Best Golf Umbrellas for Year-Round Use: 2023 Buyer’s Guide

When you play golf, the elements will always be a factor, especially during the off-season. Fortunately, using the best golf umbrella can allow you to enjoy your favorite sport, even in inclement weather. These umbrellas are large, durable, and designed to shield you and your gear on rainy and windy days.

If you’re having trouble finding the right umbrella, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve tried out some of the leading products on the market, narrowing it down to six must-have umbrellas that are perfect for a rainy day on the course. I’ve also created this buyer’s guide, which will help you choose the right model, based on environment and playing needs.

Below, you’ll find a comparison chart that includes each umbrella that made it onto my list, their best features, and how they rated.

Golf Umbrellas Comparison Chart

Product	Shaft Material	Canopy Material	Coverage Size	Rating
G4Free Golf Umbrella Shop On Amazon!	Fiberglass	Pongee	68 in
Dunlop Jumbo Golf Umbrella Shop On Amazon!	Steel	Polyester	60 in
Titleist Tour Double Canopy Golf Umbrella Shop On Amazon!	Fiberglass	Nylon	68 in
Taylor Made Golf 2017 Tour Umbrella Shop On Amazon!	Fiberglass	Nylon	64 in
ACEIken Golf Umbrella Shop On Amazon!	Fiberglass	Polyester	62 in
ZOMAKE Golf Umbrella Shop On Amazon!	Fiberglass	Pongee	62 in
G4Free Golf Bag Umbrella Shop On Amazon!	Steel/Fiberglass	Pongee	46 in

G4Free Automatic Open Golf Umbrella

Our Rating: (5/5)

This is one massive umbrella, measuring in at 54/62/68-inches. The heavy-duty design features a comfortable EVA foam grip, an auto open mechanism, and a sturdy frame. The umbrella is designed to protect the golfer and all of their gear from harmful UV rays, rain, and high winds. The canopy is made out of pongee fabric, which is lightweight, durable, water-resistant, and offers SPF 50 protection. The manufacturer claims that the umbrella’s design is essentially windproof, thanks to the double canopy that creates a vent that allows wind to safely pass through, preventing the umbrella from turning inside out.

Conclusion

Equipped with a lightweight, flexible fiberglass frame, a double canopy design, and a comfortable thick grip that will allow the golfer to effortlessly grip the umbrella for an extended period of time, this model has it all, including a windproof design, UV protection, and a massive canopy size that will protect both the golfer and all of their gear. If you’re looking for an umbrella that can easily withstand the elements, one that will allow you to continue to enjoy the game you love, then hit that buy now button.

Dunlop Jumbo Golf Umbrella

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This model is moderately sized with a canopy that measures in at 60-inches. The somewhat smaller size makes the umbrella easier to hang onto and balance. The canopy is made out of waterproof polyester that’s durable and able to handle high wind conditions. Unlike competing models in this price range, this model features a manual open mechanism, so it opens up just like a standard umbrella. This can be a drawback for users with arthritis, since this type of mechanism can make the umbrella difficult to collapse. The frame is made out of steel and features a total of eight ribs. According to the manufacturer, this umbrella features the ultimate windproof design and is able to easily withstand winds up to eighty miles per hour.

Conclusion

This latest golf umbrella by Dunlop is made out of steel and polyester, for a more durable design. However, because the umbrella doesn’t have an automatic open mechanism, some golfers may find that collapsing the umbrella, especially in high wind conditions, can be a hassle. Aside from the manual open design, this model is durable, rainproof and the perfect size to shelter one or two golfers and all of their gear.

Titleist Tour Double Canopy Golf Umbrella

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This umbrella by Titleist Tour features a lightweight fiberglass frame and a 68-inch nylon canopy that provides protection from harmful UV rays, rain, and wind. The top of the line anti-inversion system consists of a double canopy design, with six panels that are stitched together. The wind is able easily pass through the canopy, preventing the umbrella from flipping inside out in high wind conditions. The large canopy size will protect the golfer, their golf cart or pushcart, and their golf bag. The heavy-duty design can handle heavy downpours and high wind gusts.

Conclusion

This is an umbrella that’s built tough, and one that comes with the popular automatic open feature that will allow you to easily and quickly open and close the umbrella with the push of a button.

While for some, the price may be a little steep, this model provides top of the line protection from rain, wind, and bright sunlight. This umbrella will come in handy year-round and features the type of durable design you need, if you’re looking for a model that can last season after season.

Taylor Made Golf Tour Umbrella

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This umbrella by Taylor Made features a sixty-four-inch canopy and a lightweight shaft made out of fiberglass, which offers plenty of flex. It also comes equipped with the brand’s patented WindPro technology that allows it to easily handle high wind conditions. The canopy itself is made out of one hundred percent nylon, which is tear and abrasion resistant. If you’re looking for an umbrella that can protect you from heavy gusts and rain out on the course, then this model delivers. The nylon material dries quickly, which is another plus. Umbrellas that are made out of pongee material have a reputation for taking hours to dry. As you already know, if an umbrella is stored away before it’s had time to fully dry, this can lead to mold and mildew growth. That won’t be a problem with this model by Taylor Made. Built tough and featuring a windproof design that can handle high winds, however, it does not come equipped with UV protection.

Conclusion

The model has many of the features that golfers are looking for, including a lightweight fiberglass shaft and ribs that feature plenty of flex, so you won’t have to worry about the umbrella inverting during use. Additionally, the double canopy design allows air to flow through the umbrella, preventing it from getting ripped out of your hands on windy days. The nylon material is durable, tear and abrasion resistant and provides excellent protection from the elements.

ACEIken Golf Umbrella

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This model features a fiberglass frame design, which helps to keep the weight of the umbrella down. This material is both strong and flexible, offering the type of durability you need in a model designed to protect you and all of your essential golf gear.

The canopy measures in at sixty-two-inches and comes equipped with a comfortable grip that’s made out of EVA foam. The automatic open feature makes opening and closing the umbrella a cinch, simply push a button and the umbrella will pop right open. The double canopy design provides ultimate protection from the elements, while allowing air to flow through the umbrella, preventing it from inverting in high wind conditions.

Conclusion

This model is lightweight, durable, is made out of quick-drying materials and provides SPF 50 protection, blocking harmful UV rays. The flexible shaft, combined with the massive double canopy allows the umbrella to easily handle a variety of weather conditions, whether you’re dealing with a heavy downpour, bright sunlight, intense heat, or high wind conditions.

ZOMAKE Golf Umbrella

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

Zomake’s latest umbrella comes with a sixty-two-inch canopy and an automatic opening feature that will allow you to open up this massive umbrella in seconds. The design will protect the user from rain and wind, thanks to the double canopy design that creates a vent where wind can pass through, easily, preventing the umbrella from inverting in high wind conditions. The canopy is made out of pongee material, which can provide ultimate protection against rain and wind. The shaft and ribs are made out of lightweight fiberglass, for much-needed flex. This type of flexibility will prevent the umbrella from getting ripped out of your hands due to high winds. The grip is made out of high-quality EVA foam, which will improve comfort and grip in a variety of weather conditions.

Conclusion

Lightweight, durable, equipped with a double canopy design and an automatic open mechanism, this model is easy to use and can provide the type of protection most golfers are looking for, whether they’re dealing with bright sunlight, heavy rain, or high gusts. If you’re looking for a model that’s lightweight, and one that you’re able to easily handle and hold, hole after hole, this model is a great buy, and one that won’t hit your wallet too hard.

G4Free Golf Bag Umbrella

Our Rating: (4/5)

This umbrella is specifically designed to protect your golf gear, featuring 360 degrees of pivoting action. The flex spring located in the shaft will allow you to move and adjust the canopy in any angle, to properly protect your gear. The canopy is made out of pongee material that’s waterproof and able to easily handle the elements. The shaft is made out of steel, with ribs that are made out of fiberglass, offering the type of flex needed to prevent the umbrella from inverting in high wind conditions. The addition of fiberglass also keeps the umbrella’s weight down. Additionally, the telescopic shaft can be adjusted to a variety of lengths, based on coverage needs and the height of the user.

Conclusion

This model features an ergonomic rubberized handle for improved grip and comfort, a lightweight design, and ultimate protection against the elements. The innovative shaft design allows you to adjust the height and angle of coverage, so you can keep your gear protected in bright sunlight, heavy winds, and rain.

Golf Umbrellas Buyer’s Guide

A golf umbrella is basically an umbrella that’s large, durable, and designed for golf course use. This type of umbrella is designed to protect the player from the elements, rain or shine. It provides excellent coverage and protection and is much larger than a standard umbrella, so it can protect the golfer, their gear, and can keep their cart nice and dry.

Many times, rain, bright sunlight, and high winds can spoil a game. An umbrella allows you to prepare for the worst by providing you with the protection you need, so you can focus on the game at hand.

Before I dive into what features you need to look for to guarantee you end up with an umbrella that’s durable and able to withstand the elements, first, let’s learn more about the benefits of using one of these umbrellas on the course.

Benefits of Golf Umbrellas

If you’re serious about your golf game, and you’re not someone to sit out the fall and winter months, waiting for the sun to appear again, then you need to invest in one of these umbrellas, which will allow you to focus on your putting tempo, while keeping you dry. But there are many other benefits to using one of these umbrellas on the course, such as:

• These umbrellas are designed to shield the golfer and their gear from rain, sun, and heat. Sturdier and larger than the average umbrella, these impressively large, yet lightweight umbrellas can also be used as a great marketing tool, sharing your company’s message or logo.
• Golf umbrellas can make a great promotional item or corporate gift for golf leagues and clubs.
• These umbrellas feature a unique double

canopy design that makes them windproof, so you can use them even in high wind conditions.

• A good golf umbrella can be an important investment for the serious golfer. There are many rainy days that can have a negative impact on a player’s performance on the course. For many golfers, having an umbrella will be a necessity, especially for people who live in parts of the country that experience heavy rainfall most of the year.
• An umbrella will not only prevent the golfer from getting wet, but it can also protect the golfer’s clubs, bag, and their pushcart or golf cart.
• If you live in a part of the country that experiences brutally hot temperatures and plenty of sunshine, year-round, then you’ll need to protect yourself and your gear from harsh UV rays. Using an umbrella on sunny days can prevent your golf bag and your clubhead covers from fading. It can also provide you with much-needed shade so you can focus on your improving your golf swing, without the sun beating down on you.

Now that you know more about the benefits of using an umbrella on the course, let’s take a look at the important features you need to look for that will ensure you end up with an umbrella that will last season after season.

Must-Have Features

While it may not seem important to look for certain features in a simple umbrella, the golf umbrella is an important piece of golf gear that will protect you and all of your equipment from the elements, so you need to make certain that it can provide the type of protection you need, whether you’re dealing with bright sunlight, high winds, or heavy rainfall.

Construction

• There are a few main parts of an umbrella:
• Undercarriage
• Shaft
• Handle

The undercarriage refers to the joints and the ribs that hold the canopy up. Since it’s the part of the umbrella you’ll have the most contact with, it’s important that it’s made out of high-quality materials that are durable. Fiberglass is a light composite material that’s durable, strong and has some flex to it, so it won’t snap during strong gusts, which is why models made out of this material are often favored over umbrellas that are made out of wood or steel. The flexible properties in fiberglass make it ideal for the undercarriage section since the joints and ribs must be flexible enough to move the canopy in windy conditions. The biggest drawback of this material is that it can be brittle when bent, so, if it gets caught in your gear, it can snap if you’re not careful.

Size

These umbrellas are much bigger than a standard umbrella that’s designed for personal use because it’s designed to protect both the golfer and their expensive gear. These umbrellas often measure in at sixty to sixty-five inches, while larger models can reach up to seventy inches. While these umbrellas are significantly bigger than a standard umbrella, the fiberglass material that’s used for the shaft and handle help to keep the weight down, so they’re surprisingly light. If you decide to go with a bigger umbrella, once that’s close to seventy-inches, then you need to consider how easy it’s going to be to hold onto it, especially during high gusts or a heavy downpour.

Keep in mind, the fold-down size of the umbrella will also matter, especially if you’re planning on storing it in your golf bag or pushcart when you’re not using it.

Canopy Material

The golf umbrella’s canopy is known for its durability and large size. This type of canopy is designed to resist high winds and stronger gusts, so it will not flip inside out when it’s windy. This portion of the umbrella is what will keep you dry when it’s raining and it can also provide you with much-needed shade on hotter days. The thicker the canopy, the more sun and water resistance it offers. A heavier fabric is also more durable.

Pongee

Pongee fabric is the most popular material used for this type of umbrella because of its sun and water-resistance. Additionally, it’s considered more durable than nylon and other types of plastic-based fabrics that tend to degrade when it gets wet or when exposed to bright sunlight.

Teflon pongee material is said to be even tougher than standard pongee. The Teflon coating will help the water to bead up rapidly and will also wick water away from the umbrella. It will also improve the canopy’s durability and provide protection against tearing and abrasions.

However, you’ll still commonly come across models that are made out of polyester and nylon, or a combination of the two.

Nylon

When it comes to quality, pongee, polyester, and nylon are fairly similar across the board, but tend to vary in how they respond to certain climate conditions. As an example, nylon is one of the most expensive options and it’s a great material to use in umbrellas because it has low friction against other surfaces. But the big issue with this type of materials is that it can shrink under certain conditions, which impacts its durability.

Polyester

Polyester is the cheapest option but the roughness of this type of material can cause stiffness, making it more difficult to open or close the umbrella.

What’s the Best Material for a Golf Umbrella?

Pongee is somewhere in the middle of polyester and nylon in terms of cost and it’s definitely higher in quality compared to polyester. It takes the best properties of both polyester and nylon, without the drawbacks. The manufacturing process used to create this material prevents it from shrinking in certain weather conditions like nylon and it won’t become stiff like polyester, which is why pongee is often the material of choice for most golf umbrellas.

Single or Double Canopies

Aside from the type of material the canopy is made out of, the design of the canopy itself is also important. A two-canopy design will allow air to vent out while preventing rain from entering. Single canopy designs can trap air, which will result in turn outs, or the umbrella being ripped from your hands during high-wind conditions.

Handle

Many of these models are equipped with an ergonomic handle, which will help the user maintain their grip, using a natural position. It’s important that the handle is comfortable to use, otherwise, if the umbrella is difficult to hold, it can cause hand cramps that can have a negative impact on the player’s golf grip. The umbrella should be comfortable to carry around for hours at a time. The type of material the handle is made out of will also matter. Most will come with a handle that’s made out of wood, rubber, or plastic. Rubber is often the most comfortable to use.

Grip

Because these umbrellas are so large, they can be uncomfortable to hold for long, especially if the grip is hard, uncomfortable, and not very supportive.  If you have carpal tunnel or arthritis, then you’ll also need a grip that’s padded.

The umbrella’s grip will majorly affect how comfortable and easy it is to hold for an extended period of time. Ideally, it should be made with some type of cushioning, but the grip should still feel firm and supportive. EVA foam grips are a great choice and provide the type of firmness and support that can promote longer use and total comfort. This type of material can also prevent the grip from slipping out of your hands if your hands begin to sweat.

PU coated plastic is another good option and helps to keep the weight of the umbrella down. Some models will come with grips that are made out of a durable, hard plastic, which can make the umbrella difficult to hold for long.

Colors and Patterns

When you’re shopping around for a new umbrella, you’ll find many that are available in a variety of colors and designs. Some may have logos printed on them, stripes, or other types of patterns. This will allow you to choose an umbrella that works for your playing needs and one that shows off your personality.

Opening Feature

We’ve all had trouble opening and collapsing an umbrella at some point. Some umbrellas can be a real hassle to use and can stick or refuse to collapse when you need them to. Fortunately, many models these days now come equipped with an automatic open feature. This will enable you to effortlessly and swiftly open up your umbrella to protect yourself and all of your gear.

These umbrellas will have a small button located on the handle. All you have to do is push the button and the umbrella will open up quickly.

On the other hand, you’ll also want a model that’s simple to fold. Look for a model with a high ease of use rating, so you won’t find yourself struggling to close your umbrella when it’s time to head back to the club.

Portability

Many of these umbrellas are designed to fold down into a compact bundle that makes them easy to store and transport. When the sun finally makes an appearance, you want an umbrella that you can close up and neatly store in your pushcart, golf cart, or golf bag. Some will also come with a case or sleeve that you can use to neatly store it when it’s no longer needed.

Venting

For some reason, wind resistance is often overlooked when shopping for an umbrella for the course. But harsh winds can throw an umbrella around, invert it, or rip it right out of your hands.

Models that have a high wind resistance rating should be able to easily handle severe winds. In order to make an umbrella wind-resistant, manufacturers will use a number of manufacturing methods, such as incorporating components that prevent canopies from inverting. Sloped canopies will direct the airflow over the canopy, while ventilated models will allow the wind to pass through safely.

Vented models have the best wind resistance rating. Models with this feature may come with an open-air slot or a double canopy. This type of feature will help the umbrella to resist strong gusts, so it won’t flip inside out. Additionally, many models that are equipped with vents have been subjected to wind tunnel testing and are usually marked with the wind intensity it’s able to tolerate without inverting.

Flexibility

The type of material the shaft is made out of is also significant. Be sure that the ribs and shaft are made out of fiberglass. This material will allow for slight flex during windy conditions. It’s also a safer alternative to shafts that are made out of steel.

Price

These umbrellas are surprisingly affordable. You can find a solid model in a variety of price brackets, ranging from under $20 up to $60 or $70. However, the price often reflects quality, so make sure you pay close attention to the canopy design, coverage size, and the types of materials that are used, before hitting that buy now button.

Final Thoughts

You may think you don’t need to use an umbrella while you play since it’s just a little rain after all. But, keep in mind, these umbrellas can also be used to help you protect your golf equipment, including your clubs, bag, and rangefinder.

Most golfers who play year-round will benefit from using the best golf umbrellas. In the spring and summer months, the weather can still be unpredictable at times, which is why it’s necessary to keep an umbrella on hand at all times. This will prevent you and your gear from getting drenched in a downpour, but it can also be used to protect you from harsh UV rays. The umbrellas I’ve included here in my buyer’s guide each earned top marks for ease of use, coverage, durability, and overall quality. With these product recommendations and the information in this buyer’s guide, you should have no trouble finding an umbrella that’s tough enough to handle heavy downpours, high gusts, and scorching temperatures.