WE have had this discussion before, but I don't mind them as long as they are uniformly enforced. Supermarkets have them (no shoes, no shirt, no service) schools have them, why not golf courses?
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By the looks of things today, it's not exclusionary at all.
Shorts, polo, shoes. OMG!
A dress code literally excludes people who don’t want to conform to it, for whatever reason, for absolutely no good purpose.
You can keep telling yourself that it doesn’t, while I, an actual golfer, tell you that dress codes and the attitudes around them make them feel unwelcome by a huge segment of the golf community. Go back and read this thread from the perspective of someone who doesn’t agree with you about a dress code, even your own words. You “cringe” at people dressed a certain way. I read and hear the prevailing opinions supporting dress codes in a thread like this, and immediately feel not wanted because I’m not willing to conform on something completely inconsequential to who I am as a person, how I conduct myself, or how I treat other people.
Joggers, t-shirt, hoodie. OMG!
I don't think I could possibly disagree more. How is it mean or petty to hold something to a standard? Courses are not excluding anyone by posting a dress code. The public who chooses not to adhere to a courses policy are excluding themselves. If someone chooses to complain about that, they should take a long hard look at the problem.I have two opinions on this topic.
1) Dress codes are incredibly petty and mean-spirited. It says nothing good about a person if they refuse to play at the same course with people who dress differently than they do.
I don't think I could possibly disagree more. How is it mean or petty to hold something to a standard? Courses are not excluding anyone by posting a dress code. The public who chooses not to adhere to a courses policy are excluding themselves. If someone chooses to complain about that, they should take a long hard look at the problem.
Public courses are, by design, not exclusive, but they can certainly set a standard of atmosphere which they wish to maintain. Just like you can with any event you host.
I can't imagine you'd be too happy if someone showed to your family members funeral in flip flops and a straw hat. Dress codes may not harm anyone if broken, but they are there to maintain a standard.
I think you mean munis. Public courses are not necessarily paid for by taxpayers.
I agree, munis tend to have relaxed standards, but truth be told, if money is so tight that you can't afford the dollar or two more for a cheap collared shirt (vs a T shirt) there's a good chance you can't afford a set of clubs, or balls (as we know they are not inexpensive.)Like I said, I have no issues with dress codes. And if we are talking private club, finances are likely not an issue.
BUT dress codes are, by their very nature, exclusionary. And considering the history of this game, it is especially true with golf. Like @mikeg_74 said, public courses should have more relaxed standards. They are paid for by taxpayers, and not all of those people have the funds to buy golf attire on top of all other golf expenses. I recall kids from my youth who didn’t play sports because they couldn’t afford shoes—and for golf, that’s just a small chunk of the cost.
BUT dress codes are, by their very nature, exclusionary. And considering the history of this game, it is especially true with golf.
I don't think it's that difficult to conform to, it's just shorts and a golf shirt, something I don't think is 'semi-formal.That is typically where I play and who I play with, but it doesn’t change the fact that those are the only places I’m welcome to play unless I conform to someone else’s idea that I should dress semi-formally (or business casual or whatever you want to call it) to play a sport.
I don't think it's that difficult to conform to, it's just shorts and a golf shirt, something I don't think is 'semi-formal.
While i don't find it easy playing in a hoodie... our course allows them once per year, for a member organized charity tournament known as, you guessed it... "The Hoodie Tournament" . All hoodies have his company logo on the front/back. The event is played late in the fall and at a time, here in CT, when you kinda need a hoodie... (i've played in flannel lined khakis and have STILL been chilly.) All proceeds go to the local Boys n Girls club... it's a great time... beers and pizza afterward.I absolutely support dress codes.......to an extent. Examples: no jeans, no cargo shorts, shirts must have a collar. Now on the other hand the fact the so many people get all bent out of shape about a "golf brand specific hoodie" blows my mind. I can understand a dress code for collegiate type or distasteful hoodies. But, a golf hoodie? Cmon
You guys in the states have no idea of the dress code BS we have to put up with here in the UK it’s a different world. Here’s a rule I had to adhere to when I was a junior member of a club many years ago...
(To walk through the Captain’s lounge after 7pm) junior members must be accompanied by a senior member who has been a member for at least 2 years and be wearing a tie.
That was to walk *through* a room to get access to the practice putting green.
Dressing reasonably respectably is nice, but to answer your question, here in the UK BS like the above is dissuading junior golfers and also making older players think twice. It’s absolutely damaging the game and club memberships here are through the floor. Interestingly, in the immediate past things have picked up because of Covid but things aren’t looking good longer term.
No it’s not, but it’s not that difficult for you to mind your own business and ignore what I’m wearing either is it?
I don’t care if you want to dress up. Why do you care what I wear?
And you clearly missed the part where I said I don’t like wearing shorts.