How would you feel if you saw someone wearing jeans or a collarless shirt on the pitch? Would you be offended? Maybe you would even go up and have a word with them or write an email to the club secretary.
Nothing gets people talking in the clubhouse like dress codes. Long before Jason Day and Co. started wearing vests and hoodies and pissing off traditionalists, there was a debate about what is and isn’t acceptable golf attire.
Bristol Golf Club in the UK has made its stance on the matter very clear. “There is no dress code, no stuffy members or any other reason that might stop you coming to spend some time at the Bristol and relax. All are welcome.” These words can be found on the club’s website and are echoed by its General Manager and PGA Professional Paul McLean.
“We agree that golf is perceived negatively as a sport with too stuffy, unwelcoming and archaic views,” explains McLean, who is keen to stress that the club is not looking to stir up trouble and that there is still a place for tradition in golf.
“We believe that we have to try to make the entire game accessible to everyone, regardless of how you dress, how you look, how good you are and all the things that can sometimes be barriers.
“We are on the outskirts of Bristol, arguably one of the most diverse cities in the UK. It would be ridiculous if we didn’t try to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of their background and experience.”
Golfers like Jason Day have opted for a more relaxed look on the course
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The more traditional golf clubs tend to be strict about dress codes, particularly in the UK, where collars, socks of a certain length and colour, and jackets and ties are strictly enforced in the clubhouse. That, says McLean, is perfectly fine – it’s just not the case at Bristol.
“If you want to play golf, it’s our job to find a way to allow you to do that,” he says. “If you show up and you’re maybe not in traditional golf attire, should we discourage you from playing golf? Absolutely not. If you show up and you’ve never played golf, should we discourage you? Absolutely not, we should encourage you to play.”
In July, the club hosted the ForeFly Festival, which is no ordinary golf tournament. People from all over the country traveled to the club to listen to music, dance, and play a little golf. There was even a live DJ and entertainment. Needless to say, the bar did a roaring business.
McLean admits the club has lost “one or two” members, but the positives outweigh the negatives. In fact, one of the biggest positives is that membership has almost doubled in the last two years.
If the thought of such an event taking place at your club makes you cringe, don’t worry. This model won’t work everywhere, nor is McLean suggesting it should.
“Dress codes for certain clubs work. We’re not saying they’re wrong, we’re right,” he says. “That’s how we want to run the golf club because we believe it’s the most inclusive and welcoming way to do it.”
One argument clubs sometimes make for not relaxing the dress code is the fear of people turning up in jeans and football shirts. McLean says that hasn’t been the case, and even if someone did show up in non-golf attire, they wouldn’t be turned away. The idea that would be the case makes him pause.
“Wearing a T-shirt is not an offensive gesture unless it’s provocative,” says McLean, “and frankly, that just doesn’t happen. You find that most people who come to play golf are wearing golf clothes, just like if you start cycling, you’re probably going to end up in spandex.”
“Golf needs its traditions. We don’t deny that, but if we held on to every tradition, we would still be wearing tweed, knickerbockers, a flat cap and a jacket when we play golf. The fact is that golf clothing has evolved and we are only doing what we can to continue that evolution.”
