quick-dry, moisture-wicking, buttery-soft fabric internal drawstring for adjustable sizing sun protection, sensory sensitive, and tagless special features of
TURTLEBACK APPAREL
four way stretch for ultimate movement & comfort
DIFFERENT BY
Design
When the first product shipment arrived at her home, Sprague admits she was both excited and nervous as she opened the box.
“ Please be right,” she recalled thinking as she lifted each pair of pants from the shipment.
Not only were they right, they were perfect. Sons Charlie and Tucker loved them. And when she took the pants along to their next golf tournament, parents and kids swarmed her golf cart— payment ready— and sent orders flying.
Sprague also began selling her product online and at pop-up events. At one U. S. Kids tournament in Pinehurst, she lined up a photographer to take photos of boys wearing Turtlebacks apparel for her website. The kids liked the product, told their parents, and Sprague was enveloped by adults ready to buy.
“ It was a cool and enlightening experience and it made me think these pants were something people really liked,” she said.
What made her boys’ golf pants different was the design. The pants are soft and
stretchy with an internal drawstring that allows them to be tightened to fit at the waist. They also have a faux fly and snap on the front with added loops for a belt, if desired. Additionally, they’ re durable through wear and washing, and they’ re wrinkle-resistant.
THEY FEEL LIKE SWEATPANTS DISGUISED AS DRESS PANTS. I’ ve had people tell me their kids sleep in them and never want to take them off.— Emily Brant Sprague
Sprague has also expanded Turtlebacks’ product line, adding shorts, polo shirts, and hoodies. She has introduced new colors with the pants and is testing two fabrics for the shorts while preparing to launch new colors in their line of
of summer
polos. She hopes to create a product line for girls in the future, especially now that her daughter is taking an interest in the game.
As the demands of running her startup have required more time, Sprague resigned from her job in law almost a year ago. Her passion project is now a business— and one that’ s moving slowly and strategically in a previously unimaginable direction.
“ I didn’ t go into this thinking this was going to become a full-blown, golf-inspired performance apparel brand for boys,” Sprague said.“ But my dream has certainly grown and expanded, along with the brand.” vsga. org M AY / J UNE 2026 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 23