Our Story

The day everything changed

In 2018, I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma.

Those five words hit differently when you're someone who has spent their whole life outdoors. I'm Jake, and for as long as I can remember, sports and the outdoors weren't just hobbies, they were who I am. So when my doctor confirmed it was melanoma, the fear wasn't just about my health. It was about losing the life I loved.

I live in Penticton, British Columbia, one of the only true desert climates in Canada. The Okanagan Valley is stunning. It's also relentless when it comes to UV exposure. Summers here are long, hot, and intense. UV index levels regularly hit 8 to 10+ on summer afternoons. The same sun that makes this place paradise is the same sun that nearly cost me everything.

After my diagnosis, I pulled back from doing the things I loved. Golf. Beach days. Hiking. Days outside with friends. I'd always been active. The outdoors was my default setting and suddenly I was afraid of it. That fear was exhausting. And honestly? It wasn't sustainable.

Learning to live differently, not less

I knew I couldn't just stop living. So I started educating myself. I learned about UPF fabric ratings, UV indexes, and what it actually means to protect your skin properly. Not just sunscreen; which wears off, gets sweated through, and needs constant reapplication, but clothing that does the heavy lifting for you. UPF 50+ fabric blocks 98% of UV radiation, continuously, without a thought.

The UPF clothing that existed was boring. Clinical. It looked like something you'd wear to a fishing charter, not a round of golf. And I wasn't willing to give up looking good just to stay safe. That felt like a different kind of defeat.

I searched for UPF golf polos that I actually wanted to wear. Long sleeve. Stylish. Performance fabric. Third-party tested. Something I'd put on because I liked it, not because I had to. I couldn't find it. So I made it.

Why "Enjoy the Vu"?

Because that's the whole point.

The Okanagan is one of the most beautiful places on earth to play golf. Standing on the 18th at Predator Ridge with the lake stretching out below you. Walking the fairways at The Harvest with orchards on every side. Teeing off at Osoyoos as the sun rises over the valley. This is why you play. This is the view.

A cancer diagnosis taught me that I could either spend my time outside worrying about the sun, or I could protect myself properly and actually enjoy it. Enjoy the Vu is built for the second option. For every golfer, hiker, and outdoor lover who refuses to let the sun take away what they love.

What we built, and why it's different

Every Enjoy the Vu polo starts with a simple test: would I actually want to wear this on the course? Not because I have to, but because it looks good, feels great, and performs in Okanagan summer heat.

Our polos are third-party lab tested to verify UPF 50+ protection, not just claimed, actually verified. They're long sleeve because your arms are your most exposed surface during a round of golf. They're lightweight and breathable because covering up in desert heat should make you cooler, not hotter. And they're designed to look like something you'd choose to wear, not something you settled for.

We started with golf because that's where this story began. But the mission is bigger than golf, it's about giving outdoor people the gear they need to stay out there, safely, for as long as they want.

For everyone who refuses to stay inside

If you've had a scare like mine, or if you've watched someone you love go through one, you already understand why this matters. And if you haven't, I genuinely hope you never do. But protection shouldn't wait for a diagnosis.

Get outside. Play your round. Walk your trail. Enjoy the view.

Just do it in a shirt that actually protects you.

Jake MacDonald, Founder

Enjoy the Vu  ·  Penticton, BC