So, I was watching some golf, you know, and Bryson DeChambeau’s hat kept catching my eye. That flat-brim thing, usually with a massive logo. I thought to myself, “Okay, that’s a statement.” Not sure if it was a good one, but it was definitely a look.
I figured, why not? Let’s try it. So, my “practice” for the week became finding and then actually wearing a hat like that. Not because I suddenly thought I’d start hitting bombs like him, but just to see what the fuss was about, or if it felt any different.
First step, getting one. You’d think it’s easy, right? Just a hat. But no. Trying to find one that looked similar, without being a blatant knock-off or costing a fortune, took a bit of digging. They’re either sold out, or there are like a dozen slightly different versions. I just wanted a plain, flat-brim cap, maybe a bit sporty. Finally found something that fit the bill.
Then came the wearing part. I put it on. Felt a bit weird, I gotta say. I’m more of a traditional curved-brim guy. This felt… larger. More present. Like the hat was wearing me for a bit.
I decided to wear it to my local driving range. Just to hit a few balls. And boy, did I get some looks. My buddy Dave, he just smirked and said, “Going full scientist on us now, are ya?” Har har. Then, some old fella, probably a club regular, walked past, did a double-take, and muttered something under his breath. I didn’t catch it all, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a compliment.
It’s funny, isn’t it? It’s just a piece of clothing. But in golf, anything that breaks the mold, even slightly, seems to get people talking. It reminded me of all that fuss when DeChambeau started using that sidesaddle putting style. The USGA even said his putter was ‘non-conforming’ at one point. Seems like they get their feathers ruffled easy when someone tries something different. And let’s be honest, DeChambeau wasn’t exactly winning any popularity contests with his on-tour antics anyway, even before the wild equipment ideas.
So what did I learn from this little hat experiment?
Well, mostly that people are quick to judge, especially in a sport that can be a bit… stuffy. Wearing that hat, even for a day, made me feel a tiny bit like an outsider. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but I was definitely more aware of how I looked, and how others were perceiving me. It was like I’d unknowingly joined “Team Unorthodox.”
It’s kind of like this one time, years ago, I decided to paint my front door a bright yellow. My street was all white and beige doors. You would have thought I’d committed a federal crime! Mrs. Henderson from across the road actually came over to ask if I was “feeling alright.” Just a yellow door! But it wasn’t the “done thing.”
This hat thing felt similar. It’s not about the hat itself being bad or good. It’s about how it stands out from the norm. It’s a small thing, sure, but it shows how resistant to change some folks can be, or how quick they are to label you if you step even an inch outside the expected. I’ll probably still wear the hat now and then. It’s actually pretty comfortable, and it does a good job keeping the sun off. But I’ll always remember the day I unofficially channeled my inner DeChambeau, not with a driver, but with a hat. And yeah, it was an interesting experience, to say the least.
