GOLF EQUIPMENT

Sun Mountain Monsoon Jacket: Because Golf is Played Outdoors

By Shane Sharp, Senior Editor

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 25, 2002) -- Missoula, Montana based golf apparel company Sun Mountain's stated goal is to increase the number of available playing days for the recreational golfer by providing comfortable, fashionable golf gear that looks the elements in the eye and spits in their general direction.

What's better than that?

For over 20 years, Sun Mountain has fashioned some of the industry's lightest, toughest golf bags. They have unabashedly targeted the fitness minded player who prefers to walk -- a philosophy that trickles down from the company's belief that golf is not just an elitist game for cigar smoking couch potatoes, but a legitimate endurance sport for the athletically gifted (or challenged.)

More recently, Sun Mountain has emerged as golf's most practical producer of outerwear, not to mention some of its best looking garb. One such item is the company's Monsoon Jacket, a sporty, non-traditional pullover that will appeal to golfers in windy, wet climates.

"For this outwear collection, we searched the world to find the best component parts," said Don Gaumer, President of Sun Mountain Outerwear. ""The ideal outerwear for golf would regulate body temperature, make you impervious to wind and rain, and move with you like skin."

And this is some good-looking skin. The Monsoon Jacket comes in four color combinations, navy/bonfire, moss/ember, cobblestone/kayak, and bonfire/stone, and converts to a half sleeve shell should the weather clear up for you. The comfort range on the jacket is listed as 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so the Monsoon is perfect for spring and fall tee times along the east coast, summers in the mountains, or pretty much anytime of day or year in Seattle. The range of motion rating is 90 percent, meaning the Monsoon will allow you to perform the majority of the movements required for a full golf swing.

Suggested retail price for the Monsoon is $106, and sizes range from M-XXL. The jacket is rated as 100 percent wind and waterproof and even comes with a one-year waterproof guarantee. The side pocket contains a hidden extra - an underrated sunglass cleaner that doesn't smear or smudge.

Did You Know?

Its easy to catch the pros on television wearing their Nike, Callaway, Titleist and Taylor Made gear, but guess what line of apparel they break out when the weather turns sour? Sun Mountain is the exclusive, officially licensed supplier of performance outerwear to the PGA, Senior PGA, and Buy.com Tours and the official outerwear of both the American and International President's Cups teams.

For the Sun Mountain retailer nearest you, call Sun Mountain at 800-227-9226, or visit them online at www.sunmountain.com.

Shane Sharp is a Contributing Writer with TravelGolf.com. Contact him at sharp@travelgolf.com