How do you start a golf apparel brand?

Starting a golf apparel brand begins with defining your brand identity, creating a logo, securing a domain, and then finding production partners for your merchandise. This series documents each step of that process.

How much does it cost to start a golf brand?

The cost varies widely depending on your approach. This experiment is being bootstrapped with minimal upfront investment, using print-on-demand and small batch production to minimize risk while testing the market.

What products should a new golf brand start with?

Hats and apparel are common starting points because they're relatively simple to produce, have good margins, and are highly visible on the course. Accessories like ball markers and headcovers are also popular entry points.

Duck Hook Golf Week 1: Logo, Domain, and Getting Started | Best or Worst Idea

Week 1: Logo, Domain, and Getting Started

January 31, 2026 · Week 1

New here? Read the Duck Hook Golf thesis to understand what this experiment is about. The store at duckhookgolf.co isn't live yet—stay tuned.

This Week's Progress

Week 1 is about laying the foundation. No revenue yet. No products yet. But the pieces are starting to come together.

The Logo

The Duck Hook Golf logo is done. It's a duck doing a sky hook—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's legendary basketball move—but with a golf ball, framed inside a shield with "DH" at the bottom. The visual pun layers perfectly: the "hook" in Duck Hook references both the dreaded golf shot and one of the most iconic moves in sports.

The style is vintage athletic with a touch of absurdity, which fits the brand perfectly. It's the kind of logo that works on a hat, a polo chest, a headcover, or a ball marker. Versatile enough to scale across different products, distinctive enough to be recognizable.

The official Duck Hook Golf logo

Domain Secured

Grabbed duckhookgolf.co. Nothing live there yet, but the digital real estate is locked in. Next step will be deciding on the right platform—Shopify, BigCommerce, or something leaner to start.

Merch Production: Still Exploring

This is the current focus. The plan is to start with hats and apparel, but I need to find the right production partner. The options fall into a few categories:

Print-on-demand (Printful, Printify, Gooten): Low risk, no inventory, but margins are thinner and quality control is out of your hands. Good for testing designs.

Small batch/custom manufacturers: Better quality, better margins, but requires minimum orders and upfront investment. More risk, but more control.

Local embroidery/screen print shops: Could be good for hats especially. Need to get quotes and samples.

This week I'm researching options and reaching out for quotes. Goal is to have a production path locked in within the next week or two.

Week 1 Checklist

✓ Finalize brand name
✓ Design logo
✓ Secure domain (duckhookgolf.co)
○ Research merch production options
○ Get production quotes
○ Order samples
○ Set up online store
○ Launch first product

Scoreboard

Week

Total Expenses

Total Revenue

Products Launched

What's Next

This week the focus is on merch production. I need to get quotes, understand minimums, and ideally order some samples to see quality firsthand. Once I have a production partner locked in, I can start building out the store and preparing for a soft launch.

Check back next Saturday for the Week 2 update.

This is a personal project documented for educational and entertainment purposes. Duck Hook Golf is an independent brand with no affiliation with any professional golf organization. All opinions are my own. Results—financial or otherwise—are not guaranteed and will be reported honestly whether positive or negative.

Week 1