Look, I’ll be the first to admit that Vice Golf occupies a weird space in my brain.

On one hand, they make legitimately good golf balls at prices that don’t require a second mortgage. On the other hand, they’ve built their entire brand identity around being the golf equivalent of that friend who shows up to every party wearing something that’s equal parts awesome and ridiculous.

Case in point: the new Vice Archive Collection.

Ostensibly created to commemorate the 125th US Open (and nearly 100 years of elite competition at Oakmont), the Archive Collection is Vice doing what Vice does best—taking something traditionally stuffy and making it cool without completely destroying the reverence.

What you get

The collection centers around Vice Pro golf balls in a yellow-to-white gradient that’s… fine, I guess. I’m not typically a multi-colored ball guy, and while the gradient design is less aggressive than Vice’s usual neon assault on your retinas, it’s still a colored golf ball.

The performance specs remain unchanged from the standard Vice Pro, which means you’re getting a legitimate tour-level ball for $42.99 per dozen (with bulk discounts available). Any performance differences would come down to the paint process.

What makes these special isn’t just the gradient paint job. Opposite the player number, you’ll find “1927” overlaid with “2025”. That’s a nod to Oakmont’s championship pedigree spanning nearly a century. One side stamp features an arrow (because apparently everything needs an arrow these days), while the other displays “VICE GOLF” in large hollow letters.

The collection rounds out with an off-white and neon towel ($21.99) and themed tees ($8.99) that, while not exactly groundbreaking, complete the package for those who like their golf accessories to match.

The Vice formula

This isn’t Vice’s first major championship rodeo either. They pulled a similar for the PGA Championship, and the pattern is becoming clear: take a prestigious tournament, create something that acknowledges the history without being precious about it, price it reasonably, and let people decide if they want in.

The quantities aren’t specified, but anyone familiar with Vice’s limited edition playbook knows these things tend to disappear faster than your playing partner’s offer to buy the first round. They’ve created a nice little side business in golf collectibles for people who appreciate good design but don’t want to pay Scotty Cameron prices.

Why the Archive Collection works

The Archive Collection succeeds because it doesn’t completely fail at striking a balance. The gradient design is eye-catching without being completely obnoxious. The historical references feel less forced than they could have been. And the pricing remains accessible to golfers who appreciate the aesthetics but aren’t looking to make a significant financial commitment to their golf ball choice.

More importantly, these are actual Vice Pro balls. Not some watered-down commemorative version, but the same three-piece urethane construction that’s earned the company respect in a category dominated by much larger players.

The bottom line

The Vice Archive Collection isn’t revolutionary. It’s a competent limited edition that celebrates a major championship without taking itself too seriously, prices itself reasonably, and delivers performance alongside the aesthetics.

In a golf world that often feels like it’s trying too hard to be either ultra-traditional or desperately hip, Vice continues to carve out space for golfers who just want good equipment that looks cool and doesn’t cost a fortune.

The collection is available now, because of course it is. Vice doesn’t do the whole “coming soon” tease game. They make something, they sell it, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Whether you’re planning to actually play the 125th US Open (spoiler: you’re probably not) or just want golf balls that look different from everyone else’s Pro V1s, the Archive Collection delivers exactly what it promises: Vice being Vice, just with a little more historical gravitas than usual.

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