All About Golf Umbrellas

The very first umbrellas were actually parasols, designed to shade people, such as pharaohs, from the sun. It is unknown whether that Chinese or the Egyptians first used them. The Roman women were the first to oil their parasols to keep the rain as well as the sun off. In the 1700's European women began using wood and oilcloth parasols to keep their delicate complexions as unblemished as possible. The steel-ribbed umbrella was invented in 1852 by Samuel Fox, making them much easier to use.

While golf appeared in Scotland in the 14th century, the golf umbrella did not make its appearance until about 1898. The fabric was something called union silk, which was made with silk as the warp and cotton as the filler. It is possible that golf umbrellas are larger than regular umbrellas because originally, they were held by caddies and the caddies wanted to be protected from the elements as well as to protect the golfer from the sun and rain.

Originally, the only place to see golf umbrellas was the golf course. These days you will see them in many places. Since they are visible all over, they make a perfect milieu for displaying company logos. These oversized umbrellas catch the eye and the logo golf umbrellas manage to display the advertisement of their companies.

You can find logo golf umbrellas that advertise sports teams, golf balls, high quality luggage, vacation resorts, and golf tournaments as well as other companies. These modern logo golf umbrellas use nylon or polyester as the material that covers the umbrella ribs. These materials make golf umbrellas lightweight and easy to use, protecting the golfer both from excess sun and from rain.

If you live in an area of high winds, you might like a golf umbrella that is vented with a rubberized handle for a sure grip in wind and rain. Many golf umbrellas are made with materials that are a different color on top and bottom. A common sight is a golf umbrella with alternating colors on its panels. Those with wind reflex frames will easily return to proper configuration with absolutely no damage even if the wind turns them inside out. Some golf umbrellas with wooden handles fold down to a compact 16 inches long.

As a part of marketing, golf umbrellas are usually measured by their arc rather than their diameter. Which sounds bigger, the umbrella with a 38-inch diameter or one with a 60-inch arc? The secret is that they are both the same size.

Golf umbrellas have become popular other places than the golf course because they are large enough to shelter at least two people comfortably. If you try to share a conventionally sized umbrella with another person, someone is likely to get wet.

Variations on a theme can be found when it comes to the shape of the golf umbrella. You can find them in the normal shape of a hexagon but with a difference. Instead of eight equally sized panels, there will be four larger panels and four smaller panels that alternate with one another. The large and amazingly inexpensive golf umbrella is here to stay, on the golf course and off it.