After listening to the latest podcast episode of Off Course on THP Radio, the thought about dress codes is fresh in my mind. While the world has gotten more lax with most apparel policy, golf apparel has stayed fairly stagnant.
Simple rules really. Collared shirt or awful Blade Collar and the like, golf shorts and sometimes a course might ask you to tuck in your shirt. Do you think that is too much?
Should it be a free? Would it be more inviting of a game if it was come as you are?
You tell us. Sound off below.
When it comes to people who play 1x a year, dress code does seem to help with people‘s behavior.
Not a fan of jeans on the course though. I realize opinions on that matter vary greatly.
So to me, I don’t really care. If a coat and tails was required for a certain course, I probably wouldn’t play there. On the flip side if there was no dress code and I saw people out in jorts and tank tops I would probably avoid playing there as well.
This is the correct answers.
i can’t recall ever scoffing at or getting offended over someone else’s attire.
With golf courses closing left and right in our area over the past 10 years, I would think the last thing golf needs are dress code rules that might discourage someone from playing on a course or result in folks being turned away. But hey, that’s just me.
Acceptable.
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Unacceptable.
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I wouldn’t go as far as to say I was offended but this really bothered me.
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The ‘shirt must be tucked in’ will forever be the dumbest thing in the world to me. It’s old, and stuffy, and stupid. My golf appropriate shirts (polos and the like) that were designed to be worn untucked are nicer, fit better, and look better than the ones that weren’t. Basing anything on that reeks of ‘a guy’s hair can’t touch his collar’ and other old attitudes. You can have some style and individuality and still look twice as professional as someone who meets the letter of the traditional (outdated) dress code law.
Nice clothes is no guarantee of good behavior (as many of us have I’m sure encountered well-dressed douche-bags) and wearing jean cutoffs and a tank-top isn’t an indicator you’re anything but perhaps the nicest guy in the world.
That said, I think my original contention has some merit. If you care enough about golf to wear appropriate clothing, there’s at least higher chance your behavior will be appropriate.
At the muni I am frequenting now, I have worn a t shirt twice during a speed twilight walking 18, and it was glorious, and within their dress code.
So an invite to Augusta National and they require a tuck in and you turn it down?
Can you give them my name and number?
Is that @KrisMcEwen
I feel secure in believing this is a dilemma I’ll never have to face
I dress nicely when I golf… because I’m not a slob and I like looking nice. I don’t think how someone dresses necessarily is a reflection of respect though – it may simply be a matter of finances.
I wonder sometimes if those who worry about what others wear and view it as reflecting anything beyond that individual were raised as golfers in a more formal setting. I wasn’t and started golfing in my 20’s with no personal or family golf ‘traditions’. Wonder if that makes a difference?
Bottom line – I’m a Libertarian at heart and I thing the world would be a lot better place if we all worried more about ourselves
I play at a pretty decent Muni and they exclude cut-offs, sleeveless shirts and tank tops. I only wear a collared shirt when playing in tournaments at my home course. Wear either a golf themed tee shirt or plain tee shirt with a small chest logo during everyday rounds with Dockers shorts.
If they decided to start mandating collared shirts, I would comply without argument.
I didn’t realize the Insane Clown Posse were golfers.
In all seriousness, that guy looks like a douche everywhere he goes, not just a golf course.
While I say that, I also have no issue with courses with low rates to become quite relaxed on it. Suggesting basketball jerseys, jean shorts, etc are suitable is definitely beyond me, but basic cargo shorts or t-shirts would probably be fine there.
The only rule my course has that I think is silly is that hats must be worn forwards – But, I can appreciate them for wanting a certain experience for all members, and respect it.
"um sir, do you mind turning your hat around? We are trying to run a respectable club here. Thank you"
another persons’ clothing isn’t bothering me.
I don’t want to have to tuck in my shirt but will if the course requires it. But I’d rather not.
I agree.
I have little doubt (while never an exact science nor always fitting to everyone) that there is a direct relation between attire and displayed behavior etiquette. In general there is a sense of self etiquette awareness that does travel upwards and downwards along with our current attire.
In one small example we are more likely to relax our etiquette standards (whatever they may be) while wearing sandles, summer shorts, and tank-top vs when wearing a suit.
I feel society has lost a whole lot of common courtesies, respect and etiquette through the past couple or so decades in its general behavior and i strongly believe it is no coincidence at all that the dress codes have laxed a whole lot in that same time. Hence imo they have been very much related.
I also strongly believe that not everyone has to fit into everything the way they see fit to do so. Imo its ok that not all barriers come down. I think for many reasons it does good to have some.
I am in favor of full tee sheets.
If a course wants to have and enforce a strict dress code, that’s cool too.
Wow I’ve never heard of that one before. I better grow that mullet back to cover my neck.
If I am at a private or expensive course, I expect a certain level of dress and decorum.
If I am at a goat track, then I don’t expect anything.
I played in jeans a month or so ago. Only reason I did was, it was a cheap course, on my way home, and I hadn’t intended to play, so I had to wear the jeans.
Please conduct and present yourself in a manner which is respectful of yourself and others.
privately owned courses can do whatever they want, it’s private.
I personally could care less what others wear on the course and I think lax dress codes at public courses is important for making it easy for new golfers to pick up the game. There are enough barriers for new golfers to overcome and each one you add means less people playing golf in the macro. If membership at private clubs want a strict dress code nothing wrong with that and no issues with people who prefer to dress nicely on public courses. Just hope there’s no stigma or judgment toward golfers who choose to dress informally on courses that allow it.
This is a big one for me. I play in my work gear or at least some of it, a lot. I base what I wear while I work partly on the chance that I might have unexpected time to play, but I wouldn’t expect anyone else to, and I’d rather they play than not over something like that.
I guess I fall somewhere in here. I don’t mind that people playing inexpensive courses or the little out-of-the-way par 3 courses are wearing t-shirts.
However, I think CRW and a few others have mentioned the behavior aspect, and I do agree that there seems to be some merit in this thinking.
the shirt is way worse than the hat, fwiw
I agree. FWIW>>