"Be brave. It's time to play Loudmouth Golf."
When an apparel company's sales pitch is "be brave," you know you're on to something. The question is whether you want that something on you.
Scott Woodworth, founder, CEO and "chief loudmouth" of Loudmouth Golf, thinks he knows who will ... and who won't.
"If you’re uptight, self-conscious, and care more about your golf score than the experience, then Loudmouth Golf pants are NOT for you," said Woodworth. "But if you treat a golf outing as a special occasion for fun and laughs with the guys, then wear some outrageous Loudmouth pants - they can’t hurt your score. They might even irritate your opponent!"
Getting the picture that Loudmouth Golf makes some might loud golf apparel?
The sportswear company is based in Sonoma, Calif., and its pants make Jesper Parnevik's look conservative.
Woodworth believes that traditional golf clothes need a more youthful, playful alternative and designed the Loudmouth Golf line to break with the traditional safe khaki chinos worn by many of today’s golfers. Loudmouth Golf features slacks and shorts in 32 outrageous patterns, along with the "ultimate golf accessory" - a big, honkin' white belt that would make Johnny Miller proud.
"When you go out to play, shouldn’t you wear play clothes?" said Woodworth. "When I wear Loudmouth slacks on the course, I feel like I’m appropriately dressed. I’m dressed to play!"
Loudmouth Golf’s patterns range from colorful to psychedelic. There’s "Shagadelic," neon polka dots on shocking yellow. Or "Cards," which features a deck of naughty pinup cards scattered on a green card table background.
Then there's "Bogey Bugs," a pair of insect shorts, and for the really quirky there’s pants with images of sushi or cigars.
New Loudmouth patterns include "Spirit of Shooting 76," a bold red-white-and-blue graphic that’s sure to make the foursome stand and salute, and "Big Tuna," showcasing 7-inch tuna fish swimming across a navy or taupe background. Each of these pants are loud enough to shout "Fore!" all by themselves.
The pleated, high-quality made-in-USA slacks are priced at $65. Loudmouth shorts, available in all patterns, are $55.
Tom Tolbert, Dan Patrick and Jeff Kent are among the athletes and celebrities who've been drawn to Loudmouth's designs.
For the more classic golfer who still wants to distinguish himself from the khaki-and-polo-shirt crowd there's "St. Andrews," a traditional pattern of golf paraphernalia on a muted burgundy, and yes, khaki background.
Woodworth considers khakis work pants. "Golf was looser and more fun in the white-belt-and-banana-yellow-flares days of the '70s," said Woodworth, a graphic designer turned fashion entrepreneur.
Woodworth's wish for wild golf clothes led him to found Loudmouth Golf.
"I always strived to dress wilder than the average golfer, but the leap wasn't nearly great enough. I couldn't find anything to satisfy my definition of loud clothes," said Woodworth. "That’s why I started Loudmouth to begin with."
Woodworth says he's received plenty of positive feedback from his customers: "They love 'em," he said. "Just the other day a customer called me, and I thought he was calling to complain - he'd ordered two pairs by FedEx. But he said, 'Scott, I just want to tell you that I already have mine on. I gave the other pair to a buddy of mine, we're wearing them in the office today and people are horrified!' He felt compelled to call and tell me that.
"That’s actually the best reaction of all," said Woodworth. "The guys that like them are just gaga over them. The guys that don't understand have a severe reaction to them, and that makes it even better."
