PALM RAT GOLF

“Work, Play, Live” is the dominant ethos for Chad Bright and Evan Hoobchaak, two Barrington dads and the co-owners of Palm Rat Golf, the brand-new golf lifestyle clothing brand for men. As game changers in the men’s athletic wear space, these two bright professionals have successfully linked their passion to their business goals, which is something many aspire to do.

Whether you work to live or live to work, striking a balance is key. Professionals are aiming for equilibrium, carving out time for pursuits and activities that are not only rewarding and meaningful but also fun. And, since the workplace is changing and evolving with more people having the ability to operate from home or function within a more flexible timetable, being able to flow from work to leisure is increasingly more important. This is where Palm Rat Golf shines, with easy-to-wear stylish attire for men enabling them to glide effortlessly from the office to an after-work social hour to the golf course to time at home with family and friends around the backyard barbecue.

North Barrington local, Hoobchaak, went to college out east but felt the pull of his hometown’s rural, private environment. And how could you blame him? The Village of Barrington has all the charm and character of a small Midwestern town with wide open spaces and a vibrant historic district. Once a farming community, transportation hub, and countryside retreat for wealthy Windy City businessmen, today the town’s residents continue to enjoy a high quality of living and a community-forward culture.

Bright, originally from Ohio, made his way to Barrington in 2017. “I love all the open space and opportunity to get outside in Barrington, but most importantly the community,” says Bright. “The support we’ve received from friends new and old as we’ve been on this journey is a great reminder of what a special place this is.”

The bros became in-real-life bros through marriage. “Chad is my brother-in-law, and since we get along really well, we hit the brother-in-law lottery,” says Hoobchaak.

“I was friends with Evan’s sister for several years, wrote her a love letter, moved in with her two months later, and then eventually met him,” Bright remembers. “Natalya and I have been married for 11 years now and we love that we’re near Evan and his family and our kids get to grow up together—not to mention it’s harder for our spouses to give us grief for golfing when it’s with a brotherin- law.”

So, where did the impetus for a business come from? “Palm Rat Golf was hatched over drinks in Florida, as any good idea should be,” explains Hoobchaak. “We were discussing various aspects of golf brands and what we liked and didn’t like—collars, cut, buttons, patterns, fabric, etc.—and we decided we should just combine the best features into one product line with classic styles and modern fit that we would all love.”

“We had half-jokingly talked about starting an apparel brand on several golf trips,” Bright recalls. “But this time the conversation felt different and more solid. The key was keeping the momentum going. We rather quickly created a vision board for the brand, identified a designer, got our trademarks in order, and then we were off to the races.”

The quality of the apparel is what makes this company different from other golf brands on the market. “We think our fabric is some of the best out there,” says Hoobchaak. “The clothes wear great, fit right, launder well, and have a classic look that we feel has been missing from current golf trends.”

Bright wanted to move beyond the golf clothing that didn’t optimally fit or featured wild patterns and designs. “We wanted something that looked just as good on the course as off and allowed for easy transitions from the office to the course to hanging with friends,” Bright says.

The clothing, designed to maintain its high quality over time, can be worn everywhere, in any warm or active environment. “I find myself wearing the clothes as much off the course as I do on, whether in social settings or at work,” says Bright. “With so many jobs going virtual or hybrid, the office attire has gotten more casual with people looking for something that is comfortable yet stylish. We think our clothing fits that need perfectly, and it doesn’t hurt when you’re already looking sharp and can sneak out for a quick nine!”

And for those interested in an active women’s or a kid’s line? You’ll have to wait but good things are on the horizon as the company grows. “Both wives have been very supportive,” Hoobchaak says. “We’ve had plenty of interest in a women’s and kid’s line, and I imagine that in a few seasons we’ll likely have some product. Our design team is itching to use our fabric for some women’s wear.”

Shoppers can find the styles at palmratgolf.com and DIBI Menswear at 28686 W. Northwest Highway, Lake Barrington.