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The morning tee time is booked. The boat leaves the marina at two. Dinner is somewhere with a view of the harbor and a wine list longer than the scorecard. The only question left is what goes in the bag, and the answer is simpler than it looks: a handful of pieces that move from the first tee to the swim platform to a candlelit table without anyone noticing you changed.
The short answer
Pack a tight capsule in navy, white and sand: two or three performance polos, one linen shirt, tailored shorts, swim shorts that pass for regular shorts, light trousers, a weatherproof midlayer, golf shoes, and a pair of non-marking deck shoes or loafers. A smart version costs about $900 to $1,300. A premium version runs $2,000 to $3,000. And if you want the full Riviera treatment in Italian cashmere and linen, plan on $5,000 and up.
The ten-piece capsule
- Two or three performance polos. Technical fabric for the round, a clean collar for the deck. White and navy are the workhorses.
- One linen or cotton-linen shirt. Your evening piece, and the cover-up over swim shorts at lunch.
- Tailored golf shorts. Stretch, a 7 to 9 inch inseam, and a color that matches everything.
- Swim shorts that look like shorts. A tailored swim short with a proper waistband works from the swim platform to the beach club.
- Light trousers or chinos. For dinner ashore and for the occasional club that does not allow shorts.
- A weatherproof midlayer. The breeze at sea is cooler than the forecast suggests, and evenings on deck can turn chilly.
- Golf shoes. Spikeless if you want to wear them to lunch afterward.
- Deck shoes or soft loafers. Clean, light, non-marking soles. More on this below.
- Polarized sunglasses. They cut glare off both the water and the green.
- A soft duffel. Crews prefer soft-sided bags that fold away; hard suitcases are awkward to store on board.
Picks by budget
Prices are approximate and change with the season and sales. Check the retailer before you buy.
| Piece | Smart | Premium | Top shelf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polo | TravisMathew, Johnnie-O or Southern Tide, about $90 to $115 | G/FORE, about $175 to $225 | Loro Piana at MR PORTER, about $525 to $900 in cotton or linen |
| Swim shorts | Southern Tide, about $100 (often on sale for less) | Vilebrequin, about $285 to $400 | Orlebar Brown Bulldog at MR PORTER, about $395 to $445 |
| Midlayer | Southern Tide or Johnnie-O quarter-zip, about $125 to $150 | Helly Hansen Crew Midlayer jacket, about $185 | Loro Piana or Brunello Cucinelli knit, $1,500 and up |
| Deck shoes | Sperry Authentic Original, about $100 to $110 | Leather deck shoe or driving moc, about $200 to $350 | Loro Piana suede loafers at MR PORTER, about $1,150 to $1,250 |
| Golf shoes | Spikeless performance shoe, about $100 to $150 | G/FORE, about $200 to $300 | G/FORE limited editions and leather styles, $300 and up |
Shop the picks: Southern Tide polos → · Johnnie-O polos → · TravisMathew polos → · G/FORE → · Orlebar Brown at MR PORTER → · Vilebrequin at MR PORTER → · Helly Hansen Crew Midlayer → · Sperry Authentic Original →
On the course
Most private and resort clubs still expect a collared shirt and tailored shorts or trousers, so the polo stays your anchor. Choose a technical knit that dries fast; you may go from the 18th green straight to the tender. Keep the palette quiet. A white polo with navy shorts looks right at Pebble Beach, in Cabo and on the back of a Sunseeker.
On deck
This is where most first-timers get it wrong. Many yachts ask guests to go barefoot or wear only clean, non-marking soles on board, because hard soles and grit can scratch teak and gloss finishes, and wet decks are slippery. Golf shoes never come aboard. Bring a pair of deck shoes you only wear on the boat, and expect to leave them in a basket by the passerelle as often as not.
For the day itself, swim shorts and a linen shirt cover almost everything. Add the midlayer when the boat picks up speed or the sun drops. If you are new to chartering, our first yacht charter guide covers the rest of the onboard etiquette.
Evenings ashore
Linen shirt, light trousers, soft loafers, no socks. That is the uniform from Saint-Tropez to Nantucket, and it is forgiving: a little wrinkled linen reads as relaxed rather than careless. If the dinner is at a club, carry a light knit in place of a blazer.
The Riviera Wardrobe
Head to toe at MR PORTER
For the trip where everything should feel effortless and expensive, build the whole capsule from one place. MR PORTER carries the quiet-luxury names that own this look: a Loro Piana or Brunello Cucinelli polo for the round, Vilebrequin or Orlebar Brown for the water, Brunello Cucinelli linen trousers for dinner, and Loro Piana suede loafers that go from tender to terrace.
Expect to spend $5,000 to $8,000 for the full set. In return you get fabrics that breathe in the heat, pack flat, and still look right years from now.
FAQ
Can I wear golf shoes on a yacht?
No. Spikes and hard rubber soles can mark teak and gloss finishes. Change into deck shoes or go barefoot before you board, and keep the golf shoes in a shoe bag.
Do I need a jacket for a summer charter?
Bring one light, weatherproof midlayer. Wind on the water makes it feel cooler than the forecast, especially at speed and after sunset.
What kind of luggage should I bring?
A soft duffel. Storage on board is tight, and soft bags fold away where hard cases will not.
What colors work best for golf and boating?
Navy, white, sand and soft blues or greens. Everything mixes, light colors stay cool in the sun, and the whole bag works with fewer pieces.
Next steps
- Planning the boat side? Start with how much a yacht charter costs.
- First time on a charter? Read your first yacht charter, step by step.
- Keeping your swing sharp before you go? See the best home golf simulators by budget.