Halti’s golf collection found its place on the fairways alongside Minea Blomqvist

Golf remains an important part of Halti’s sports family. One of the collection’s longest-running favourites is the Drive golf trouser range, which has been continuously refined over the years. Today, it is available in full-length trousers, shorts, capris and skirts.

The philosophy behind the products has remained unchanged since Halti first entered golf in the early 2000s: golf apparel must move naturally with the player and perform in changing weather conditions. The same principles that guided the brand’s very first golf collection continue to shape the range today — above all, unrestricted freedom of movement and uncompromising functionality.

Over the years, the Drive trousers have become something of a classic on Finnish golf courses and have even found their way into the wardrobe of Finland’s best-known international golfer.

Minea Blomqvist took up golf at the age of nine at Espoo Golf Club after her parents enrolled her in a summer camp, mainly to give their daughter something worthwhile to do during the holidays. It did not take long for the sport to win her over, thanks in large part to the great group of juniors she trained with.

“We happened to have an exceptionally good junior group. There were five girls of the same age, and we all got along really well. I fell in love with the sport immediately, and training was so much fun because of my friends. We all ended up representing Finland in the national team later on.”

Athletic by nature, Minea also practised figure skating, floorball and aikido while training in golf with both the girls at Espoo Golf Club and an older group of boys at Sarfvik. The boys were more experienced and provided just the right challenge for her naturally competitive personality. Every success fuelled her desire to improve even further.

At the age of 11, she gave up figure skating because six training sessions a week left no room for golf. By the age of 13, her goal had become crystal clear.

“That was the first time I thought: I want to be the best player in the world.”

Minea also recognised early on how important overall physical wellbeing was for success in golf. A stress fracture in her back at the age of 13 forced her to take a six-month break from the game and changed the way she trained and looked after her body.

“I really had to learn body control and how to take care of myself. Later, when I started doing Pilates seriously, it probably saved my career. I was able to play for 15 years without injuries.”

Physical conditioning plays an important role in golf. Although the sport may not always appear physically demanding, the repetitive movement places significant strain on the body. Mobility, core strength and recovery all have a direct impact on performance and injury prevention.

Mental preparation was equally important. A mental coach and hypnotherapy formed part of Minea’s comprehensive training programme.

Minea’s professional career began at the age of 18 and quickly gathered momentum. Her success as an amateur had already opened the door to international competitions. Among other achievements, she represented Europe against the United States in the very first Junior Solheim Cup.

The year 2004 established Minea Blomqvist-Kakko as one of the rising stars of international golf. She claimed her first Ladies European Tour victory in Hungary, was named Rookie of the Year, and shot a historic 62 at the Women’s British Open — the lowest single-round score in the tournament’s history at the time. The fast-rising Finn was widely regarded as one of the most exciting new names in European women’s golf.

Her rapid ascent also made her an attractive ambassador for leading brands. Bright, cheerful and approachable, she impressed not only with her golfing ability but also with her positive personality and attitude.

Through a fortunate chain of events, experienced sports marketer Hjallis Harkimo became Minea’s manager.

Harkimo set out to build the strongest possible professional support network around her. It included sponsors, financial backing, travel arrangements and access to world-class coaches. In an MTV interview in 2004, Harkimo explained that his priority was to free Minea from financial and practical concerns so she could focus entirely on golf.

The transition to the professional ranks was not without setbacks. Her first qualifying tournament ended dramatically on the final hole.

“I duffed my shot into the water on the last hole and missed qualifying by one stroke. I didn’t sleep for five days. It felt like a complete disaster.”

Through Harkimo, Halti and Minea found each other at the perfect time, as Halti was looking to expand its sports offering by developing a dedicated golf collection.

Golf is often associated with sunny fairways and warm afternoons, but in Finland the weather becomes part of the game. Early mornings can be cold, rain is a frequent companion, and players easily spend five or six hours outdoors in constantly changing conditions. That demands much more from clothing than simply meeting the dress code. This was exactly where Halti could make a difference.

The partnership went far beyond providing sponsored clothing. Halti wanted to develop golf apparel in exactly the same way it approached clothing for every other sport: starting from the athlete’s needs. Minea played a central role in that process.

“There was something genuinely valuable and innovative about the collaboration. It wasn’t just, ‘Here are your clothes, wear them.’ They really listened to me, and I was able to influence the details and even the appearance of the products.”

Golf fashion itself was going through a transformation. Until then, traditional golf clothing had remained fairly conservative and etiquette-driven. New technical fabrics, more athletic silhouettes and bolder colours were beginning to appear on the fairways, and Halti’s golf collection reflected that change perfectly.

“The collaboration created a special feeling that we were building something new. I got to discuss the products and give feedback on things like golf skirts and technical shirts. That made the partnership really exciting.”

Many of those garments are still carefully stored away.

“I just couldn’t bring myself to throw them away because they hold so many memories.”

The tournament that remains closest to Minea’s heart is still the 2005 Ladies European Tour event in Tali. It was a landmark occasion for Finnish golf.

“When competing abroad, I could mostly play in peace. Suddenly I found myself at the centre of attention at my home tournament. There were media, spectators and a completely different atmosphere compared to a normal tournament week.”

One outfit, in particular, has stayed with her.

“For the second competition day, they designed exactly what I had wished for — a pink skirt with a black technical Halti shirt. The outfit fitted perfectly, felt great and gave me confidence. It was freezing out on the course and I was cold. Normally I would have put on trousers, but I wanted to play in that skirt because it looked so good.”

During the 2000s, golf apparel evolved alongside the sport itself. Greater emphasis was placed on freedom of movement and unrestricted swing mechanics. A perfect swing requires clothing that moves with the body, and even small discomforts can affect concentration over a long round. Golf became more athletic, more personal and more expressive, while technical materials became an increasingly essential part of golf clothing.

In 2008, Minea won the Finnair Masters in Tali, part of the Ladies European Tour, becoming the first Finnish player ever to win the tournament. Three years earlier, victory had slipped away on home soil, but this time the dream came true. The win firmly established her as one of the pioneers of Finnish women’s golf.

During her career, Finnish golf became increasingly international. Minea competed on both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour in the United States, set a record low single-round score in a major championship, and paved the way for future generations of Finnish golfers through her achievements.

From the perspective of Halti’s 50-year history, golf is a fascinating example of how technical clothing expanded into entirely new sports during the 2000s. Halti had long been recognised as an outdoor and hiking brand, but the same qualities needed in the mountains and on hiking trails proved equally valuable on the golf course. Freedom of movement, breathability, lightweight construction, layering and weather protection are all qualities a professional golfer relies on throughout every round.

Ultimately, it is about living an active life outdoors. The golf course became another environment where functional clothing makes a genuine difference — clothing that adapts to changing conditions, allows players to stay focused throughout a long day and performs so naturally that it becomes an invisible part of the game.

“The days are long and the weather is unpredictable. Your golf bag always needs to include warm layers, as well as protection from wind and rain when needed.”

Golf fashion has also become considerably more relaxed over the years. Where strict dress codes once dominated, today’s style draws inspiration from sports such as tennis.

“People still want to look good on the course. Golf still has its own unique sense of style.”

Today, Minea Blomqvist-Kakko works as a coach and entrepreneur, running Minni & Roope Golf School together with her husband. The academy operates at Pickala, Hirsala and Löfkulla. Her husband Roope, who also enjoyed a long and successful international career, continues to compete professionally.

Minea has also coached Finland’s junior national teams, but the role required extensive travel and long periods abroad. After many years on tour, she appreciates being able to work from home in Finland and enjoys having found a natural way to remain involved in the sport. Nowadays, she only competes if it is for a meaningful cause.

Coaching women has become a particular passion. Through her work, she has become part of a large community of female golfers that has brought new meaning to her career. It combines many things she enjoys: inspiring people, movement and spending time outdoors.

Nature also remains an important source of strength.

“I remember staying on the course alone in the evenings when I was young, practising my putting and listening to the birds sing. It became a natural place to dream about the future.”

Even long days on the golf course never feel tiring when the workplace is surrounded by nature and changing seasons. She admits that she still finds herself deeply moved by the fact that she is able to work in such beautiful surroundings.

“Even now, I sometimes catch myself thinking out on the course: I can't believe how lucky I am to do this for a living.”