You show up at a golf course, wearing shorts a nice shirt and once you get into the club house you are immediately told, “sorry sir, but those shorts and shirt do not meet our dress code. We would be happy to sell you a new outfit out of the pro shop here.”
I’ve worked in a pro shop, and have had this type of conversation several times. But as more and more millennials (and I am one! although barely haha) enter the sport, golf courses seem to be turning them away because of their attire. Next Gen Golf wrote an article about millennials and golf's dress code. Although the author seems to not agree with tank tops… I go to a local range in a tank top whenever I can. But I know that I would be turned away from most golf courses dressed as such.
I can’t think of another commonly played sport where clothes are such an issue. Even Golf Monthly posted an article about it after a PGA Professional sent out a tweet shaming a group of kids for playing golf in hoodies and tracksuit pants.
Obviously the clothes have to allow you to swing a golf club, but does it need to be so fancy? You are not going to swing the club properly in a 3-piece suit… although that would probably meet the dress code requirements!
Digital golf and indoor golf simulators don’t have dress codes which is refreshing. However, many grass golf courses make sure to link their dress code requirements several places on their website. Even little 9-hole community courses out in rural locations make sure to have a dress code.
It’s just something that so many “old-school” golfers think is necessary. They seem to believe that if people are free to dress how they like, then it will lower the quality of golf course etiquette. But, if people aren’t fixing their ball marks, or are being obnoxious and wrecking the golf course… that’s a problem with the person, not the clothes. I’m the same golfer/person wearing dress pants and a collared shirt as I am in a tank top and shorts. Even the dress code graphic below indicates that the person is the same person regardless as to what he/she is wearing.
Graphic used at a golf course to show what is and is not ok to wear (sourced from Google)
Why does golf continue to have these “elitist” tendencies in a world where inclusion in so important? The world changes. Things that used to be taboo are becoming far more normal. Such as the increased awareness and support for the LGBTQIA2S+ community, gender equality, and anti-body shaming just to name a few. But yet at many golf courses, dress pants and collared shirts are required for the men and for woman.
Before COVID-19 there was talk about a decreasing amount of people participating in the sport. Since then, there has been a major influx of new golfers and other people coming back to the sport. Dress code or sense of elitism is sometimes a deterrent for joining the sport.
Golf needs to modernize itself with the times, so it can not only attract new players, but also keep the existing younger players content.