David Jones takes the “look good, play good” mentality literally.
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s Indian Springs Country Club Superintendent, was a golfer on every Oklahoma State course. He is also known for choosing brightly colored, unique clothing while playing.
“It kind of started with my grandfather in Minnesota,” Jones says. “We would play golf and he would always wear extravagant clothing and everything, even when he wasn’t playing golf. I got some hand-me-downs from him and that was where it started.”
At the start of David’s fashion journey almost two decades ago, he had to get a little more creative chasing down his looks. “I would go to eBay or thrift stores to try to find some of the older clothing that was bright colors and everything but now everybody seems to be selling them so it’s great,” he says.
Although making it simpler to shop might come with a loss of space in the home for Erin, Erin and he can both agree that this is a good thing.
“I always blame her because she kind of started this, too,” Jones says. “Any time I would have a birthday or for Christmas, she would buy me some Loudmouth pants or whatever. She doesn’t do it anymore because I’ve actually probably got two closets full of stuff compared to her half a closet so it’s pretty bad.”
“I was working at home during the pandemic and packages just kept arriving like every single day,” Erin Jones says. “I remember saying to him like, ‘When is enough, enough? You’re already busting out of our closet, our garage is full of shoes.’” Erin compares her husband to Imelda Marcos, A Filipina politician left over 2700 shoes behind when she died.
Erin, despite losing some of her closet space, is supportive whenever his wardrobe is recognized by fellow golfers.
“I think it’s funny, like I really think it’s funny,” she says. “So, I will offer to take a picture, like have that person be in a picture with David. The first time I remember seeing that was at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. I can’t even tell you how many people stopped me as we walked to the merchandise tent.
“There was one guy that stopped him and said, ‘Hey, you’re David Jones it’s so nice to meet you, I follow you on Twitter.’ People get really amped by it,” she says.
Jones is followed by more than 2100 people on Twitter. He will be posting his daily superintendent duties, outfits and dogs on @GolfsoupJones. Jones recently shared the experience from The Open Championship at St. Andrews.
“I just got back from the Open and there were several times when people even took my picture because my outfit and they just wanted a picture to show friends and family or whoever,” he says. “My wife, it kind of embarrasses her because about every 20 or 30 people will say, “Hey, nice outfit!” or “Nice colors!” so it’s kinda fun.”
But fun is what it’s all about for Jones.
“I just kinda like to be different,” he says. “I hate seeing guys that are just wearing the normal, you know, bland colors. That used to be me when I was in high school and everything and I was like, ‘You know what, I just want to be different,’ so I started doing that.”
Jones might not be wearing neon orange and candy corn pants when he goes to work but Jones still manages to find little ways to personalize his every day wear.
“I still kind of wear bright colors, not quite as extravagant as I do when I’m playing golf,” Jones says. “When I’m at home, it’s usually just shorts and a T shirt. I’m trying to be comfortable.”
“We were at a wedding … he actually wore this floral button-up shirt and I saw when he went to the food table, you know everybody was commenting on his shirt,” Erin says. “But he looked really good! The shirt was floral, and he had on a pair of plain trousers. It was really fun.”
For those also willing to be bold and express themselves through their clothing, Jones says you shouldn’t be afraid to match All.
“I would like to see more people match more stuff instead of just wearing a crazy shirt or whatever,” he says. “Accessorize and you know, make everything match, really stand out because you’ll be amazed at how many comments – and it makes you feel good too. To me, it makes me play better.”
Jones may not have 2,700 pairs of shoes but maybe he will.), you can’t put a number on style.
“I want to be unique and that’s why I do it, to kind of stand out a little bit I guess,” he says. “You could probably call it a sickness, but I like to call it a passion.”
Cassidy Gladieux, a Kent State University Senior and frequent contributor to the Golf Course Industry, is