The sport of golf has changed dramatically over the past decade. Golfers are now athletes, putting in as much time in the gym as they do on the range. Younger generations, inspired by Tiger Woods, are making their mark in the sport and showing off their skills as well as personal style. Helping to facilitate this change in the sport is Nike.
To help grow the game and cater to this new generation and younger audience, they introduced their Nike Golf Club Collection last year, as well as lifestyle items adapted to golf, such as the Nike Golf Flyknit Chukka, Nike Women’s Blazer Golf, Jordan Flight Runner Golf and the Jordan Trainer ST Golf. For 2016, they’ve released their “Enemies of the Course” pack through their Nike Golf Club Collection.
Before the sun rises, before any clubs are removed from their covers, before practice swings are taken and tees are placed in the ground, greenskeepers tirelessly labor to prepare the course for play. When a sprinkler line breaks or a clump of weeds threatens to invade the fairway, they quietly work to ensure the next tee time is uninterrupted. The Enemies of the Course pack pays homage to these unsung heroes of the game via a custom print created in collaboration with artist Michelle Morin. Combining the motif with street-style influences, the collection introduces a range of course-ready looks.
Depicted in the print are more than 15 varieties of plants and animals — the various enemies that greenskeepers combat on a daily basis as they keep the courses in the best condition possible to allow golfers to focus on their game. Enemies included in the print are snakes, geese, deer, dandelions, one-leaf clovers and an alligator.
“Once I nailed down which plants and animals I wanted to include, I was able to play around with the color and pattern,” Morin explains. “I altered the scale of some of the plants to give the finished piece a more imaginary narrative. My goal was to create a pattern that allowed the viewer to get lost in the detail and that brings your eye in and out of the composition, so with every glance you see something new.”
Also featured in the collection are lifestyle-inspired silhouettes, such as the raglan polo, fleece cardigan, coach’s jacket and selvedge pant, designed for off-course style with on-course functionality. A bucket hat and an AW84 are available in both black and the iconic Enemies of the Course print. The Enemies of the Course pack is available now at nike.com and select retailers.
Some extra products that we came across from Nike Golf Japan included one of Nike’s most iconic designs, the Air Force One, adapted for golf. Check out the photos below of the Lunar Force One golf shoe. Synthetic leather is used for the upper of the shoe and provides durability and stability. A full-length Lunarlon midsole is also featured to give the golfer the cushioning that they need on the golf course. Lastly, a “hybrid-style” rubber outsole is used to provide stability and grip throughout a golf swing. Take a look.
Updated pairs of the Nike Golf Lunar Mont Royal and Lunar Waverly shoes also made an appearance on Nike Golf Japan. The Lunar Mont Royal looks exceptionally clean in this all-white offering. The shoe has a classic slim silhouette and lightweight Lunarlon midsole features. The Lunar Mont Royal combines synthetic leather and mesh to provide durability, breathability and comfort. Lunarlon cushioning adds to the comfort of the shoe while a waffle-pattern outsole enhances stability and traction.
The Lunar Waverly combines Nike’s Flywire and Lunarlon technology. This provides excellent cushioning and a very true fit. The shoe uses premium leather as well as suede in its construction. Flywire cables integrate with the laces for a more stable fit, while Lunarlon cushioning adds to the overall comfort of the shoe. Similar to the Lunar Mont Royal, the Lunar Waverly also uses a waffle-pattern outsole to enhance stability and traction.
Hopefully, these offerings from Nike Golf Japan make it over to North America – we’re REALLY excited for the Lunar Force 1’s!
Source: Nike Inc.
