Would you rather be....

[physasst]

On 8/15/2021 at 5:49 AM, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

I'm a solid bogey golfer. I wear nice golf attire when I play because it's the most comfortable. My game is good enough for the little effort I put into it. Being scratch would mean I spend too much time on my game and not doing other things I like. Dressing nicely takes no effort and often gets you treated better. 

 

I don't care what other people wear as long as they play quickly and fix ball marks. Failing the last two is unacceptable. 

 

This^^^I dress nicely too. So what. I wear very nice suits at work too. I like to feel like I look good. Maybe that makes me vain...don't care, it works for me.

 

M

[Mcgeeno]

No clothes look as good as shooting low scores feels.

 

I've never remembered a single item of clothing or pair of shoes or hat any playing partner has ever worn...But I remember if they could actually play well.

 

 

[lefthack]

As an engineer I wear jeans and offensive tshirts 90% of the time. I did buy a few pairs of "golf shorts" this year and have a polo if I am playing a nicer course. But I don't generally "dress up" for golf and why I'm not a member of a club with a dress code.

 

I have gotten a few comments on my BGD irons because they stand out. But I boast about how cheap they were, so there is that. 🤣

[Nels55]

My goal for as long as I have played golf is to be a scratch golfer.  LOL I have not made it yet regardless of how I have dressed which has run the gamut from gym shorts and no shirt to decent golf pants and shirts that match my shoes, belt, socks, towel and hat.  So to answer the question I will take the scratch game!

[putterboy75]

5 hours ago, Nels55 said:

My goal for as long as I have played golf is to be a scratch golfer.  LOL I have not made it yet regardless of how I have dressed which has run the gamut from gym shorts and no shirt to decent golf pants and shirts that match my shoes, belt, socks, towel and hat.  So to answer the question I will take the scratch game!

 

Me too! Nothing looks as good as birdies & eagles feel.

[TCGolfer35]

Par rounds all day! Looking the part hasnt gotten me anywhere so far.

[Quasimoto]

Unfortunately I think those days are gone at most golf courses. It is now football stadium golf where almost anything goes.

By way of example:

yesterday I want to the course and stopped at the range to warm up. There was a roughly 40-45 yo. guy and 3 young boys estimated by me to be about 10-12 ages.

They were separated by 4 empty stalls and did not appear to be a group. One of the boys was dressed in full out Loud clothing, (fine, well dressed) another had an orange tee shirt and an orange headband - karate kid style, and ill fitting cargo shorts.The guy at the end hits his driver and the head snaps off and goes about 50 yds down range. The boy with the headband shouts “did you see that?” he then turns to the broken driver guy and very loudly proclaims “Wow! That f**king sucks”. 

 

I’m shaking my head and wondering how it is possible as the kids head to the first tee.

Golf courses have sold their souls for the almighty $$.

On 8/16/2021 at 6:19 AM, Bad9 said:

Obviously the most important thing to to look the part, full on golf uniform(and yes it exists)-clean, well kept conservatively coloured polo shirt, neatly pressed pants(preferably khaki), saddle or wingtip shoes(spikeless not permitted) and a baseball style hat that is very clean. You should not be allowed on a course without wearing this.

 

[Mcgeeno]

An orange headband and cargo shorts!

 

The audacity!

 

We need to go back to the good old days.

 

 

 

[Primo1868]

Definitely the game. Buddy of mine had 8 year old cargo shorts, a ram putter, an old Dunlop 5w and would whip my behind. 

[lefthack]

On 8/25/2021 at 9:15 PM, Mcgeeno said:

An orange headband and cargo shorts!

 

The audacity!

 

We need to go back to the good old days.

 

 

 

 

Agreed.

 

 

[Kenbone]

I'm a 20 but I love the clothes so I guess I'm a bit guilty of looking pro but playing meh. 

 

A spiffy new shirt or cap is almost as fun as a new club 😉

 

 

[byoshio82]

Give me the par score for sure. I have a buddy who is this exact person. Was a model for Nike in his younger days and looks like a linebacker that was outfitted with PGA Tour gear every time we play but can easily shoot 100+ no problem. Also has a backup outfit for the post round activites!lol! Love the dude like a brother but it's quite comical to say the least.

[cbrwn425]

I’d take the game every time. I like to look nice when I play but if dressing worse means I shoot par, I’ll take it. 

[llewol007]

For me there is nothing wrong with looking good. Not sure what a tour player your buddy looks like. Does he have sponsors logos on the shirts he buys or is it more that he looks like a golfer. For me, I take pride in how I look. Not really sure I would be comfortable playing in basketball shorts or jeans even. And yes this is my perspective. To each their own. But I would rather take that versus someone who shoots a great game but looks shabby. Now, in all seriousness, if you are shooting par or better, you will at least be dressed in some form of golf attire polo shirt and some golf shorts or pants. 

[smashdn]

On 8/25/2021 at 10:45 PM, Quasimoto said:

Golf courses have sold their souls for the almighty $$.

 

May take the thread off on a tangent but...how should a course or what is a good way for a course (public) to maintain there selected level of dress expectations without embarrassing someone and not coming off as snoody?

 

I see fewer and fewer public courses with the true expectations/dress code put out there.  Or you get the "proper golf attire" blurb.  You needn't look too far here to see that everyone has their own definition of proper golf attire.

 

I recall playing a round with a friend one summer at a state park course.  It was brutally hot that day and this was in the days before performance fabric type shirts.  He had on a cotton polo shirt over a white cotton undershirt.  By the 14th hole or so he had soaked both shirts so decided to take off the polo.  Marshall Dillon was on him quick about it.  Now I doubt they enforce that rule.  And I know they let people play in jeans because a group of us played a round there this spring when it was still very cool.  Some guys were wearing jeans.

 

I've said it here before but there is some sort of neural path in our noggins that connects the fact you are wearing certain clothing to how you act.  I know when I put on a suit it is weird but I get hyper aware of manners and my mannerisms.  Like because I am dressed up (for me) I even eat and drink differently, even subconsciously. 

[naval2006]

Low single and scratch players are always top of the pyramid no matter what.  In golf, clubs do the real talking.  And the tier right below is golfers of any skill who know how to handle themselves, stick to the rules and are not slow.  The loud full-of-crap hacker is not uncommon but you spot them after a hole most of the time.  

Edited October 14, 2021 by naval2006

[naval2006]

1 minute ago, naval2006 said:

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Deleted

Edited October 14, 2021 by naval2006
delete

[Plumbwader]

I'd much rather have the game than the gear.  You can always buy the gear but you can't buy a swing.  IJS.

[ZA206]

I appreciate my "privilege" that comes with being a good golfer!🤩🤣

[jackmfarrow]

game > looks

 

everyday of the week and twice on Sunday

[Ifelloffladder]

Funny thing is the player you mentioned in the latter choice do exist. Many exist now with the equipment. I have never seen so many players with funky swings who just recently took up golf hit GIR before. Now don't get me wrong this game is still challenging just saying how good equipment has gotten.

 

Now to answer your question, I would rather the latter. It would be embarrassing to have people think you're good only to see you tee off with your player's driver in X-flex and 75g shaft duff it to the ladies t box.

 

Sorry I think I misunderstood your question. If they will never see me play then by all means let them think i'm a good player and let the rounds continue.

Edited October 28, 2022 by Ifelloffladder

[charliebrown]

On 8/14/2021 at 9:23 PM, putterboy75 said:

I have a friend who insists on presenting himself as you'd see on the Tour, but I doubt he breaks 90 once a year. You've no doubt seen this person somewhere on your golfing journey.

 

It got me thinking.... would you rather look and be treated like a scratch player (we all know good players are treated better by everyone and granted unsaid privileges no matter where they go compared to players who appear newer to the game, or unfortunately even worse, women players who receive no initial respect no matter how good they are) but score far higher, OR... the opposite: look like you've recently taken up golf and have old equipment, a homemade swing, less polished appearance, etc....but shoot par?

 

I hope I know the answer, but am intrigued by others feelings.

I'm not easily impressed. Unless the guy sporting the high end equipment shoots 75 or under every round. Then? I am most impressed. 

[charliebrown]

On 8/18/2021 at 11:29 AM, jplroper said:

    I assuming thats Hawkeye and Trapper you're talking about?

They play at my course too! 

[Kai Slater]

I've seen all kinds out there in the wild.  The guy all pimped out in Peter Millar clothing, Titleist clubs/bag, exotic range finder, etc....down to the guy in cargo shorts and t-shirt, playing with a box-set of clubs from Walmart.  Personally I would prefer to dress more relaxed and take the lower score than  look the part of a pro and play really poorly. Most of the places around here are pretty loose on their dress code; really only the private clubs make you wear a collared shirt and so on and so forth.

 

Certain golf equipment can sort of send a message about status.  Way back in the day, I can remember often being intimidated when I would get paired up with someone and seeing them with a bag full of Titleist clubs.  I assumed that anyone hitting Titleist clubs must be a really good or really serious golfer, much more so than me on the more casual side.  I realized that's not always true, but interesting how certain equipment or clothing brands can play mind games like that.

 

Probably the best golfer I've ever played with was a regular guy at local club I used to play at;  beat up old tennis shoes, cargo shorts, Walmart "Dunlop" irons and an old scratched up Wilson driver.  He often shot in the 60's from the Blues.  If you've got a good swing and smart course management, it doesn't matter how your equipment or clothes look.

 

On the flip side of this, I did know a guy that had all the latest/greatest of everything, expensive equipment, etc....and he was lucky to break 100.  He would say that with having the best equipment eliminates an excuse for playing bad, "I can't blame my poor play on having crappy golf clubs" kind of mentality.

Edited July 31, 2023 by Kai Slater

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

I get the sense that the guy the OP is talking about is probably over the top about his look and presentation.

I, too, like to dress well on the course, but it wasn't always that way. I had to get fired from a miserable job and stop feeling miserable before I started dressing in golf wear. I take pride in my golf appearance. If some people find that off putting I can't help that. If they find it comical, so be it.....

In fact, nothing is more comical than looking the part and suddenly duffing it. Thank GOD I'm past that, because it's like farting in the elevator out loud when everybody knows it was you........ 😆

Edited August 1, 2023 by Mikey_HACKilroy

[TiScape]

I think ppl can (should) wear whatever makes em happy/comfortable. If ur not that good but like dressing nicely, more power to ya. This reminds me of the ppl that give bad players with nice new gear a hard time.

Id rather play with the guy that dresses nicely or has nice new gear that can’t break 100 than the dude judging either of em. 

[Kai Slater]

Coach Prime, Deion Sanders, used to say...."when you dress good, you look good.....When you look good, you feel good......when you feel good, you play good....when you play good, they pay good."

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

50 minutes ago, Kai Slater said:

Coach Prime, Deion Sanders, used to say...."when you dress good, you look good.....When you look good, you feel good......when you feel good, you play good....when you play good, they pay good."

 

That's it right there! Lol

 

Except for the pay part.... Where do I sign up to get paid?  Hehe

[Fwitz11]

Por qué no Los dos?

[tips09]

Every time dressing like a pro is mentioned I always think of a random golfer I crossed paths with at a local public course about 5 years ago. The image of someone with a full puma orange outfit with a matching orange cobra staff bag is something I can never get out of my head. My friend I was playing with that day asked me if the P on his hat meant pro. I don’t normally pay attention to other golfers on the range before a round but I couldn’t help but watch. This particular player did not have the game to back up the look and to top it off I saw him on the course a few holes ahead carrying that massive staff bag. Anyways to answer the question give me the game. Results matter more than looks.