...and then he said “get up there and… hit it like an IRISHMAN!"
...and then he said “get up there and… hit it like an IRISHMAN!"
I remember that round. We were playing in the stifling heat and humidity of Charleston, SC. My shirt was so soaked I felt like I took a dip in the pool. There is also a good chance I had a bit of a smell going on as well. Two guys named Mark and some dude on vacation from Idaho were having a pretty competitive match and we all were feeling quite confident that day, although our outer appearance showed a different story. I had an epiphany as the match was coming down to just a couple more holes to play. In my 40 years of playing this sport I’ve come to realize that you can really get to know a person by how they handle themselves on the golf course. Heck, I remember having an initial interview with a ‘would be boss’ over a round of golf. For 18 long holes he studied me.
Anyone who’s ever played the game knows the ‘club thrower’ or the guy that tries to get in your head with comments in hopes that you screw up but there is also another personality type out there. It’s the one where your competitor is actually speaking words of encouragement because he wants the best for you. It takes root in your head between the 6 inch fairway between your ears. We finally approached the 18th hole and I’m down a stroke. It’s a 4 par with an extremely narrow fairway that was playing over 400 yards that day. I’ve never attempted to use a driver on that hole as double bogey would most likely be the outcome. We were down a stroke and I knew I had to do something different. Then he spoke those special words. He said, “Get up there and hit it like an IRISHMAN”! I take great pride having an Irish heritage so my chest swelled and feeling more confident than ever, I took out the driver and striped it down the middle of the fairway. Oh, and yes, I did get that job and tied the other Mark.
The epiphany I had that day set in motion our Brand because we want the best for you.
"HILAI are initials for, 'hit it like an IRISHMAN' but what it stands for is something quite unique.
It's a reminder to take on the elements with our performance products as you play golf while not forgetting why you play. It's loving the game and playing fearlessly while not forgetting to notice the great outdoors and the smell of the grass, the camaraderie of friends and the sheer joy of playing golf.
Why Us
The ‘hit it like an IRISHMAN’ (HILAI) company is a boutique clothier with limited edition men’s attire designed and manufactured for every golfer looking for high quality, functional and fashion forward products. Our Polo shirts are designed to keep you comfortable and protected from the elements when you play the game in all conditions.
We scoured the world to find the right mix of comfort and performance in a garment. We finally found the right materials and partners to make our Polos. These partners are as discriminating about their products as we are about our design concepts.
We looked at all the details but never lost sight of our goal; to give golfers something more than a polo shirt. HILAI is a modern product at its core but it's combined with some special add ons to get you enjoying the beautiful game of golf in a unique way.
Greet your friends with an open heart and an outstretched hand and boldly show them respect by uttering the best word in modern golf...