Golf Dress Code

My son who is currently visiting the apartment phoned to say he was asked to leave the course at the first hole because he wasn't wearing a collared shirt and dress shorts.

Now I know dress code is important but in the past ten years playing golf throughout Spain and Portugal I have never seen or indeed heard of anyone who has been asked to remove themselves from a course due to dress. Sadly the lack of proper facilities like a club house with signage means that these situations can arise.

To add to his embarrassment he was initially refused a refund and had to argue his point. He stated, as I have seen myself on many occassions, that of the few on the course some were dressed in a similar fashion but he appeared to be the only one asked to leave.

When out last September I witnessed, of a late evening, teenagers riding bicycles on the greens and on another occassion childern rolling down the tenth fairway.

I think we need to ensure that sufficient information is clearly displayed so that visitors are aware of the rules before commencing their game.

non collared shirt is a bit harsh.  I mean you only have to look at the likes of Tiger these days and his round neck t-shirts.  These have to be accepted into the sport.  I have been wearingthem for years and never had any issues.  If they sell them in teh pro shop then they cant complain..

Pretty sure the Dress Code is displayed by the range ball machine.

I've seen some dubious actions on the practice fairway...pitching from the bunkered green onto the chipping green for one.

If he didn't know the dress code and paid his green fees in the same gear with no comment being made then I think a warning or friendly reminder on the 1st tee that next time he wouldn't be allowed on would be sufficient.  Thats the problem where the course is so far from the "pro shop".  Its no good reminding people of the dress code on the tee...it should be done in the "pro shop".

I also agree there are some perfectly ok non-collared shirts...but do you just allow any non-collared shirts.  I suppose they have an image they want to project and it doesn't include beach shorts and t-shirts (not a comment on whoever got turned away as I have no idea what they were wearing).

I am more concerned by the teeagers you saw riding their bikes on the course and the kids rolling down the tenth fairway.

Were they wearing collared shirts? If so they should also have been asked to leave, we cant have one rule for one and another rule for the others!

From what I can gather he was wearing a plain tee shirt and 3/4 shorts, not the best but I would suggest acceptable. He is, by the way a responsible 27year old.

I agree with both commemts so far in that firstly, huge changes have taken place recently in the dress code allowed on courses and within the clubhouse and Secondly the distance between the pro shop and first tee is too great.

The first tee passes the practice green and the range ball machine and can be overlooked but the question needs to be asked is where was the starter?

Of course Image is important, but lets get the rudimentary facilities (club house, showers, restaurant etc) needed first before we start banishing fee paying visitors from our course and although not applicable on my part, it could potentially effect those who advertise rental properties on this golf resort and their hopes for repeat business.

Cheers

raff

does he play golf in the UK?

Hi Darren,

Now with the improved security and the foot  patrols that I've been reading about on this forum, things may have changed, but I observed from my balcony  that after about eight thirty of an evening the course is 'abandoned' to those that wish to use it for walking, cycling and indeed it appears free golf. I watched on one occassion two young men play a few holes about 9pm before the light went. I'm sure others overlooking the course are aware of these activities.

Unfortunately the reality is that currently its the only real facility we have. 

Cheers

I play at my local 9 hole municipal and they have a dress code.  If we let small things like this slip  what next? all you men turning up in your local football strips????? No can't have that.  Think being thrown off was too harsh, should have ask him to leave, change, and join further on at a different hole, but totally agree these rules should be inforced and made clear when paying at the pro shop.  No dress code No play. As for the people on the golf course at night, dam disgrace, give me a klasnikov and i'll soon remove them. ( Bodies on the fairways, allow 2 club lengths and a free drop)  If they want to walk/cycle round the course go ahead by all means but stay off the greens fairways and tees PW did supply us with pathways so please use them.

Ali

Hi Rich&bops,

When he was quite young, about 10 yrs he got a half set for christmas and I took him out on two / three occassions to a local 9 hole course, but he never took to it and prefered his self defence classes at which he got a black belt. To the best of my knowledge he has not played golf since, so the answer is no..

Cheers

Alison&Simon,

Couldn't agree with you more, particularly on the point of football shirts, no course 9 hole or otherwise would tolerate such a thing, but I believe that a balance needs to be struck in this holiday environment. I have found that in most cases courses on the costas are quite relaxed in their attitude.For example when playing El Chaparral last Autumn they were more interested in getting our green fees than our dress. Such a superb and grand clubhouse, great food and excellent staff the type of place as you approach you look down to ensure the shine on your shoes is sufficient, but yet almost empty. 

I digress eitherway rules should be highlighted and displayed nearby so that eyeryone is clear as to what is expected, but just sometimes I find it  difficult to be enthused when walking over barren dusty waste ground / carpark to the first tee.

Cheers

 Dress code is very important on a golf course and it is possible to wear collarless  shirts as long as they conform. This is the one of the last few bastions of our society.

Due to a shortgage of money  we only have marshalling for 12 hours a day, so marshalling outside these hours is difficult and not cost effective.

Maybe olagolf  could introduce a very reduced  late green fee entry from 6 pm ,Obviously non marshalled but this will attract people working late as well as people arriving in the afternoon or others simply wanting to play at a reasonable price for a few holes on holiday. Let me know if you are interested by pm and i shall put it forward

As a member i obviously resent people playing for free but any opportunity to raise money for a clubhouse should be welcome and in these difficult times i appeciate a 35 e + green fee is expensive for someone wanting to play regularly while on holiday.Obviously the late payers must accept getting wet from evening sprinklers!

This message was last edited by georgeh on 19/05/2011.

This message was last edited by georgeh on 19/05/2011.

The dress code is displayed on door as you enter golf shop.

A previously stated the dress code is displayed in a number of places and clear for all to understand.

Dress code is very important along with course etiquette, if we don’t keep these standards high then the course and game will suffer.

In the UK on some municipal courses that don’t have these high standards you can regularly see people abusing the course and being badly behaved.

Basically these rules provide a framework of respect for the game and good conduct of play.

WHY

They just do.

Phil

Firstly I must say that though i have played our course approx 10 times I have not been aware of any signage as to our dress code rules, maybe as I am aware of the rules they simply didn't  registered with me, or perhaps I was too keen to get started and let the holiday begin. 

There were some terrific courses in my neck where the elechons of society frequented, with restricted membership to keep the 'tone' and today the weeds grow tall on those once manicured lawns and the edifices lie empty, their efforts to encourage a wider membership failed as too their last gasp attempts to attract societies to play on their hollowed grounds.

We all know the difficulties Golf clubs face today, the relaxation of rules covering jeans and collared shirts were seen as barriers to encouraging membership or indeed greater public use in terms of meals and social venues. Of course I think we should have a dress code but surely we must bear in mind we are a vacation resort and recognise what is happening to golf courses the length and breath of  UK, Spain and beyond. Dress shorts, a step to far, in my humble opinion.

Golf etiquette should never be compromised.

Cheers

yes we are a vacation resort, but i for one as i am sure 99% will agree, i dont want people wearing jeans on a course that i play.

i dont know any course that allow you to wear jeans anywhere in the UK and if they do they must be pay and play picth and putt / par 3 courses.  Yuo cant even wear them in club huoses.  I fully supoprt the dress code rule,  its etiquite

Pretty sure if he had knee lengh shorts from next, he would have been fine, but 3/4's sorry its not a beach...

This message was last edited by rich&bops on 19/05/2011.

Hi rich&bops,

I would suggest that dress code and etiquette are not the same thing, however I do apologize for not explaining clearly. My point with reference to collarless shirts refered to the course but jeans related to the club house. The uk trend of falling membership has left some clubs void of life of an evening, resulting in first the closure of the restaurant then restricted bar hours and in the worst case closure. Fnancial reality has led to more and more clubs relaxing the dress code to include jeans so as to encourage a wider customer base to use clubhouse facilities. If this hasn't happened in your neck of the woods then great, but check out the dress code for Holywood, Rory Mcilrorys course.(just one of very many)

I remember my father telling me that dinner jackets and ties where the order of the day in his time, things generally change out of neccessity.

I would also suggest linen 3/4 shorts with pockets are not beach attire. I would also suggest you could probably count the number of people who played our course today on both hands and that if Olga golf can turn away full fee paying customers they must have more money than sense. I just hope we never hear a rumour about the course as we have about the also empty clover.

All along the costas from Malaga to Benidorm too many courses are competing for too few golfers, do you seriously imagine all those courses will be open in five years. Travel to hacienda or el valle campasol, la torre , villa martin, campoamore.......all void of members, empty club houses and all walking a financial tightrope.

Jack Nicholas himself stated, and I paraphase, that the great game of golf owes more to joe public who pays his membership, who buys the latest club or pays his green fees. 

I think staff could have been more understanding and indeed more discreet, so  No to overzealous staff and No to embarrassing visitors and guests. All I can say is what a great advertisment for condado. 

Cheers

This message was last edited by raff on 19/05/2011.

Agree dress code and etiquette aren't the same.

Personally I think a general rule of collared shirts and normal length shorts is a good one.  However if someone turns up in something different that is reasonable attire then the marshalls should be flexible.  In the same way that any collared shirt should not be automatically fine for the golf course.

Hi smv,

Played Portmarnock this year and am astonished at the current deals on offer at what I consider one ot the top Irish courses. In fact playing there again but this time with an overnight stay in October this year. 

My point initially was that If we had a club house or proper pro shop on the course these difficulties would most likely have been avoided..

Many bought on Condado for rental purposes, this surely suggests a wide range in the types of players with varying capabilities ( I didn't buy to rent.) This appears to clash directly with the attitude of others, of a firstclass course with strict codes in the hope of an open being held there at some point in the future. I don't believe both are mutually exclusive, but currently we need to pull in visitors. We need to offer something over and above other local courses. Surely can't have staff asking a couple on holiday to leave the course because the dress code hasn't been followed to the very letter.

You and I know only too well the affect the reccession is having on our golf courses. Sound finances, are the bedrock apon which the survival of any course ultimately depends. In reality all other condsiderations must and I believe are taking second place across the uk and Ireland today. But this is not to say sensible practices, like a dress code should not be encouraged, but some leaway must also have a place on our vacation resort.

This message was last edited by raff on 20/05/2011.

raff

you cant compare a golf course in Spain to a golf course in Belfast.

I know where i would rather play..    I have been to Ireland many times to play golf and played some of the best courses they have to offer, no matter how nice they are, most are over priced the weather isnt wonderful, same as the UK i guess.  But i dont know any UK clubs that are struggling,

I dont know any golf courses in the UK or where i play that will allow anyone in the club house with Jeans on. 

If your struggling to get members into the club, then  allowing jeans wont solve the problem, drop the cost is the sensible option and increase the member numbers.  i wouldn't want to go near a course where i see members in 3/4 shorts on the course and jeans in a club house.  Its not what golf is about.  Plenty of sports about if you want to dres down

i think it works both ways.  Like i said, normal pair of smart shorts from next ( knee length ) and a collard t-shirt ( doesnt have to be a golf brand ) any polo shirt and he would have been fine.. 

3/4's and a sports t-shirt isnt acceptable on any course,  personaly opinion.. there is a to "strict" dress code and to" relaxed" code .  3/4's  this is too relaxed IMO.. 

 Well this thread rules my Partner out for a game of golf. He doesn't play, maybe the odd session at the local driving range. But had planned to pay for a days golf when we were over next week. 

He certainly won't be going out to buy a pair of 'dress shorts' and collared shirt! 

He'd bought himself linen 3/4 shorts and a light shirt and was planning to hire some golf shoes. By the sounds of it he wouldn't even be able to do that. 

I presume the resort isn't full of lager louts wearing football shirts every day, surely it make sense not to turn away business from resepectable young men? Theres a difference between turning up shirtless wearing a pair of flip flops and turning up wearing linen shorts and a polo shirt. 

I realise I know very little if at all about golf etiquette but by the sounds of it the resort paticulary the golfing part needs all the business it can get.