Skip to content
    • Tour Homepage
    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
    • Equipment Homepage
    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
    • Instruction Homepage
    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played
National Club GolferNational Club Golfer Logo
  • TourHas submenu items

    Tour Homepage

    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
  • EquipmentHas submenu items

    Equipment Homepage

    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
  • ClubHas submenu items
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
  • InstructionHas submenu items

    Instruction Homepage

    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
  • CoursesHas submenu items
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
  • PodcastsHas submenu items
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
  • The Joy of WalkingHas submenu items
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played

Sign up here for our newsletter and you'll never slice a drive again. Promise.

Newsletter sign up

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
National Club Golfer Logo

© 2026 National Club Golfer | 2 Arena Park, Tam Lane, LS17 9BF

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Meet the NCG Team
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
Country: gb Page generated at: Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at 12:19:59 British Summer Time
club
News
‘These are gym socks, man!’ Hollywood A-Lister falls foul of golf club dress code

published: Mar 14, 2024

‘These are gym socks, man!’ Hollywood A-Lister falls foul of golf club dress code

Steve CarrollLink

FacebookXInstagramYouTubePodcast0 comments

Ted star Mark Wahlberg found himself in a pickle after turning up to exclusive Sydney club Elanora wearing the wrong colour socks

Mark Wahlberg

Table of Contents

Jump to:

  • Is it time to change golf’s socks dress code?

There aren’t many places a Hollywood A-Lister can’t gain access. But Mark Wahlberg apparently found his entry to an exclusive Australian course very briefly blocked – after he fell foul of one of golf’s dress code rules.

The star of Ted, The Departed and The Fighter hit a roadblock when he turned up at the exclusive Elanora Country Club, in Sydney, wearing the wrong colour socks.

The Daily Telegraph down under reported the star arrived at the Northern Beaches establishment in black hosiery, which breached the club’s rules.

“We have dress standards,” general manager Cathy Neagle told the newspaper. “They do include white socks.”

Mark Wahlberg

Is it time to change golf’s socks dress code?

Wahlberg was supplied an acceptable pair, and was said to not mind changing, but did quip in an Instagram story: “See the socks? Not allowed on every golf course in Australia, believe it or not.

“Some courses require you to wear white socks. These are gym socks, man! What?”

On Elanora’s website, the men’s dress regulations state: “If long socks are worn they must be kept up at all times.

“Acceptable short socks will be plain white or plain white with a Golf Club logo and at least quarter length.”

Wahlberg is in Australia filming a movie and has been spotted playing courses across the country.

While the film star expressed surprise, there are plenty of clubs who still follow Elanora’s lead and clamp down on this most innocent of clothing items.

But the argument divides plenty. Some say clubs are well within their rights to enforce whatever dress codes they like.

Others deride what they see as petty regulations, which perpetuate the stuffy stereotype of golf and dissuades people from playing the sport.  

Now have your say

What do you make of this dress codes socks row for Mark Wahlberg golf? Is it another faux pas for golf, or should clubs be able to do what they like on their property? Let me know by leaving a comment on X.

Advertisement

  • NOW READ: Can someone please explain golf’s problem with socks?
  • NOW READ: The three words that show golf might be moving on dress codes

About the author

Steve Carroll
Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

Twitter

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

What's Popular

Garrick Higgo looks over a putt at the PGA Championship | Source: Getty Images

Garrick Higgo’s PGA Championship penalty is a warning for every club golfer

By Steve Carroll | May 14, 2026

Read full article Garrick Higgo’s PGA Championship penalty is a warning for every club golfer
Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland waits to putt during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Sunday, April 12, 2026 | Source: Logan Whitton

The Putter behind Rory’s Masters wins: Review and where to get it!

By Jack Backhouse | Apr 13, 2026

Read full article The Putter behind Rory’s Masters wins: Review and where to get it!
richest golfers of all time

Who are the richest golfers of all time?

By Matt Chivers | Oct 1, 2025

Read full article Who are the richest golfers of all time?
Is Tiger Woods playing in The Open

Where will The Open Championship be held in 2027, 2028 and 2029?

By Matt Chivers | Apr 27, 2026

Read full article Where will The Open Championship be held in 2027, 2028 and 2029?
Group of elderly men , businesspeople and senior enjoy outdoor sport golfing together at country club . Healthy men golfer holding golf stick on fairway with talking together at summer sunset. High quality photo | Source: Adobe Stock World Handicap System

Does the World Handicap System need to be the same across Great Britain & Ireland?

By Steve Carroll | May 3, 2026

Read full article Does the World Handicap System need to be the same across Great Britain & Ireland?
David Puig of LIV Golf | Source: Getty Images

Big DP World Tour events still allow LIV Golfers to compete, but how?

By Matt Chivers | Apr 27, 2026

Read full article Big DP World Tour events still allow LIV Golfers to compete, but how?
David Feherty of the LIV Golf League | Source: Getty Images

LIV Golf’s David Feherty: I am in the dark like everyone else

By Matt Chivers | Apr 30, 2026

Read full article LIV Golf’s David Feherty: I am in the dark like everyone else
golfers private jets

Which golfers own private jets and how much do they cost?

By Matt Coles | Oct 16, 2025

Read full article Which golfers own private jets and how much do they cost?
Bryson DeChambeau at LIV Golf Korea | Source: LIV Golf

Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?

By Matt Chivers | May 20, 2026

Read full article Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?
First place individual champion, Captain Jon Rahm of Legion XIII celebrates on the 18th green after the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on Sunday, April 19, 2026 in Naucalpan, Mexico. (Photo by Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf)

Jon Rahm has finally made the right call on the DP World Tour – but is his biggest decision yet to come?

By Matt Chivers | May 5, 2026

Read full article Jon Rahm has finally made the right call on the DP World Tour – but is his biggest decision yet to come?

Best Budget Irons 2026

By | Mar 5, 2026

Read full article Best Budget Irons 2026
MALELANE, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 05: Golf balls are seen on the practice facilitates prior to the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club on December 05, 2023 in Malelane, South Africa. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Can I get away with playing a ball that was out of bounds?

By Steve Carroll | Apr 27, 2026

Read full article Can I get away with playing a ball that was out of bounds?