Club's dress code crackdown leads to a violent uprising - Weston CC near Boston

[rkim291968]

I used to be a member at a private club, and got into a discussion about dress codes, and their importance, with another member. I told him about playing with the club VP the previous week. The VP displayed a bad temper, and very little etiquette towards the rest of the group, but he was well dressed. I told the other member that I would rather play with a good guy wearing bib overalls than a well dressed jerk. The other guy got so mad he wouldn't shake my hand at the end of the round.

Exactly.  We (and I am sure others) run into "bad" golfers time to time.   Dress code is least of my worries compare to players who smoke and leave cigar butts on green, leave sunflower seed covers on green, don't fix huge divots (2 for practice swings and 1 for the shot), hit over your head or hit before the front group leaves the green, get drunk and starts to ramble,  throw tantrums, ....

[rehmwa]

You guys have to read the comments on the golfchannel article on the subject.  They put a picture of Brittney Spears in a denim dress and some dufus with her in a denim outfit.

The funny part in the comments, all the comments are funny really, especially comments by a couple of caricatures of the "snobby old golfer", is it's clear that a couple of the posters actually think the picture is of the couple that were in the altercation and not some stock shot of a celebrity in denim.

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/grill-room/fight-over-denim-turns-mayhem-posh-golf-club

actually - I'd avoid comments on that site completely - there's just a lot of angry people that post to that site

[rkim291968]

You guys have to read the comments on the golfchannel article on the subject.  They put a picture of Brittney Spears in a denim dress and some dufus with her in a denim outfit.

The funny part in the comments, all the comments are funny really, especially comments by a couple of caricatures of the "snobby old golfer", is it's clear that a couple of the posters actually think the picture is of the couple that were in the altercation and not some stock shot of a celebrity in denim.

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/grill-room/fight-over-denim-turns-mayhem-posh-golf-club

actually - I'd avoid comments on that site completely - there's just a lot of angry people that post to that site

Thanks.  Indeed the comments are funny, perhaps, a tad funnier than this thread's comments .  I wonder if the club will bend their rules if B Spears wants to show up in denim.  I would definitely bend over backwards for her.

[newtogolf]

The really stupid thing is that if they really were tradition bound, they'd require plus fours on the course, and coat and tie in the clubhouse.  They quote "tradition" only as it suits their own measurement of worth.

I think if they had their way, they would.  The problem is society has changed so much and gone away from formal dress (suits, tie) they'd lose membership.  I'll wear a suit and tie to meet a customer or to a wedding but I don't want to wear one every time I go to the club house for dinner.

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

The really stupid thing is that if they really were tradition bound, they'd require plus fours on the course, and coat and tie in the clubhouse.  They quote "tradition" only as it suits their own measurement of worth.

I think if they had their way, they would.  The problem is society has changed so much and gone away from formal dress (suits, tie) they'd lose membership.  I'll wear a suit and tie to meet a customer or to a wedding but I don't want to wear one every time I go to the club house for dinner.

Exactly my point.  Times change and these stuck in the mud, fuddy duddy clubs need to realize that fact.  Very few people listen to Perry Como and Dinah Shore in 2014, so why should we be expected to dress like them?

[ay33660]

Exactly my point.  Times change and these stuck in the mud, fuddy duddy clubs need to realize that fact.  Very few people listen to Perry Como and Dinah Shore in 2014, so why should we be expected to dress like them?

Private clubs are slow to change because the majority of those on the Board of Directors were actually teenagers when Perry Como and Dinah Shore were POP stars.

It will take time for the next generation to begin to take control of the Boards.

Younger members just don't have the time nor the votes needed to get onto the Boards.

Unfortunately until the old fart die away we are still stuck in the Leave it to Beaver code of dress.

[Lihu]

Private clubs are slow to change because the majority of those on the Board of Directors were actually teenagers when Perry Como and Dinah Shore were POP stars.

It will take time for the next generation to begin to take control of the Boards.

Younger members just don't have the time nor the votes needed to get onto the Boards.

Unfortunately until the old fart die away we are still stuck in the Leave it to Beaver code of dress.

Thanks. I had no idea who they are, and was just about to look them up.

[boogielicious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Exactly my point.  Times change and these stuck in the mud, fuddy duddy clubs need to realize that fact.  Very few people listen to Perry Como and Dinah Shore in 2014, so why should we be expected to dress like them?

Private clubs are slow to change because the majority of those on the Board of Directors were actually teenagers when Perry Como and Dinah Shore were POP stars.

It will take time for the next generation to begin to take control of the Boards.

Younger members just don't have the time nor the votes needed to get onto the Boards.

Unfortunately until the old fart die away we are still stuck in the Leave it to Beaver code of dress.

- Moon River.....

[MrFlipper]

Private clubs are slow to change because the majority of those on the Board of Directors were actually teenagers when Perry Como and Dinah Shore were POP stars.

It will take time for the next generation to begin to take control of the Boards.

Younger members just don't have the time nor the votes needed to get onto the Boards.

Unfortunately until the old fart die away we are still stuck in the Leave it to Beaver code of dress.

I think you guys (not necessarily you ay33660 ) are coming down a little hard on country clubs. Not everyone is Judge Smails.

I figure there are three kinds of clubs:

1. Golf clubs, where its golf, only golf and a little food and that's it. Not stuffy at all, tons of low handicappers.

2. Social clubs, sometimes nice golf too but mostly socializing and lots of Judge Smails types, and an aging membership that may not play that much golf anymore.

3. Really nice old money clubs like Riviera or Los Angeles CC that are probably stuffy but have great golf and cost way more than I could ever afford. If I just get on there once it would be really neat.

Not every country club is group 2, although it sounds like the club in the original story was closest to that description.

I think most of us would join a group 1 or group 3 club if we had the opportunity and the means.  At least I would

[rkim291968]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ay33660

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Exactly my point.  Times change and these stuck in the mud, fuddy duddy clubs need to realize that fact.  Very few people listen to Perry Como and Dinah Shore in 2014, so why should we be expected to dress like them?

Private clubs are slow to change because the majority of those on the Board of Directors were actually teenagers when Perry Como and Dinah Shore were POP stars.

It will take time for the next generation to begin to take control of the Boards.

Younger members just don't have the time nor the votes needed to get onto the Boards.

Unfortunately until the old fart die away we are still stuck in the Leave it to Beaver code of dress.

- Moon River.....

Hey, I know that song, and Como, Shore, ....

Just for kicks, I was thinking about wearing a tie and play.   I think I will choke but it will provide me with (yet another) excuse for a bad round.

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ay33660

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Exactly my point.  Times change and these stuck in the mud, fuddy duddy clubs need to realize that fact.  Very few people listen to Perry Como and Dinah Shore in 2014, so why should we be expected to dress like them?

Private clubs are slow to change because the majority of those on the Board of Directors were actually teenagers when Perry Como and Dinah Shore were POP stars.

It will take time for the next generation to begin to take control of the Boards.

Younger members just don't have the time nor the votes needed to get onto the Boards.

Unfortunately until the old fart die away we are still stuck in the Leave it to Beaver code of dress.

- Moon River.....

Moon River (Oscar for best original song, from "Breakfast at Tiffany's", composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer) was the most requested song of the band at the 1963 Valentine's Day Heart Hop when I was a junior in high school.

[phan52]

Private Club member here.

We have had a no jeans policy at our club for years. Nobody has really made a stink about it but the board decided to give a try on a limited basis, and to allow "dress jeans" at certain functions. The thing that strikes me as odd is when a notice for an event says "dress jeans allowed", where is the line drawn about what are dress jeans? Is it the color? The fit? There is always some 50+ year old in some faded, relaxed fit Levi's and what are you going to do, kick him out?

Just don't have them in the clubhouse or the golf course, IMO, end of story. Wearing them in the offseason for lunch in the men's grille is fine. Everybody has been doing it for years anyway, myself included.

[rkim291968]

Private Club member here.

We have had a no jeans policy at our club for years. Nobody has really made a stink about it but the board decided to give a try on a limited basis, and to allow "dress jeans" at certain functions. The thing that strikes me as odd is when a notice for an event says "dress jeans allowed", where is the line drawn about what are dress jeans? Is it the color? The fit? There is always some 50+ year old in some faded, relaxed fit Levi's and what are you going to do, kick him out?

Just don't have them in the clubhouse or the golf course, IMO, end of story. Wearing them in the offseason for lunch in the men's grille is fine. Everybody has been doing it for years anyway, myself included.

Some of us, myself included, are making the point that the rule is outdated and no longer needed.  I.e, it doesn't need to be there in the first place now that working class folks are allowed to play golf amongst gentlemen (cynical, I know).   But I hear you.   The way I see it, the rule can be there and as long as people apply common sense (don't violate intentionally, give warning on 1st few instances instead of cussing them out).   The OP's club & its members went too far and ended up being the laughing stock.

[ay33660]

Private Club member here.

We have had a no jeans policy at our club for years. Nobody has really made a stink about it but the board decided to give a try on a limited basis, and to allow "dress jeans" at certain functions. The thing that strikes me as odd is when a notice for an event says "dress jeans allowed", where is the line drawn about what are dress jeans? Is it the color? The fit? There is always some 50+ year old in some faded, relaxed fit Levi's and what are you going to do, kick him out?

Just don't have them in the clubhouse or the golf course, IMO, end of story. Wearing them in the offseason for lunch in the men's grille is fine. Everybody has been doing it for years anyway, myself included.

My club allows jeans everywhere except on the practice area and golf course.

This is our definition of the type of jeans that are acceptable - "Jeans that are excessively faded and/or having frayed hems, rips, tears, holes, wrinkled or dirty are NOT acceptable."

The main reason our club changed to allow for jeans was an economic one (I read all the BOD minutes). We were seeing a decline in the use of the club's dinning facilities. A survey was sent out and one of the point of discussion was the no jeans policy. A lot of our members had issues taking their adult kids to the club for dinner because they did not want to dress up for it. So the members ended up taking the family to other restaurants in the area.

[Dave2512]

What I find strange is at some places you can't wear a pair of $200 jeans and sit in the dining room but nobody would cast a second glance if you had on some black Dickies you bought at Walmart for $20. My experience is those that can afford to join a club typically dress pretty conservatively. I doubt loosening the dress code is going to lead to rampant instances of cut-offs and flip-flops.

Personally I don't like jeans, don't think the material is comfortable, just own one pair. Anything I have in that looks like dungarees is outdoors/performance wear. I like Kuhl stuff but it's pricey. My opinion is unless you spend a lot modern jeans suck because the QC sucks. Could spend a day trying on Levi's and not find an identical fit in what is marked the same size.

[boogielicious]

What I find strange is at some places you can't wear a pair of $200 jeans and sit in the dining room but nobody would cast a second glance if you had on some black Dickies you bought at Walmart for $20. My experience is those that can afford to join a club typically dress pretty conservatively. I doubt loosening the dress code is going to lead to rampant instances of cut-offs and flip-flops.

Personally I don't like jeans, don't think the material is comfortable, just own one pair. Anything I have in that looks like dungarees is outdoors/performance wear. I like Kuhl stuff but it's pricey. My opinion is unless you spend a lot modern jeans suck because the QC sucks. Could spend a day trying on Levi's and not find an identical fit in what is marked the same size.

[mcanadiens]

I say, just keep your junk covered. Thank you.

[skulled]

I belong  to a private course in NH, it too has a strict no jean policy.  It is generally well accepted.   Several years ago My family and I went to dinner in the club restaurant with several other friends and their families (all were non members), I am guessing there were about 15 of us all together.  I did not realize that one of the kids had jeans on.  He was about 2 years old.  After we were seated for dinner, another member complained regarding the jeans and the  hostess came to ask us to leave.  After much discussion(not heated, no fisticuffs involved, no police visit!!), we were allowed to stay, much to the dismay of the other member.  This policy was changed later on that summer and toddlers were allowed to be in jeans.  Needless to say, I was embarrassed by the whole ordeal.. On a side note, 3 of the people that were with me that night subsequently joined a different local private course.  I am sure this event had much to do with their decision as to where to join.