Shorts On the PGA Tour (Updated 2013, 2016)

[Baynative]

Jesper Parnevik instantly came to mind,

For me it was Duffy Waldorf and Kevin Stadler.

[RedFox999]

So do you think male pro golfers should be banned from wearing shorts during competition? I can't think of one logical reason for shorts to be banned for men in competition. We know pro girls can wear them. What are your thoughts?

[Kieran123]

That's because woman's legs are easier to look at

[RedFox999]

Originally Posted by Kieran123

That's because woman's legs are easier to look at

well yes I like to look at womens legs over men but thats not a logical reason.

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by RedFox999

I can't think of one logical reason for shorts to be banned for men in competition.

There isn't a logical reason, except for tradition and professionalism.  I don't think in this day and age that it would be that big of a deal for most people, but I am sure the folks at the Masters would never let it happen.  I do recall seeing some high level USGA amateur events that allowed shorts and it never struck me as odd that the players wore them.  I wear shorts 98% of the time except when it is below 50, like in my picture.  That was a cold day.

[RedFox999]

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

There isn't a logical reason, except for tradition and professionalism.  I don't think in this day and age that it would be that big of a deal for most people, but I am sure the folks at the Masters would never let it happen.  I do recall seeing some high level USGA amateur events that allowed shorts and it never struck me as odd that the players wore them.  I wear shorts 98% of the time except when it is below 50, like in my picture.  That was a cold day.

yea Im pretty sure the PGA tour for men is the only tournaments where no shorts is a rule, and I think European tour. AM's are allowed to wear shorts

[sacm3bill]

Originally Posted by RedFox999

well yes I like to look at womens legs over men but thats not a logical reason.

The money to put golf on TV comes from advertisers. Advertisers know that they will lose a large percentage of their target market (those buying Cadillacs, Viagra, and investment plans) if they fail to project a professional image. Advertisers allow shorts on women golfers for exactly the same reason (more viewers).

[Clambake]

I predict this Tour rule will fall within the next few years.     For years golf was dominated by classic clothing with wools and cottons and classic styling, but we now find athletic fabrics are pretty much dominating at the Tour level, and the cut and graphics in shirts are getting farther away from that classic Hogan-like image.     As we see this trend go further and have more pure athletes come on Tour, I'd expect the Tour to eventually follow suit and change the appearance from being a "sportsman" to an "athletic wear".     But hopefully some decorum will still remain and we won't see the outfits following the style trends of the NBA - I really don't want to see the long baggy hip-hop shorts and guys covered with tats.

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by RedFox999

well yes I like to look at womens legs over men but thats not a logical reason.

It's not?

Oh.....

[RedFox999]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

The money to put golf on TV comes from advertisers. Advertisers know that they will lose a large percentage of their target market (those buying Cadillacs, Viagra, and investment plans) if they fail to project a professional image. Advertisers allow shorts on women golfers for exactly the same reason (more viewers).

They allow the pro women to wear shorts because it will draw more viewers, I doubt that is the reason haha. I think that would be the opposite of professionalism and go into sexist or whatever

[Clambake]

Originally Posted by RedFox999

well yes I like to look at womens legs over men but thats not a logical reason.

But as illogical reasons go, it's a really good one!

[GaijinGolfer]

Men should be allowed to wear shorts if they want.  The fact that women are allow to and men are not is sexist.  The problem is you have a handful of stuffed shirts running the PGA who dont think that shorts look dignified, so shorts are banned.

[sacm3bill]

Originally Posted by RedFox999

They allow the pro women to wear shorts because it will draw more viewers, I doubt that is the reason haha. I think that would be the opposite of professionalism and go into sexist or whatever

You may have misread my post. Advertisers want men to wear pants because they'll get more viewers if the men look professional. Advertisers want women to wear shorts because they'll get more viewers if the women look sexy. That may be sexist but it's the way the world works - it would be naive to think otherwise. Sure, some fans of women's golf watch for the golf, but I don't think they're in the majority.

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

Men should be allowed to wear shorts if they want.  The fact that women are allow to and men are not is sexist.

Not necessarily. Is it sexist that at a formal occasion men don't wear shorts but women can wear shorts or a skirt? It's simply a matter of what the cultural style dictates.

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

The problem is you have a handful of stuffed shirts running the PGA who dont think that shorts look dignified, so shorts are banned.

Can't argue with you there, but again, I think it comes down to advertising dollars.

[Golf Ghost]

I don't think they should be allowed. It's how its always been and how ti always should be. You don't want to wear a skirt to a job where you have to wear dress pants do you?

There will never be a correct answer to this, but lets be honest, it will never effect any of us here, so what difference does it make?

[clubchamp]

One thing no one pointed out is the fact that this is their job it's not a saturday morning group. I don't know about most of you but I certainly could never show up at my job wearing shorts because it's not a professional look. The pga requires them to wear pants because they are professionals plus with the newer fabrics out there they don't get uncomfortable. I could care less if they wore shorts or not but it's definitely never going to happen. One other thing saying it's because of a "handful of stuffed shirts running the pga who don't think that shorts look dignified, so shorts are banned" isn't a great point. I mean how many companies in the US or anywhere must be run by stuffed shirts since none of their employees can wear shorts. Also just clarify I do wear shorts when I golf...

[RedFox999]

Originally Posted by clubchamp

One thing no one pointed out is the fact that this is their job it's not a saturday morning group. I don't know about most of you but I certainly could never show up at my job wearing shorts because it's not a professional look. The pga requires them to wear pants because they are professionals plus with the newer fabrics out there they don't get uncomfortable. I could care less if they wore shorts or not but it's definitely never going to happen. One other thing saying it's because of a "handful of stuffed shirts running the pga who don't think that shorts look dignified, so shorts are banned" isn't a great point. I mean how many companies in the US or anywhere must be run by stuffed shirts since none of their employees can wear shorts. Also just clarify I do wear shorts when I golf...

Well the big difference here is we are talking about a sport, not a office job or whatever. Pro tennis players play tennis as their daily job but wear shorts, basketball same. I play many sports and on the golf course I get just as hot and sweaty as playing other sports.

[jclifton]

I wear shorts playing golf during warm weather myself.

On the other hand, I think the PGA players should not wear them. I used to think differently until I saw a few episodes of "Playing Lessons from the Pros", and some of them were wearing shorts.

I believe one of them was Anthony Kim. Just seemed to look bush league.

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by RedFox999

Well the big difference here is we are talking about a sport, not a office job or whatever. Pro tennis players play tennis as their daily job but wear shorts, basketball same. I play many sports and on the golf course I get just as hot and sweaty as playing other sports.

I agree but basketball (they have to wear suits to all their games), baseball, soccer, and football all have leagues that require them to wear uniforms. I'm guessing tennis players could wear pants but that would be rough with all running and change of direction. My point is much like any office job everyone has a dress code and the part of the pga's dress code is pants.