Best Golf Umbrellas for 2023

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Tripsavvy / Joy Merrifield

Golf is a game played outdoors. So the weather, good or bad, is always a factor. But while some players may tuck tail and run in a downpour, other more passionate golfers will continue until the horn blows, signaling real danger (like lightning or severe winds). For those who don't mind hitting the links in wet conditions, having the right gear is vital, and part of that setup is a good golf umbrella. 

For players who haven't invested in one yet, there are a few factors they will want to consider. "What makes a good umbrella is the size of the canopy (the larger, the better), preferably over 60 inches," says Wesley J. Forester, PGA Director of Golf at Reynolds Lake Oconee. A double canopy is also an important feature. "The overlapping canopies allow wind to pass through the umbrella, so it does not collapse," Forester adds. "They reduce the feeling of a parachute as the wind lifts you up."

Materials matter as well. Gregory R. Bisconti, PGA Head Golf Professional at The Saint Andrew's Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, suggests players seek out umbrellas made from lightweight components like fiberglass and nylon. "It's important to keep the weight manageable to carry," he says. 

Because players also need to shade themselves from the sun, Forester and Bisconti advise purchasing an umbrella with good UV protection, UBF 50+ or better. As for care, after using an umbrella in the rain, you'll want to make sure it dries before you put it back in the sleeve and your bag to increase its longevity, according to Forester. Storing the umbrella in that sleeve "prevents rips or tears in the canopy," Bisconti advises.  

Without further ado, here are the best golf umbrellas on the market today.

Best Overall

ShedRain Vortex Vent XL

SheDrain Vortex

SheDrain

What We Like
  • Substantial wind resistance

  • Provides a large area of coverage

What We Don't Like
  • Doesn’t auto-open

  • Slightly on the heavy side

During a round, the wind can present more annoyance than rain. A strong breeze can turn mediocre umbrellas inside out or even yank the umbrella right out of your hand, blowing it down the fairway. So players willing to hit the links during a gale need extra wind protection. The double canopy Shedrain Vortex Vent XL has a solid fiberglass shaft, anti-inversion struts, and energy-absorbing shocks on every rib to keep it stable in windy conditions. The thermoplastic rubber grip is easy to hold and works with most pull carts. The Vortex Vent XL also comes with a matching bungee-lock self-fabric travel case to protect it from tears when it’s nice enough to leave in the bag.

Price at time of publish: $70

Size: 68 inches | Weight: 2.25 pounds

Best for UV Protection

Sun Mountain Auto Umbrella

Sun Mountain Umbrella

Sun Mountain

What We Like
  • Great UV protection 

  • Handle fits well into push carts

What We Don't Like
  • It’s heavier than most

  • The black version only offers 30 UPF protection

The silver version of the Sun Mountain offers 60+ UPF protection. That’s as good as it gets. Plus, the 68-inch diameter is large enough to keep the rain off your head and gear. The auto-open feature allows for one-handed deployment, and the rubber handle is slip-resistant. So it’s easier to hold when conditions get a little sloppy. Plus, that handle fits nicely into the umbrella holder of most push carts, keeping players who enjoy walking a wet round of golf a little dryer. 

Along with the double canopy, which allows for better airflow, the Sun Mountain Umbrella also features a spring that will keep the wind from snapping it inside out for extra protection on blustery days.

Price at time of publish: $65

Size: 68 inches | Weight: 3 pounds

Best Budget

G4Free Automatic Golf Umbrella

G4Free Golf Umbrella

Amazon

What We Like
  • Affordable price point 

  • Double canopy design

What We Don't Like
  • It can be hard to close

Affordable and chalked full of features, the G4 Free is an excellent option for golfers on a budget. Silk-derived, ultra water resistant, 210T pongee fabric is lightweight and offers SPF 50+ protection from the sun. A fiberglass shaft and ribs help keep weight down and provide a stable structure, while a double canopy allows wind to pass through while still keeping the player dry. Players can open the G4 Free with the push of a button, and it comes in more than a dozen color options, so golfers should be able to find a shade that suits them.

Price at time of publish: $24

Size: 62 inches | Weight: 1.55 pounds

Best Tour Style

PXG Dual Canopy Fairway Umbrella

PXG Umbrella

PXG

What We Like
  • Stylish design

  • Good sun protection

  • Excellent coverage

What We Don't Like
  • On the pricey side

For players who want to evoke the swagger of tour pros, the camo design on the PXG Dual Canopy Fairway Umbrella makes a stylish addition to any bag. The 90-thread-count nylon canopy is not just waterproof but fade-proof. PXG applies a SUNBLOK coating to the underside of the umbrella to shelter players from 96 percent of UVA/UBV rays. That coating also helps keep golfers cooler, reducing the temperature by up to 10 degrees. When it starts to blow, a wind-pressure release cord system saves off tearing, and the double fiberglass shaft is sturdy and lightning-resistant. 

Size: 68 inches | Weight: 2.04 pounds

Best for Supporting Your Team

Team Effort Windsheer Lite

Team Effort Umbrella

Golf Galaxy

What We Like
  • Lightweight

  • Sporty look

What We Don't Like
  • Not all teams and schools are available

Many golfers are fans of sports played off the links, and the Team Effort Windsheer Lite umbrella is a fun way to support your team or alma mater while you’re on the course. The umbrella’s 190T nylon construction keeps water out, while two single and six double canopy panels allow the wind to find its way through, preventing inversion. A molded rubber handle makes it easy to grip.

Players can add the Team Effort Windsheer Lite to their setup in various schools and baseball, basketball, football, and hockey teams. So no matter who they root for, fans can cheer on their favorite squad from the fairways.

Price at time of publish: $50

Size: 62 inches | Weight: 1.6 pounds

Best Inverted Design

Shedrain UNBELIEVABRELLA Golf Umbrella

ShedRain Umbrella

ShedRain

What We Like
  • It keeps water from dripping when you close it

  • Good size

What We Don't Like
  • The single canopy doesn’t allow wind through

For those who prefer riding in a cart to walking a round of golf, using an umbrella in a downpour can be challenging. From the seated position, closing the umbrella often leads to drips, drops, and in the worst case streaming water onto players' arms and legs, defeating the umbrella's purpose. The Shedrain UNBELIEVABRELLA closes in the opposite direction, folding the exterior into itself, which keeps water away on closure and funnels it to the ground when you point it down. The umbrella will also stand on its own, so players can put it down easily when it's time to hit their shot.

Price at time of publish: $33

Size: 62 inches | Weight: 2.25 pounds

Best for Wow Factor

Galvin Green Tod Umbrella

Galvin Green Tod Umbrella

Galvin Green

What We Like
  • Rugged construction

  • Stunning design

What We Don't Like
  • Slightly small canopy

Galvin Green makes some of the best rain suits and accessories on the market today. Their Tod umbrella is no exception. The brand gave this 60-inch double canopy model's beefed-up construction, a double layer cover that flexes as wind pressure builds, and a foam-wrapped handle that's easy to hold even when it's pouring.

The umbrella comes in two colors with two eye-popping prints. The blue variation features a lightning storm image underneath, while the black has a vibrant white, blue, red, and black appearance that is more abstract. The shaft features a matrix pattern that fades to black as it moves toward the canopy.

Price at time of publish: $89

Size: 60 inches | Weight: 1.87 pounds

Best for Maximum Coverage

G4Free 72 Inch Huge Golf Umbrella

Umbrella 72 in Huge

Amazon

What We Like
  • Massive 72-inch coverage

  • Good sun protection

What We Don't Like
  • It sticks out of the bag a bit

When golfers play a rainy round with a caddy, they need an umbrella built for two. The G4Free 72 Inch Huge Golf Umbrella gives players six solid feet of coverage, so it’s easy for a pair to huddle underneath. The double canopy design is made from 190T and is UPF 50+ rated, so it protects against rain and wind and offers sun respite. A single button triggers the auto-open functionality. Due to its size, the overall length of the umbrella is nearly 46 inches, so you might not want to keep it in the bag all the time.

Price at time of publish: $47

Size: 72 inches | Weight: 1.98 pounds

Best Splurge

Weatherman The Classic Arnold Palmer Golf Umbrella

Weatherman Umbrella

Weatherman

What We Like
  • Beautiful design

  • Performs well in the wind

  • Good sun protection

What We Don't Like
  • It’s very heavy

The Arnold Palmer multi-color umbrella logo is perhaps the most iconic in all golf. This Weatherman model is not only a stunning tribute to The King and his legacy in the game, but it's also a solid gamer with some excellent features making it well worth the premium price. 

The umbrella auto opens and provides UPF 50+ sun protection. Under the canopy, there is a mesh pocket for storing a scorecard or yardage book, and for those who are accustomed to playing in wet weather, a reinforced silicone rib can handle the weight of a towel to wipe your hands. The brand wind tunnel tests the double canopy umbrella up to 55 miles per hour, though the odds of courses remaining open in those conditions are relatively low.

Price at time of publish: $104

Size: 68 inches | Weight: 2.89 pounds

Best Compact

Weatherman Travel Umbrella

Weatherman Umbrella

Amazon

What We Like
  • Lightweight

  • Available in multiple colors

What We Don't Like
  • Too small to play much golf with

  • A single canopy design won’t vent wind

Honestly, a compact umbrella is only helpful on the course in very light and brief precipitation or for fair-weather golfers to throw up on a quick jaunt back to the clubhouse when abandoning a round.  

But if you just want to add a small umbrella to the bag as a safety blanket, The Weatherman Travel Umbrella is a good choice. The industrial-strength fiberglass frame collapses to 11.8 inches and weighs less than a pound, and the fabric is both lightweight and water-repellent. 

This single canopy model is wind resistant to 45 miles per hour. So if you wanted to continue your round a few holes in some nasty weather, you certainly could.

Price at time of publish: $69

Size: 42 inches | Weight: 0.88 pounds

Best for Increased Visibility

Motocaddy Clearview

Motocaddy Umbrella

Motocaddy

What We Like
  • Clear panels increase visibility 

  • The increased length makes it suitable for taller players

  • Auto-open function

What We Don't Like
  • It’s on the expensive side

  • 55 inches is slightly small

If you’re keeping dry and ducking the wind under an umbrella, it can be hard to see where you’re going, especially as your head gets closer to the top. The Motocaddy Clearview uses see-through panels to allow players to keep an eye on the line to their ball as they stroll down the fairway. Thanks to the auto-open feature, the Motocaddy Clearview can be deployed with one hand. Overall the Motocaddy is 65 millimeters longer than standard golf umbrellas, and that increased length and large handle are significant upgrades for taller players.

Size: 55 inches | Weight: 2.5 pounds

What to Look For in a Golf Umbrella

Compactness

If you have a ton of room in your bag to fit a whole umbrella, that's one thing—but if you're running a little low on space, a compact umbrella is what you'll want. You can find ones that weigh only a pound and fold down to just under a foot long.

Weather

Umbrellas offer more than just rain protection. Some are specially designed to shield you from the wind as well, and if the sun is going to be more of a threat to your well-being on the course, then look for one with UV protection.

Cost

Golf umbrellas can be as expensive as you want them to be—with varying degrees of quality—so it’s good to look at cost-per-use to determine just how much you want to spend. Golf a lot? Go for an umbrella that will hold up. Not so much? A budget option might be your best pick—there’s always the 19th hole if the weather gets awful.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • What is the best size umbrella for golf?

    This is up to personal preference, but above 60 inches is generally a good size for a golf umbrella. Some players may want a larger one to cover a push cart or to walk with a caddy.

  • What are the differences between regular and golf umbrellas?

    Golf umbrellas are generally larger, and most modern golf umbrellas feature a double canopy to prevent the wind from inverting or breaking them.

  • Do pros use golf umbrellas?

    Absolutely! Pros have to compete in all but the worst weather, so generally, they have an umbrella in the bag and use them as protection against rain and sun.

Why Trust TripSavvy

TripSavvy writers are travel experts, which shows in their carefully researched, objective recommendations. While writing these roundups, TripSavvy’s team of writers spend hours reading expert opinions and user reviews. Nicholas McClelland covers various lifestyle topics, and his work has appeared in publications such as InsideHook, Men’s Journal, Fatherly, and TIME. When he’s not in front of a computer, odds are he’s working on his mediocre golf game.

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