Rebels on the Fairway: Malbon Golf x Santa Cruz Apparel & Accessories Collaboration
- Fewll Indoor Golf
- Aug 17
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 10
Golf’s manicured fairways collide with skateboarding’s raw energy in a collection that defies expectations. The collaboration between Malbon Golf and Santa Cruz Skateboards is a perfect example, two rebels in their own industries, challenging norms and forging new identities. This article traces the history of each brand, breaks down their collaborative release, and explores what this crossover means for the future of sports accessories.
The Genesis of Malbon Golf: Re-imagining the Game
Malbon Golf is not a traditional golf brand; it's a lifestyle brand that uses golf as its medium. Founded in 2017 by Stephen and Erica Malbon in Los Angeles, the brand emerged from a distinct frustration with the sport's prevailing culture. The founders, both steeped in streetwear and design, saw a game that was often exclusive, inaccessible, and aesthetically stagnant. An "old boys club" dominated by a homogeneous and conservative visual language.
Malbon's philosophy from the outset was to disrupt this status quo. Their goal was to make golf cool, fashionable, and inclusive by infusing it with the energy of art, music, and design. They began by creating a social media moodboard, showcasing a side of golf that was youthful, diverse, and stylish. The immediate and overwhelming positive response validated their vision and paved the way for the brand's apparel and accessory lines.
Central to Malbon's strategy is a relentless pursuit of collaboration. They have partnered with a wide range of brands, from industry titans like TaylorMade and Nike to cultural icons like Coca-Cola and Curb Your Enthusiasm. These collaborations are not mere marketing stunts; they are a core tenet of the brand's identity, a testament to its ability to transcend traditional boundaries and find common ground in unexpected places. Malbon's success lies in its ability to tell stories through product, attracting a new generation of golfers who see the sport as an extension of their personal style, rather than a rigid set of rules and dress codes.
The Legacy of Santa Cruz Skateboards: The Original Rebel
The history of Santa Cruz Skateboards is, in many ways, the history of skateboarding itself. Established in 1973 by Richard Novak, Doug Haut, and Jay Shuirman, Santa Cruz is the oldest continuous skateboard company in the world. Its origins are humble, born from a struggling surfboard business that found a new purpose when a friend challenged them to produce 500 skateboards. The immediate sell-out of that initial batch signalled the birth of an iconic brand and a burgeoning industry.
Santa Cruz’s identity is defined by its innovative spirit and its rebellious, artistic soul. They were early pioneers in longboarding and have consistently pushed the boundaries of board design. However, their most enduring legacy lies in their graphic art. The brand's iconic logos, designed by the legendary Jim Phillips Sr., are some of the most recognizable in action sports history. The "Screaming Hand," in particular, is a global icon, a visceral representation of the brand's gritty, creative ethos.
Through decades of evolution, from the "vert" ramps of the 80s to the street skating revolution of the 90s, Santa Cruz has remained a constant. They have built a brand that is synonymous with authenticity and subcultural credibility. Their influence extends far beyond the skate world, with their graphics and aesthetic becoming a foundational part of global youth culture.
The Drop: Malbon x Santa Cruz Golf Apparel & Accessories
The collaboration between Malbon Golf and Santa Cruz Skateboards is a deliberate and well-executed collision of these two rich histories. The collection, a 35-piece release, is more than a simple logo mash-up; it is a thoughtful integration of each brand's core design language. The unmistakable "Screaming Hand" is adapted to the green, creating a visual dialogue between the two sports.
The collection includes a range of apparel, such as hoodies, windshirts, and polos, each featuring screen-printed or embroidered co-branding. But where the collaboration truly shines, and where the most significant market interest lies, is in the accessories. Golf accessories are a high-volume, high-profit category, and this drop leverages that demand with a curated selection of unique items.
The accessory line became the real highlight of the collaboration, blending golf’s functionality with Santa Cruz’s iconic graphics. The Performance Golf Stand Bag stands out as the centerpiece, a bold statement for players who want a non-traditional aesthetic. The collection is rounded out with re-imagined headcovers, towels, gloves, and ball markers, everyday essentials turned into collectible art.
The Historical Context of Golf Accessories: From Function to Fashion
The evolution of accessories in both golf and skateboarding provides a crucial backdrop for understanding the significance of this drop. For centuries, golf accessories were purely functional. The earliest "tees" were mounds of sand, and golf bags were rudimentary leather pouches. The "gutty" golf ball in the mid-19th century and the wound rubber core balls of the early 20th century were innovations driven by performance, not style. Accessories like gloves, towels, and headcovers were developed out of necessity, to improve grip, clean equipment, and protect valuable clubs.
In skateboarding, the story is similar but on an accelerated timeline. Early skaters in the 1950s borrowed attire from surf culture. The development of urethane wheels in the 1970s was a revolution in performance. As the sport grew, so did the specialized accessories: grip tape for traction, specialized trucks for turning, and dedicated skate shoes for board feel and durability. Yet, unlike golf, an expressive, anti-establishment aesthetic was woven into the very fabric of skateboarding from the beginning. The graphics on the decks, the patches on the jeans, and the logos on the shoes were all part of a larger, rebellious uniform.
The Malbon x Santa Cruz collaboration represents the moment when the expressive accessory culture of skateboarding fully invades the functional world of golf. It's a statement that golf accessories are no longer just tools of the trade; they are a means of personal expression. The market for golf accessories has exploded in recent years, driven by a new generation of players who see the game as an extension of their wardrobe and lifestyle. Hardcovers, ball markers, and stand bags have become coveted items, often selling out in minutes. This collaboration taps directly into that demand, offering a product that is both functionally excellent and aesthetically disruptive.
In conclusion, the Malbon x Santa Cruz collaboration is a powerful case study in brand synergy. It is a release that respects the history of both entities while simultaneously pushing the conversation forward. It validates Malbon's original vision of making golf a more inclusive and fashionable sport and showcases Santa Cruz's enduring legacy as a cultural force. For the consumer, it offers a dense and compelling product line, particularly within the highly-searched category of golf accessories, that allows them to articulate their style and allegiance to a new, hybridized aesthetic. This is not just apparel and equipment; it is the physical manifestation of a cultural shift, where the skatepark and the fairway are not so far apart after all.
Get Your Hands on the Malbon x Santa Cruz Collection
This collaboration brings together the best of both worlds, merging Malbon Golf’s modern approach to the game with Santa Cruz Skateboards’ iconic style. See how golf and skate culture come together in apparel and accessories.
Honorable mention to Three Putting Is Not a Crime – if you get it, get it.
The Man Behind the Lens
Marc Antony, a San Francisco native, is a professional photographer and videographer bringing a new perspective to golf. As a player himself, he captures the sport with an eye for counterculture, blending tradition with a fresh, modern twist.
Check out more on his Instagram @shooter_mcpaton
That's a clean link-up, both brands brought their best.
Super blessed to be shown such Love from this amazing golf community!! 💯 @fewllgolf cookin up that heat for y’all 🔥✅
The driver headcover is sold out, the universe hates me 😩