Proper Attire Needs to be Addressed

November 1, 2007
By: Butch Bundy

As a Golf Professional for the past 12 years, I have been responsible for everything from giving golf lessons to inventory control of golf shop merchandise. Unfortunately, I have also been responsible for having to tell an adult that they are not properly dressed for the golf course. Most golf courses will have a posted dress code that prohibits jeans and shirts without collars. Some of the private clubs I have worked at even had a code on the length that shorts could be and one of them didn’t even allow the short sleeved mock turtle necks that have become popular as of late. Most of the local courses we play don’t have a posted dress code because they don’t want to come across as being too rigid in their rules and want to encourage a laid back and casual atmosphere. While all of that is fine and understandable, coming to play golf in blue jeans with an un-tucked tee shirt isn’t quite what they are encouraging either. Even worse than that is wearing to the golf course what you would wear to the gym to work out in. Even if the management at your club doesn’t have rules in place to prohibit some types of clothing, they are probably hoping that you will take it upon yourself to look like a golfer.
Let’s be honest, we all have collared polo shirts and either a pair of slacks or polo shorts in our closet. Every golf course that you go to has collared shirts for sale and most will even have shorts or pants too. What you won’t find is tank tops, blue jeans and gym clothes on the shelf. Golf is and has always been a gentleman’s and a ladies’ sport. That goes from players enforcing their own rules, taking care of the golf course and wearing the proper attire on the golf course.