No jacket and tie for Olympic golfers in sport's return to the Summer Games

TORONTO - There were no runway models strutting their stuff and working the cameras; instead, there were faceless busts: retail store mannequins adorned with the latest fairway fashions.

There were no paparazzi and no live models at the Lambton Golf and Country club this week for the unveiling of the Canadian golf team's apparel for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro later this summer. Country Club this week to witness the unveiling of Team Canada's Rio Collection: the outfits Canada’s golf Aside from the gathered media, there were some descendants of George S. Lyon, the defending men’s gold medalist from 1904 in St. Louis. There hasn't been golf at the Summer Games since 2016.

Like Lyon who wore a suit, tie, vest and jacket during competition in his day, the clothing line for Canada's Olympic golfers, is classic and classy. They are fashion pieces as likely to be worn by a twentysomething athlete as a middle-aged weekend warrior. The inspiration for the designs balances tradition, style and strength. The clothes scream confidence. The scripting features the Canadian Olympic Team mark along with the iconic red maple leaf.

“I love the colors,” said Alena Sharp, who along with Brooke Henderson is set to represent the Canadian women’s golf team in Rio. “I’m looking forward to trying them on and making sure they fit. I especially love the red and white shirt.”

Sharp is excited to don Canada’s colors in Brazil. It’s a bucket list experience and a line for her resume that no one can take away. Recently, the Hamiltonian has been working with Team Canada Women’s head coach Tristan Mullally in preparation for The Games.

“The work I’m doing now is going to help me there,” Sharp said. “I’ve been told it’s going to be really windy and I’ve done well in the wind this year, so I already see my game suiting the Olympic course.”

Scott Simmons, CEO of Golf Canada, said golf’s return to the Olympic Games represents an exciting time for the game. “With less than 100 days until the start of the golf competition, the momentum is building and there will be an incredible sense of pride to see our Team Canada golfers don the maple leaf during the 2016 Olympic Games.”

A field of 120 golfers—60 men and 60 women—will be selected for the Olympic golf competition based on the World Golf Rankings as of July 11, 2016. The golf program for the 2016 Olympic Games gets under way on August 11 with the men’s competition running August 11-14 followed by the women’s competition August 17-20.

Hudson’s Bay, the official supplier of apparel for the Canadian Olympic team,  has committed to 10 per cent of sales proceeds from the Golf Canada collection to support the national team program.