DRESS CODE/ETIQUETTE

[GRAEMBO]

ANYONE READ THE LETTERS PAGE OF GM JUNE? ONE LETTER IN PARTICULAR STOOD OUT TO ME. A GUY WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT SHORTS/JEANS BEING WORN ON A PUBLIC GOLF COURSE! IN MY OPINION, ITS PEOPLE WHO HAVE ATTITUDE SUCH AS THIS MAN WHO CAUSE GOLF TO BE SNEERED AT AS A POMPUS UPPER CLASS SPORT FULL OF MOANING OLD MEN. I WAS FROTUNATE ENOUHG TO GROW UP WITH GOLF, AND LEARNED THE ETTIQUETTE AND RULES PRETTY EARLY ON DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS A MEMBER OF A GOLF CLUB. THIS DIDNT STOP THOSE OLD BIDDIES HAVING A GO AT US JUNIORS GFOR A VARIETY OF THINGS FROM GOING OUT JUST BEFORE THEIR SWEEP TO WEARING CAPS IN THE CLUBHOUSE. I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE THE VERY PEOPEL WHO ARE CAUSING THE NU,BERS OF JUNIOR GOLFERS IN SCOTLAND TO DWINDLE, AND THEREFORE KILLING THE FUTURE OF THE GAME WE LOVE. IT SHOULD BE THE JOB OF THE GOLF ENTHUSIAST TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG GOLFERS, AND OLDER ONES WHO ARE JUST LEARNING TO KEEP PLAYING NO MATTER THEIR ATTIRE...ESPECIALLY ON PUBLIC COURSE...OPINIONS?

 

[Sneds]

Why so loud?

 

[KeefG]

My first opinion would be to stop shouting (CAPS used on the t'internet is regarded as shouting) and secondly to proof read your post before you post it

My second opinion would be that I agree with the guy from the letters page, jeans and the like should never be seen on the course, its chav-ish and thats not what this game is about. Its a gentlemans (or ladies) game and as such people should dress appropriately to play it.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Welcome to the forum but can you take the Cap locks off as you come across in forum etiquette as shouting which I guess given the post is ironic!

I think your point about juniors is interesting and seem to recall (albeit threw rose coloured spectacles) that we were always being pulled up over something or other. I hope I give our juniors more scope to be themselves, although some really don't help themselves (climbing over OB fences to get lost balls or wading into our environmentally protected area) and teir attitude when you do pull them up at times stinks.

I think golf has moved on a lot from the rigid attitudes I remember from my youth and to be honest the standards at most pay and plays and minis has improved accordingly. I have to say I am one of those that thinks jeans have no place on a golf course and that you'd dress accordingly. You wouldn't wear jeans if you played in a Sunday morning football team, you'd wear football kit and the same applied to golf. It really doesn't cost much for a cheap pair of golf shoes, a decent polo shirt and a pair of smart trousers (£5 from Tescos).

Enjoy the forum but please take the caps off.

 

[GRAEMBO]

I wasnt aware that all posts had to have perfect spelling and grammar....I was only trying to start a discussion on a discussion forum. Wouldnt you agree that until being fully committed to being a golfer, and playing on a municipal course, that comfortable dress is suitbale?

Although I do agree that when it comes to wearing jeans on a private course, thats wrong, but munis should be the courses where a love of the game is developed.

Yes junior do have bad attitudes most of the time, but most of them are teenagers and react the exact same way to anyone pulling them up....parents teachers etc.

 

[Spoff]

I wasnt aware that all posts had to have perfect spelling and grammar....

Not necesserry at all, but I am sure I am not alone and seeing your original block of text and not reading it.

I doubt anyone spells worser than me anyway.

As for dress code, where to people stand on Daly's new trousers. I like them but know some people who would rather see jeans or football shorts on the course!!!

 

[Fyldewhite]

In these days of falling memberships many golf clubs in my area are starting to allow smart jeans/casual clothing in the clubhouse but I agree that the course is different. I'd expect someone turning up for football training to have boots and proper kit, not cut off denim shorts and a pair of pumps etc. Golf is the same, to play it you wear "golf kit" which is generally smart.

It is always a difficult balancing act to retain standards (whatever that means - are people who use mobile phones really the spawn of Satan?) and tradition but to still move with the times and not appear to be elitist or dare I say "up oneself" which does undoubtedly put off a lot of potential new members. Many clubs will continue the head in the sand approach and will continue to lose members and have increases in fees but IMHO it is the clubs who can get the balancing act right and embrace what the majority of the younger members actually want from a golf club who will thrive.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Graembo

No need to worry too much about grammar and spelling on here, its merely the caps thing thats is a bit annoying (wait to you see Mono's posts you have nothing to worry about in the English stakes!!!)

I agree that munis is where future golfers generally start their golfing journey and to a certain extent think these places need to be as encouraging as possible. However I don't think that extends to dropping standards regarding dress codes. It costs very little to meet dress code standards and actually feel that by dressing the part it may help encouraging newbie golfers to feel part of something and want to carry on with it.

Regarding teenager attitudes, they join private clubs and so by doing so accept a certain level of expectation regarding acceptable standards. We have a protected are of great natural importance and one junior was wandering in there looking for a ball. I tried as politely as possible to point out that if other more senior members had seen him instead of me he would be looking at a ban at least and that I was doing him a favour by reminding him not to go into the marked area.

He launched into one big time. He was lucky to be fair that I didn't bury a club in his head but instead got his name and reported him. He got a 3 month ban. If he'd kept his mouth shut I was happy to carry on. His loss.

 

[KeefG]

Wouldnt you agree that until being fully committed to being a golfer, and playing on a municipal course, that comfortable dress is suitbale?

Although I do agree that when it comes to wearing jeans on a private course, thats wrong, but munis should be the courses where a love of the game is developed.

So, because A) I have never got round to joining a club & B) because i've never really been able to justify the amount per month i'd be spending, I have to spend all my golfing hours on the muni courses with the chavs?

What a load of shite!

I play muni courses 95% of the time, I dress very smartly for my game and I often take my 12yo son with me, he also dresses very smartly.

It doesnt matter where you play at all and your view that muni courses are areas where lesser standards should be allowed and not frowned upon is highly narrow minded.

You are a club golfer right?

 

[GRAEMBO]

yes im a club golfer, but im in the exact same mould as your son. I was brought up playing golf. I work as a golf coach at the moment, if i turned kids away from my sessions who werent in the correct golf attire Id get the sack, and also kill those kids enjoyment of the game Ive grown up loving.

Dressing smartly on a muni is your choice, obviously because you have developed your love of the game, and came to understand the rules and etiquette. I never said you shouoldnt be allowed to dress smartly on a muni, but for some people who have just started playing golf they feel uncomfortable in golf clothes, and therefore they need time to reach the stage you and I and the other guys are at in terms of understanding.

 

[freddielong]

I like golfers to look like golfers if you wanna where shorts play football. Also I don't like jeans on a golf course I think the dress code has relaxed a lot already. I can remember not being allowed to play formby when I was 15 or so because my polo shirt only had two buttons not three, I had to buy another one from the pro shop. The point to that story was it didn't put me off if you are going to play you will these things wont stop you.

 

[Parmo]

I play a course with no dress code, most of the members of the club wear golfing gear including the Jr's. Yes some members of the public don't and wear trainers and shellsuits and the likes but generally people wear the proper gear with the odd exception but 90% of players look the part (with a hot summers day the exception also).

We are lucky and have loads of Jr's at our course, for one its only 5250 yards so easy on their long game and improve their short game and two we are very welcoming to Jr's (even if they are bloody bandits :shakeyfist: )

 

[bluenose10]

you should wear the correct attire for the sport you are playing but i would let dark jeans slide as they look smart and can only really tell up close. . . but not baggy jeans / torn jeans etc.

Im in my early 20's and i wear jeans but not to play golf in a) you feel better playing in trousers not so restricting on a hot day lugging your bag around b) thats the way the game has been played for years. . . if it aint broke don't fix it!!

Football shirts shouldn't be worn on the course it costs very little to buy a cheap polo t-shirt nowadays. . .

 

[Faldo_Fan]

Very interesting debate, ok here's a slightly different senario. I live 5 minutes from my course and popped into the pro shop last saturday to pick-up and pay for a putter i'd ordered.
I was in jeans, t-shirt and trainers. I pulled up 25 paces from the pro shop front door nicked in and did the deal, walked out with a new shiny flat stick and a big grin. Walking the 25 paces back to my car when i got stopped by 2 walking corpses (combined age of 310) both of which decided to take the shine off of my new toy by berating me over my dress, and saying that as a member i should set an example! I thankfully managed to hold my tongue or an appointment with the committee would have been inevitable!
I always conform to the dress code on the course, in the clubhouse and in the bar/dining room.....what is the problem with nipping into the pro-shop dressed like that, i was in there a total of 5 minutes. Do they think i should change into full golf attire for a 5 minute visit to the pro shop? Lucky American Golf or Nevada Bobs don't have such rules!

P.S. Sorry if the spelling and punctuation are rubbish, i haven't managed to find the spell check on here yet!

 

[KeefG]

yes im a club golfer, but im in the exact same mould as your son. I was brought up playing golf. I work as a golf coach at the moment, if i turned kids away from my sessions who werent in the correct golf attire Id get the sack, and also kill those kids enjoyment of the game Ive grown up loving.

Dressing smartly on a muni is your choice, obviously because you have developed your love of the game, and came to understand the rules and etiquette. I never said you shouoldnt be allowed to dress smartly on a muni, but for some people who have just started playing golf they feel uncomfortable in golf clothes, and therefore they need time to reach the stage you and I and the other guys are at in terms of understanding.

I'm sorry but I dont buy into that theory at all, if you're going to turn up to a course and be a golfer, whether that be a golfer that hacks their way around the course or shoot sub 80 rounds everytime, regardless they should dress for the occasion.

I can see why you say what you do, but in a way you're devaluing everyone who plays muni courses, and by suggesting that muni courses slacken off on their approach to dress you are therefore suggesting that I, as a muni player, am not entitled to the same level of professionalism on a round of golf that you are. And thats just wrong!

 

[Herbie]

Ya know there must be some strange courses around as even the muni's I have played I have never seen more than the odd scruff and at other clubs I have hardly ever seen scruffs. When I have, they have been scruffs in best golf attire and scruffs in jeans and T shirt, yet this subject seems to create so much attention and disapproving remarks.

I have seen just as many long standing golfers scruffy! as I have seen the naive or the teen appearing scruffy.

This subject is nearly always selective and based on a small number of cases aimed at the naive or the ignorant, but rarely aimed at the 'should know better crowd'.

The scruff I remember the most was at a private club, who came to me with his nice white club shirt hanging out at the front, his tie crooked and his pants with more creases than a squeeze box, wearing tatty shoes and about to tell me off for the jeans he thought I was wearing, till he was close enough to see they were blue slacks. he was a committe member who from a distance thought I was poorly or inappropriately dressed

 

[Spoff]

I've found if I 'look like a golfer' I am treated better in places like American golf.

 

[GRAEMBO]

yes im a club golfer, but im in the exact same mould as your son. I was brought up playing golf. I work as a golf coach at the moment, if i turned kids away from my sessions who werent in the correct golf attire Id get the sack, and also kill those kids enjoyment of the game Ive grown up loving.

Dressing smartly on a muni is your choice, obviously because you have developed your love of the game, and came to understand the rules and etiquette. I never said you shouoldnt be allowed to dress smartly on a muni, but for some people who have just started playing golf they feel uncomfortable in golf clothes, and therefore they need time to reach the stage you and I and the other guys are at in terms of understanding.

I'm sorry but I dont buy into that theory at all, if you're going to turn up to a course and be a golfer, whether that be a golfer that hacks their way around the course or shoot sub 80 rounds everytime, regardless they should dress for the occasion.

I can see why you say what you do, but in a way you're devaluing everyone who plays muni courses, and by suggesting that muni courses slacken off on their approach to dress you are therefore suggesting that I, as a muni player, am not entitled to the same level of professionalism on a round of golf that you are. And thats just wrong!

no where have i mentioned professionalism or what you are entitled to. all i am saying is generally until someone has really caught the bug, they dont really buy into the keep your tshirt tucked in malarky and the only places they can get away woth this are at munis. my own club has relaxed rule fro in the club house and for junior footwear as a means of trying to attract new members.

 

[mweston1016]

I must confess that I played a public course on Sunday in jeans, shirt with collar and golf shoes. It was very comfortable. The club I played allowed jeans and so why not? Everyone knew that dress code was permitted. The problem arises when you think you can rock up at somewhere more prestigious with your Levis on. That's a no-no.

Personally, I have no problems with munis allowing it. After all, this is where you get your 36-handicapper who is half cut fresh out the Dog and Duck playing with his 15 mates.

It just depends where you play...

 

[andycap]

I fully support the on course dress code ,regardless of whether the course is a muni or not and would still dress in golf attire even if not required. Although i find some of the club house dress codes a bit OTT. Blazer and tie would not be a club for me.
But, although dressed in the right clothes, there are some members at the club that i use locally, that i think leave their kit in the locker like a pair of work overalls ,and they probably only get washed when they play in the rain!