Dress codes... Again

[moogie]

I agree with the trainers, but would respectfully disagree with the jeans.

My view too.
Jeans are permtted in my clubhouse, bar, dining area......and why not......???
This was brought in to compete with nearby pubs that DO ALLOW jeans, to try and keep members drinking at the club instead of going home, changing into jeans, to relax in their local pub, supping ale there instead of the clubhouse bar
Ive posted something earlier regarding this
Golf in the North East is in a bad financial state, very few clubs breaking even, let alone showing a trading profit
You have to move with the times......or Die......Simple as that
There is only so much money out there
Lots of other clubs in the area allow jeans too, some I thought Id never see bow down from their strict dress codes, and its what members want
If you still had to wear jacket, or jacket & tie in the dining room, then golf would be dead within a decade, certainly in this area
Its this stuffiness that has stopped some joining golf clubs, for fear they werent good enough, or lived on the wrong estate, golf has been, sometimes still is, one of the most bigoted discriminating sports I know, when you apply for a yearly football season ticket they dont ask your occupation, where is the relevance......??....u dont need a proposer and other ref......??.......ur application form doesnt hang on the notice board for others to scrutinise
Thats why the Golf Boom times are gone, I dare say without tiger woods, it wouldnt even be on TV, and I would think we would have lost lots of clubs because of this too
Golf has already skipped a generation, or 2
And its only brightly coloured - dapper dressers like Fowler, Poulter, Villegas, etc...that are catching the youngsters eyes and stirring interest
Everything evolves, this is 2011, and Golf needs to realise this :sbox:

 

[In_The_Rough]

Can't see any problem with jeans or trainers in the bar to be honest except when there is a function or event on in there. However as for wearing jeans on the course that is a total no no and simply should not be allowed. I wear jeans,trainers a lot when out and about but would no more dream of turning up for a round of Golf in them and expect to get a game.

 

[moogie]

Can't see any problem with jeans or trainers in the bar to be honest except when there is a function or event on in there. However as for wearing jeans on the course that is a total no no and simply should not be allowed. I wear jeans,trainers a lot when out and about but would no more dream of turning up for a round of Golf in them and expect to get a game.

Dont get me wrong here mind, I am DEFO FOR a Dress Code on the Course.
I wouldnt want that to change.
Just relaxing casual dress in clubhouse, thats what people want, much more informal
As soon as the rule changed at my course, even committee men started wearing jeans

 

[In_The_Rough]

Dont get me wrong here mind, I am DEFO FOR a Dress Code on the Course.
I wouldnt want that to change.
Just relaxing casual dress in clubhouse, thats what people want, much more informal
As soon as the rule changed at my course, even committee men started wearing jeans

Agreed. My club used to be stuck in a time warp with dress code. You did not used to be able to go in the bar without Jacket,Trousers etc so when I have finished a round you had to change all your Golf gear just to go for a pint. So I never used to bother as did most of the members this got scrapped a few years ago so all I have to do now is take off the Golf shoes and that's it and guess what the the takings have risen dramatically.

 

[moogie]

Exactly

 

[DaveM]

Having just read this thread from begining to end(have a headache now). My twopennies worth. OK start with the course. Now to me the main problem seems to be, as golf wear is much the same as everyday wear this is where the problem stems from. Other sports have a set kit be it football, rugby, cricket or tennis. You would not do the weekly shop dressed in that gear. But in golf gear you can, ok minus the shoes. So to me a dress code on the course is right. Its your golf kit same as any other sports kit.

In the club house its another matter. A degree of respecability has to be kept. What has happened at my club for example. Jeans are now allowed. It was mainly put in place as many of the members past near the club on their way home from work. It was considered silly that they had to go home change out of there jeans, then come all the way back to the club just to book in for the weekend comp. It was then relaxed in the bar/lounge. But no trainers. So smart say polo shirt jeans and shoes are the norm in the club house. If you are having a drink, snack (proper meals are also served in the bar/lounge), game of snooker or just chatting and watching TV. In the restarant it is still a bit more formal. Fair enough if your taking her in doors for a meal saturday night. Its still nice to dress up a bit. Formal do's are just that formal in dress. Seem to work fine for everybody and seems to be a good balance.

Anyway that my bit for what its worth!

 

[Bikky73]

As for the white socks with shorts thing... That goes back decades, not just in golf. Cycling, both on and off road used to specify white ankle socks (yes mountain biking in the muck and white socks) Cricket used to be all white, now they allow colours in 1 day test.

I do believe in a dress code. As is said trousers and polo shirt from the likes of Matalan can cost no more than £20-£40. And a dress code in the clubhouse, YES but relaxed. Jeans and trainers are no issue if the dress code is smart, No tatties/rips etc. After all golf shoes now look like trainers, 10 years ago you'd never be allowed on a course with them.

As for 2 for 1 offers. I know there's no way I'd spend £40-50 for a round of golf (that's nearly £100 for me and the missus) We, and my brothers I play with just can't afford it. Not if we want to play more than 2-3 times a year. As it is, we've got a 2 for 1 pre-paid gift for a course at £77 for the 2 of us. We'd never play there normally, so that's revenue to the club. If they dropped their prices a bit for visitors then maybe yes make more money.

It's up to the club in the end, they'll do what they need to stay in business, and if they're going out of business they'll drop prices and advertise so to get more people in.

But on that expensive note. I know of a club, gets paid a lot of money by their local council, in this well known holiday resort, to have their course open to visitors. A councilor had turned up with an out of town friend for a game and was turned away. Club rules, You MUST have a handicap of 15 or less, or be part of their coaching scheme to play on the course. The coaching scheme was expensive and designed to get you to a 15 or less handicap. The other thing was the visitor price was about £80, with a member was £30. And 15 years ago their membership was £600 with a 3 year waiting list.

The councilor wrote them a letter the Monday informing them, club rules to change or the funding would be withdrawn. By the end of that week, any visitor could pay and play regardless of h.c. and the price was dropped to £40. Basically they were receiving their funding from the council to enable them to keep the course elitest. And the course isn't that great either. The only time I've been on that course was to pick up my dogs poo. If i'd known at the time what I know now about the council funding i'd of left it (and I always pick up the poo).

But aside from poo, what I'm getting at is golf used to be for the well off, and the well off try to keep it like that in a lot of cases. It's this elitism that gets people's goat in these more liberal times. I don't like the idea that a course is out of bounds to me because i'm not good enough (but fair enough, I can always get better), but certainly not because I'm not rich enough. I look after things well (I've got a 26yr old screwdriver set that cost me £1.80, still intact and well used) But as I say. There's a number of courses out that that are cheaper, and WILL get my money. I just don't understand why Scottish courses are so much cheaper than English, and in a lot of cases better courses, 3day's golf 2night accom for £56pp not pppn at Woll, or £36 per round avg around here.


So all in all, Yes a dress code, and yes strict rules to look after the course. But get with the times, Fair enough don't allow jeans on the course, but some black jeans look like trousers now anyway.