How to do dress codes on a web site - Bamburgh Castle

[Deleted member 15344]

I think to be honest so will the vast majority of people will follow the dress code. I'll wear exactly the same when I play at Bamburgh as I do when I play my local goat track built on a pit tip as I will do when I play at Trump and Carnastie (well I might change my undercrackers). As I like to feel I have some common sense and know what to wear to play the game.

The dress code for me was not the reason for choosing this course. But with a few choices all of which looked very nice tracks, it was more the attitude that attracted me, rather than the fact that I could possibly get away with wearing jeans or dark socks with shorts or whatever. If someone else does want to wear jeans/dark socks and I see them on the course then as long as they are playing at a reasonable speed I will not give a fig. However I don't really want to wear jeans on the course, I'm happy to put the golf uniform on.

I just liked the fact the course came across as a little more 'inviting' on its web site which is where I feel a lot of courses fall down. And inviting courses can only be a good thing in todays golf climate so I felt it should be commended.

So what sort of attitude do you think a club displays by having a dress detailing what can and can't be worn ?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

So what sort of attitude do you think a club displays by having a dress detailing what can and can't be worn ?

It puts up barriers. It puts you on the back foot straight away. A simple softening of the wording, which is what Bamburgh have done, makes all the difference. You end up with pretty much the same result but one approach makes you feel welcome and the other does not. Subtle psychology, the type of things they teach you on sales courses, how to lay out shop displays etc. Open arms, not closed doors.

 

[Khamelion]

Played seahouses course about two to three miles down the coast and it is a gorgeous little course.
looking to stay in seahouses again next year with four pals and play a few courses up there. Let me know how you go on. Cheers.

Seahouses is a great course, the 10th and 15th a lovely little par 3's over water, the 10th being that little further than it looks. Going to play Dunstanburgh on Saturday for the first time, looking forward to that, Bamburgh is supposed to be a really good course and while you in that neck of the woods, Alnwick is quite a nice course as well.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It puts up barriers. It puts you on the back foot straight away. A simple softening of the wording, which is what Bamburgh have done, makes all the difference. You end up with pretty much the same result but one approach makes you feel welcome and the other does not. Subtle psychology, the type of things they teach you on sales courses, how to lay out shop displays etc. Open arms, not closed doors.

The only barrier it will put up will be to someone worried about a dress code


A lot of clubs prob have to spell it out because a great deal of people don't use common sense

For me a club that highlights what they find acceptable shows they care about maintaining standards and that attitude will reflect on the standard of course

But even if there was a two page essay or one line message neither would be any barrier for me

 

[Dan2501]

I don't think it's that people don't use common sense, it's that they don't have any to use in the first place.

 

[Hacker Khan]

So what sort of attitude do you think a club displays by having a dress detailing what can and can't be worn ?

To be honest I think for the vast majority of clubs it is a bit out of date and potentially, as Lord Tyron says so well, puts up unnecessary barriers. Yes it may be appropriate at some of the extremely traditional ones, but then again if they don't need to do it at St Andrews...

It's more about how you phrase it rather than the ability to wear jeans etc. There was an extremely good article in GM a few months ago talking to the chaps that had just set up one of the new courses down south I think, looked a lovely course, high end, huge membership fee and all that. And paraphrasing it a bit they basically said that they wanted people to feel comfortable and welcome, and telling grown adults what to wear in the 21st century does not do that. So they had a similar dress code wording to Bamburgh, use common sense with no long list of you can't wear this and can't wear that. But I'm willing to bet a pound to a penny that everyone who plays there has the traditional golf attire on.

I totally agree that a club has a right to decide what people should wear and no one is arguing with that. Also I can sort of see how members can get offended if someone transgresses those rules. To me life's too short to be worried about how someone is dressed as there are far more important things I judge people on, but hey ho, each to their own. But I just think the way it is normally worded using a number of strict rules is not needed.

 

[Smiffy]

I really don't get this.
If a club says "no hats in the clubhouse" don't wear a hat in the clubhouse.
If a club says "proper golf shoes to be worn" wear proper golf shoes.
If a club says "no jeans allowed" don't wear jeans.
If you don't like any of that, don't go and play there!

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

The only barrier it will put up will be to someone worried about a dress code


A lot of clubs prob have to spell it out because a great deal of people don't use common sense

For me a club that highlights what they find acceptable shows they care about maintaining standards and that attitude will reflect on the standard of course

But even if there was a two page essay or one line message neither would be any barrier for me

What sounds nicer:

"don't step on the grass"
"please use the paths where possible"

One of those will change (maybe only in a small subconcious way) your view of the place, better than another.

Same as

"please wear something suitable" vs "don't wear X,X1,X2,X3,X4,X5,X6,X7,X8,X9,X10"

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

I really don't get this.
If a club says "no hats in the clubhouse" don't wear a hat in the clubhouse.
If a club says "proper golf shoes to be worn" wear proper golf shoes.
If a club says "no jeans allowed" don't wear jeans.
If you don't like any of that, don't go and play there!

Noone is arguing against that? But IF people are worried generally about golf, having clubs "appear" more welcoming (even if this isn't actually changing anything about their rules) can't be a bad thing, can it?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

To be honest I think for the vast majority of clubs it is a bit out of date and potentially, as Lord Tyron says so well, puts up unnecessary barriers. Yes it may be appropriate at some of the extremely traditional ones, but then again if they don't need to do it at St Andrews...

It's more about how you phrase it rather than the ability to wear jeans etc. There was an extremely good article in GM a few months ago talking to the chaps that had just set up one of the new courses down south I think, looked a lovely course, high end, huge membership fee and all that. And paraphrasing it a bit they basically said that they wanted people to feel comfortable and welcome, and telling grown adults what to wear in the 21st century does not do that. So they had a similar dress code wording to Bamburgh, use common sense with no long list of you can't wear this and can't wear that. But I'm willing to bet a pound to a penny that everyone who plays there has the traditional golf attire on.

I totally agree that a club has a right to decide what people should wear and no one is arguing with that. Also I can sort of see how members can get offended if someone transgresses those rules. To me life's too short to be worried about how someone is dressed as there are far more important things I judge people on, but hey ho, each to their own. But I just think the way it is normally worded using a number of strict rules is not needed.

Being honest the one person on here who I have seen have the biggest gripe about dress codes appears to be yourself - yet you say life is too short to be worried about it all but that never appears to be the message you display

For me I prefer to see a detailed dress code because it then leaves you in no doubt what is acceptable or not

 

[hovis]

Noone is arguing against that? But IF people are worried generally about golf, having clubs "appear" more welcoming (even if this isn't actually changing anything about their rules) can't be a bad thing, can it?

I completely agree with all you've been saying but your banging your head against the wall with certain folks on here. They only see in black and white

 

[Deleted member 16999]

What sounds nicer:

"don't step on the grass"
"please use the paths where possible"

One of those will change (maybe only in a small subconcious way) your view of the place, better than another.

Same as

"please wear something suitable" vs "don't wear X,X1,X2,X3,X4,X5,X6,X7,X8,X9,X10"

As much as I agree with your sentiments, the difference above is, one is an instruction, the other is a request.

 

[Hacker Khan]

The only barrier it will put up will be to someone worried about a dress code


A lot of clubs prob have to spell it out because a great deal of people don't use common sense

For me a club that highlights what they find acceptable shows they care about maintaining standards and that attitude will reflect on the standard of course

But even if there was a two page essay or one line message neither would be any barrier for me

That's a bit of a bleak view of people turning up to the average golf club IMHO. Treat people like simpletons who need to be told what to wear and they will usually meet your expectations, treat them with a bit of common sense and they may well surprise you.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I really don't get this.
If a club says "no hats in the clubhouse" don't wear a hat in the clubhouse.
If a club says "proper golf shoes to be worn" wear proper golf shoes.
If a club says "no jeans allowed" don't wear jeans.
If you don't like any of that, don't go and play there!

After a dress code trial period June-August our membership voted in September.

Original Dress Code remains (pretty standard trad golf smart casual) with two refinements/clarifications:

1) Jeans may be worn in the clubhouse (trial accepted)
2) Shirts should be worn 'tucked in' (trial rejected)

Now whatever non-members and members think of the above, the fact is that that is what the membership has voted for.

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

As much as I agree with your sentiments, the difference above is, one is an instruction, the other is a request.

And 99% of the time, i would imagine they have the same end result.

So why not stick to politely requesting, instead of instructing?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

What sounds nicer:

"don't step on the grass"
"please use the paths where possible"

One of those will change (maybe only in a small subconcious way) your view of the place, better than another.

Same as

"please wear something suitable" vs "don't wear X,X1,X2,X3,X4,X5,X6,X7,X8,X9,X10"

It's a simple instruction - how "nice " it reads makes no difference - it's clear and leaves no doubt

 

[Deleted member 15344]

That's a bit of a bleak view of people turning up to the average golf club IMHO. Treat people like simpletons who need to be told what to wear and they will usually meet your expectations, treat them with a bit of common sense and they may well surprise you.

Well can only go by what I have witnessed at various golf courses around and including my own

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

Well can only go by what I have witnessed at various golf courses around and including my own

I guess there isn't a chance that the lack of common sense is due to all of these "instructions", removing the need to think for yourself?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

And 99% of the time, i would imagine they have the same end result.

So why not stick to politely requesting, instead of instructing?

Not disagreeing with you in any way at all, just pointing out it's the way some narrow minded people may interpret them,

When instructed they do it with no thought, when requested some see it as a challenge not to.

 

[moogie]

Just to add, on a golfing note, not a dress code one, that Bamburgh is a really nice course, and welcoming club.
The course has some stunning views of the area, which is a lovely place.
But also has a few blind holes to be wary of.
It also starts off rather unusually with 2 X Par 3's.....

But being as you will be in that area, if you have time for even just 1 more game, then you really must head north, just a little bit further and play Goswick.
Best course in the area