As seasons change, companies fill golfers' new wardrobe needs

This is the heart of the fall golf season in many parts of the country, when the leaves begin to turn, there's an overnight chill lingering in the early morning air and a sunny day can present a very pleasant golfing opportunity.

"I love playing golf in the fall," said a mid-handicap amateur from the Northeast. "For some reason, the courses become a little less crowded. The colors, in our part of the country, are exhilarating. The falling leaves are only a slight bother. And hopefully by now, my game is at its best."

FootJoys' DryJoys Tour Collection wind jacket

For many golfers, the fall season also means it is time for a slight change in equipment. It's time to pull out the sweater vests, the inner-lined zip-up and pullover jackets, the long-sleeve sweaters, the turtle neck wind shirts -- or to go shopping for them. Even for golfers in the southern climates, the approaching winter will mean a similar change in gear on many a golfing day.

A cruise through the racks of fall and winter apparel on display in golf shops nationwide reveals an abundance of outerwear to meet numerous needs. Along with a wide selection of colors and styles, today's outerwear also is infused with considerable technology designed to help us weather the elements.

"We expend enormous energy to uncover new performance-enhancing technologies," said a rep for Adidas Golf. "Technologies that support your body, enhance your strength and speed, extend your endurance, wick moisture to keep you cool, stop wind and cold to keep you warm, and block rain to keep you dry."

Here's a selected canvass of what's new in fall and winter golfing apparel:

Adidas: Among the many offerings in Adidas' Elements collection, there are long-sleeve Climaproof wind shirts with a choice of V-neck or half-zip. These lightweight pullovers feature a flat front with elasticized back waistband and on-seam zip pockets and are wind and water resistant. Color choices include khaki, red, navy, black, true blue and more. Suggested retail price is $55 for the V-neck, $60 for the half-zip.

For vests, Adidas offers either a Climaproof wind half-zip stretch vest or Climaproof wind/warm vest. Both have on-seam zip pockets. List price for the wind vest, which has a polyester shell and mesh lining, is $70. For the wind/warm vest, which is 94 percent polyester with a Lycra sanded jersey and microfleece backing, it's is $110. With long sleeves and a full-zip, a Climaproof wind/warm jacket has a list price of $130.

Much of the Climaproof collection also is available in women's styles and sizes.

Ahead: The AHD Convertible Vest is 95 percent polyester and 5 percent spandex, and easily converts into a long-sleeve jacket. The item has a two-way full zipper, on-seam zippered pockets and four-way stretch for flexibility. A seam-sealed hooded jacket shell stores in the bottom of the vest. List price in a choice of colors is $110.

Ashworth: A designer of both on-course golf apparel and golf-inspired lifestyle sportswear, Ashworth offers both men's and women's fall 2008 collections featuring the latest in innovative, blended fabrics, plus natural and organic fabrics.

"To me, the fabric is 90 percent of the design effort," said John Ashworth, company founder and design consultant, in a release about the new lines.

Various new men's categories include Third Groove Performance fabrics, EZ Tech Hi-Def 100-percent Luxury Cotton, environmentally friendly Ashworth Organics and young-minded ASHW33.