The Matthews Story
Scott Matthews is an entrepreneur and founder of Olydoe. After more than a decade in investment banking and corporate finance, he created Olydoe to bring a different approach to modern golf apparel – one that draws inspiration from the deep traditions and heritage of the sport while answering the needs of today’s golfer.
Raised in a small town in Illinois, his appreciation and connection to craftsmanship began early. Scott’s grandmother owned a fabric store and his mother was a home economics teacher who embroidered polos for his youth golf team.
The Matthews Philosophy
Olydoe was born from time spent in private club pro shops, where Matthew saw an opportunity to create something quieter, more intentional, and rooted in material integrity.
We are a men’s golf apparel brand built on a simple belief – golf happens in nature; apparel should honor it.
The brand delivers quiet American luxury through natural and traceable materials with intentional design for on and off the course.
Olydoe is positioned for the Modern Traditionalist, blending American sporting heritage and British quiet luxury, with a focus on timeless craft rather than trend cycles.
***
What was the genesis for Olydoe?
I grew up around fabrics. My grandmother owned a fabric store, and my mom was a home economics teacher who used to embroider polos for my youth golf team. Materials have always mattered to me.
Olydoe was born from my realization that most golf apparel felt interchangeable. We’re creating a line of products that are more reflective of nature and the tradition of the game. Something that feels better the longer you wear it, and works just as well off the course as it does on it.
In what specific ways do your efforts distinguish themselves from others in the highly competitive category as apparel?
We use a unique hollow core design that allows our polo to act like a performance fabric without the polyester. We also use Supima cotton, while many brands use Peruvian Pima Cotton. Our collar buttons ensure the collar stays sharp and structured all day long.
Our main distinguisher is versatility – every piece seamlessly transitions from the course to the clubhouse.
How would you assess the vibrancy of the golf industry in the year ahead when compared to 2025?
The golf industry appears to be shifting to a more refined and intentional direction compared to 2025. More quiet luxury and less bold colors and designs. Consumers are becoming more mindful of what they wear, and placing greater value on thoughtful choices and the materials that make up their clothing.
Describe the fabrics used for your products and how they combine the twin pillars of form and fashion.
Our fabrics include Supima Cotton, the most luxurious cotton in the world, and Merino Wool, famous for its next-to-skin softness, strength and innate versatility and technical benefits.
We combine form and fashion through using premium natural fibers to deliver refined style alongside breathable comfort, durability, odor resistance, and unrestricted movement.
Who is your customer?
Our customer spans a range of audiences, including country club buyers, modern traditionalists, and those who value natural fabrics and less polyester.
Do endorsements from leading figures in professional golf matter and do you have plans to engage any with that in mind?
We’re considering that approach right now.
Though we are not affiliated with him, we see and value the fact that Keith Mitchell is the leading advocate on the PGA Tour for using natural fibers instead of polyester.
If you could change one thing in golf unilaterally – what would it be and why?
The prevalence of coastal prep pastel colors and the overreliance on polyester blends.
These two items are not natural and don’t blend with the natural landscapes of golf courses and how golf was intended to be played.
Companies routinely talk about the importance of customer service and feedback. Define the approach you follow with both.
Our team approaches customer service with humility and a desire to make every interaction with our brand memorable.
From crafting apparel to the ease of use on our website, we make every choice thoughtfully with the customer in mind.
We also actively invite feedback by sharing samples with customers.
The biggest challenges facing the company – short and long term are what? And what strategic responses are you implementing to deal with each?
The convenience of polyester — long term — polyester is less expensive, so asking consumers to shift their mindset from purchasing synthetic apparel (what they are used to) to valuing a higher quality piece with an increased price is challenging.
Manufacturing in the USA — short term — we shifted to manufacturing in Peru, Portugal, Italy, and Vietnam due to high manufacturing costs in the USA.
Best advice you ever received – what was it and who was it from?
“Iteration is better than perfection, perfection kills momentum.”
I put tremendous time and effort into each product, but I think it’s better to get products into the market and get feedback rather than chase perfection in sampling.
***
For more info on Olydoe click HERE
