Would you join a club that did not have a dress code?

[D-S]

I've been invited to play Blackwell next week. Jacket and tie for lunch (apparently amazing!) and long socks if wearing shorts. I don't own any long socks so trousers it is. Can't wait, heard it's proper old school

Well if you’re with a member at least you will be able to use the members bar rather than a small area off the dining room that we were ushered into prior to our round in their Open. Not sure you will have access to the members changing rooms.
Nice course but won’t be going back.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

Well if you’re with a member at least you will be able to use the members bar rather than a small area off the dining room that we were ushered into prior to our round in their Open. Not sure you will have access to the members changing rooms.
Nice course but won’t be going back.

And it’s things like that which puts me off those sort of clubs and shows how golf in some parts is still very unwelcoming. Doesn’t matter what the course is like treating guests like 2nd class citizens is poor.

 

[Bagger Vance]

And it’s things like that which puts me off those sort of clubs and shows how golf in some parts is still very unwelcoming. Doesn’t matter what the course is like treating guests like 2nd class citizens is poor.

Ferndown has a separate visitor changing room. It's nothing to do with 'us and them' it's purely logistics. The members locker room isn't large and there was a room on the other side of the toilets/showers so it made sense to convert that to a visitor locker room. Nothing wrong with that at all just common sense.

PS....I had a virtually brand new pair of FJ shoes stolen from our locker room years ago. It was our day allocated to societies so virtually no members around. Make of that what you want.

 

[KenL]

Well if you’re with a member at least you will be able to use the members bar rather than a small area off the dining room that we were ushered into prior to our round in their Open. Not sure you will have access to the members changing rooms.
Nice course but won’t be going back.

Hate that non-welcoming “you’re a second class citizen” attitude.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I've been invited to play Blackwell next week. Jacket and tie for lunch (apparently amazing!) and long socks if wearing shorts. I don't own any long socks so trousers it is. Can't wait, heard it's proper old school

Decent course

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Hate that non-welcoming “you’re a second class citizen” attitude.

If the course is that good I wouldn’t care less where I changed my shows or had a drink

 

[irip]

If the course is that good I wouldn’t care less where I changed my shows or had a drink

I think New Zealand can feel a bit unwelcoming particularly on your 1st visit.
Once you get used to it then it’s fine.
I can think of a few courses similar.

 

[D-S]

Hate that non-welcoming “you’re a second class citizen” attitude.

We were the first group off at their Open. Just as we were about to tee off a group of members pushed their way onto the tee in front of us without a word and proceeded to hold us up for 3 or 4 holes before they went in. The starter was apologetic but shrugged and sais they were members so what can you do? This combined with the 2nd class status of visitors as well as the old fashioned dress code does not endear me to the place.

I contrast this with Fontainebleau GC just outside Paris, a real ‘old money’ club, ranked in Europe’s top 20 courses. There when I asked if I could hire a couple of trollies the Secretary said “Trollies are free for members and today sir, you and your wife are members so just take one”. That is proper service and a course we have been back to and would thoroughly recommend to anyone.

 

[PaulMdj]

If the course is that good I wouldn’t care less where I changed my shows or had a drink

Do you have a line?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Do you have a line?

Nothing written down

 

[Orikoru]

We were the first group off at their Open. Just as we were about to tee off a group of members pushed their way onto the tee in front of us without a word and proceeded to hold us up for 3 or 4 holes before they went in. The starter was apologetic but shrugged and sais they were members so what can you do? This combined with the 2nd class status of visitors as well as the old fashioned dress code does not endear me to the place.

I contrast this with Fontainebleau GC just outside Paris, a real ‘old money’ club, ranked in Europe’s top 20 courses. There when I asked if I could hire a couple of trollies the Secretary said “Trollies are free for members and today sir, you and your wife are members so just take one”. That is proper service and a course we have been back to and would thoroughly recommend to anyone.

While the sentiment is nice, I do find that expression a bit corny and hackneyed. Just say trollies are free for everyone if that's what you mean.

 

[D-S]

While the sentiment is nice, I do find that expression a bit corny and hackneyed. Just say trollies are free for everyone if that's what you mean.

I took it as a nice pleasant way of saying trollies are free as well as friendly welcoming gesture. The sentiment was the exact opposite of sadly what can still be found in some places.

 

[anotherdouble]

I think New Zealand can feel a bit unwelcoming particularly on your 1st visit.
Once you get used to it then it’s fine.
I can think of a few courses similar.

If I remember correctly at a forum meet there one of our esteemed ladies had to use a separate entrance

 

[irip]

If I remember correctly at a forum meet there one of our esteemed ladies had to use a separate entrance

That would not suprise me.
In fact I’m surprised she was allowed on the property .
They do have some old fashioned rules but if it works for them that’s their choice

 

[anotherdouble]

That would not suprise me.
In fact I’m surprised she was allowed on the property .
They do have some old fashioned rules but if it works for them that’s their choice

Pays your money, sing to their tune

 

[irip]

Pays your money, sing to their tune

Yeah it’s a bit like that.
You feel lucky they have let you play as opposed to them being happy to have your money

 

[IanM]

No Blackwell in Kidderminster

Bromsgrove Smashing place to play, great wine cellar!

 

[PaulMdj]

Pays your money, sing to their tune

I wouldn’t care how good or exclusive a club is/was, there has be a point were you maintain your own moral compass.

 

[Bagger Vance]

I wouldn’t care how good or exclusive a club is/was, there has be a point were you maintain your own moral compass.

Are you aware that there are more ladies only golf clubs in the UK than male only?

 

[Orikoru]

Are you aware that there are more ladies only golf clubs in the UK than male only?

As a reaction to clubs like the one mentioned above, no doubt.