Under-The-Radar Golf Brands: Par(t) 4: Gear & Equipment

VivanTee Golf

I just bought a new golf glove, and after seeing VivanTee's gear, I have major FOMO. Founded by Cesar Figueroa, a New Yorker who traded software sales for the fairway, VivanTee is injecting NYC street energy into the game. While they offer magnetic towels and hats, their luxury glove line truly steals the show.

Think of VivanTee as the "Stance" of the golf world. They treat the glove as a primary style piece rather than a white leather afterthought. Each is crafted from premium Cabretta leather and features bold patterns inspired by NYC neighborhoods. Every glove also includes a magnetic ball marker built into the tab, solving a common gear headache with a functional pop of color.

Sunday Golf

There is a new master of golf bags in town. Sunday Golf offers every type of bag you could possibly need, including cart bags, stand bags, par 3 bags, and even little golf cooler bags. Their vibe is a clean, modern aesthetic with both solid colors and subtle patterns. You won't find anything over the top here, just high quality gear like their popular camo or dual color designs.

Sunday Golf has grown so much recently that they nearly graduated from our "emerging" category into our "established" list. Their rapid rise is backed by a serious commitment to durability. Each bag comes with a free lifetime guarantee to hammer home their emphasis on quality and longevity.

Golf bags used to feel more like a walking billboard for a legacy golf brand than a crucial aspect of a golfer's aesthetic. Sunday Golf is changing that narrative. They are proving that you can have premium, stylish equipment without the stuffy corporate branding of the past.

Goatlane

Think of Goatlane as the "Nike Dunk" of the golf course. Founded by Gustav Schauman, the brand was born from the realization that golf shoes were a severely overlooked and underserved category. And let's be honest, there hasn't been an iconic golf shoe since your hand-me-down FootJoys. Their style is meant to be a blend of modern and classic styles, but meant to be worn wherever your Saturday takes you, not just the golf course.

They thrive in the small details, producing meticulously crafted shoes handmade in Portugal using premium Italian calfskin. These aren't just for show, either. Developed with technical advice from PGA Tour pro Henrik Norlander, they feature high-traction soles and waterproof finishes to handle 18 holes. They even have "GOAT" across the bottom to remind your playing partners exactly who is taking the skins while you are mid-backswing.

Like many modern golf brands, Goatlane is trying to carry golf gear past the parking lot in your day to day life. By focusing on versatility and high-end craftsmanship, they are proving that performance golf gear can actually be a central part of your daily aesthetic.

Takomo

It is rare for a brand new club manufacturer to break into the scene and actually stick, but Takomo has managed to do exactly that over the last few years. Known as the poster child for the direct to consumer (DTC) movement, Takomo aims to deliver tour-grade equipment without the four-figure price tags. By skipping the traditional retail markups and big-box middleman, they provide high-quality irons at nearly half the cost of the industry titans. Their iron sets for example, are priced in the $580 to $680 range. A bit lower than the legacy brands huh?

Their design philosophy leans heavily into a clean, minimalist Nordic aesthetic. These clubs look like premium blades but are packed with modern technology to help your game. They have even recently expanded into drivers and wedges to help golfers build a full bag on a budget.

If Takomo somehow hasn't been on your radar, they should be because they are fundamentally changing how you buy clubs. They have built a massive following by partnering with some of the biggest creators in YouTube golf, proving that performance matters more than a legacy logo. If you are tired of paying for a massive marketing budget every time you upgrade your bag, Takomo is the brand currently leading the revolution.

Northwestern Golf

Yes, that's who you think it is in the photo, and we aren't here to talk about his pants. Northwestern Golf might be stretching the definition of "emerging brand" because they have been around since 1929, but they are currently staging a comeback that is impossible to ignore. After decades as the world's largest club manufacturer, the brand went quiet, but it is now re-emerging with a fresh focus on making high quality gear accessible to golfers of all skill levels and tax brackets.

Teaming up with John Daly as a partner and global ambassador definitely got my attention, but it is their mission to be the "golf brand of the people" that is keeping it. This isn't just a nostalgia play. They have tapped master club designer Jeff Sheets to modernize their iconic Thunderbird and Talon lines. The results are clean, simple, and manufactured with the same precision as the industry giants, yet they fall into a price range that is actually affordable. To put that in perspective, their Thunderbird Full Set comes in at $999.99, and that is their more expensive option.

By offering "pro-line" technology at "working man" prices, they are filling the massive gap between cheap box sets and $3,000 custom builds.

Hanna Golf

Apple changed the way phones look, and Hanna Golf is doing the same for putters. Founded by Jared Doerfler, the creator of the popular Perfect Putt newsletter, this brand is a maker of CNC milled putters. Jared taught himself CAD design, bought a CNC mill, and began manufacturing these clubs directly from his shop in Iowa.

Hanna Golf is a boutique maker that treats putter design like high end industrial art. Their lineup features four distinct styles of putters. These putters look like they were machined in an Apple plant, featuring clean lines and smooth milled 303 stainless steel heads. It is a minimalist aesthetic that prioritizes feel and physics over flashy graphics.

Hanna Golf represents the "underdog" spirit of the sport. Every putter is milled to order, offering a level of craftsmanship and buttery feel that usually costs twice as much from a major brand. By blending personal storytelling with precision engineering, Doerfler has created a brand you can be proud to hit.

Sink Golf

Based in West Sussex, England, Sink Golf is a small batch putter manufacturer that operates like a precision engineering lab. Founded by Olly Longlands, an engineer who grew up learning the ropes in his father's factory, the brand combines a deep understanding of metalwork with a passion for the greens. Every putter in their lineup is designed, machined, and finished by hand, all in-house.

Sink Golf's differentiator is their commitment to "one of one" engineering. While most brands offer a few stock models, Sink thrives on bespoke custom builds, using premium materials like 303 German stainless steel. They aren't just worried about the performance, they also like to make the coolest putters you've ever seen.

Sink Golf offers a level of craftsmanship that is becoming rare in a mass produced world. Whether it is their welded neck designs or their satin finishes, these clubs are built for the golfer who views their putter as a lifelong tool rather than a seasonal upgrade. Need to one up your golf group on your next trip? This is what you are looking for.

Cut Golf

High performance golf balls at half the price? I'm going to shank it into the woods by the third hole anyway, so count me in. Founded in a garage in Southern California by Sam Uisprapassorn, Cut Golf was born from a simple frustration: paying a premium for balls that inevitably end up in a lake. They aim to be the "golf ball of the people," offering tour-level performance without the massive marketing markups of the industry giants.

Cut Golf has quickly carved out a niche by focusing on what actually happens on the course rather than paying pros to wear their logo. Their lineup ranges from the Cut Red for beginners to the 4 piece, dual core Cut DC designed for high swing speeds. By using the same high quality materials found in leading brands, they deliver the spin and control you need at a fraction of the cost.

Honestly, it's a perfect pitch. Now, we just have to see if it's really tour quality.

Charlie Golf Co.

If you can read this sentence, this product isn't for you, but I can guarantee you are going to buy it for your kids. Even if you don't have them yet, you might just buy it in advance. Founded by Tyler Johnson, a former college golfer turned dad, Charlie Golf Co. was born out of a simple frustration. When his three year old son, Charlie, wanted to join him on the course, Tyler couldn't find a high quality bag that actually fit a toddler. Instead of settling for plastic toys, he decided to build the real thing.

They offer waxed canvas and leather bags that look like awesome vintage carry bags, plus stainless steel irons and weighted drivers. Whether you are starting a new family tradition or looking for the ultimate gift, Charlie Golf is ensuring the smallest players on the course have the best setup in the group.