Golf snobs

[JustOne]

I'm part of a private members club and it's full of snobs, but that's what I expected when I joined and I like it that way. I wouldn't expect people to sit down for a drink in their waterproofs and I quite like seeing people take the time to wear a jacket and tie, even more so if it's got the club emblem on it.

If I don't like golfers who judge people by their h/cap (I'd paly with anyone) or dislike people who don't have the graciousness or common sense to call people though does that make me a snob?.. or does that make me I one of the good guys?

 

[Smiffy]

Bloody hell smiffy he could be at my club i better watch out

I don't think he plays anymore.
He had a stroke about 15 years or so ago.
Shame

 

[Fyldewhite]

There are some attitudes like this at most places. Some more than others but generally speaking the older generation clinging desperately to a bygone era where belonging to the local golf club was a real status symbol. It largely isn't any more, just ordinary folk with a common interest getting together to run some comps, have a bite to eat and a few nights out etc.
The attitudes will die out with the generation in all but the most exclusive clubs. who knows, in 20 years we may even consider people who where jeans and use mobile phones to be normal human beings.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

You get w4nk3rs in every walk of life unfortunately. Golf, having a snobby image to start with, suffers from a small percentage of w4nk3rs perpetuating the stereotype. I've only once been subject to the wrath of one such player when I was a junior at Deer Park (he got a two word reply, the latter being 'off') and one other time when I was about 7 hitting a few balls about down at Winterburn in East Lothian.

My club (well, I say my club, i've not actually joined yet) is the ex civil service club in Edinburgh and the members I've met are totally down to earth, as is the pro and the rest of the staff. It makes a difference, being made to feel welcome.

 

[CrapHacker]

By far and away the biggest golf snob I ever (ever) met was my oldest brother Clive.
Was a member of the Nevill in Tunbridge Wells, got down to about 9 handicap and would not play with anybody who had a higher handicap than about 14.
Total and utter knob.
He moved down the West Country about 15 years ago and if I never see him again it will be too soon

I would just like to make it clear that I am in no way related to Smiffy.

Whilst parts of his post may sound like me, ( total and utter knob )....

I am not, and never have been, a 9 h/capper.

And I am definately, catagorically, emphatically, NOT older than Smiffy !!!!

 

[funkyfred]

I admit to being a partial golf snob. I like to try to look nice on the course, would never dream of playing in jeans or shorts and to be honest one thing I do not like is swearing in the clubhouse, especially out loud across the whole room, you know like 'eh smudger what was that load of effing s**t I saw you play on the whatever hole'. Don't get me wrong I swear with the best of them at work it's just that I was brought up to think there was a time and place for bad language, certainly never in front of a woman, or someone I have just being introduced to and for me not in the clubhouse. I do not think it's asking too much for a little bit of restraint now and then.If that makes me a snob then in this case the cap fits so i'll gladly wear it as long as it matches my jumper.

Amen to that drawboy, couldn't agree more mate.

Drawboy, thats not snobbery, thats good manners. I have spent the best part of over 40 years standing on football terraces and can swear with the best of them, but there is a time and place and the clubhouse, or in front of women isn't one of them.

 

[Snelly]

I don't see myself as a golfing snob but I bet plenty of other people do so I suppose I am one!

I have played golf all my life and started at a golf club called Hallowes just south of Sheffield. At the time, it was considered as one of the top clubs in the area with plenty of rules and regulations designed to keep certain standards in place. Consequently, being there from a really early age forged a view that I still hold today that going to the golf club is something special. It is not like the rest of the world as it has it's own rules relating to how you should dress, behave and conduct yourself and these policies help in enabling that sense of occasion when you walk through the door.

Since the halcyon days of my youth, the club in question (like many golf clubs) have relaxed plenty of the little rules that created that special golf club aura. I think this is a terrible shame. Of course, there are plenty of things that have changed for the better but on the whole, I feel that clubs have generally gone too far and eroded that sense of being somewhere unique.

It may be that golf clubs have just been part of a general decline in Britain that has seen good manners diminish and boorish behaviour being viewed as an acceptable part of life in the UK. Either way, I mourn the diminishing standards at golf clubs and think it is a shame that in the pursuit of swollen membership numbers, lots of clubs have come down to the level of the lowest common denominator.

And the whole question doesn't relate to wealth and clubs being a haven for the rich and snooty. After all, good manners don't cost anything.....

 

[drawboy]

And the whole question doesn't relate to wealth and clubs being a haven for the rich and snooty. After all, good manners don't cost anything.....

Here Here!! If you want to act like a chav, do it away from the golf club.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Sorry - there's working class people on this forum???

Good God - what is the world coming to!!!

That's it, I'm off!!! The Horse and Hounds forum has a better class of person.........

 

[viscount17]

Just as this forum has been accused of having its cliques then I'm afraid my club has too. We have a senior group that play most Tuesday and Thursdays and woebetide if you're waiting on the tee when they come out. Always lots of "don't people work", "who's this" and "it's going to be a long round" (even though you invariably have a lower handicap and can physically move quicker). Never a chance of being let through.

On the other hand the vast majority of the club is as friendly as possible to visitors and new members. Its never hard for a newbie to get a game. My reaction, hard as it is, is that these oldies won't be around forever and that the next generation (our current 50+) seem to have a much more tolerant attitude.

have to say the first and so far only real snob I met was at Ascot the first time I went there. apparently I wasn't dressed suitably for the car park (I had been over at wentworth watching the BMW). still homer showed up and the prat was forgotten.

I've also played clubs with the society which have quite stringent dress rules - but that's fair enough, it's their club and if you want to play there you abide by them.

I think though that many clubs can seem pretty cold to a newbie. more than once I've stood alone waiting to tee off at the first of a strange club and never a word spoken.

 

[bobmac]

Sorry - there's working class people on this forum???

Good God - what is the world coming to!!!

That's it, I'm off!!! The Horse and Hounds forum has a better class of person.........

Apparently, they're even considering allowing the lowest kind of working man to join golf clubs now.
I mean, do we really need car salesmen in our club

 

[forefortheday]

Sorry - there's working class people on this forum???

Good God - what is the world coming to!!!

That's it, I'm off!!! The Horse and Hounds forum has a better class of person.........

Apparently, they're even considering allowing the lowest kind of working man to join golf clubs now.
I mean, do we really need car salesmen in our club

If he works for Bentley then maybe but a used car salesman

 

[JustOne]

I think though that many clubs can seem pretty cold to a newbie. more than once I've stood alone waiting to tee off at the first of a strange club and never a word spoken.

You don't have to be a newbie either...

[long story cut short] Nipped across from the 4th to the 9th tee today to walk in. There was a group on the 8th putting so rather than just jump in I waited (even though they hadn't seen me). I was expecting them to ask if I was by myself and would I like to play through,... nothing, not a whisper. They all just tee'd off and carried on through even though I was standing there driver/ball/tee in hand

It just so happens that two of them duffed their tee shots and STILL didn't call me through. Stupid old men! pah!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Consequently, being there from a really early age forged a view that I still hold today that going to the golf club is something special. It is not like the rest of the world as it has it's own rules relating to how you should dress, behave and conduct yourself and these policies help in enabling that sense of occasion when you walk through the door.

Sorry, I must disagree with that. Golf clubs are NOT anything special or different, at the most basic level they're nothing more than a pub with a large garden attached. The sooner that this is realised the better. I am all in favour of using golf and it's etiquette to bring up kids with a strong sense of right and wrong, basic manners and a good work ethic (something sorely lacking these days) but to enforce draconian rules such as wearing blazers in the club house, no jeans, no jackets with zips, no leather jackets, no trainers... sorry, that's just re-enforcing the golf stereotype of upper crust wrinklies wearing bad jumpers and worse trousers.

But then I'm young at 27, but I also realise that the world is moving on and golf steadfastly refuses to move along with it. I fear for the sport, for the clubs and their employees... On Saturday I guaruntee that I was the youngest person on the course and I bet that is the same story for a lot of clubs around the country. Once the older members retire from the club I fear that some may struggle to attract youngsters. The club's attitude and enforcement of some of the 'traditions' is the direct cause of this.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Sorry - there's working class people on this forum???

Good God - what is the world coming to!!!

That's it, I'm off!!! The Horse and Hounds forum has a better class of person.........

Apparently, they're even considering allowing the lowest kind of working man to join golf clubs now.
I mean, do we really need car salesmen in our club

If he works for Bentley then maybe but a used car salesman

Lovely little runner.........
Full service mystery.........
Cutting my own throat here.........
I've got a family to feed.........
Of course the warranty's OK - I've signed it, ain't I???

Language like this should only be heard on the Jeremy Kyle show!!!

 

[Snelly]

quote]

Sorry, I must disagree with that. Golf clubs are NOT anything special or different, at the most basic level they're nothing more than a pub with a large garden attached.

[/QUOTE]

Yes - we disagree completely. There are still very special golf clubs in the UK. St Georges Hill in Weybridge is quite definitely not a pub with a large garden. I would be surprised if any golfer could drive up to the clubhouse there and not feel that they were somewhere very special indeed. And the Old Course at St Andrews? Not exactly the Dog and Duck with a pitch and putt is it?

As for jeans and trainers? At a golf club? I think that is just wrong. Then again, I think trainers should be only worn for playing sports that require them......

 

[USER1999]

Time was Bob, when as a pro, you wouldn't be allowed on here to talk to us.

For what it is worth, having a dress code isn't snobbery. Snobbery is treating someone different to yourself in a demeaning way.

As for dress codes, they are a good thing. Who wants to play a course with people wearing cut off jeans, flip flops and wife beaters? Most of us join a private club to get away from that, so why then campaign to get the dress code relaxed?

That said, I do disagree with the jacket and tie nonsense, I just don't agree with the pro jeans and trainer brigade.

Out of interest, and I asked this question to two comittee men, and a past captain, and they didn't know the answer.

Why can't you tuck your trouser bottoms into your socks? This is a fairly standard rule at most courses. It obviously looks a bit naff, and I don't want to do it, but why is it banned?

 

[StrangelyBrown]

You're entitled to your opinion Snelly, I just think it's archaic and elitist.

 

[AuburnWarrior]

Time was Bob, when as a pro, you wouldn't be allowed on here to talk to us.

For what it is worth, having a dress code isn't snobbery. Snobbery is treating someone different to yourself in a demeaning way.

As for dress codes, they are a good thing. Who wants to play a course with people wearing cut off jeans, flip flops and wife beaters? Most of us join a private club to get away from that, so why then campaign to get the dress code relaxed?

That said, I do disagree with the jacket and tie nonsense, I just don't agree with the pro jeans and trainer brigade.

Out of interest, and I asked this question to two comittee men, and a past captain, and they didn't know the answer.

Why can't you tuck your trouser bottoms into your socks? This is a fairly standard rule at most courses. It obviously looks a bit naff, and I don't want to do it, but why is it banned?

It's banned for one reason and one reason only. In 1876 Andrew Forster was getting dressed for his weekly round of golf at Ye Hertfordshire Golfe and Country Clube. His wife hadn't washed any of the family smalls that week so, seeing as Andrew was running late, he decided to simply put his woollen trousers on without any undercrackers.

He arrives at the course, begins his round and starts to put together the round of his life. His 'commando' state is forgotten.

He's nearing the end of his round - he's 1 over par standing on the 18th tee. He's a nervous man.

At this point, Lord and Lady Huntingworth-Stanley-Baxter arrive at the clubhouse. Women of course are banned from the clubhouse so Lady Huntingworth-Stanley-Baxter has to take a seat on the veranda overlooking the 18th.

Andrew, with insurmountable pressure, hits a good drive but it starts to hook. He finds the small brook running alongside the green. Thankfully, he finds his ball but he's going to have to wade in a fraction to retrieve it. His playing partner comments "It's not that deep! Tuck your trousers into your socks - you'll be fine!" Andrew bends down to tuck his trousers into his socks when - RRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPP!!! His woollen trousers rip from waist to waist exposing his 'non exposables'!!! Lady Huntingworth-Stanley-Baxter sees all of this, gets the raging horn and chases Lord Huntingworth-Stanley-Baxter all around the clubhouse.

A disgusting scene - one that must never be repeated!!!

NEVER tuck your trousers into your socks.

 

[USER1999]

Sounds a bit far fetched to me.

How would tucking your trousers into your socks keep your feet dry when paddling in a river?

Nope, I am going to go with the old favourite of eliminating people who couldn't afford plus fours, and who pretended they could, by tucking their trousers in. They needed to be exposed before their peers, and taken down a notch. Cheating low life scum.