More than 70 per cent of golfers who filled in a huge NCG survey said dress codes had a pivotal role to play at their clubs.
While the rules of what players can wear on and off the course can sometimes be the source of tabloid ridicule, and are regularly held up in some quarters as being a barrier to participation, thousands of players told us they were important.
NCG’s Club Golf Survey was sent out as part of our daily email newsletter. We’ve already revealed what you think about membership fees and how many of you have experienced cheating out on the course. Over the coming days, we’ll disclose eye-opening data on how you view the World Handicap System, and how often you all take to the course.
But with sartorial choices a much publicised and often controversial issue, we asked: “How important are dress codes at golf clubs to you?”
Just short of 72 per cent of the 3,250 survey respondents said they were either important (59.3%, 1,928 people) or really important (12.6%, 409 people). Just 2.5 per cent sat on the fence and said they didn’t know, while a shade over 25 per cent of those who replied said dress codes were either not important (23.1%, 751 respondents) or irrelevant (2.5%, 82 people).
What do you think about the golf dress code?
We asked you on our facebook page, ‘Do you think dress codes are important?‘ Lots of you had plenty to say.
Andrew Smith said: “No t shirts, jeans or football shirts. No vests and certainly not going shirtless. You can buy reasonable polo shirts from Sports Direct fairly cheaply. If you can afford golf clubs you can afford to be reasonably dressed.”
David Ballard added: “Yes I do think it’s important to wear the correct clothes and shoes you should have some pride in what you wear. Let’s face it if you were playing other sports you would wear the proper clothes and footwear for that,” while Jon Daly said: “Short answer, yes.
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“Long answer, of course they are. If a person can’t adhere to something as simple as a dress code, how will they cope with the rules and etiquette of a complex game like golf.”
Gary Kay, meanwhile, explained: “Correct clothing and footwear is a good start. The problem is many players now don’t repair pitch marks on greens. Rake the bunker after playing out. Replace divots on fairways. So let’s make sure all these things are done and golfing etiquette followed before we complain about clothing and footwear…”
What do we think?
It’s fair to say I am liberal about dress codes in a way many of you reading this probably aren’t. I don’t think there is any evidence to link dress codes with behaviour on the golf course and you will never be able to explain to me the obsession some golf clubs have with socks.
When people get into a trouble on a golf course because of the colour, or length, of their hosiery (and just check out the recent spat with Mark Wahlberg for those who claim it ‘never happens anymore), then that’s not about looking smart, it’s just about control.
Of course it’s their club, their rules, and in a private club environment it’s up to golfers to follow them if they want to play there. I do respect that and I also understand why so many of you think it’s important. When a view is expressed in such numbers, we all should take notice.
But, at the same time, dress codes have still changed significantly in the decade I have been in the industry campaigning for it.
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A long time ago, I was once asked to change clothes at a club for wearing a Tiger-style rollneck shirt: a shirt the club sold in the pro shop.
It’s less than five years since another club got worldwide attention for ranting on about hoodies following Tyrrell Hatton’s BMW PGA Championship victory. They are now commonplace at even the most prestigious of courses.
Smart jeans and casual clothing are also allowed in many clubhouses as they look to diversify their audience and income streams. They realised it might be a struggle to get the Sunday lunch crowd otherwise.
Fashion is always evolving as is what different generations consider acceptable attire. So even though golfers clearly ascribe considerable significance to a ‘uniform’ out on the course, the goalposts have moved considerably. It’s likely they will continue to do so.
Now have your say
You’ve made your views plain on the golf dress code and the place of dress codes in the golf club, but where do they go next? Should regulations on attire be tightened or is there more room for interpretation? Let us know with a comment on X.
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