“It’s a mantra that guides every step Palm Golf Co. takes. Picture this: a gentle breeze carrying the whisper of their motto alongside the iconic palm tree logo that’s becoming synonymous with the brand.
Swing and smile.
These words aren’t just about playing golf; they encapsulate the heart and soul of the brand’s offerings—from their stylish yet resilient gloves to their expansive, contemporary golf apparel. It’s a mission deeply embedded in Palm’s foundation.
For Palm and its dedicated community, golf isn’t a high-pressure trial or a rigid tradition. It’s about the joy of playing, even when a double bogey sneaks into your scorecard. Whether you’re a traditional country club devotee or you roll up to the course rocking high-tops and joggers, there’s a welcoming space for you. Palm cherishes the personal significance of golf but never loses sight of the fun and camaraderie that bring us all together.
When you sport the palm tree emblem, you’re not just wearing a well-crafted, lovingly-made product by three friends determined to revolutionize golf fashion.
You’re embracing an identity, finding your tribe, and making a personal statement.
That statement? You’re here to swing and smile.
Three Friends, One Vision: Redefining Golf Style
Meet Dustin Ghaul, Justin Junior, and Joe Ciafardoni. They’re not claiming to be golf aficionados or extraordinary players. These three New Jersey natives all migrated to Southern California post-college, bonding over golf rounds at Costa Mesa Country Club, nestled by Huntington Beach.
It was around 2015 when their casual games sparked an ambitious dream to launch a golf brand.
They aimed to carry the joy of those rounds into their new professional venture.
“I always recall Justin saying, ‘I want to do this forever,'” shared Ghaul. “And I’d say, ‘Well, neither of us is great at golf, so what are we overlooking?'”
The eureka moment was a golf glove they themselves yearned for but couldn’t find.
Existing market options included classic gloves, while the few stylish variants didn’t quite blend seamlessly with different outfits. A niche was clearly untapped. Palm noted a “staleness” in the glove market then.
“We aimed to create something missing from the market,” Ghaul explained. “But it also had to have character, adaptable with any outfit, distinct, and unique.”
The outcome was a glove adorned with patterned tabs featuring their palm logo. Traditional in its white leather, these gloves had a striking pop of color.
Their inspiration came from their vibrant surroundings and a world beyond golf.
“The culture here is rooted in action sports and surfing,” Junior said. “We’re at the heart of that industry. Though we played golf growing up, our roots were in other sports. We drew heavily from those influences.”
Their Kickstarter campaign exceeded expectations, meeting its goal in just under three days, allowing Palm to ship its first products in 2017.
By choosing to focus on chic golf gloves, they bypassed the complexities of club manufacturing. But it wasn’t without challenges. It involved continuous trial and error to manufacture a glove that stood out in quality while exuding flair. They meticulously adjusted Velcro, refined stitching, and closely examined material types, leather thickness, breathability, and water resistance.
Palm’s AWG glove—a honeycomb Japanese synthetic leather variant—is meant to rival FootJoy’s synthetic models. Their ultra-soft AAA cabretta leather gloves position themselves against Titleist’s offerings.
Every small tweak matters in the pursuit of creating the ideal glove.
“It’s rare for any production cycle to mirror the previous one exactly,” Junior revealed.
Striving for Unmatched Quality
This relentless pursuit highlights a simple truth: Palm isn’t a corporate giant.
Ghaul, Junior, and Ciafardoni, all in their mid-30s, occasionally rope in family and friends for support but bear the full weight of running the business—handling orders, packaging, finances, and everything in between.
Palm thrives organically, propelling forward with the same enthusiasm.
While Ghaul and Junior delve into product development and marketing, Ciafardoni handles operations, finance, and indispensable tasks.
Crucial decisions are made together, offering both challenges and strength for Palm.
“The saying goes, ‘don’t go into business with friends,’ but for us, it works,” Ciafardoni said. “We learn as we go, and I believe it’s made us better, touching all facets of the business.
“Navigating turbulence isn’t easy, but our friendship grounds us. When it’s business time, we transition from friends to partners seamlessly.”
In over eight years, they’ve guided Palm to heights by perfecting premium gloves and branching into apparel and accessories.
There’s a nuanced distinction between merchandise and apparel—Palm embodies the latter. From “golf therapy hotline” hoodies to classic sweaters and quarter-zips, their apparel shines. Their headwear and tropical-themed towels are hugely popular too.
Palm’s gear is made for everywhere.
“Our headwear doesn’t scream golf,” Ghaul noted. “I can wear it to dinner without looking like I just left a course.”
Lifestyle apparel flexibility is Palm’s guiding light.
The message is clear: Be true to yourself.
“We didn’t map our market to see what current golfers are like,” Ciafardoni said. “We focused on our desired image, not fitting into exclusive country clubs, nor wearing unsuitable gear. We found our niche.”
A Resounding Echo and Devoted Community
Many golfers find themselves in this middle ground, which makes Palm resonate well.
The brand embodies a laid-back yet classically cool California vibe that crosses beyond golf.
Chill vibes—except when ensuring quality.
“Everything we do is intentional,” Junior remarked. “We hope people notice and value that.”
And they do. Whether it’s David Spade wearing Palm in a lesson with Tiger Woods, their nearly 70,000 Instagram followers, or spotting the Palm logo in unexpected settings, a community yearns to connect with Palm.
The logo conjures the essence of golf—tropical warmth and camaraderie, courses playing music where missed shots are just part of the fun.
“The logo encapsulates this relaxed vibe,” Ghaul said. “In whatever we do, creating that feeling is our goal.”
For Palm, paradise has no room for bogeys.
It’s all about swinging and smiling.
Curious to find out more? Visit Palm.
The post Palm Golf Swings and Smiles Its Way to Cult Following appeared first on MyGolfSpy.”
