Acceptable golf course attire.

[Deleted member 16999]

That's not what the OP asked

Of course it is, it’s irrelevant who sells what etc if the Course stops you wearing it on their Course, ie, Wearside and hoodies, I might think they are terrific, really comfortable to play Golf in, but Wearside don’t, or ankle socks at another Course that insists on knee length.
Plenty of those stories around.

 

[Orikoru]

I thought this was bound to be an old thread resurrected - I haven’t been a forum member too long, but I think this must be the fourth time the subject has been revisited In my time.

it may not be the fourth revisit - but it feels like it is.

It only takes one new member to mention it and the same old people launch into the same old arguments. I include myself in that, just can't help myself. ? It's a discussion that provokes some strong feelings though I suppose.

 

[Crazyface]

I notice a big change in attitude on this thread from people on here. A few years ago most were all for wearing the correct attire. Now it seems we are more relaxed. And about time too. I would say that golf clubs should put a sign on the first tee saying something on the line of "For you own safety please check you are wearing the correct shoes for the course conditions". I've seen many long gouged out trenches where players have slid down a bank and the big bum print at the bottom makes me wince at the thought of them landing and doing themselves serious damage.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

Do you find many free golf courses around where you can just "roll up"? And I rather doubt the guy in crocks had a decent game, that would be impossible.

Why do they need to be free? We pay to use the court we play on.

The guy in crocs played for Sheffield Wednesday 20 years ago. He’d be better than the rest of us blindfolded and wearing roller skates.

 

[Orikoru]

It's the dress code of that sport

Utter nonsense. There are practical reasons for football kit. I.e. appropriate footwear for running in the mud, matching kits so you know who is on which team, shinpads to avoid leg breaks etc. The only comparable part of golf attire is golf shoes, because they have a practical purpose. Every other aspect of dress codes has zero logic or practicality at all, it's just a century old tradition that has no place in in the modern world.

 

[Crazyface]

In these supposed enlightened days what I find frustrating is the lack of colour choice in men's trousers (Loudmouth et al aside). The palette seems to be pretty much limited to black, grey, navy blue or beige, not to say that there's anything wrong with beige.

But where are the more vibrant colours? And why don't we see those exciting checks and stripes etc as worn by the greats in the seventies and eighties?

My trousers are bright red, light blue and now lime green and white. Nike are pretty good with colours. My tops yellow orange light blue red and white. You'll see me a mile off on the course.

 

[Boomy]

No rules at our place, that I'm aware of.
My cheap Tesco trousers, unbranded Next polos and M&S merino zip neck sweater look smarter than most golf wear and I can do the weekly shop on the way home without looking like a golf nob in the supermarket.
My golf shoes look like trainers anyway and my Under Armour Gore Tex golf specific jacket looks like a trackie top.
I wouldn't wear jogging bottoms or jeans because they aren't really golf functional. No problem with hoodies but I couldn't do with the hood flapping about and getting in the way of the straps on my bag.
For me, clothes that fall in the smart casual bracket just happen to be the most comfortable and functional for golf.

A golf nob ? But you are wearing branded clothing, you say straight away M&S, Next, Tesco and then Under Armour - they are brands and all with have a logo of some kind, likely subtle, but either way branded. I like adidas, not because a golf pro wear it but because I have always liked adidas clothing, the fit and the quality - that's fine.. my adidas merino wool jacket is very smart/casual. It doesn't matter where it is from, smart casual is good, basic standards is all that is required, that is my point.

 

[Fromtherough]

No matter how I think about it, I keep coming back to the fact that dress codes are antiquated. As long as the chosen footwear doesn’t damage the course then it shouldn’t matter what another person is wearing. Being ‘presentable’ has been bandied about, but I’ve played with many a scruff who conforms with the dress code. Similarly, I’ve played with a few mates who look smart, only to be told they need to buy certain socks or a different type of short in the Pro shop. It’s ludicrous. Especially, when you consider many courses refuse T-shirts to be worn, but when Nike brought out their collar-less range they had to relent as their Pro-shops were selling -shock horror - a T-shirt.

It should essentially be about choice. If there weren’t any dress codes in place would it really matter or change anyone’s experience for the worse? I can’t see how it could, as long as what they wore didn’t damage the course.

 

[Deleted member 30522]

Utter nonsense. There are practical reasons for football kit. I.e. appropriate footwear for running in the mud, matching kits so you know who is on which team, shinpads to avoid leg breaks etc. The only comparable part of golf attire is golf shoes, because they have a practical purpose. Every other aspect of dress codes has zero logic or practicality at all, it's just a century old tradition that has no place in in the modern world.

We don't wear jacket and tie now, even in clubhouses, but certainly not on the course

 

[Orikoru]

We don't wear jacket and tie now, even in clubhouses, but certainly not on the course

Ok? Good. That's called progress. I'm led to believe some places still do have that though, incredibly.

 

[Boomy]

No matter how I think about it, I keep coming back to the fact that dress codes are antiquated. As long as the chosen footwear doesn’t damage the course then it shouldn’t matter what another person is wearing. Being ‘presentable’ has been bandied about, but I’ve played with many a scruff who conforms with the dress code. Similarly, I’ve played with a few mates who look smart, only to be told they need to buy certain socks or a different type of short in the Pro shop. It’s ludicrous. Especially, when you consider many courses refuse T-shirts to be worn, but when Nike brought out their collar-less range they had to relent as their Pro-shops were selling -shock horror - a T-shirt.

It should essentially be about choice. If there weren’t any dress codes in place would it really matter or change anyone’s experience for the worse? I can’t see how it could, as long as what they wore didn’t damage the course.

"Some" of it is antiquated, there are some silly rules still in place at some clubs.. but that is up to them as much as I disagree wither antiquated rules if I want to play there I have to follow the rules.

My point isn't about us having to wear plus fours, knee high socks, a tie and jacket in the bar - it is about maintaining some form of basic standards to play golf, as has been previously mentioned a basic "kit" like other sports and past times have.

 

[Deleted member 30522]

Why do they need to be free? We pay to use the court we play on.

The guy in crocs played for Sheffield Wednesday 20 years ago. He’d be better than the rest of us blindfolded and wearing roller skates.

Oh you hired a pitch. How strange, they have dress code rules, here's the one for Goals

 

[Deleted member 30522]

Ok? Good. That's called progress. I'm led to believe some places still do have that though, incredibly.

We're talking about on the course though, and as someone who started golfing in 1983, I've never seen someone dressed like Old Tom

 

[Crow]

Just wondering Crow, do you match your clothing with the clubs you use for a particular round?

Not normally, but if I'm playing other vintage club collectors then I might try.
And this is where the lack of choice comes in with the current black, grey, navy blue, beige obsession, it's very hard to find period clothes in good condition on ebay or similar, maybe I should start checking out vintage clothes shops?

 

[Boomy]

Ok? Good. That's called progress. I'm led to believe some places still do have that though, incredibly.

Progress only needs to go so far though, relaxing antiquated rules about knee high socks, tie and jackets is one thing. But completely abolishing some basic standards would not be good in my opinion. It is fair to compare footballers to golfers, each in their own right, the kit they wear is practical to their sport. I wear trousers or tailored shorts for golf, with pockets to carry what I need, a base layer for warmth/temperature control, a polo shirt which is comfortable and not restrictive, specific socks depending on the weather or temperature and golf shoes - golf kit. It really isn't difficult.

 

[Orikoru]

We're talking about on the course though, and as someone who started golfing in 1983, I've never seen someone dressed like Old Tom

So you agree that there has been progress - but you think there's been quite enough progress and it should abruptly stop where we are now? ?

 

[IanM]

Tradition ?. There is a thread going on at the moment about equality in golf, women not getting the same playing rights as men. Most of that is down to tradition, how things have always been. Evolution, change is allowed and also necessary as we move through the years and society changes.

Don't confuse wearing golf clothes to play golf with sexism. If you don't think golf clothes have evolved over time, what are you wearing?

The former is harmless, the latter is illegal.

 

[IanM]

Oh you hired a pitch. How strange, they have dress code rules, here's the one for Goals View attachment 40662

Snobby gits not allowing jeans! Its all about excluding the working classes!!!

 

[RichA]

A golf nob ? But you are wearing branded clothing, you say straight away M&S, Next, Tesco and then Under Armour - they are brands and all with have a logo of some kind, likely subtle, but either way branded. I like adidas, not because a golf pro wear it but because I have always liked adidas clothing, the fit and the quality - that's fine.. my adidas merino wool jacket is very smart/casual. It doesn't matter where it is from, smart casual is good, basic standards is all that is required, that is my point.

By unbranded, I mean that the only label is on the inside where only I can identify how cheap I am.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Don't confuse satorial tradition with sexism.

The former is harmless, the latter is illegal.

Sadly too many clubs do confuse it with tradition and it is clearly not illegal in many forms as the complaints of our lady forumers confirm. The point is, people quote tradition when it suits. To many it's just an excuse to hold back progress, how modern life now is.