Poulter started playing the game of golf at the tender age of 4, when he was given a cut down 3-wood by his father Terry a single figure handicap golfer. Poulter is now widely known for not only his golf but his colourful golfing attire examples including the Masters Tournament in 2004 where he wore a pink pair of golf trousers and his Union Jack pair at the British Open.

Poulter has always had a passion for clothing since an early age, he worked at Stevenage Market selling clothes helping him to save, to purchase the latest fashions. Poulter strongly believes that playing well and looking good go together, since turning Pro he has shown this by going on to develop his own clothing line IJP Design.

Outside of golf Poulter supports Arsenal FC, where at the Abu Dhabi Championship he came close to being fined for wearing his team's shirt. He also supports the charities Dreamflight which is a UK charity whose purpose is to give seriously ill and disable children on a holiday of their lifetime, and the Willow Foundation which gives young adults with life threatening conditions Special days giving them the chance to escape. Poulter also has the Ian Poulter Invitational which gives talented junior golfers across the UK a chance to experience competition.