I got this email from a reader the other day.

I just discovered your golfblogger site after googling for "cold weather golf apparel". I live in Maryland and the weather is starting to get chilly. I plan on taking your advice on the pants, socks, hat and gloves. But there is still a big piece of the puzzle left before I start playing in the 40's (or maybe 30's): the upper body. What would you recommend for a shirt, a sweater and/or a jacket for the colder temperatures? Obviously there needs to be warmth but not too much restriction of movement. Thanks for your site (and, hopefully, your response).  I'm 45 years old and just getting back into golf after a 5 year layoff.

OK. Here's what I do in the chilly climes of Michigan:

I wear a pair of flannel lined pants from LL Bean. For the top, I wear a Nike ClimaFit Mock Turtle. Over that, a heavy golf shirt. Then, a fleece vest. On the head, a Tilley Winter hat. On the feet, a pair of SmartWool socks.

Generally, that's good for me, even when the temperatures go down to the 40s. If the wind gets up, I might also wear a pair of earmuffs.

Smartwool Socks
Grade: A

From many years of cold weather camping with the Boy Scouts, I learned that keeping your feet comfortable is key to staying comfortable in the winter. Smartwool socks are soft and comfy, while keeping your feet warm and dry. What I really like about these, though is how well they fit. There's an arch brace that keeps the sock from sliding about in your shoe, and tight ribs on the top that keep the sock up against your leg.

Tilley Winter Hat
Grade: A+

I wrote about the Tilley Airflo hat in an earlier post. Cool and stylish, I think it's the perfect hat for summer play.

But it just won't do for cold weather. In the winter, you need to keep your head warm.

Fortunately, Tilley also has a winter hat. Made from soft, comfortable wool, it comes in several tweedy colors -- perfect for the fall or winter.  It's kept my head warm on many winter golf outings.

So why not just wear a stocking cap? They're warm, and they are lots cheaper.

The first answer is style. Stocking caps are ugly.

But that's not enough. The Tilley also has a wide brim that keeps the sun off your face -- you can get melanoma from winter sun just as surely as from summer rays.  The front and back of the brim slope downward to help keep the cold wind out.

Tucked inside the crown are pull down ear flaps and a forehead cover. I find that the ear covers are adequate, but not great emergency ear muffs. I've never actually used the forehead cover, but it comes down out of the front to warm you down to your eyebrows.

There are other nice details. There's a secret pocket in the crown -- just large enough for your id, a couple of credit cards and some money. A tuck-away tether will keep it from blowing away in a strong wind.

The fit of the hat is perfect, thanks to Tilley's precise measuring instructions. The Tilleys are the only hats I've every owned that fit exactly. It sits comfortably on my head -- held on, as Tilley says, by gravity, not by constricting my temples.

Buying a Tilley is an investment, and investments need to be protected. All Tilley hats come with a lifetime guarantee, and a two-year loss replacement program.

Buy this hat. You won't regret it.

And no, I don't get paid by Tilley. But if they wanted to send me a hat for the nice reviews, I wouldn't turn them down.

Lands End Flannel Lined Khakis
Grade: A

Another company that makes flanned lined Khakis is Lands End. Like the L.L. Bean versions, these are perfect for stylish cold weather play.

LL Bean Lined Chinos.
Grade: A

I play at a golf course where denim is verboten. But regular slacks just aren't heavy enough for cold weather play. LL Bean, the venerable outdoor suppliers, has a solution. These chinos are lined with flannel, making them toasty warm. I have two pair and think they're marvelous.