When the nice folks at FootJoy sent me a comfortable, warm, and yes - stylish DryJoys Tour Collection Performance Rain Jacket last month I emailed them saying it almost made me hope for Southern California rain.

Be careful what you wish for.

A recent December storm that caused more than $100 Million in damage (not to mention the $9700 inflicted on my car when I was sideswiped on the freeway) had me pulling out that beautiful jacket every day, for what seems like a week.

Before I start the review, let me preface it by saying I don't know the marketing names of all of the features. If I look at the website or printed literature first, it makes me lose focus on what I really like about the product. Also, the "swing factor" of this jacket was already proven to me before the rains started - I played golf one cool morning and it kept me warm without restricting my swing. So before I talk about how it performs in the rain, I'll discuss the general performance features I really like.

The Lining:
Inside the jacket is a really supple lining that provides some warmth beyond a shell. I also like the soft lined pockets; they double as hand warmers (or dryers).

The Cinch-Strap and Elastic Waistband:
No, I'm not describing a pair of underwear. This is a feature found on most golf jackets, which some of you may use and others may hate. I always like to tighten them up a bit, but the usual location, at the bottom cuff of the jacket, is illogical. The jacket tends to puff and bunch up. On the FootJoy jacket, the locking straps are inside the pockets. And on top of that, they don't just control a thin bungee cord; they pull on a 2" band made of elastic that is neatly tucked inside the liner. It works like a charm and is built to last.

The Outer Shell:
This may be the only marketing term I get right, without looking. The shell on this jacket is extremely waterproof without being shiny, so when playing on a cool day it doesn't look like you're wearing a rain jacket. A nice feature from the cosmetic standpoint to be sure, but it also means there is low noise and brushing when swinging the club.

Now on to the rainwear aspects of this jacket.

Does it Pass the "Pineapple Express" Rainstorm Test?
(No, we're not talking about the movie. The huge rainstorm I described is a result of a huge plume of water that hit California from Hawaii.) I have spent over $200 on a golf rain jacket in the past, and for that price one expects quality and the garment to be waterproof. This one beads the water so well that you have to shake it off like a dog before heading indoors. I have put it through a machine washing and it came out perfect, continuing to perform it's rain duties.

The ultimate test is that since I have acquired the FootJoy jacket, I haven't reached for my "other" go-to raincoat, and my only question is, when can I get the matching rain paints?

NOTES:

How did I do on describing the features without looking? Not bad, as it turns out. Here are a few notes:

The cinch system I described is called "It's a Cinch." The lining is simply described as a "Smooth Lining" and the pockets are said to provide for "hand comfort and warmth."

Things I missed:

The scorecard pocket. I have been using the lower side pockets which actually have plenty of room for a card, but I'm going to start using the chest pocket since that's what it's meant for. The velcro closures, which I didn't mention, at the bottom of each sleeve are convenient and highly functional. I also missed the fact that the zippers are waterproof and the seams are sealed and that's likely why FootJoy warrants the piece to be waterproof in normal conditions for two years, (USA).

Retail price: $240. To find out more, visit: www.footjoy.com.