Students, the LA-based brand injecting a streetwear sensibility into golf's traditional dress code, hosted its second marquee event last weekend in Montebello, California along with Bodega. Branded "Field Trip", the concept behind the event is to offer something more approachable than the typical 18-hole golf outing. This means instead of sending players out onto the course in a shotgun style format, everything is concentrated around one "Stadium" hole allowing the event to have a smaller footprint and a heightened atmosphere.
The partnership with retailer Bodega highlighted Students ability to bridge the gap between golf and streetwear. Students' founder Michael Huynh is recognized in streetwear as the founder of Publish Brand, and with new label Students he's capitalizing on his cut-and-sew garment know-how to develop a community of golf fashion enthusiasts. Much of that audience was in attendance on Saturday afternoon in LA including recent "Creator Classic" star Roger Steele, The Number Thirty Three's Justin Eldridge, TV host Hally Leadbetter and others. Golf creator/entrepreneur Sam Yi and comedian LouLou Gonzalez were the eventual winners of the tournament.
The format of the tournament required some learning, but once people figured it out the concept caught on. A total of 32 players were divided into 16 teams of two, and the first round of play grouped four teams together in a sudden death closest to the pin contest. Half the field moved on and then play followed in alternate shot matchups until only two teams were remaining in the finals, all the while Formula Drift commentator Jarod DeAnda narrated the action. Spectators came and went throughout the day and were invited to customize their own camo headcovers or Vans Slip-Ons.
The Field Trip also allowed Students to spotlight some of the new partnerships that have bedded it into the LA golf community. These include Los Angeles Golf Club, one of the six teams competing in the upcoming Tomorrow's Golf League (TGL), who hosted a Dryvebox simulator next to the course where two members of the public could earn their way into the tournament. Acura, meanwhile, partnered with Students to offer a brand new car for anyone who could hit a hole-in-one (spoiler alert: nobody did), while Montreal-based artist FVCKRENDER created a pair of unique trophies made from silver and resin for the winning team.
All-in-all, the Students x Bodega Field Trip "Stadium Edition" showed how up-and-coming golf brands continue to bet on events to foster a sense of community with investment from larger companies like Acura, Topgolf and Callaway.
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