Well Said Monty!

[sev112]

i cannot agree with these attitudes to dress code

It is currently far too lax - peoepl can wear whatever they want - we need golf clubs to make their dress codes more struct and then ENFORCE them
This is OUR game and we dont want anyone else coming in with different attitudes to ours

I personally would ban polo shirts ; if ties and collars were good enough for Hagen et al, then why shoudl we reduce down to "smart casual" - this game was meant to be played by people with a bit of class, and we shoudl ensure it stays that way

 

[SAPCOR1]

i cannot agree with these attitudes to dress code

It is currently far too lax - peoepl can wear whatever they want - we need golf clubs to make their dress codes more struct and then ENFORCE them
This is OUR game and we dont want anyone else coming in with different attitudes to ours

I personally would ban polo shirts ; if ties and collars were good enough for Hagen et al, then why shoudl we reduce down to "smart casual" - this game was meant to be played by people with a bit of class, and we shoudl ensure it stays that way

Lol

 

[G1BB0]

erm if golf was meant to be played by those with a bit of class.... my clubs are on ebay (along with some polo's)

 

[GreiginFife]

I saw a guy last week at a mate's course playing in jeans. Now while I don't have a problem with that per-se, I just couldn't understand why someone would, that's bound to be uncomfortable after a while. It was a reasonably warm day and even with Dri-Fit trousers on I was a bit... erm warm, if you get me. Jeans would be unbearable.

 

[sev112]

They suit slim people very well, especially on dry autumn or spring days when denim is a very sensible material for outdoor activities

 

[MegaSteve]

When I started work in the late 60's virtually everyone [male] wore a shirt and tie to work... Including those of us on the factory floor... Not just the nob's in the office... My how things have changed... I actually got disciplined at a previous employment for failing to wear the company supplied Tee shirts :angry:....

 

[Richuk123]

I "almost" agree with monty.

While I agree that there is a barrier that needs to be broken, I feel there still should be traditions to be upheld, such as dress code. It bugs me when I see ppl trying to blag there way on in jeans, trainers and so on and I do like the whole golf look, there is some nice clobber about .

 

[G1BB0]

and not too expensive either.

go to a club on a fri/sat night, used to be shoes and collar only, now you can turn up in anything!!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I see where Monty is going with this and to an extent I agree. Golf does need to reach out and get the youngsters involved as they clearly are the long term future. However doesn't every sport, indeed most activities both social and work/educational need some boundaries in place. If you were starting a kids footie team would you expect the matches to be played without a ref or worrying about the pitch?

It's the same in golf. I think this idea that a cheap but smart pair of trousers and a polo (total cost £15 in Tesco/Matalan/Primark etc) being in some way elitist is wrong. From my experience it is theones that look like golfers that behave like golfers and usually have a greater understanding of the nicitied like repairing pitch marks and raking bunkers. Its those that don't care and turn up like they are on the way to the pub that tend to play in a lager loutish way. Not all but certainly a fair proportion.

I've had an issue with aged related subsidies for years. I totally get making it as cheap as you can for youngsters, teenagers and even as far as say 23-25 where you are potentially living away from home for the first time, maybe newly married/kids and money is tight. Clubs need members and anything that can keep someone attached, particularly the transition from junior upwards is great.

However by 25 most people should be in a job and earning. Forget redundancies and the economic climate, you have to cut your cloth accordingly and so membership may be a luxury if you aren't working or on a low income job. I don't see that as elitist but realistic. I don't see why someone in a good job and earning arguably as me should still get cash breaks until they are 30 while I have to pay full whack. We play the same course, use the same facilities so why the difference. Golf membership is far more nomadic these days and as soon as they lose their breaks many will be looking for the cheapest club anyway so you are then left with a void to fill

 

[Dodger]

Surprisingly it isn't all about 'me' and more about ensuring long term futures for many clubs and along with that also people livelihoods.

 

[papyt]

i'm sorry but am i missing the point who said golf had to open to the masses,there are two types of golfer,those that treat it like a bit of fun and just play the game normally at a pay n play type course,jeans tee-shirt trainers etc etc no problem with those at all.Then there is the likes of most on this forum who get the ethos of the game its a social sport that comes with a set of rules and a code of conduct those that take the game seriously (to sometimes) know before we join a club,so why should the game be dragged down so as the masses can play at members clubs,who on here would relish a gang of teenagers dressed in denim wearing trainers descending on their courses,i have an idea for MONTY get a gang of inner city kids bundle them into a minibus and take them to his golf club hire some clubs and let them loose on the course,there are changes coming but why should we have to change to accommodate them,dress code in my opinion is part of the game and should not be altered.

 

[SAPCOR1]

What Monty and others are trying to do is save the game, save golf clubs and save jobs of those who work there.

A lot of people in this world forget they were younger once and are intolerant of anyone who doesn't fit in with their viewvof the world.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion and private clubs can choose how they want to run their affairs.

For me, it is far more important for people on course to be courteous, show decorum and enjoy the game rather than worrying what material their trousers are made of. FFS get a grip on reality!

As longs the shoes being worn are golf shoes who cares if they look like trainers? The important thing is that the sole doesn't damage the surface.

I've been on courses where "traditionally" dressed golfers who are mature not replacing divots, repairing pitch marks, playing slowly, shouting, throwing clubs, leaving cigarette ends strewn, throwing beer cans in the rough, taking pictures of each other in bunkers etc etc etc.

 

[jimjoachim]

Agree with a comment earlier that at our course the kids are the "best" dressed. I add the quote marks as its not stuff i would wear but they all look like mini rorys white trousers et al...

When i was looking somewhere to join last summer i was looking somewhere inbetween the 2 extremes. I was previously a member of a ridiculously lax course whose only rule was no football tops. In the summer you would regularly see people out playing with no shirt on and a tin of beer in the hand.....

My current club is perfect balance for me. Although (as mentioned on a previous post) i had the misfortune to turn up to club dinner without jacket and tie and got berated for it. I was very smartly dressed just not suited and booted. Im getting dogs abuse while theres guys at other tables looking scruffier even in their ties (top buttons undone and ties really loose)..

 

[Liverbirdie]

I'm happy to say that my golf club does one thing very well and that's give good discounts to youngsters for membership and the pro is forever doing group junior lessons and going out to the local schools for after school golf sessions.

One thing I wouldn't want to see though is the dress code taken out of the game, I think Golf should be a sport that requires smart attire. I for one don't want to see people playing my golf course in jeans and a Liverpool shirt. You need to open the game up to more people but you still need to have etiquette and rules.

Are any other footy tops ok, just checking. as they have a sale on in sports direct.

 

[papyt]

What Monty and others are trying to do is save the game, save golf clubs and save jobs of those who work there.

A lot of people in this world forget they were younger once and are intolerant of anyone who doesn't fit in with their view of the world.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion and private clubs can choose how they want to run their affairs.

For me, it is far more important for people on course to be courteous, show decorum and enjoy the game rather than worrying what material their trousers are made of. FFS get a grip on reality!

As longs the shoes being worn are golf shoes who cares if they look like trainers? The important thing is that the sole doesn't damage the surface.

I've been on courses where "traditionally" dressed golfers who are mature not replacing divots, repairing pitch marks, playing slowly, shouting, throwing clubs, leaving cigarette ends strewn, throwing beer cans in the rough, taking pictures of each other in bunkers etc etc etc.

you must have been to some ruff golf clubs,were these private members clubs??,as for young people playing golf at a reduced green fee i have no problem with that so long as they are dressed accordingly and supervised by either a older member or someone who runs the junior section.

 

[SAPCOR1]

you must have been to some ruff golf clubs,were these private members clubs??,as for young people playing golf at a reduced green fee i have no problem with that so long as they are dressed accordingly and supervised by either a older member or someone who runs the junior section.

Japanese adults taking pictures of each other in bunkers at Turnberry
Picture taking at bunkers at Slaley Hall
Cigarette ends at most courses
Beer cans at Troon and many others
Shouting and club throwing numerous
Slow play everywhere!

Don't know if of the above constitute as rough in your book?

 

[Liverbirdie]

Golf 22 years ago (when I started) was generally a class issue, in the main IMHO.

As a lad brought up in the poor part of town (sob, I know) no-one by me played golf. We didn't know anyone who played golf either. It was only through a lad in work, who took me along and loaned me some clubs that I got started and then played for 10 years or so on the munis. I wore trainees for the first 2-3 years, moved up to golf shoes (after mercilessly giving one of the lads loads for wearing "proper" golf shoes). I didn't wear a polo or golf trousers for at least 8-10 years.

I started playing with one of the mates, who was the first to join a private club, and obviously wore the correct attire. I wouldn't dream of playing golf nowadays in trackies and trainees, even if it were allowed. I actually feel more comfy in golf gear.

As someone else said, you can get the most obnoxious people in all the correct gear, but with no sense of etiquette, good manners or reasonable behaviour. However, if all the courses let people just turn up with an old 7 iron and a putter in a group of 6, without any sense of knowing what the normal etiquette is, I dont think we would all enjoy that either. There is probably a middle ground that is somehwere for golf to flourish.

If they wouldn't have let lads play in trainees and trackies at the local muni, a lot of us wouldn't be where we are now.

From the other side, how many on here started because their dad played, their dad and grandad where a member of a private club. They had all the gear bought for them, they were coached as a junior etc.

Nothing wrong with that, but it shows the different ways that we are enticed towards starting golf.

 

[papyt]

Golf 22 years ago (when I started) was generally a class issue, in the main IMHO.

As a lad brought up in the poor part of town (sob, I know) no-one by me played golf. We didn't know anyone who played golf either. It was only through a lad in work, who took me along and loaned me some clubs that I got started and then played for 10 years or so on the minus. I wore trainees for the first 2-3 years, moved up to golf shoes (after mercilessly giving one of the lads loads for wearing "proper" golf shoes). I didn't wear a polo or golf trousers for at least 8-10 years.

I started playing with one of the mates, who was the first to join a private club, and obviously wore the correct attire. I wouldn't dream of playing golf nowadays in trackies and trainees, even if it were allowed. I actually feel more comfy in golf gear.

As someone else said, you can get the most obnoxious people in all the correct gear, but with no sense of etiquette, good manners or reasonable behaviour. However, if all the courses let people just turn up with an old 7 iron and a putter in a group of 6, without any sense of knowing what the normal etiquette is, I don't think we would all enjoy that either. There is probably a middle ground that is somewhere for golf to flourish.

If they wouldn't have let lads play in trainees and trackies at the local muni, a lot of us wouldn't be where we are now.

From the other side, how many on here started because their dad played, their dad and grandad where a member of a private club. They had all the gear bought for them, they were coached as a junior etc.

Nothing wrong with that, but it shows the different ways that we are enticed towards starting golf.

my point exactly,everyone must learn the games rules and code of conduct,so why cant they learn at a more relaxed club why should traditional clubs be made to follow like sheep.as a point of interest WHY do some on here join a club then try to change the way it is run from posts about handicaps to why should i wear a tie and jacket in the club house etc did you not know prior to joining or are you just trouble makers either way just leave.