trail with Dunning gear. As a side note, they also do garment-specific measurements. This is key for someone like me because I often find myself having to order different sizes even for the same products. Polos are usually medium, and quarter-zips can often be large. However, with Dunning, all my stuff is just work. Materials intended to be layers are measured in the same way, and materials intended to be in contact with the skin are measured as such. It’s a small thing, but it makes the shopping process so much easier.

With Russell Henley breaking into the top five in the Official World Golf Rankings, Dunning found himself in a new place. Most professional shops ask to inspect the gear. The Dunning team continues to push the boundaries of material technology and players are starting to take notice. Russell himself was featured in a quick social media post the other day, and his general ethos is that he feels free and uninhibited on the golf course. That’s a sentiment shared by fellow travel experts Michael Kim and Michael Brennan.

Another important aspect of Dunning is how comfortable the product can be. Golf apparel is very understated. It’s traditional, but athletic. It’s professional, but not scary. They have everything from your typical weekend warrior outfit to a cashmere sweater that you can wear to a fancy dinner, and it all looks good on anyone. No loud patterns that match your personality, and no crazy colors that take liquid courage to wear on the golf course. Nothing screams “look at me.” Dunning lets your golf and your attitude define their clothing. I like to call it “Athletic Sophistication.”

As Jermaine said to me, “You can stand out without being loud.”

Dunning Golf Player Fit 5-Pocket Golf Pant

Our Player Fit Woven Pant has been repeatedly voted the best technical golf pant and is now available in an updated 5-Pocket style. The detailed focus on fit, playability, and performance is what sets the Player Fit 5-Pocket Golf Pant apart from the rest.

Dunning also has a unique tour staff on the PGA Tour, most notably the unique personalities of Henley and Kim. Henley is probably what you would consider a typical Dunning ambassador. A quiet man who doesn’t make a lot of noise or ruffle feathers but looks good in traditional clothes and lets his golf do the talking. Having quietly moved into the top five in the world, you can see him gaining confidence and expressing his emotions in victory. Henley’s personality is a classic example of a traditional style athlete who understands that his clothes are something else; it doesn’t have to be a big statement.

“Dunning has a long relationship with Russ, so we’ve had a chance to watch him grow and step up, and what he’s done this past year is amazing to watch. He’s a dedicated, driven guy, and his game shows,” Jermaine said.

Michael Kim, on the other hand, appeared to outshine Max Homa as the weekend’s hero favorite followed in the X. He’s almost a tour guide for the average golfer. He always gives details that sound like you’re talking to your friends in your homework, and he lets his personality be the star of the show. On the first day of the 2026 US Open, he even made a nice crack with a fog delay.

Like Henley, he believes in the old-fashioned way of dressing, but he understands the need for clothes that will perform as he climbs the ranks of the PGA Tour. Kim has said in videos on social media that she likes to strike a balance between traditional style and performance, and that Dunning can do both. She’s also a big fan of Dunning’s hoodies, which have become staples in my closet.

You can see me wearing different hoodies in several of our YouTube videos, including my favorite for cooler fall temperatures, the Player Tech hoodie.

When asked about Kim, Jermaine expressed similar sentiments with his candor and ease with his audience.

“Michael reminds us of the good in social media – expanding who and what you know, and not always being critical. He is a unicorn, a player who is not afraid to give you a window into his world as a professional athlete, with good and bad. His honesty and his sense of humor are very open and relatable, he is an easy root to follow and he knows what a player should play.”

I haven’t fully delved into the world of apparel and soft goods, but it’s a natural extension of being a mechanical geek. The clothes we wear on the course are just as important as the golf ball we play or the shaft we put in our driver. The ability to feel comfortable, athletic and mobile on the golf course means everything. It’s very easy to lose that confidence when you’re worried about what you’re wearing. In my eyes, Dunning apparel checks all the boxes for doing something unique in the space: combining technology, comfort and classic style on the golf course.