Back in 2019, I was asked to sit on a golf fashion panel at the PGA Show. It was during the absolute height of the slim-fit era. At one point, the moderator asked what golf fashion would look like in five years, and I blurted out, “Pleated pants will make their return to the fairways.” A nervous laughter ran through the audience as most didn’t know if I was trolling everyone in attendance or just delirious from walking the show floor for hours.
Needless to say, I was never invited back to that panel, and my prediction turned out to be a couple of years early. But here we are in 2026. Pleats are officially back, and honestly, they are a breath of fresh air. Their comeback has less to do with nostalgia and more to do with the natural rhythm of fashion. These shifts are often so subtle that you barely notice them happening in real time.
Andrew Redington
We saw it with slim-fit silhouettes as golf went from oversized pleated khakis to flared and boot-cut styles before straight-leg cuts tightened everything up. Eventually, pants become aggressively tapered, with hems gripping the ankles and calves. That performance-driven look had a strong run, but now it feels restrictive, both physically and stylistically.
Fashion works in cycles, and roughly every couple of decades, the pendulum swings back. This is exactly what’s happening now as wider cuts, fuller drapes, and pleats are part of the broader reset toward ease, proportion, and flow.
Of course, not all pleats hit the same. The number of pleats completely changes the look and feel of a trouser. Single pleats use one fold on each side of a pant. This is the cleanest, most flattering option for most guys. Double pleats add a second fold, creating more shape and flow through the leg, especially on roomier cuts with a softer drape. Triple pleats take things to the extreme, with three folds that build maximum volume through the hips and thighs.
Bettmann
MORE: The biggest style moves from the PGA Championship
Ironically, pleats were never originally about style. They were all about function from the 1930s to the 1950s. They gave guys room to walk, sit, and swing comfortably while still looking sharp and tailored. Then, performance fabrics arrived in the 2000s and solved comfort through stretch instead of shape. Pleats disappeared as flat-front pants took over in the athleisure era.
Now, golf fashion is rediscovering that silhouette matters just as much as fabric technology. Pleats allow designers to soften the line of the pant and relax the cut without losing the polish. Higher rises are also making a comeback, which shifts the entire silhouette upward while making the proportions feel cleaner and more balanced.
Jamie Squire
The interesting thing about fashion trends is that you don’t have to like them or follow them, but you also can’t deny their existence. This is where my internal struggle takes place. Even as I write this, I’m not sure I’m ready for pleats to come back. I still remember the late ‘90s and early 2000s when triple-pleat khakis became the symbol of everything wrong with golf fashion.
However, this new wave hits different. Today’s pleated trousers borrow more from the elegance of the Hogan era than the oversized excess of the turn of the century.
No matter where you are on the scale of accepting the return of pleats, here are five options to help your on-course wardrobe evolve in a new direction.
Nike Par Pants 
David Cannon
Mike Ehrmann
Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka aren’t guys who chase trends and overhaul their closets on a whim. Instead, they make small moves that signal where things are headed, and they’ve recently worked Nike Par Pants into their rotations.
These are an easy gateway into the world of pleats without feeling like a huge departure from where you’ve been living. The single pleat does just enough work to add interest and movement while keeping the overall look clean and familiar.
The fit is where it clicks, though. A subtle carrot silhouette gives more room through the hips and thighs, then tapers clean through the leg. It feels like a natural progression from the slim-fit pants you’ve been wearing for years, rather than a hard pivot. This is the easiest way to bring pleats back into the conversation.
Lululemon Daydrift Relaxed-Fit Pleated Trousers 
Ben Jared
Nobody has nudged the golf style conversation forward in 2026 quite like Tommy Fleetwood. No endorsement deals, and no forced uniforms. It has just been a steady rotation of smart picks, from collectible course merch to pieces that actually shift the silhouette. Lately, one pair of pants keeps showing up, though.
Lululemon’s Daydrift Relaxed-Fit Pleated Trouser has become Fleetwood’s go-to. It matches his whole approach right now. Relaxed, confident, and dialed in without trying too hard. The single pleat opens things up through the hips, while the straight leg lets the fabric fall naturally. This is a pant that moves as you move.
The fabric does a lot of the talking, too. Lightweight, performance-driven, and designed to drape instead of cling. Then there’s the wide, stretchy waistband with an internal drawstring that quietly eliminates the need for a belt. The result is clean from top to bottom, with nothing breaking up the line.
Pro tip: A wider leg trouser like the Daydrift begs for a fuller break and chunkier shoe to anchor the look.
Johnnie Izquierdo
Keith Mitchell is another player who has risen the ranks for best-dressed lists by marching to the beat of his own fashion drummer. As a general style rule, if Keith is doing something, you should be doing it, too, and he keeps grabbing these Pleated Dress Trousers from Sid Mashburn.
These pants bring a style and sophistication back to the course that we haven’t seen for a couple of decades. At the same time, they are a bit more modern than whatever your associations might be with single-pleat pants from yesteryear. They’re more “southern gentleman” than “dad at graduation,” with a slim cut and elasticized tabs at the sides instead of belt loops.
You also won’t find any polyesters here. Just 100% wool. At a time when texture is king, this classic high-twist wool shows why so many performance fabrics are falling flat these days and losing the texture battle.
Take note, these come with a 37.5 unfinished hem, so you’ll need to get them tailored, and that’s a good thing. When you do, ask for a cuff, just like Keith Mitchell utilizes. Also, given the slimmer cut of these pants, a shorter break is the play here.
Late Nine Double Pleat Shorts 
Late Nine might be a new brand to the golf fashion scene, but it is already showing that it belongs. Tommy Fleetwood pulling up to Augusta in the Stockholm label’s ribbed sweater vests and textured knit polos put it on the map. But the tops are only part of the story.
The brand just dropped a range of double-pleat pants and shorts. The Bermuda-length shorts take a classic look and clean it up. Double pleats up front, a straight leg, and a silhouette that feels relaxed but still pulled together. Think more refined than retro. The lightweight cotton twill wears easier than you’d expect in warmer weather. It’s breathable, durable, and comfortable enough to handle the long days on the course and beyond.
Pair these with a generously cut cotton pique polo, and you have a fit that is easy, elevated, and built to move between settings.
Manors Recycled Greenskeeper Trouser 
These pants epitomize where golf style is headed. They take cues from traditional grounds crew uniforms and rework them into something that feels contemporary, wearable, and a little more fashion-forward than your standard tech chinos. It’s that blend of heritage and progression that really gives them an edge.
The fit is the first thing that stands out. There’s more drape, more attitude, and a lot more versatility. At the same time, they don’t sacrifice the performance needed on the course. The recycled stretch fabric brings weather resistance and mobility, but is packaged in a way that doesn’t scream performance wear.
What makes them hit right now is how they tap into bigger trends. Workwear influence, relaxed tailoring, and sustainability are all having a moment in golf fashion right now, and these pants check all the boxes without feeling forced. You can lean into a polished look by wearing them with a knit polo, or you can go more casual with a wind jacket or hoodie.
MORE: The best men’s golf shoes of 2026
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
