Anyone who's followed a junior golfer around 9 or 18 holes knows how long a round can feel. Two to five hours outdoors, plenty of walking, and in Australia or the US, usually plenty of sun. What your daughter wears makes a bigger difference than you might expect, both to how comfortable she is and to how she feels about herself out there.

A lot of girls start out in whatever sportswear is in the drawer, and that's fine at the beginning. Once they're playing regularly, though, it's worth looking at clothes made for golf.

Why golf-specific clothing is worth it

Golf clothes are built around the swing. Good girls' golf apparel stretches when she rotates, stays light in the heat and dries quickly when she sweats. It also looks neat enough to meet club dress codes, which is easy to forget until you're turned away at the pro shop.

What to look for

Stretch and comfort. A golf swing turns through the shoulders, hips and torso. Stiff fabric fights that movement and gets annoying by the back nine. Look for soft, breathable four-way stretch fabric that she can forget she's wearing.

Sun protection. This one matters most in Australia and the hotter southern US States (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico). Long-sleeve tops, light layers, UPF-rated fabrics where you can find them, and a good cap or hat will all help her get through a summer competition day without getting burnt to a crisp.

Style she actually likes. Girls' golf fashion has come a long way from boxy polos with garish patterns or bright fluorescent colours. There are now proper colours, modern cuts and stylish outfits that look good together. It sounds minor, but a girl who likes what she wears tends to walk onto the first tee a little taller.

Confidence counts

We see it all the time. Girls who feel good in their gear turn up more often, enjoy competitions more and make friends through the game. For a lot of them, what they wear becomes part of how they see themselves as golfers. That counts for a lot when you're trying to keep girls in the sport through their teens.

A few common mistakes

Buying big to grow into. It's tempting, but baggy clothes get in the way of the swing and never quite feel right.

Picking looks over function. Style matters, but it shouldn't come at the cost of comfort, breathability or durability. The best pieces do both.

Forgetting a layer. A cool morning can turn into a hot afternoon, and the reverse happens too. A lightweight jacket or vest in the bag saves a lot of complaints on the 12th hole.

Girls golf is growing, and the clothes are catching up

More girls are taking up golf, and brands are finally realizing they don't want shrunk-down versions of adult clothes. They want clothes that are fun, show a bit of personality and still perform when it counts.

Our take

The right golf clothes should feel as good on the 18th as they did on the 1st. That's why we started Pitchn: girls' golf clothing designed for comfort, movement and confidence, with a look they'll want to wear on and off the course.