ProQuip was the Preferred Supplier of weatherwear to The 2014 European Ryder Cup Team, designing the official rain suit for Paul McGinley’s European Team, who ran out emphatic winners at Gleneagles Resort, Scotland – dubbed “Glory in the Glens.”
Captain McGinley and ProQuip worked together for 18-months on the design and we’re delighted to share insight and details of how we developed clothing equipped to handle whatever weather might’ve blown across the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles.
ProQuip has been a preferred supplier to Ryder Cup Teams (European and American) – 20 times – and was honoured to have been chosen to design bespoke rain suits and wind tops for the team, caddies and supporters.
Russell Brooks, general manager of ProQuip Golf, said: “We first sat down with Paul McGinley in March 2013 to start planning the European Team weatherwear.
At every stage Paul displayed an exacting attention to detail and drew upon his vast expertise of how to play golf in all weather conditions. Together we created outerwear that was ready to be the 13th man for Team Europe if bad weather hit during the week.”
ProQuip designed its ‘best-ever-suit’ in white accented by Europe’s traditional blue and gold colourway
Captain’s Picks – McGinley’s Weatherwear Tactics
Appearance
- Bold white and blue panel cut design with gold accent trim, in a choice of full zip jacket and half sleeve playing top
- Waterproof trousers in classic European Royal blue
Technology & Performance
- DX5 Fabric selected for its enhanced “instant breathability” properties and added warmth, designed to eliminate any feeling of dampness or chill from early morning or late evening dew and mist, conditions common in late September in the United Kingdom
Environment
- Waterproof bonded fleece lined pockets for warmth and comfort
- DX5 Fabric is thicker and warmer than standard without sacrificing ultra-lightweight and super-soft feel pioneered by ProQuip
Player Comfort
- Ryder Cup Team Europe logo positioned on the right jacket sleeve and right trouser leg to avoid any interference with player eye-line when addressing the ball
- Extra-long trouser leg zips, specifically requested by Captain Paul McGinley, to make it easier and quicker to pull the trousers on and off
- Each player’s suit is tailored bespoke for each individual player’s body shape, including a number of athletic slim-fit cut suits and classic suits
- In the event of rain, Team Europe will benefit from a bespoke rain suit created by ProQuip’s expert design team.
Science behind the Suit – The 2014 European Team Rain Suit by ProQuip
- Exclusive DX5 fabric, unique to ProQuip, delivering ultra-lightweight, super soft feeling outer layer that is virtually silent to swing in
- DX5 is a microfibre Polyester outer face fabric with a ground-breaking hydrophilic membrane, featuring millions of tiny pores, each significantly smaller than a water droplet
- The pores allow air to escape without water getting in, delivering the highest levels of breathability and waterproofing available in golf clothing today
- The suit is seam sealed with an innovative inner film called PU Microporous, delivering total waterproofness
- Lightweight inner mesh lining for warmth, breathability and close fit with mid-layers
- Raglan sleeves, with an extended one-piece seam from underarm to collarbone, providing greater freedom of movement around the shoulders, arms and upper torso
- Side adjustor panels to eliminate fabric interference and best-fit around the midriff area
- Waterproof zippers with storm flap protection
- Each player was supplied with two waterproof jackets, two playing tops and three pairs of trousers – a total of 84 pieces of weatherwear for the team.
ProQuip Golf weatherwear was also worn by marshalls, volunteers and staff from The European Tour and Ryder Cup Travel Services after the company won tenders to supply more than 11,000 pieces of clothing to Ryder Cup Europe.
Richard Head, chief fabric technician at ProQuip Golf, said: “The 2014 European Team Ryder Cup suit was, without doubt, one of the finest rain suits that ProQuip has ever made.
Every time we have been chosen to supply a Ryder Cup Team it drives us to push the boundaries of product innovation and performance and create the perfect blend of playability, comfort and protection against the elements.”
Richard Head, chief fabric technician
Read all about ProQuip’s Ryder Cup record here
