Hats Off!

[Slab]

My main thought when going for the handshake is "I hope they don't want a kiss" especially the boys.....

A culture thing probably but its the norm for a double tap (kiss on each cheek) when playing with the ladies out here

But then its normal here for a double tap even when meeting someone you know or even someone you've just met. Think it must be the French influence!

 

[Hacker Khan]

Early days but a pretty one sided poll result so far

I'd be interested to hear from those who are ok with caps indoors and whether they are hats on/off for the handshake and how they view any difference (no ulterior motive other than healthy debate)

I'd say it's a bit similar to previously polls asking about if golfers should wear golfing uniform or a mankini, or whatever it asked. You are generally asking a bunch of middle aged to elderly traditional hardcore golfers if they perform a ritual that is mostly performed by middle aged to elderly hardcore golfers. There's is (mostly) only ever going to be one answer.

Having said that I rarely wear hats as they restrict my vision and annoy me , but when I do it's a rain hat when it's hoying it down with rain. And I can't remember ever taking it off to shake hands on the 18th. And it has honestly never crossed my mind to be offended or not if someone takes off theirs, I really could not tell you if people do or don't as I never register it. But then again I mostly play with mates who'd think I've gone a bit weird if I did.

A more interesting poll may be to ask potential golfers (i.e. just about anyone in society) if they think the ritual of removing your hat is something that is still applicable in 2014 and if it should be something that golf 'encourages' when shaking hands or insists when in the clubhouse, you do.

And thinking back, if I wore a hat on the NGT day at the grove and didn't remove it when I shook Homer, Phil the Fragger and Saint Hacker's hand on the 18th then I am sorry. No offence intended.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Also if you'd got the 18th then you'd have a pretty good idea what a person was like and if they were a rotter or a decent type. So the removal or not of a hat after 4 or 5 hours in their company would not really influence that.

Hey, I've listened to 4 hours of sub UKIP drivel and some horrible sexism and racism, they've spent 2 minutes lining up every put and seem to play with the assumption that they are the only person on this course, never waiving anyone through despite causing us to fall 3 holes behind. So I wasn't sure about them. But now they've removed their hat on the 18th, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Same time next week Enoch...

 

[Dellboy]

Never wear a hat, but the people I play with always seems to do so, even the young chap (17yr old)

I think its a nice thing to do and I get annoyed when some pros don't do it on TV.

 

[bladeplayer]

No Hat or glove , in winter if it was really cold or just after the .5 haircut & i have a bobble hat on i will allways remove it , dont know the reason behind it , its something ive always done . part of the round is over process

 

[garyinderry]

Couldn't give a toss. I'm a robert rock type (without the looks) . No Bennie unless its freezing. In that case its staying on.

The handshake is all that matters to me on 18. Its nonsense to take off a cap just to put it on again. I am fully aware who is under the hat. its the person I've just spent the last 4 odd hours traipsing around a field or two. The hat comes off when I am at the car or clubhouse. Its there for a purpose.

 

[bluewolf]

I'd say it's a bit similar to previously polls asking about if golfers should wear golfing uniform or a mankini, or whatever it asked. You are generally asking a bunch of middle aged to elderly traditional hardcore golfers if they perform a ritual that is mostly performed by middle aged to elderly hardcore golfers. There's is (mostly) only ever going to be one answer.

Having said that I rarely wear hats as they restrict my vision and annoy me , but when I do it's a rain hat when it's hoying it down with rain. And I can't remember ever taking it off to shake hands on the 18th. And it has honestly never crossed my mind to be offended or not if someone takes off theirs, I really could not tell you if people do or don't as I never register it. But then again I mostly play with mates who'd think I've gone a bit weird if I did.

A more interesting poll may be to ask potential golfers (i.e. just about anyone in society) if they think the ritual of removing your hat is something that is still applicable in 2014 and if it should be something that golf 'encourages' when shaking hands or insists when in the clubhouse, you do.

And thinking back, if I wore a hat on the NGT day at the grove and didn't remove it when I shook Homer, Phil the Fragger and Saint Hacker's hand on the 18th then I am sorry. No offence intended.

I'll just say it once, and risk this turning into ANOTHER thread in which you post paragraph after paragraph of anti dress code propaganda (seriously, do you copy and paste)

The removal of a hat is just manners. It's what I was taught when I was growing up. Like holding open doors and giving up my seat on the Bus. I'm not offended if you don't wish to do it, but I would be offended if you judged me for doing so.

A dress code is a set of rules laid down by the Club. The Club that we have a choice in whether to join or not. I'm entirely un-fussed (sp) regarding dress codes. I recently changed Club, and one of the reasons for doing so was the relaxed dress code in the new Clubhouse. I prefer to wear jeans socially. I prefer to wear trousers when playing. I'm a simple person (in more ways than one ).

However, the removal of a hat is MANNERS to me.. Maybe not to you, but it is to me. In the same way that I would remove a hat if I was passing, or being passed by a Funeral Procession. A simple sign of respect. In the grand scheme of things, it changes nothing in the World. But to me it's important. Manners and respect are things that I hope never go out of fashion..

Oh, and I have refused to shake hands with a fellow competitor. A more dislikeable, bigoted person I would not hope to meet again. I didn't have to remove my hat in that instance as respect is something that can be withdrawn at any time..

Anyway, sorry for the rant. I'm about to go and play 18 and it's bloody miserable outside....

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Not surprisingly perhaps I am an 'always' out of manners, respect and courtesy (as for indoors). And in the same vein I always remove sunglasses when being introduced to, and then speaking with, someone - generally keeping them off during the conversation if I've just taken them off. So if I happened to be wearing sunglasses on the golf course (very rare) I would remove them at the end of the round when removing any headgear and shaking hands. During the round - would tend to keep them on as chats tend to be 'passing' in nature. I think it is rude to wear sunglasses when having a conversation with someone unless that person is well known to you or a friend.

 

[mhwgc]

I always take mine off when I shake hands I think it's good manners and am surprised on the very rare occasion when someone hasn't.

 

[dufferman]

do you not shake hands either?

We do shake hands.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If I am wearing a woolie hat for the cold I would not take that off and I can't think I have ever seen someone do that. I like warm ears. I always take off a peaked cap but frankly could not give a monkies if my playing partners did not. I don't see it as a respect / manners issue but I know others do. Most do it out of convention I suspect. I sometimes wear sunglasses but have not thought to take them off. I wear them as the sun is too bright. To take them off, squint, shake hands and put them back on seems a bit odd. I would not expect anyone to take their glasses off, squint, put them back on either.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

I'll just say it once, and risk this turning into ANOTHER thread in which you post paragraph after paragraph of anti dress code propaganda (seriously, do you copy and paste)

The removal of a hat is just manners. It's what I was taught when I was growing up. Like holding open doors and giving up my seat on the Bus. I'm not offended if you don't wish to do it, but I would be offended if you judged me for doing so.

A dress code is a set of rules laid down by the Club. The Club that we have a choice in whether to join or not. I'm entirely un-fussed (sp) regarding dress codes. I recently changed Club, and one of the reasons for doing so was the relaxed dress code in the new Clubhouse. I prefer to wear jeans socially. I prefer to wear trousers when playing. I'm a simple person (in more ways than one ).

However, the removal of a hat is MANNERS to me.. Maybe not to you, but it is to me. In the same way that I would remove a hat if I was passing, or being passed by a Funeral Procession. A simple sign of respect. In the grand scheme of things, it changes nothing in the World. But to me it's important. Manners and respect are things that I hope never go out of fashion..

Oh, and I have refused to shake hands with a fellow competitor. A more dislikeable, bigoted person I would not hope to meet again. I didn't have to remove my hat in that instance as respect is something that can be withdrawn at any time..

Anyway, sorry for the rant. I'm about to go and play 18 and it's bloody miserable outside....

I'm with Hacker.

I think you're comparing apples and oranges by likening the removal of a hat in a golf club house (where hats are increasingly becoming part of the standard golf attire) with giving up a seat on a bus or holding a door open for someone; the latter two actually have some bearing on the other person, the former is wearing a hat.

It's quite obvious to me how the latter two are polite and form part of good manners - removal of a hat in the spike bar though? That's lost on me.

Also, the poll is somewhat meaningless unless it's broken down into an age demographic as it would be far more interesting to know whether the view on this is changing over time.

 

[mcbroon]

I never wear a hat but if I did, I'd take it off to shake hands. Basic manners. I am always disappointed when I see pros shaking hands with hats still on.

 

[TheJezster]

I wear a hat on many occasions, but not always, and come the end of the round I usually take it off to shake hands, but not always. Don't think I'd take a wooly hat off though, but I'll find out soon enough, it's getting cold...

 

[Lawrence22]

As I rarely wear a hat golfing it would be a no. Only wear hat if sun is low in the sky, and as I generally play in the mornings I am very unlikely to still be wearing it by the time I get to the 18th. Not sure I would remember to remove it if I did have it on. I suppose if playing partner removed theirs I would.

 

[Hacker Khan]

I'll just say it once, and risk this turning into ANOTHER thread in which you post paragraph after paragraph of anti dress code propaganda (seriously, do you copy and paste)

I'm sometimes right, sometimes wrong, always certain.

To quote Danny Baker

 

[North Mimms]

Yes when it's a cap but less so when it's a woolly hat. Not sure why but think it's because we kiss and the peak gets in the way!

As another female, yes I do the same as Amanda!

 

[bluewolf]

I'm with Hacker.

I think you're comparing apples and oranges by likening the removal of a hat in a golf club house (where hats are increasingly becoming part of the standard golf attire) with giving up a seat on a bus or holding a door open for someone; the latter two actually have some bearing on the other person, the former is wearing a hat.

It's quite obvious to me how the latter two are polite and form part of good manners - removal of a hat in the spike bar though? That's lost on me.

Also, the poll is somewhat meaningless unless it's broken down into an age demographic as it would be far more interesting to know whether the view on this is changing over time.

Without trying to sound overly pedantic. This thread is not about the removal of hats in the clubhouse. It's about the removal of hats when shaking hands.. Subtle, but a difference nonetheless.. Oh, and manners are always important. No matter how much bearing they have on the recipient.

I sincerely hope that simple acts like the removal of a hat never go out of fashion. It may seem like a petty annoyance to you, but as a very good Royal Marine friend of mine always says - "Manners make the Man." And I find it best to agree with him every time..

Oh, and I'm 40.. And a very childish 40 at that, as all those on here who know me will confirm...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

It's quite obvious to me how the latter two are polite and form part of good manners - removal of a hat in the spike bar though? That's lost on me.

Still lost on you even now that you know that most would prefer and rather expect you to remove your hat?

Anyway - as mentioned this is actually about removing headwear at completion of round when shaking hands.

 

[dufferman]

Without trying to sound overly pedantic. This thread is not about the removal of hats in the clubhouse. It's about the removal of hats when shaking hands.. Subtle, but a difference nonetheless.. Oh, and manners are always important. No matter how much bearing they have on the recipient.

I sincerely hope that simple acts like the removal of a hat never go out of fashion. It may seem like a petty annoyance to you, but as a very good Royal Marine friend of mine always says - "Manners make the Man." And I find it best to agree with him every time..

Oh, and I'm 40.. And a very childish 40 at that, as all those on here who know me will confirm...

Whilst your post is true in respect to manners, there are some things which through the passage of time have changed. Where something in the past will have meant something to everyone, a younger generation do not see the relevance of the gesture.

Not removing ones hat to shake hands does not offend many people today - without wanting to blanket a generation, it seems to ring true more with the younger generation of golfers than older. So the younger generation will not see it as a necessity.

This does not mean that someone has any less respect for you if they do not remove their hat when shaking hands, it simply means they do not connect showing respect to someone with removing their hat when shaking hands.

In some respects, I believe, it comes down to evolution. The hat had different purposes way back when to that of the common cap today. Where it was worn for practical use (going all the way back to removing ones hat to ensure you are not speaking to the enemy as mentioned in the other thread) in years gone by, today it is simply seen as an item of clothing. Hats, caps, beanie hats, bobble hats and all those are worn as part of everyday dress, so to remove it does not make sense, in the same way if someone asked me to remove my top when entering the clubhouse because it is disrespectful to be clothed from the waist up indoors, I'd tell them where to go!!