Cargo Shorts/Pants Banning

[chingali]

At the course I currently am a member at cargo shorts are allowed and I have no problem with them so long as they are neat clean and all the same colour for example NOT some sort of camo print.

I'm moving back to Sydney very shortly and am looking at a few clubs I'd like to join, all of them have very strict dress codes. The following is a copy of the typical dress regulations from one of them, there is also a note or two on the appropriate use of mobile phones.

RESPONSIBILITY
Standard of dress and general appearance will, at all times, determine the privilege of Members and Associates and their guests to use the facilities of the Clubhouse and Course and shall be consistent with the dignity of the Club. It is the member's responsibility to comply with these regulations for themselves and their visitors.

All employees of the clubhouse and the Professional Shop have the responsibility to ensure all people comply with the dress and etiquette code prior to accessing the course or clubhouse.

All golfers including visitors must report to the Professional Shop prior to hitting off or using the practice facilities.

MEN'S GENERAL DRESS REGULATIONS (when on Club grounds)

• Trousers and shorts (tailored and up to 2" (5cm) below bottom of the kneee must be neat and clean. Cargo shorts are NOT permitted
• Denim, elastic & cord top pants & shorts are NOT permitted.
• Shirts must have collars, sleeves, be clean and tucked in at all times. Skivvies with rolled collars are acceptable (including mock turtle necks).
• Clean socks must be worn at all times. With shorts, long socks must be kept up at all times.
• Acceptable short socks are plain white or plain white with a golf club logo. Sockettes (below ankle) are NOT permitted.
• Shirts, pants, pullovers, jackets and hats must not display any advertising that is not directly related to the sponsorship of golf - clothing manufacturers' logo excepted (excludes transfer from vehicle to locker room(lower floor)).

MEN'S SPECIFIC DRESS REGULATIONS

• Golf shoes are essential for play. Soft spikes are preferred. Walking and/or Running shoes are only permitted for caddies and spectators.
• Jacket with tie is preferred within the dining room but neat and tidy casual wear is acceptable. (Special function notices will prescribe related appropriate attire).
• Clean golf shoes with soft spikes are not preferred but are acceptable in lounge areas.
• Jogging, Tennis, Sandshoes or canvas shoes are NOT acceptable in lounge areas. (Excludes transfer from vehicle to locker room(lower floor)).

LADIES DRESS REGULATIONS (On the Golf Course)

• Skirts, Shorts, Tailored Slacks, Culottes or Plus Two's. Shirts or blouses must have collars or turtle necks and be tucked in unless fitted or intended to be worn outside the undergarments. No brief skirts and shorts, tank tops, T-Shirts or sun tops.

IN THE CLUBHOUSE

• Golfing attire as above or neat casual wear.
• Jeans, Cargo pants or cargo shorts are unacceptable either on the course or in the clubhouse.
• If a ladies dress is considered inappropriate, the Associates committee may discuss this with the lady concerned.

MOBILE PHONES
Use of mobile phones is restricted to the carpark only. Use of mobile phones on the practice greens, outside the professional shop, at the halfway house and in the clubhouse is NOT acceptable.

[og512]

I played a few courses this summer where they were on the banned list of attire, of course I didn't know that before i got there and I was wearing cargos. However they weren't long, right at the knee and the pockets were more for show than carrying cargo. they looked very neat. noone ever said anything to me about them. i asked about it a couple times because the dress code was posted in the pro shop but I was always told that they were trying to eliminate the big baggy sloppy shorts. I am seeing an increase in courses banning them.

[Fourputt]

Found this in the dress code section of a local private club:

I like this description. It's in keeping with my feelings on the topic. My home course allows most anything, and it can get over the top to point of being downright slovenly. I don't know of any courses in the area that ban cargoes except one country club that I play at a couple of times a year. They are still open minded enough to accept my dressier cargoes that fit the above description.

[Stacey_E]

I'll stay on topic.

No clubs I play at have banned cargo shorts.

I play some real goat tracks. But I try to never play a course without a USGA course rating.

[MI Rob]

None of the courses i have played at have banned them.
I will wear them on occasion, but usually will always wear pants. Never jeans.

[uttexas]

Some cargo shorts look nice. I define cargo shorts as having extra pockets below the standard pockets. I'm 6'5'', and regular shorts are just too short on my legs. Cargo shorts go down to about 5 inches above my knees.

Private golf clubs can do whatever they want as far as dress code/members/etc, and if invited (and allowed to play), I'll abide by the rules.

Public golf courses and pay to play courses should be very careful with these issues. As long as you play your round one hole ahead of the group behind you, I don't care what you are wearing. Bring your dog, just pick up after him/her.

As far as banning things. How about cell phones set to anything other than vibrate or silent mode. No stereos or radios playing music, etc.

Courses should provide top soil/seed mix and tee disposal receptacle at every tee.

[DrivingRangeJunkie]

I actually prefer wearing cargo shorts, they aren't as constricting as pants and they're nice and comfortable. I haven't heard of any courses around here banning cargo shorts, and I hope they don't.

[hamletsdead]

I don't really care what people wear on public courses -- it's pretty much elitist nonsense to demand slacks and polos and brogans (with a belt no less). As long as you're not loud, drunk, and obnoxious and have a working knowledge of the rules of golf, you should be able to get on.

The real change to policy should be to require rounds to be played in 3-1/2 hours. There's simply no reason for the 4-1/2 - 5 hour rounds are so common; if you can't play in 3-1/2, get off the course. I always like the sign they post on many Scottish courses which reads something like "If you cannot finish your round in 3 hours 15 minutes, please see the greenskeeper and he will be happy to escort you off the course."

[Lefty22]

None of the courses (public/muni/semi-private) I play at have banned them. I don't play any of the nicer private courses though... (Memphis, TN)

[Fat Slice]

Here's a good blog on the subject (with research) from Golf Girl:

http://tinyurl.com/6loang

[Fourputt]

Here's a good blog on the subject (with research) from Golf Girl:

I think we all know the difference between neat and slovenly. Bermudas with couple of extra flat pockets

should be perfectly acceptable. Guys like the 2 in the top photo are pushing it, especially the one on the left. I have a pair of cargo shorts that's not that bad and I only wear them to work in the yard in the summer. The young look these days is deliberately sloppy, and even given my rather liberal feelings on the subject of golf apparel, they take it too far. If they want to look like that to go to ball game or to the neighborhood bar, fine. But even to a mid-range restaurant or to play golf, it just projects a low image. I've never understood intentionally trying to look dirty or slovenly. Even in my hippie days I was still neat and clean in my Levi Big Bells. Jeans made for the younger generation now look filthy on the store shelf. I assume that they start out clean, but how can you even tell when it's time to put them in the wash?

[LBlack14]

No, not that I'm aware of. If so I wouldn't play that course.

[NM Golf]

The courses around here that have a dress code don't allow cargo shorts. They pretty much get lumped in with denim. That is the way its always been though as far as I know, they haven't changed their policies to add cargos to the banned list.

[RocktimusPryme]

No, and the idea of banning kahki cargo shorts in ridiculous. Spyglass Hill was more than happy to have me wearing cargo shorts, and if its good enough for a course on the damned 17 Mile Drive it should be good enough for anywhere