Dress code gone too far?

[lefthack]

Interesting, I had no idea "no tattoos" were even a thing. I don't have any, but have two artists in the family. 

 

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/nathan-followill-kings-of-leon-golf-course-tattoos-australia

[Ghostwedge]

Name the club or it didn't happen. Some bands I wouldn't walk across the street to watch. What are you doing to grow the game dude ? Just whining about private club rules..... I guess. 

[Sons_of_Pitches]

10 hours ago, Ghostwedge said:

Name the club or it didn't happen. Some bands I wouldn't walk across the street to watch. What are you doing to grow the game dude ? Just whining about private club rules..... I guess. 

Well he is right, IMHO.  Many of these private golf clubs and even public courses have taken dress codes too serious.  I get and support collard shirts and appropriate golf attire on the course.  However, there is a public course in my area which has a decent practice area, but they recently started to require collared shirts for the practice areas as well.  Their reasoning was to improve their image, but yet the actual course needs some work in several areas.  The course is getting there, but the new dress code for the practice area is just ridiculous. I stopped purchasing balls for the range because of this and just use the chipping and putting areas.  I make it a point to show up in a t-shirt.  Only time I’ve been hassled is when trying to buy balls for the range so I stopped trying.  It’s crap like this where golf in general needs to reevaluate itself with these old policies related to dress codes.  Just my .02

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

1 hour ago, Sons_of_Pitches said:

Well he is right, IMHO.  Many of these private golf clubs and even public courses have taken dress codes too serious.  I get and support collard shirts and appropriate golf attire on the course.  However, there is a public course in my area which has a decent practice area, but they recently started to require collared shirts for the practice areas as well.  Their reasoning was to improve their image, but yet the actual course needs some work in several areas.  The course is getting there, but the new dress code for the practice area is just ridiculous. I stopped purchasing balls for the range because of this and just use the chipping and putting areas.  I make it a point to show up in a t-shirt.  Only time I’ve been hassled is when trying to buy balls for the range so I stopped trying.  It’s crap like this where golf in general needs to reevaluate itself with these old policies related to dress codes.  Just my .02

 

One or two of the posh courses around here require you to turn up in a jacket. So you walk into the clubhouse in your jacket, go up to the reception desk, check in, then go to the changing round and remove your jacket and never wear it again.

Absolutely daft.

 

However, they generally don't require a jacket in the summer months, when temperatures are 35*C plus (95*F+). So maybe things are slowly changing😑

[Soloman1]

And don't forget leather shoes at check in. No golf shoes or sneakers!

[Scooby555]

I believe as a private club they can have whatever rules they wish.  Don't like the rules?  Don't join or go as a guest!!!

[Llortamaisey]

Probably the most ridiculous one I’ve heard is a restriction on “no-show” socks, you can only wear them with shorts (when shorts allowed). You are not permitted to wear them with pants. This is a course we all know and would die to play. 
 

Second place would be a course north of the border where the maple syrup flows. When shorts are permitted, you must wear long socks with the shorts. I don’t even think half calf socks qualify.  
 

As you can tell, I have a grievance with sock compliance. 

[SlothofDespond]

I don't know where Australia is on tattoos but the tide is turning on social acceptance in the US. Companies are relaxing standards for tattoos, artificial hair color, piercings, etc. That's (of course!) being driven in part by hiring needs but also these things are becoming more common and policy changes reflect changing attitudes to some degree.

 

In my experience privacy golf course membership tends to be, let's say, less progressive, so the rules can clash with the times. I think that dress codes tend to be dumb and arbitrary but these things are essentially political at clubs and change can be slow and difficult even if an existing rule is a wild outlier. Asking someone to cover their tattoos in 2022 strikes me as crazy town but it doesn't surprise me at a golf course.

 

Anecdotally, I find the members most focused on dress code seem to be the worst dressed out there. Aging and faded cotton corporate give-away polos with wrinkled collars, baggy (sometimes pleated?!?) pants, and some of the longest shorts you'll ever see. But they love those rules! I generally suspect it's comforting to them. Like they step back decades when they walk out onto the course.

 

And that's my rambling rant for the morning. Cheers.

Edited October 27, 2022 by SlothofDespond

[jholz]

Eh, "Kings of Leon"?

 

When they are throwing out Jello Biafra, give me a ring.

[bcjim]

1 hour ago, Scooby555 said:

I believe as a private club they can have whatever rules they wish.  Don't like the rules?  Don't join or go as a guest!!!

Of course. But,  as internet nobodies, we are still perfectly qualified to give our opinions on these policies. 

[davep043]

4 hours ago, Sons_of_Pitches said:

I stopped purchasing balls for the range because of this and just use the chipping and putting areas.

So you spend no money there, use their facilities for free, and STILL complain?

[North Butte]

I can think of dozens of things within 100 miles of my home that I'm more outraged about than dress codes of private golf clubs in Australia. That's casting a pretty wide net if you're fishing for something to get worked up over. 

 

But FWIW, on a recent vacation trip I got paired up on a resort course with a guy who had ink on every available square inch of his body except his face. He seemed like a really nice bloke. Go figure. 🤔

[vandyfan]

I think tattoos are mostly harmless. However, as someone who doesn't have tattoos and has had to comply with a dress code most of my life (school, work, golf courses, etc) I agree with the above that privates can set whatever ridiculous rules they want. 

 

Also, and I will probably get hammered for this, I think some (not ALL but some) people get tattoos because they want to stand out, be different, look cool, look tough etc. There is a downside to that, some people (NOT ALL) and especially older, stuffier people might judge you or might say you can't play at their golf club. That said, I think the KoL guys have enough money that they can basically build their own golf club if they want and play naked for all they care. 

Edited October 27, 2022 by vandyfan

[Warrior42111]

Do I think no tattoos is ridiculous and stupid, yes. But it is a private club, and they get to set the rules. If they're still operating then I guess they have enough members to stay afloat, if people leave because of that and other rules and they're hurting then rules change, basic economics.

 

As others have said golf especially private courses are the slowest to change. The professional world has gotten more casual in dress as we actually look at a workers abilities not looks, I don't think my engineering abilities are hurting with me in jeans and an *gasp* untucked polo. 

[North Butte]

I'm not exaggerating in saying it's hard for me to believe anyone, even the stuffiest bunch of Judge Smails types imaginable, would object to seeing a golfer with tattoos in the year 2022. Literally can't wrap my mind around the concept. They truly must be living in the  distant past inside their own reality distortion field.

 

And I'm saying this as someone who wouldn't get a tattoo if you paid me a million bucks. It's just that they are absolutely ubiquitous nowadays in the mundane, everyday world I inhabit. 

 

Might as well say you won't allow anyone to play golf wearing a white belt.  

[david.c.w]

1 hour ago, davep043 said:

So you spend no money there, use their facilities for free, and STILL complain?

 

Great call.  And on top of all you said, he actively makes a point to do the opposite.

 

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

9 minutes ago, North Butte said:

I'm not exaggerating in saying it's hard for me to believe anyone, even the stuffiest bunch of Judge Smails types imaginable, would object to seeing a golfer with tattoos in the year 2022. Literally can't wrap my mind around the concept. They truly must be living in the  distant past inside their own reality distortion field.

 

And I'm saying this as someone who wouldn't get a tattoo if you paid me a million bucks. It's just that they are absolutely ubiquitous nowadays in the mundane, everyday world I inhabit. 

 

Might as well say you won't allow anyone to play golf wearing a white belt.  

 

Interesting idea for a GolfWRX survey. "Which is more morally abhorrent on a golfer: tattoos or a white belt?

 

I suspect most WRXers would go for the white belt option...

 

 

 

...But only because head covers are not given as a choice🤣

[North Butte]

Just now, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

 

Interesting idea for a GolfWRX survey. "Which is more morally abhorrent on a golfer: tattoos or a white belt?

 

I suspect most WRXers would go for the white belt option...

 

 

 

...But only because head covers are not given as a choice🤣

Well the difference is, I've actually seen some tattoos that weren't entirely silly looking.

 

And I think we can all agree that an inked-up fat guy makes way more sense than the same fellow wearing a size 70 white belt.  

 

Iron head covers...don't get me started...iron head covers...geez....

[Mr. Bean]

18 hours ago, lefthack said:

Interesting, I had no idea "no tattoos" were even a thing. I don't have any, but have two artists in the family. 

 

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/nathan-followill-kings-of-leon-golf-course-tattoos-australia

 

I dislike any tattoo that is bigger than a coin but IMO that is going too far. Next step must be no dyed hair...

[DFS PFD]

Perfect case of "vote with your wallet". When you sign the member agreement you are aware of limitations such as the one referenced in this article, amongst other stipulations you may not like. If you do not like them, don't pay the money and be a member elsewhere. It's really quite simple, no one is forcing him to be a member there, do some research before signing up. 

[sui generis]

17 minutes ago, DFS PFD said:

Perfect case of "vote with your wallet". When you sign the member agreement you are aware of limitations such as the one referenced in this article, amongst other stipulations you may not like. If you do not like them, don't pay the money and be a member elsewhere. It's really quite simple, no one is forcing him to be a member there, do some research before signing up. 

 

Our membership director loves to tell the story of an interview with a couple who were prospective members. All went well until she began to describe our dress codes for various parts of the club, pool, tennis, dining and golf.

 

As she mentioned that males over the age of 12 years must have their shirts tucked in when playing golf, the man grabbed his wife's hand and bolted for the door crying out, "These maniacs will never get our business!" (I suppose they fled back to Florida, since no other clubs in our end of North Carolina would have met their needs either.) 

[davep043]

30 minutes ago, DFS PFD said:

Perfect case of "vote with your wallet". When you sign the member agreement you are aware of limitations such as the one referenced in this article, amongst other stipulations you may not like. If you do not like them, don't pay the money and be a member elsewhere. It's really quite simple, no one is forcing him to be a member there, do some research before signing up. 

This is fine, except the OP concerned a (semi-)famous musician who was hoping to translate that fame into a round of golf at a "bucket list" private club while he was on tour.  While I think some dress code limitations are silly, I have limited sympathy for this particular guy.

[knock it close]

1 hour ago, North Butte said:

Might as well say you won't allow anyone to play golf wearing a white belt. 

That would be a great rule

[QEight]

One local guy here has a swastika tattoo'd on his forehead. Are all tattoos equal...

[Mr. Bean]

15 minutes ago, QEight said:

One local guy here has a swastika tattoo'd on his forehead. Are all tattoos equal...

 

Did he play a part at Tarantino's movie Inglorious Bastards by any chance..?

[Mr. Bean]

2 hours ago, North Butte said:

Iron head covers...don't get me started...iron head covers...geez....

 

I used them back in the days I used to carry my bag. I hated the noise clubheads made without them.

[caniac6]

I have heard from some folks that played some famous courses that required jackets and ties in the dining room say what a  great experience they had. They were able to experience the traditions and history of old famous courses. If someone really wants to play a bucket list course, they should be willing to comply with the rules. Buy some solar sleeves. Wear some long pants. I know that if I was invited to play Augusta or a big time club in the Northeast, I would ask about their dress code, and what time I need to be there. I certainly would be happy to comply to their rules rather than expect any special consideration from them.

[North Butte]

9 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

I have heard from some folks that played some famous courses that required jackets and ties in the dining room say what a  great experience they had. They were able to experience the traditions and history of old famous courses. If someone really wants to play a bucket list course, they should be willing to comply with the rules. Buy some solar sleeves. Wear some long pants. I know that if I was invited to play Augusta or a big time club in the Northeast, I would ask about their dress code, and what time I need to be there. I certainly would be happy to comply to their rules rather than expect any special consideration from them.

I've played some of the fancy UK clubs that required the jacket and tie thing and it was a load of cobblers. Yeah, I did it because I wanted to play the course but all it added to the experience was a sense of lugubrious drollery. 

[Krt22]

Imagine a club in a former prison colony banning tattoos lol 

 

 

5 hours ago, davep043 said:

So you spend no money there, use their facilities for free, and STILL complain?

lol while looking like a bum on the practice green. Some people man

[2bGood]

The part not included in the article is the Tattoos they wanted covered was the tramp stamp on the small of his back.