The corporate parent of the Greg Norman golf clothing company has reached an agreement to acquire Dunning Golf, the performance apparel brand founded by Ralph Dunning.

Tharanco Lifestyles LLC, which bought the Greg Norman brand in 2009, announced the deal Monday morning.

According to the announcement, Mr. Dunning will maintain a partnership in the new company and continue to design the collection.

“Ralph Dunning revolutionized the golf industry in 2001 when he launched the very first apparel line for golf comprised entirely of performance fabrics,” said Michael J. Setola, the president and chief executive officer of Tharanco Lifestyles. “We’re confident that with Ralph’s brand vision and our operational platform we’re poised for this acquisition to be a success.”

A former Ironman competitor, Dunning made a mark in the 1990s with his Rip N Hammer line of technical clothing for triathletes and cyclists. His golf clothes are known for traditional, preppy styling and solid performance features. Dunning Golf clothing is sold in country club pro shops and at select specialty stores.

— Woody Hochswender

By Woody Hochswender

If you have been following Adidas Golf's summerlong "Wear in the World" event, in which two guys compete to win a job with the company in "social media," then you know that this is kind of like "The Apprentice" crossed with "Mad Men" (emphasis on mad).

In recent weeks, the contestants have dressed up as geishas, samurai, and hockey goalies; held putting contests on ice and in public squares; and created ads and product videos about Adidas apparel, including testing their Adidas ClimaProof 3-Way Storm golf jackets while riding jet skis on choppy water (the clothes actually kept them dry).

As well-documented on Twitter and Facebook, the two fortunate fellows, Chris Dukeminier and Steve Olsen, are back in the U.S. playing Bandon Dunes, on the Oregon seacoast, where the caddies wear Adidas apparel. The wind, rain, and fog tend to give their ClimaProof Storm Ultimate jackets and pants a serious workout. Wednesday they played Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald and today they're on Bandon Trails.

Read more at golf.com/wearintheworld, a collection of Golf.com blog posts following Adidas Golf's "Wear in the World" adventure.

By Woody Hochswender

The latest adventure by Adidas Golf takes two candidates on the road to nine nations as part of  "The Ultimate Job Interview" pitting two carefully selected (and very lucky) candidates, Chris Dukeminier and Steve Olsen, against each other at various great golf venues in places like Norway, Scotland, Dubai, Thailand, Japan, and Canada. At the conclusion of this edition of Adidas' Wear in the World series, one of these guys, who are already Tweeting and Facebooking like mad, will be hired as a "media catalyst" for the company.

This week Dukeminier and Olsen are at the Adidas corporate headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where Dukeminier has apparently injured himself (playing rugby), according to his Facebook page. They also played in a pro-am tournament and showcased some of the Adidas high-performance golfwear, including Climacool Mesh Plaid Polo shirts and ClimaCool shorts (caddies these days always seem to wear shorts). In case of windy weather they toted along an Adidas' Climalite Warm 3-Stripes Jacket, with a half zip front, and a Performance zippered sweater. For rainwear, they carried Climaproof Wind Soft Shell Jackets.

Next stop is a golf date in Norway. The whirlwind tour ends at Bandon Dune Golf Resort on the Oregon coast.

Read more at golf.com/wearintheworld, a collection of Golf.com blog posts following Adidas Golf's "Wear in the World" adventure.

Bobby Jones, the golf apparel division of Hartmarx, has a new president, John Kirwan, a former Polo Ralph Lauren executive, the company announced this week.

Hartmarx, which also owns the licensed Jack Nicklaus brand and makes suits for President Barack Obama, was sold to Emerisque Brands of Britain and its Indian partner S. Kumars Nationwide Limited in August, after filing for Chapter 11 bankrupcy protection earlier in the year. Kirwan was appointed by another former Ralph Lauren executive, Doug Williams, who was named chief executive officer of HMX, the new name of the parent company, in September.

The Bobby Jones brand, which is wholly owned by HMX, is known for its luxury fabrics, traditional look, and attention to authentic golf details.  It has not been a happy period for upscale golf brands.

The retail sector is pretty difficult whether green grass or off course," Kirwan said, referring to the various shops that sell the clothes. He added that his main goal was to get the Bobby Jones on a course of growth after the nearly yearlong uncertainties caused by the parent company’s bankruptcy. -- Woody Hochswender, Contributing Style Editor, GOLF Magazine 

(Photo provided by Bobby Jones Golf)

College football fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the season this weekend, and golfers are no exception, especially those who went to schools with rich football traditions.

On Saturday, during the second round of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston, several of Nike's top staff players will wear outfits that show their true school colors. They include Tiger Woods (Stanford), Anthony Kim (Oklahoma), Stewart Cink (Georgia Tech), Lucas Glover (Clemson), Carl Pettersson (North Carolina State), Justin Leonard (Texas) and Paul Casey (Arizona State).

While most of the game's top players are at TPC Sawgrass this week, competing in The Players, the BMW Italian Open is being played in Turin, Italy. John Daly says he is losing five pounds a week and has now lost 60 pounds total.

And once again, he is wearing some, uh, how can I saw this nicely ... unique trousers from Loud Mouth Golf. Daly shot a pair of 69s, so we can look forward to more lovely offerings this weekend.

Friday's Second Round (below):

Thursday's Opening Round:

Wednesday's Pro-Am:

Stay in the know by following David Dusek on Twitter.

(Photos by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND -- Don't think of a rain jacket as a fashion statement. As the pros who braved the elements Thursday at Birkdale will attest, good foul weather gear is serious equipment and worth investing in. Here are a few things to think about:

1. Waterproof vs. Water resistant
When you get a waterproof jacket it should keep you dry in a steady rain and not allow any water to leak through. The zippers have flaps or seals that prevent water from seeping inside, and the seams inside the jacket will often be sealed as well. What you might be sacrificing is some breathability.

A water resistant top will usually be more breathable, but if you get caught in a long, steady rain you'll get wet. If you are playing in a light drizzle or a light rain, you'll stay fairly dry. On a hot summer day, a water resistant top will help you avoid feeling like a steamed clam.

2. Warranties
If you are looking to invest in a waterproof jacket, look for one that has a warranty. Many, including the tops listed below, promise to keep you dry with normal use for at least two years.

3. Wind resistance
Waterproof jackets should be windproof too, but many water resistant jackets are windproof these days as well. On a chilly day, having a layer that blocks the wind will make you feel a lot warmer.
Here are four rain tops that will keep you dry and comfortable for years to come:

SAN DIEGO — For all you Tiger fans out there, Nike says that these are the shirts that Tiger Woods will wear later this week at Torrey Pines.

Thursday: Nike Dri-Fit Dispersed Stripe Polo - Pacific Blue	Friday: Nike Dri-Fit Ministripe Polo - Green Been
Saturday: Nike Dri-Fit Dropstripe Polo - Purple Frost	Sunday: Nike Dri-Fit Drop Needle Polo - Carmine

Photos provided by Nike

** After reading the comment by Pete Carter on Sunday, GOLF.com contacted a representative of Nike Golf. Here is what that person said regarding the availability of the clothes Tiger wears.

"We sell all the shirts that Tiger wears in competition. All the shirts he wears are from the current apparel line. Once there is a new season, Tiger wears the new season's shirts. He does not wear the shirts until they are available at retail and has never worn a shirt in competition that you can't buy at a retailer. Golf Galaxy and Golfsmith each carry the Nike Golf Tiger Woods collection which is the collection all of Tiger's shirts are from."

Yankees centerfielder Johnny Damon, below right, was on hand Thursday in the PUMA booth to greet fans and help support the launch of the company's newest golf shoe, the Swing GTX. 

Instead of spikes, the Swing GTX has 38 molded "quills" that are strategically placed to provide traction. According to the company, the shoes are easier on greens but still provide a very solid grip during full swings.

Damon did not model the shoes, but he played his role as spokesman perfectly, sipping a beer and chatting up visitors while decked out in PUMA gear.

Polyester, nylon, spandex and… coconut? The IZOD Carbon uses technology created by Cocona Fabrics, which uses activated carbon from coconut shells to create fibers and yarns. According to the manufacturers, this lightweight natural fabric is "green," provides UV protection and has an anti-bacterial finish. It is also static and odor resistant, and features a vent technology that allows the shirt to breathe and dry quickly.

The IZOD Carbon line features shirts, skirts, pants and outerwear, and is available for both men and women.