Clubs still in the Dark Ages

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Not for me it's not. The clubhouse is supposed to be a relaxing atmosphere after your round or somewhere to go for a bit of P&Q. Someone talking loudly in to their mobile is, at best, antisocial and at worst, rude.
Call me outdated all you like but there are certain places that mobiles just don't fit, if you need to make a call that urgently, go outside.

+1 on that. No texting either.

We have WiFi in our quiet lounge (primarily as a facility to attract business breakfast/lunches/meetings), and you are allowed to use you mobile (or indeed laptop/tablet/iPingPad etc) for internet access in there (no voice comms though). I do though get pretty pi**ed off if he allows certain members get away with using the mobiles - these members tend to be those who somehow think that they are better than the rest of us and that to whom the clubhouse rules needn't apply.

Our Steward is a dress-stickler (e.g. only allows our younger lady members to wear dresses in the clubhouse if they are above the knee). One little thing about our dress code that irks me a little (though I always end up complying) is the 'shirts tucked in' rule - when I am wearing a shirt designed to be worn not tucked-in (polo shirts should be tucked in). Hats (inc 'baseball' caps and visors) should never be worn inside the clubhouse.

'Why are golf clubs exempt from modernisation?' in general I don't think that they are. However respect for the views of fellow members is I think important.

 

[Dodger]

It appears I am lucky to be able to go to 2 clubs that are extremely relaxed and have a modern day approach on how to treat members and visitors alike.

Can I ask what difference there is to using a mobile to speak to using the phone that is on the corner of the club bar?

 

[dufferman]

It appears I am lucky to be able to go to 2 clubs that are extremely relaxed and have a modern day approach on how to treat members and visitors alike.

Can I ask what difference there is to using a mobile to speak to using the phone that is on the corner of the club bar?

Finally!

 

[FairwayDodger]

Our Steward is a dress-stickler (e.g. only allows our younger lady members to wear dresses in the clubhouse if they are above the knee).

Interesting dress code at your place. See through tops required as well?


No mobiles at my club either - OK to have it with you but go outside or into the lobby to take/make calls. Seems like a good compromise to me.

I'd love the dress code to be relaxed - don't see a problem with jeans and trainers in the clubhouse. The captain looked at me like I was mad when I suggested that... I guess plenty on here would agree with him.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Can I ask what difference there is to using a mobile to speak to using the phone that is on the corner of the club bar?

You said it - it's (or it was) on the corner of the club bar i.e. out of the way - and generally wouldn't be receiving many incoming calls. In most cases the phone for member use would not be in the clubhouse bar/lounge in any case (unlike your public bar phone).

Further - that one phone - even were it in the clubhouse bar - would rarely ring and it certainly wouldn't be ringing in many places at once scattered around the place - interrupting conversations etc. But then IMO mobile phones are incredibly anti-social beasts - as antisocial as many users of them are rude. And I am not the only member who will pull up another member or a visitor who is about to or is already engaged in using one in the clubhouse. Call me a technotard, a troglodyte if you will - on this matter I don't care two hoots if you do.

 

[Dodger]

You said it - it's (or it was) on the corner of the club bar i.e. out of the way - and generally wouldn't be receiving many incoming calls. In most cases the phone for member use would not be in the clubhouse bar/lounge in any case (unlike your public bar phone).

Further - that one phone - even were it in the clubhouse bar - would rarely ring and it certainly wouldn't be ringing in many places at once scattered around the place - interrupting conversations etc. But then IMO mobile phones are incredibly anti-social beasts - as antisocial as many users of them are rude. And I am not the only member who will pull up another member or a visitor who is about to or is already engaged in using one in the clubhouse. Call me a technotard, a troglodyte if you will - on this matter I don't care two hoots if you do.

Not at either of my places....corner of the bar is the middle of the room.....

 

[North Mimms]

Last I heard, Beaconsfield were still insisting that societies playing more than 18 holes with lunch between...chaps had to change into jacket and tie!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

West Hill is another where you have to change into jacket and tie for lunch, even on a baking hot day

The only place I've had to do that was Lindrick - over 20 yrs ago mind. Me and my mate had 36 holes, and for lunch had a plate of sandwiches which were served to us in their dining room. Just me and him sat in our jackets and ties with our egg and cress at the end of this b***y enormous table in the cavernous dining room - quite amusing it was actually. Silver service too - and waitress very nicely attired if I recall correctly.

 

[BeachGolfer]

Same at Rye where you can't apply for membership, you have to be nominated and seconded by 10 (yes...TEN) other members.

Recently turned down an invitation to play Rye owing to having to play foursomes. They still only allow two balls in play in any one group - ironic that you need a members invite to play and then only get to play half a game??

 

[USER1999]

I don't see how using a mobile phone at the clubhouse means you're not cut out for Golf?

There is a lot more to golf than swinging a stick at a ball, and holing a few putts. The club in question has survived for over 120 years, and seen many changes. May be one day it will allow use of mobiles (for what ever purpose), but currently it does not. Many others are similar. More than are not, probably. Last time I was there I thought the place had gone so far down hill in their quest to attract new members it was actually having the opposite effect.

When I join a club, being allowed to use comms devices in the bar is very low on my, and others list of priorities. It is clearly quite high up on your list. I wish you luck finding a club which you wish to join. I'm guessing it won't ever be a members club.

 

[Foxholer]

I don't have a problem with the 'no phones' rule, nor the Jacket (and Tie) for lunch - provided I know about it ahead of time. Swinley only requires Jacket (tie not required). Still prefer the Hankley (golf clothes fine) format when a second round will be played - as there's 30mins of faffing about involved.

Also prepared to comply with the 'long socks' rule, though would prefer to be allowed short ones. Definitely not keen on coloured socks with shorts - whether short or long!

I actually play a lot at a club that has NO dress code rules. Syso jeans and trainers would actually be allowed on the course. This doesn't happen and the only guy that wears jeans is the owner! However, every mobile phone user goes outside to make/answer calls. Texting/internet is not a problem, though loud ringtones provide embarassed grabbing to send to silent.

The club across the road from the one described above strikes me as one of the stuffy old ones. On Council owned land so has to have 'public' days and the members seem to object to visitors in a snobby way! Pro-shop attitude is condescending, Visitors changing is a shed, not encouraged to enter club-house and all the disruptive maintenance seems to be carried out on the 'Public' days. This is in distinct contrast to Bearwood Lakes and others where you are a 'member for the day'.

So quite relaxed about any club's rules. My view is that if you don't like the rules, don't go/join!

 

[t0m]

yes i should be allowed to wear my trainers and jeans, they look a lot better than the way most people wear there trousers, up around there ears and to short at the bottom

I suppose you should be able to wear your jeans also as they cost more than a pair of normal trousers from mark's? or how about expensive trainers rather than a pair of Clarke's shoe's?

Yes there are standards that's why there called private members clubs.

Snobbery, don't make me laugh, its called respect and not having a selfish attitude.

 

[Slab]

Clubs can play lip-service to whatever standards they like but I wonder how sincere they really are in these standards or do they simply use this as a tool to attract like minded members, for example clubs who ban caps indoors, do they also really list and enforce a club rule that you must hold the door open for others (& chastise those who don’t) or haul you up for putting your elbows on the table when eating?

You can’t be polite some of the time can you!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Recently turned down an invitation to play Rye owing to having to play foursomes. They still only allow two balls in play in any one group - ironic that you need a members invite to play and then only get to play half a game??

They only insist on foursomes in the morning, you can play 2balls in the afternoon. We got round it by playing the Presidents course in the morning as a 4ball then went out on the main course as a couple of 2balls in the afternoon. If you get invited again you should go, it's olde worlde golf. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea but charming all the same.

 

[Foxholer]

They only insist on foursomes in the morning, you can play 2balls in the afternoon. We got round it by playing the Presidents course in the morning as a 4ball then went out on the main course as a couple of 2balls in the afternoon. If you get invited again you should go, it's olde worlde golf. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea but charming all the same.

Played with a double President's Putter winner acquaintance there a few years ago. Definitely worth the trip. Greens were stunning - even though it was between Xmas and New Year!

Great course (and no I didn't stay on the 4th fairway!), but indeed olde-worlde-ly! A Foursomes group, that started on the 10th, sped away from us!

 

[chris661]

I really don't get why folk moan about rules (however antiquated they may seem) at a golf club. If you don't like it don't go and play or be a member at it. I am half thinking about moving clubs due to circumstances and the one I am thinking of is a lot more blazer and tie kind of place but it is a cracking course and slightly more out of my way but I CHOOSE to go there so have to stick by the rules.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Great course (and no I didn't stay on the 4th fairway!)

You're in good company......neither did I :rofl: (what's wrong with the smileys????)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My mum is seriously ill so I have my mobile with me constantly at the moment but when I play golf it is on silent in the bag and in the clubhouse. If I need to text or make/receive calls I'll go outside. It is common courtesy same as smokers are now expected to go out as well.

I want to enjoy a drink and a chat with my partners and the usual crowd after a round and not listento individuals or seveal members talking loudly on their phone. I don't think that is snobbish, simply good manners in the same way you'd be considerate on the course to your partners.

I guess if you are looking at antiquated rules, then Wimbledon Common/London Scottish has one where you have to wear pillar red tops on the course (no other colour allowed). Its a by-law of playing on the course and has been in place since the club opened in 190

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Homer

Don't you think that the red top thingy is quite charming in it's own way? If nothing else, it gives the club a unique selling point and gets people talking about the place, that can't be a bad thing.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It is common courtesy same as smokers are now expected to go out as well

Isn't it the law? I haven't been anywhere 'public' since the ban came in where there was smoking indoors. Since you mentioned smoking - why do (some) smokers think that fag ends are not litter and therefore can be discarded anywhere on the course. I don't drop sweet wrappers so why do smokers drop fag ends? For non-smokers fag ends are both unsightly and frankly fairly disgusting things to pick up off the course (as I do for any litter I come across).