Dress Codes: Good or Bad for the Game?

[nathan]

Remember that time you posted 3 times in a row?

I did say that dress codes are good and I am in the majority there. I did however say that I do not agree with the restrictions. This thread deviated from the original question a long time ago. The poll is a good/bad thing but the thread is a discussion about what the code should be among lots of other things.

[Jared]

I did say that dress codes are good and I am in the majority there. I did however say that I do not agree with the restrictions. This thread deviated from the original question a long time ago. The poll is a good/bad thing but the thread is a discussion about what the code should be among lots of other things.

I see what you are saying here, but don't you think the dress code for golf is fairly standardized? Basically, you have a minority of golf courses that allow anything short of a speedo, and you have a majority of courses that do not allow jeans, t shirts, athletic shorts, etc. I would bet that the intent of the OP's poll referred to the latter, not the former.

[nathan]

I see what you are saying here, but don't you think the dress code for golf is fairly standardized? Basically, you have a minority of golf courses that allow anything short of a speedo, and you have a majority of courses that do not allow jeans, t shirts, athletic shorts, etc. I would bet that the intent of the OP's poll referred to the latter, not the former.

See in my experience it is the opposite. I have no problem with private clubs having a strict dress code. That is their right and I obey it completely when playing a private clubs. Find me a study that says the majority of golf courses have a strict dress code. I think it is reversed. There are lots and lots of courses with very minimal dress codes. They may in fact even be the majority.

I wish we could poll every course in the world and get an answer but it is just not possible. Now there are probably themes in different small areas. For example near me there is only one course with a strict code but near you there may only be one without it. When speaking for golf the game however we would have to take a count world wide as it is a world sport.

[NM Golf]

I already said that I do not wear jeans... I stated in my first post what it is that wear but you seem to miss those parts or something. What am I supposed to say to your statement about wearing jeans when I dont wear them.

I stand corrected. I apologize. What I should have said is...

If you show up at any nice country club as an invited guest in ratty bermuda shorts then you are truly a fool. That is disrespectful. I will even go as far to say if its really a nice country club course then decent docker shorts might even be a faux paux for a guest. You would need to be in slacks. Thats how clueless you are.

What a crock I am done with you.

And this time I mean it.

[nathan]

I stand corrected. I apologize. What I should have said is...

Okay throw your little tantrum and stomp out. I already mentioned that I obey dress codes at private clubs. You just are just really up on your high horse man. Someday your ego will shatter and you will come crumbling down.

Hey and you know it's lonely at the top but at least you get to look down on all the little people... EDIT: I also stated that private clubs have a right to make the dress code whatever they want and people should obey it at private clubs.

[nathan]

Wow went back and looked at your first post.

Looked for a thread on this and nothing hit on it exactly so here goes. What do you think, are dress codes good or bad for the game of golf.

"The big problem with those people is if you do not have enough sense to dress somewhat appropriately to go to the course, then you certainly don't have enough sense to have any sort of etiquette while on it."

There was my whole freaking point and you are one of the ones who said it. You went on and on to me about how you do not judge but look and that man. Is that not judging? So which is true? Do you or don't you? Seems to me you do not own up to your statements. Which is funny because you accused me of the same thing. EDIT: As far as I am concerned elitists like you are bad for the game. Not the new player who is loving playing and learning the game that just happens to wear clothes outside your so-called "norm". I will never discourage someone from playing based on appearance I will only try to educate them on the rules and etiquette of golf. You would just rather they went home.

[Fourputt]

Here is another way to look at this debate. Walk into any golf shop on any golf course in the world and look at what is on the racks for sale there. That should tell anyone what the societal standards are for the game. You will not find jeans. You will not find cargo shorts. The only shirts without collars will be those so-called mock turtlenecks, which I never cared much for anyway. It would seem to me then that the majority of the world sees that as the standard for on course wear. Even the courses which don't post a dress code still only sell what is commonly referred to as golf apparel.

That seems to me to say quite a lot.

[nathan]

Here is another way to look at this debate. Walk into any golf shop on any golf course in the world and look at what is on the racks for sale there. That should tell anyone what the societal standards are for the game. You will not find jeans. You will not find cargo shorts. The only shirts without collars will be those so-called mock turtlenecks, which I never cared much for anyway. It would seem to me then that the majority of the world sees that as the standard for on course wear. Even the courses which don't post a dress code still only sell what is commonly referred to as golf apparel.

That is a very good point Fourputt. I would like to note that a lot of courses sell this but still do not require it.

Golf is so much fun I would rather spread the sport to everyone I can regardless of attire. If I have a friend interested in golf who prefers jeans I want to be able to bring that friend to the course (As long as it is public) and introduce to the worlds best sport. Love and Respect for the game have nothing to do with attire in my opinion. I understand that it may for you. I do not think you are wrong for that as long as you respect that yours is not the only opinion.

[billysandy]

Courses absolutely must have dress codes. Polo shirt, golf shoes, and trouser that are not jeans, tracksuit bottoms, and we have a rule at the club i am at which states that you aren't allowed to weartops with numbers on the back, nor are you alowed to wear sport apparel with team name on the back ect

[flopdarock]

See in my experience it is the opposite. I have no problem with private clubs having a strict dress code. That is their right and I obey it completely when playing a private clubs. Find me a study that says the majority of golf courses have a strict dress code. I think it is reversed. There are lots and lots of courses with very minimal dress codes. They may in fact even be the majority.

wow... where do you usually play? i cant even imagine the 'majority' of the courses with relaxed to no dress codes... im from hawaii... lived in san diego for a long time... and now im on the east coast... ive traveled to alot of places everywhere in between... right now... i live in a pretty golf rich area with tons of courses... private/public/muni's... and i only know of one that lets you on the course with jeans... and many many ppl that ive talked to in the area consider it a "hackers" course... i guess i musta been lucky missing all the courses all the places ive been that had really relaxed/no dress codes... but i didnt wanna take a chance at a course ive never been to... i always dressed "appropriate" to avoid any problems playing an unfamiliar course

[nathan]

wow... where do you usually play? i cant even imagine the 'majority' of the courses with relaxed to no dress codes... im from hawaii... lived in san diego for a long time... and now im on the east coast... ive traveled to alot of places everywhere in between... right now... i live in a pretty golf rich area with tons of courses... private/public/muni's... and i only know of one that lets you on the course with jeans... and many many ppl that ive talked to in the area consider it a "hackers" course... i guess i musta been lucky missing all the courses all the places ive been that had really relaxed/no dress codes... but i didnt wanna take a chance at a course ive never been to... i always dressed "appropriate" to avoid any problems playing an unfamiliar course

Texas I have played in several states around here too. I also show up in slacks instead of cargo shorts at an unknown course but I still prefer the comfort of shorts (and it gets bloody hot in Texas. It is not unheard of to hit 105F on a summer day) My father-in-law travels quite a bit internationally and has said several times that the courses he has played abroad were mostly pretty lax on the dress code (~70/30).

[nathan]

Here is another way to look at this debate. Walk into any golf shop on any golf course in the world and look at what is on the racks for sale there. That should tell anyone what the societal standards are for the game. You will not find jeans. You will not find cargo shorts. The only shirts without collars will be those so-called mock turtlenecks, which I never cared much for anyway. It would seem to me then that the majority of the world sees that as the standard for on course wear. Even the courses which don't post a dress code still only sell what is commonly referred to as golf apparel.

Another thing is there are collarless golf shirts for sale in club houses where they are banned on that course (Have to have a collar period). That was always funny to me.

[Fourputt]

Texas I have played in several states around here too. I also show up in slacks instead of cargo shorts at an unknown course but I still prefer the comfort of shorts (and it gets bloody hot in Texas. It is not unheard of to hit 105F on a summer day) My father-in-law travels quite a bit internationally and has said several times that the courses he has played abroad were mostly pretty lax on the dress code (~70/30).

Just get yourself a couple of pairs of nice khaki shorts. They do make shorts that aren't the sloppy looking cargo shorts that kids wear. I have some 6 pocket shorts that nobody would mistake for those ugly cargo shorts...

[flopdarock]

Texas I have played in several states around here too. I also show up in slacks instead of cargo shorts at an unknown course but I still prefer the comfort of shorts (and it gets bloody hot in Texas. It is not unheard of to hit 105F on a summer day) My father-in-law travels quite a bit internationally and has said several times that the courses he has played abroad were mostly pretty lax on the dress code (~70/30).

are you guys looking for inexpensive courses to play? i play in shorts also when its unbearable in the summer time... but like ive said... i must be playing alot of high end courses with serious dress codes... cuz its rare for me to find a "decent" course that lets you wear whatever... its usually the low rate courses that have no dress codes

[nathan]

are you guys looking for inexpensive courses to play? i play in shorts also when its unbearable in the summer time... but like ive said... i must be playing alot of high end courses with serious dress codes... cuz its rare for me to find a "decent" course that lets you wear whatever... its usually the low rate courses that have no dress codes

I play a mix. I play some very nice courses (private and semi private) and I play munis too. I like changing courses a lot. Keeps me from getting to comfortable on a course.

There is 14 courses within 1 hour of me. 4 of these are private and very nice. 2 are semi private and very nice and the rest are some pretty fun munis (a 27 hole an 18 hole and some 9 holers). 2 of private courses Have semi-strict dress codes (Collar required but jeans/cargos allowed) 1 of the semi private is very very strict. All of the rest are wear whatever. Within around 2 hours of me there 50+ courses with ~6/10 or so of the semi-private having lax dress codes and all of the munis having basically no dress code. There are some very very nice munis in this range that have no dress code and no course condition problems. Most of the privates (probably 8/10 in this range have strict codes (I always said privates can do whatever they want and I obey the code when I get invited there as a guest) There are also a couple of what I would call top tier courses within the 2 hour range. I am not sure what the code is at them but I am sure it is strict.

[nathan]

Good for the game. Its a classy sport and it should dress the part. I can't picture watching Tiger on TV with his jeans around his thighs and seeing his exposed calvin klein boxers.

Just a question here. I have seen a few people refer to golf as a with class. In this context what does class mean?

My understanding of class is social standing class or Well mannered people have class and those without do not. There could be another meaning of the word I am not familiar with so I am just looking for clarification here. Thanks

[Fat Slice]

Today I was playing at a nice course - open to the public but part of a gated development. They have a strict dress code - in writing - that is obviously not enforced.

Today I was pulling in to a parking space and there was a bag there, stuck way in the front so I could not see it until I was turning into the space. I was going slowly so it was no problem to stop. The bag's owner was wearing an oversized white tee, untucked, a baseball hat cocked 1/4 to the side, sagging jeans, and hi-top basketball shoes. He was on his way to the course. I stopped and waited for him to move his bag. He didn't - just stared at me. I just waited, no worries here. His friend tells him to move the bag, so he does, but first he has to shoot me what he thinks must be a menacing stare. I don't take the bait and calmly wait until he is well away from the space and then gently move in to park, giving him a 'thank you' wave of the hand which he refuses to acknowledge. No problem, a jerk, whatever. I am playing golf, I am happy, this idiot isn't going to ruin my day!

I played OK, drained some impossibly long putts. Made two pars from water saves. Really enjoyed the day.

I come back to my car, and the jerk, who got off the course two groups ahead of us, has ripped my license plate and holder clean off the back of my car and done who-knows-what with it. I check around the trash cans and around the area and it's nowhere to be seen. I check with both the clubhouse and the development security, and both say there are no cameras in the parking lot.

So for me, it's $20 (or $30 or $45 - I cannot remember), and 1/2 day waiting at the DMV. Hopefully I won't get a ticket over the weekend - that would add the the cost and time waste.

So take this as an intangible. Punk-ass outfits, punk-ass behavior. Not proof, no causation, nothing. Just...how it is.

[MA5Bergey]

Today I was playing at a nice course - open to the public but part of a gated development. They have a strict dress code - in writing - that is obviously not enforced.

Jesus, if I were you and I ever saw that punk again I would give him a 7 iron upside the head.