Much like its illustrious owner, who spent a remarkable 331 weeks at No.1 in the Official World Golf Rankings during the late 1980’s and early ‘90’s, so the Greg Norman Collection has been a “consistent seller” in green grass shops ever since its’ 1992 global launch.
For Greg Colekessian, Head Golf Professional at The Georgian Bay Club just outside of Collingwood, Ont. Norman has been a reliable, go-to throughout his 11-year tenure, and for his eight years prior to that at The National Golf Club of Canada, in Toronto (where he worked his way up from back room staffer, to associate pro).
“There has always been a certain clientele who like it,” he says. “It’s a classic cut. It has a certain fit — it’s comfortable. And, it’s good quality for what you’re paying.”
At his shop, the Norman polos have been so consistent from year to year, that, “we don’t have to put them on sale.”
“(And) it’s easier to stock when you know what you’re going to get. It’s going to be a good quality cut,” adds the Professional Golf Management Program graduate from Georgian College. “We generally order 60 tops a year, and 100 bottoms. We’ve been doing that since we started.”
“And from the retailer’s perspective, the relationship on our programs is great.”
The Norman brand has been built on offering stylish, technologically innovative wear, showcased on tour by ambassadors like Charley Hoffman, Scott McCarron, and Morgan Pressel. Such breakthroughs include the PlayDry moisture management system, Solar XP (chemical-free, 50+ extreme sun protection), the proprietary ML75 fabric (with PlayDry, Solar XP, and ultra comfort), and the more recent Weatherknit system (offering Sun Protection, Heat Protection, Rain Protection, Wind Protection, and Heat Retention technologies).
That latter feature comes in particularly handy at the par 71, 7122-yard Georgian Bay Club — set in the scenic Blue Mountains — where this season’s hottest item was the lined, ¼-zip Weatherknit sweater, which is, “engineered to trap air in for additional warmth.”
“With the cold we get off Georgian Bay, people generally come to our club underdressed,” chuckles the 38-year-old father of three. “Golf shirts aren’t the necessity people come in for. We’re usually 5 to 6 degrees cooler.”
“And this is not just meant to be worn on the golf course,” he continues. “It looks like a sweater, but it actually acts like a jacket. You can wear it to work (or socially).”
For versatile and performance layering, the Greg Norman Collection also offers Fleeces, Vests, Mocks, Long Sleeve Polos, Rain Jackets, Hooded Jackets, and more.
Meanwhile, the sharp look, high quality, and breathability of its’ ML75 stretch pants and shorts made them the chosen garment for all back-shop staff at The Georgian Bay Club this summer.
