Does a waterproof golf hoodie really work?

An annoying part of summer golf in the UK is those inevitable fast-moving showers of rain that soak you to the skin before you have time to scramble for your waterproofs.

When the temperature is warm and muggy, you don’t want to play in waterproofs, as most of them, despite the very best of modern technology, make you too hot inside.

And the last thing you want is an umbrella, which in my experience produces an arm ache, a wet glove, and directs water down the back of your neck and also into the top of your golf bag.

So many people resort to pulling their waterproofs on and off repeatedly during a round.

Well, I have found solutions, and I can’t sing their praises enough.

Last year I was delighted with the unique Bounce fully waterproof shorts made by the Swedish golf apparel maker, Abacus. I tested them out in the sweltering heat of the Arizona desert to assert their breathability as well as soaking them under a water fountain to see if they lived up to the promise of being truly waterproof.

Now I have gone a step further and paired them with Abacus’s brilliant Bounce waterproof hoodie at my home course Hallamshire, the exposed moorland/heathland course in Sheffield well known for giving golfers a battering that the worst of Pennine weather can wreak upon them.

The result has been an outstanding success; I’m fully waterproof - dry and cool at the same time in the summer warmth even if it rains.

I could never understand why golf waterproof jackets don’t generally have a hood. This one is designed to ensure vision is not impeded and the four-way stretch ensures you can swing freely. And you don’t get water down the back of your neck when in use.

On Test: The Abacus Bounce Waterproof Hoodie

The three-layer fabric is fully waterproof designed to keep out rain, yet is breathable to allow moisture out keeping golfers both dry and cool.

It is very soft to the touch, extremely lightweight, and very flexible.

The hood is adjustable to provide a good tight fit and ensure the jacket looks as stylish as it is comfortable.

An unobtrusive Abacus logo is featured on the back, so those doubting its suitability as "golfing attire" have nothing to hang their hat on.

Horizon blue was the colour of my choice, which works well with the navy waterproof shorts and also navy Abacus putter trousers when needing a bit of warmth rather than waterproofing. Both are well made and very smart.

I don’t feel in any way hindered in the swing wearing this jacket; it is so light and stretchy and easy to pull on.

I’ve caught a few downpours already wearing this, and it worked as well as water off a duck’s back, drying out very quickly when the sun came back out.

While it’s reasonably warm to wear, I’d say it is better suited to summer sharp showers than prolonged winter downpours when the temperature is low.

Verdict: Should You Consider Buying?

Abacus is a premium brand with prices to match, but its quality, comfort, and style are undeniable. This hoodie allows for a new level of comfort and performance and is particularly well suited to the vagaries of a typical British spring, summer, and autumn.