Dress Codes: Good or Bad for the Game?

[Mr Eagle]

We all know what is expected of us when we enter a golf club and the inner sanctum of the clubhouse.Anyone Im sure would not wish to let themselves down by dressing unsuitably.Playing at local 9 nine hole it dosnt matter,playing at Championship courses it does.
Standards must be maintianed

[Big_M]

For me, it has nothing to do with the difficulty of obtaining the clothes and everything to do with arbitrary and exclusive rules that have nothing to do with the performance of the activity.

I love how rules you guys don't want to follow must therefore be arbitrary...

I suppose it is arbitrary that some companies have "no jeans" policies in the office. Hell, I bet a lot of office workers could peform their jobs in jeans, but it is not acceptable office dress. I could play golf just fine in a swimsuit... but that would be inappropriate. I think this is more about those people who just can't handle someone else telling them what they can and cannot do. It is my business and many courses see it that way... that's why we have dress codes.

[Fourputt]

I love how rules you guys don't want to follow must therefore be arbitrary...

It's still arbitrary. Defintition:

1. subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion. 2. having unlimited power; uncontrolled or unrestricted by law; despotic; tyrannical. 3. capricious; unreasonable; unsupported.

This is exactly what a dress code for golf is. When you go to the Arctic, you wear warm clothes because it's cold and you need something to keep warm. When you go to the tropics, you wear light clothes to avoid heat stroke. These are sensible, non-arbitrary reasons for a style or mode of dress. Upscale golf courses have dress codes that have no reasonable foundation except that some individual or committee arbitrarily decided that it was going to be that way, without room for input or argument.

All that said, when I play at a course with a code, I follow the code. My only dispute in this thread is with those of you who somehow equate dress with the morality or integrity of the game. One has to wonder how much of a battle it was back whenever to get an exclusive club to allow a polo shirt instead of a regular dress shirt. Was the first guy who took off his tie booted out of the club? Now, polo shirts and Bermuda shorts are the standard for warm weather golf. Dress codes HAVE changed and evolved over the years, just as the game itself has, and those of you who are so rigid and unrelenting in your beliefs will probably see them continue to change in the coming years. Will you be able to deal with it as well as those of us who aren't so uptight?

[TommyD69]

Would you wear your "ball hangers" and a "wife beater" to Church, or your sisters wedding, or your Gramma's funeral?

It's not arbitrary, it's what the "community" believes to be appropriate.

A dress code is not infringing on your civil liberties, it's just the courteous thing to do.

That's all.

[Smallville]

We all know what is expected of us when we enter a golf club and the inner sanctum of the clubhouse.Anyone Im sure would not wish to let themselves down by dressing unsuitably.Playing at local 9 nine hole it dosnt matter,playing at Championship courses it does.

That is exactly right.

But what if a courses "Dress Code" doesn't measure up to the elitist standards? Does it make it any less of a dress code? What if they allow jeans and a t-shirt? As long as you follow the dress code that the course has, what's the problem? If it bothers you, just don't go there or DO SOMETHING to make the changes you want instead of complaining about it. Petition the board of directors, get off your butt and change these low class slums into the elitist courses you love so much.

[st0wgolf08]

Would you wear your "ball hangers" and a "wife beater" to Church, or your sisters wedding, or your Gramma's funeral?

I agree, and it's something that should be respected in my opinion. They are a providing a service, same thing as a casino. Casinos can decide to throw anyone out they want, I see no reasons golf clubs shouldn't. They make rules, if you want to play or reap one of the services(range, practice green) then you should follow their rules. If you dont, the course should have every right to throw you out.

[zeg]

Don't get the wrong idea, I do respect the rights of the course owners to set their own rules. It doesn't mean I think the dress codes are a good idea. I firmly believe they're a silly holdover from golf's elitist history (and present...), designed to make sure the riff-raff didn't get in.

By the way, I bring up the playing etiquette argument again and again only because so does the "other side." I'm glad to hear that you agree dress has nothing to do with playing properly. I'll be gladder when this stops being tossed out as an argument in favor of dress codes.

[Fat Slice]

I see many similarities with school uniforms. I can't find a study on golf course dress codes, but here's a study on school dress codes (uniforms).

"Our studies suggested that the implementation of a standardized dress code had no significant impact on the improvement of TAAS (Texas Assessment of Academic Skills) scores among the targeted populations," said Stallings. "However, we did identify a number of peripheral benefits that could very well have dramatic impacts on the school environment."

Stallings also noted that the studies on academic achievement were done in the first year of implementation of a standardized dress code.

"It is possible, based on our findings, that the benefits of a standardized dress code implemented and maintained over time may very well have a positive effect on student achievement," she said.

Creel said their study showed a number of positive benefits, including "improved campus morale and reduced discipline violations, increased school pride, improved collaboration and teamwork among students...

Also, "enhanced image of students and the school in the community, minimization of the effects of economic variations among students, and reduction in the overall cost of student wardrobes."

http://www.shsu.edu/~pin_www/T@S/2001/DressCode.html

So, applying that to the golf course, slacks and polo shirts won't make you score lower, but the will improve behavior on the course.

[st0wgolf08]

I see many similarities with school uniforms. I can't find a study on golf course dress codes, but here's a study on school dress codes (uniforms).

Your comparing a school to a golf course, while I agree that someone in proper dress will most likely act better, that's a little silly of a comparison.

[NM Golf]

The anti-dress code faction let me see if I can sum up your argument.

1. You would rather play with someone who is nice and dressed like than someone who is dressed nicely and is a jerk.

Reasonable yes, good argument about why dress codes are bad, ummm... NO. Exactly how often are you all matched up with these types of people?

2. I dress like a homeless person but I fix divots and ball marks therefor I am better for the game than people who dress nice but tear up the course.

This ridiculous arguement has been peppered liberally throughout this thread and each time you guys say it I have to chuckle. Like I said earlier in my 10+ years of experience working at municipal golf courses this argument holds no basis in fact at all. The guys who dress nice are much more likely to keep the course in good shape. Its the yahoos in muscle shirts and cut-offs who cause all the trouble.

3. Golf is so elitist, you shouldn't look down at people for how they dress. Nice people dress in jeans and t-shirts.

Golf is an elitist sport, for one reason, it's expensive. And I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt right now, of course I am working in my backyard mowing the lawn and raking up trash. I myself think there should be a difference in the way I look between doing yardwork and playing golf. And as far as not looking down on people, I don't, but I am also not so open minded that my brains fall out.

Nowhere in you argument do you ever say anything about how golf is an honorable and great sport that teaches integrity so therefor its should be enjoyed while wearing ratty clothes. I never see where your argument says how golf is so important to you that you believe there is no need to show that importance through how you present yourself. All you say is how its not important how you dress. Well to me that says golf isn't all that important. Its not enough to just fix divots IMHO, you show respect by how you present yourself.

I am pretty much done posting here as I am tired of arguing with the three or four of you. The vote gives me confidence that most people out there feel as I do. The rest of you can well.......

[Eore]

you shouldn't start a thread if you aren't going to respect peoples opinions


(and i voted good for the game fyi)

[flopdarock]

i bet if everone were required to play in banana hammocks more than half of us would quit... hahaha

[Fourputt]

The anti-dress code faction let me see if I can sum up your argument.

I'll say one more thing. You place far too much importance on golf in the overall scheme of things if you think that my wearing jeans to the golf course is "disrespectful" of anything. Golf is a fun hobby, good for serving my competitive side, but otherwise insignificant in the big picture of life.

BTW, a couple of times now you have tried to reinforce YOUR opinion with the comment about working at a golf course. I work at a golf course too. But I don't use it to try and make that somehow make MY opinion any more relevant. My opinion is still just my opinion.

[jermzkill]

I can see why golf implements a dress code, but personally coming from many different sports I'd rather play in something more comfortable and athletic. I'm sure some of you will say you can find some comfortable golf clothes, but I just feel restricted in golf type clothes. When I tell people I play golf they usually have some reference told old people or rich snobs, I think it is partly due to the dress code. Personally I believe a lot more people would consider playing if there wasn't a dress code.

[iacas]

Your comparing a school to a golf course, while I agree that someone in proper dress will most likely act better, that's a little silly of a comparison.

No, stow, that's not how it works. You agree and then call it a silly comparison?

It's a comparison, and a valid one at that. You don't have to assign 100% authority to it, or even 10% or 1%, but it carries "some" weight, with "some" being any amount > 0 - to be determined by each of us.

I'll say one more thing. You place far too much importance on golf in the overall scheme of things if you think that my wearing jeans to the golf course is "disrespectful" of anything.

I get what you're saying, but I think you're giving too much weight to "disrespectful." I don't think Danny even looks at it as a euphemistic "slap in the face," but a minor bit of disrespect: to yourself, to the game, to those you'll be sharing the coruse with. On the "disrespect" scale, I personally consider dressing like a slob (and note you can have pants and a polo shirt and still be dressed like a slob) fairly low on the "disrespect" scale, but it's still there.

Like I said before, I don't care what other people wear. The guys I tend to play with dress similarly to me because they make the choice to. I can't say I'm friends with many people who would think to wear jean cutoffs and a t-shirt on the golf course. I think statements about replacing divots or nice people have no real bearing on this argument. Obviously we'd all like to play with nice people, but unless you can show causality - "nicer people wear jean cutoffs when playing golf" - you've not got an actual point. I think the statements about what you wear to church, your job, your family's Christmas morning celebration, and other "events" have meaning. What makes going to church so different than going golfing? Golf is an "event" and I personally prefer to treat it as such. Again, I don't really care much what other people wear. I never care enough to say anything to them (unless they're blatantly violating course policy, and even then I'll probably either forget about it or, worst case, inquire in the pro shop). Everyone judges people. They may not place a lot of emphasis on the judgments they make, but they're there. We judge people by the car they drive, how they parent their kids, how they swing a golf club, and how they dress. Now, "what other people think of you" should never be a reason to dress up, but how you think of yourself should be, and whether you're aware of it or not, you feel better when you dress better. That's what it comes down to for me .

[zeg]

In the spirit of dropping the baggage from the argument and readdressing the original question... I think the dress code is overall bad for the game. Specifically why?

1. It reinforces the notion that what you wear is more important than how you play, adding to the perceived elitism. This discourages would-be golfers from taking it up.

2. It does not permit those who find the clothes that fit the dress code (whatever it is) to play in the attire they find most conducive to playing their best.

3. It leads to 13+ page long heated arguments on golf forums...


I understand the arguments put forth about it seeming "appropriate" to golf with people dressed like golfers, I just don't personally see that as important, so I put no weight on that in my personal benefit analysis. I also understand and firmly reject the argument that "appropriately" dressed players will behave better. IMO, if a golfer's behavior is inappropriate, deal with that specifically. Using dress as a proxy for behavior is too crude a tool for my tastes.

So... even though I usually wear what would be considered appropriate golf attire (I actually don't like golfing in jeans), I think it's bad for the game to *require* anything specific.

[tim31x]

its good for the game. golf is a game for gentlemen, you should dress and act appropriate on the course or you shouldnt be playing.

[st0wgolf08]

its good for the game. golf is a game for gentlemen, you should dress and act appropriate on the course or you shouldnt be playing.

I think this sums up pretty much everything I would say on this, honestly would you want to play with someone who throws clubs, swears and breaks things? I sure don't, and I've noticed that people dressed nice do better than people that aren't.