Upstart Michigan-Based Golf Lifestyle Brand Capturing the Soul of the Game and the Spirit of Up North Adventures

By Jason Manshum

Up North. 

For many in the Mitten, that means ‘above the knuckles’ – particularly when showing someone where you live or pointing out one of our state’s destinations by holding up your right hand as a guide.

Yet, Up North isn’t a singular location. Rather, it’s a lifestyle. 

It’s that feeling you get when you’re done working for the week and the compass points north on your vehicle. It’s having your tee time as the only thing on your schedule. It’s the scent of northern pines. It’s lake life. It’s conversations and camaraderie around a firepit. It’s opening the cottage – or setting up camp. It’s breathing in crisp, pure oxygen deep into your lungs. It’s meditative, offering time to unwind and unplug – relaxing, reflecting, and reconnecting. And it’s home to some of the best golf destinations in the Midwest.

This is the core and essence of North Coast Golf Co., a golf lifestyle brand based in Port Huron, Mich. The company, founded in 2019 by entrepreneur and Michigan State University alumnus, Matt Fernandez, was born on Michigan’s north coast.

“We’ve got the west coast and the east coast in the U.S.,” said Fernandez. “But here in Michigan, we have some of the best coasts in the country. It’s our north coast.”

North Coast Golf Co. was birthed from many summer golf adventures in northern Michigan. The company, with a small team of employees, freelancers, family, and friends, creates high-quality golf gloves and accessories. Their origins are golf gloves, but North Coast continues to release other gear such as headcovers, headwear, apparel, and other golf accessories. Their gear is curated to capture the Up North vibe while paying homage to the epitome of golf in the state.

“We’re on a mission to create the best gear in golf that inspires golfers to adventure more, both on and off the course,” Fernandez said with pride. 

The company has been growing exponentially since its founding. Their products can be purchased at https://northcoastgolfco.com, Amazon, and at select Golf Galaxy and Dick’s Sporting Goods locations. Several golf course pro shops now stock their shelves with North Coast gear as well. As the calendar turns to 2023, North Coast hopes to open its first brick and mortar retail store in the heart of northern Michigan. The store would sell not only North Coast gear, but other artisan golf products from likeminded companies that share in the love of the game. 

North Coast products are being sold at select golf courses outside the state as well. This accelerated growth has the company poised to become a major player in the golf retail space yet separated from others by its roots. 

“When you purchase a North Coast product, you’re not only getting the highest quality glove and accessories, but the spirit of a lifestyle for a community of adventure-loving golfers,” Fernandez added. “Whether you’re on the coast of Maine, in the redwoods of Oregon, or in the pines of northern Michigan.”

North Coast Golf Co. Gives Back

When golfers buy these products, they are supporting one of North Coast’s key pillars of investing in communities. After launching their Bogey the Bear product line, in summer 2021 North Coast began an initiative that with every Bogey the Bear product they sell, a tree will be planted in an area of need through One Tree Planted. Over the past year and a half, North Coast planted more than 2,500 trees through the program

While their primary efforts have been around planting trees, North Coast gives back to other organizations such as First Tee Detroit, Midnight Golf Program, Feeding America, No Kid Hungry, and various other non-profits in and out of the golf industry. 

Editor’s note: I have tried a pair of the North Coast Golf gloves and they are some of the softest and highest quality leather products I have touched.