Removing your hat at end of round

[Pepperturbo]

It's traditional but don't let anyone tell you its outdated. Today more than ever, many younger people lack basic manners, and removing one's hat when shaking hands is a manner and sign of respect. I will always do it, and my millennial son does as well because he was taught manners, which he doesn't use when hanging with buddies.

 

Importance of manners depends on your profession, job, aspirations, type of friends, how you were raised and social network. If an employee fails to remove his hat and adequately shake hands or exhibit proper manners and I hear of it, he will hear from me. Also plays a more prominent role when international customers are involved. :beach:

[SNIPERBBB]

When in Rome...

[Ping Zings]

I always take my hat or sunglasses off to shake hands, always will.

 

I do the same.

[nbg352]

I think it’s a great gesture that upholds the tradition of the sport, but here is one thing that I just don’t get. I see a lot of the pros grab their hat with their left hand, run their right hand through their sweaty hair after a 4 hour round of golf, and then go in for the handshake. How about grabbing the hat in the right hand, do the hair fix, switch the hat to the other hand and then shake, or wait to arrange the locks until after the handshake.

Or do it like the men did in the 70's, 80's and 90's, leave your hat on and just shake hands.

Played golf in every one of those decades. We always took our hats off at the end of a round. Most did Most still do.

If you remember what you did 20, 30, 40 years ago, you're a better man than I. Whatever I did was some kind of routine, not worth taking up space in my own memory banks. That's why I did refer to the old videos where I could. Here's a few occasions where players didn't take their hats off at the round-ending handshake:

Payne and Phil at Pinehurst in 1999. Neither removes his hat

Venturi wins the US Open at Congressional in 1964. His playing partner doesn't take off his hat.

Mize beats Norman at the Masters, 1987, keeps his hat on, Norman wasn't wearing one

1986 Open Championship, Tommy Nakajima shakes Greg Norman's hand, his hat still on

1965 US Open, Kel Nagle leaves his hat on to congratulate Gary Player. Player had removed his hat earlier as the sun was going down

I don't believe any of these guys could be classified as rude, this was just a normal way things were done at the time. I remain convinced that taking the hat off for the handshake is a more modern evolution of good manners.

Actually, it is a very old tradition that goes back to medieval times. A hat worn indoors or when meeting someone was a sign that you wished to keep your face hidden from view. It was considered not just poor etiquette but also raised suspicion of the hat wearers intentions. It was also a religious tradition to remove one's hat when entering the house of God. This tradition is still in place today at most Christian places of worship.

While you may be able to find videos to support your view that removing ones hat is a new thing, trust me when I tell you that it is not new. My own father taught me quite early how important it was to show respect and it was his father who taught him. In our family, the tradition spans well over a century.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

I think someone should start a thread "Hat on or off in the grillroom" ��

 

Medinah...hat off or they will ask you to remove it.

 

Tap Room at Pebble Beach will also.

 

Then after I took it off everyone hollered for me to put it back on. I’m used to that reaction. ?

Yeah I always take mine off inside. My comment was in reference to an old thread that eventually got locked that became hilarious and of course wrx confrontational :) ...

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1349784-no-hats-in-grillroom-etiquette-or-just-bulliquette/

[EamoBricko]

I generally don't wear a hat, but will take it off if I do. I never take off my sunglasses though as I wear prescription ones (hard to look someone in the eye when you cant see them!), apologies to any folks I may have inadvertently offended!!!!

[rsj1360]

Is this tradition outdated?

 

I typically just leave my hat on and shake the hands of the folks I played with. To me, there is no lack of or increased 'respect' shown by the hat move.

 

but tradition = remove your hat before shaking hands.

 

I assume that the older generation will view not removing your hat as blasphemy.

 

But I am 'older' generation as well - I just view it as a silly gesture that means nothing...in the same vein as saying "bless you" when someone sneezes, crossing yourself whenever you pass by a church, holding your breath when you pas by a cemetery...all silly.

 

I do still hold the door for others, open my wife's car door first, allow others to go ahead of me in situations...but removing your hat after a round...nope.

 

What say you?

 

(Possible Larry David moment to ensue)

Seems reasonable to me.

[rsj1360]

Yes, I remove my hat and sunglasses to shake hands after a round like gentlemen have done since golf was first played. And I won't be polite and pretend that I respect those who don't because I immediately consider that action to be the action of an a**. Just my opinion and I don't care who disagrees. I'm tired of all the pc bs about "everybody do their own thing." Now I will get off my soapbox because that is the one thing in recent golf that irks me.

Sounds like you are the one getting your PC feelings all butt hurt here.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Yes, I remove my hat and sunglasses to shake hands after a round like gentlemen have done since golf was first played. And I won't be polite and pretend that I respect those who don't because I immediately consider that action to be the action of an a**. Just my opinion and I don't care who disagrees. I'm tired of all the pc bs about "everybody do their own thing." Now I will get off my soapbox because that is the one thing in recent golf that irks me.

Calling people derogatory names such as a** is also considered rude and bad etiquette where most folks come from. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[braincramp52]

Is it rude to take your pants off after a round? :)

[HitEmTrue]

I- uh...I didn't know this was an issue

 

One of the longer threads on here involved hats, and discussions on how to be whether or not it’s disrespectful to wear one indoors.

 

I believe that, ironically, it ended up being locked up because of all the disrespect that was slung around.

 

( edit ) blackdiamomd beat me to it!

 

[BMC]

Yes, I remove my hat and sunglasses to shake hands after a round like gentlemen have done since golf was first played. And I won't be polite and pretend that I respect those who don't because I immediately consider that action to be the action of an a**. Just my opinion and I don't care who disagrees. I'm tired of all the pc bs about "everybody do their own thing." Now I will get off my soapbox because that is the one thing in recent golf that irks me.

Sounds like you are the one getting your PC feelings all butt hurt here.

 

Well, as usual., he just 4 putted.

[2putttom]

" I do still hold the door for others, open my wife's car door first, allow others to go ahead of me in situations...but removing your hat after a round...nope." your good in my book.

[Hot Rod 71]

I think someone should start a thread "Hat on or off in the grillroom" ��

 

Medinah...hat off or they will ask you to remove it.

 

Tap Room at Pebble Beach will also.

 

Then after I took it off everyone hollered for me to put it back on. I'm used to that reaction.

 

I played Robert Trent Jones in NOVA last year and they have a no hats in the clubhouse rule.

 

In the military they say "when you're under cover, you remove your cover".

[psygolf]

I'd say taking pause to look your playing partners in the eye when shaking their hand & telling them you enjoyed playing with them shows more respect than a removal of hat with a quick "nice round...nice round...nice round."

[BlackDiamondPar5]

I'd say taking pause to look your playing partners in the eye when shaking their hand & telling them you enjoyed playing with them shows more respect than a removal of hat with a quick "nice round...nice round...nice round."

I'd agree that there's more than one way to extend appreciation to your playing partners at the end of the round.

[Big Ben]

It's a must for me sign of simple respect with a touch of class. No hats or sunglasses in doors as well. Everyone always smiles and it seems to reinforce the group. I would also agree there are many ways to express appreciation for the time spent with others. All good in my book. BB

[braincramp52]

I really believe a lot of it depends on where you live. I will always shake hands with a guy but I can honestly say I don't ever recall seeing someone remove their hat in the 30 years I've played. Guess we're just a bunch of rural small town hicks but I'm good with that. If I played with a group and someone else removed their hat to shake my hand I'd do the same.

[MrJones]

I remove my hat and/or sunglasses to shake hands when introducing myself anywhere and at the ends of rounds (unless it's my regular hee-haw group).

 

I also remove my hat when indoors. I just always have.

 

 

We live in a world full of varying and changing cultures. I do these acts because it feels right to me. I don't expect people to do the same. I do, however, try to be respectful of other people's traditions and signs of respect. Especially as a guest.

[2bGood]

I still find it funny that the OP says taking your hat off is meaningless gesture when shaking hands, but seem to infer shaking hands is meaningful gesture.

 

If you going to to take the time the to shake hands, why not spend the extra .5 seconds and take your hat off?

[chas521]

Actually, I think removing your hat is a relatively new thing. Its hard to find old video, but for sure Payne Stewart and Phil Mickelson did NOT remove their hats when Payne won at Pinehurst #2. I see it more and more, but I'm not bothered one way or the other. I do find it a little ironic that players will take their hat off to shake hands, yet leave their hat on indoors when having a beverage after the round. That's where gentlemen remove their hats, indoors.

 

AFAIK, it IS a new thing of sorts. I think that I remember that Tiger Woods was the pro who started it to show respect to the other pros he was playing with.

[Noles]

I do remove my hat and shake hands but I think the custom of removing hats inside is outdated and should be done away with however I do comply while the rule still stands in most club houses.

[RickK]

I remove my hat/cap (if wearing one) and sunglasses (if wearing them) to shake hands at the end of the round. I began playing in the early 1970s and played with guys who were older than me. I noticed they did this and it just became natural for me to do it. It has stuck. I don't have a problem with people who do not remove theirs when they are shaking hands with me. If I am the guy fumbling to put the pin back in and someone walks up to me to shake hands before I can get my hat off, I actually feel bad not having it off before I shake their hand. Call me old fashioned, I guess...just me and the way I am. Again...if you don't remove yours...so be it.

[deadsolid...shank]

Its nice that we have one issue where the people who do follow this don't get upset with those that don't. That's very much the exception rather than the rule.

[Shipwreck]

99% of the time I remove my hat. The 1% is the time I’m playing with some D Bag that ruined the round with his unwanted advice or constant complaining. I’ll still shake his hand but that’s out of respect for the game, not for him.

[HatsForBats]

I don't remove my hat. The lone exceptions would be when playing a round with overseas customers or when playing with domestic business contacts. I'll rub mud in my navel for business purposes. Outside of that I don't worry about it much though there might be exceptions as always.

[mshills]

I do take mine off out of habit (if I am wearing a hat!), but I do not make a big production out of it, nor do I get offended if someone I'm playing with leaves his hat on.

[FlyingLaw1]

I'm 28, therefore a millennial that is ruining everything, but I take my hat of to shake hands at the end of a round. It's not that hard.

 

I am a fellow millennial also destroying the country, I also take my hat off at the end of the round to shake hands. I don't remember even learning to do it, just always have. Always make sure to wash the laundry detergent off your hands with a towel first.

 

I'm 29 and also do so. Hat/visor and sunglasses always come off if I'm playing with someone outside of my golf buddies (we usually just say "so where are we going for food and drinks?). I do the same if I'm introducing myself to someone on the first tee. To me it's just the gentlemanly thing to do. If you don't want to do it that's fine, but I am.

[Londoner]

Actually, I think removing your hat is a relatively new thing. Its hard to find old video, but for sure Payne Stewart and Phil Mickelson did NOT remove their hats when Payne won at Pinehurst #2. I see it more and more, but I'm not bothered one way or the other. I do find it a little ironic that players will take their hat off to shake hands, yet leave their hat on indoors when having a beverage after the round. That's where gentlemen remove their hats, indoors.

 

AFAIK, it IS a new thing of sorts. I think that I remember that Tiger Woods was the pro who started it to show respect to the other pros he was playing with.

 

How did TW start it when some of us have been doing it since before he was born?

[deadsolid...shank]

I took my hat off today.......the wind was blowing 30+ and couldn't keep it on. :)