Golf Forums - Golf club rules

After a round recently I decided that, although it was within the rules to go into the bar wearing my spikes, since they were muddy I'd go and change them. Having switched to clean loafers (in the changing room of course) and feeling righteous I stepped into the bar only to be told I was not allowed in because I was carrying my golf shoe bag.

Even though I was perfectly entitled to traipse mud across their carpet while wearing them they objected to me carrying them in, in a golf shoe bag.

I'm new to golf. I gather this rule is quite common despite being totally ridiculous. My question is this:

What other golf club rules might I accidentally break because no sane person could be expected to realise they exist?
 

Hi Steve - yeah - some rules are ludicrous - but you can always check the Visitors part of the website before going to any golf club, or call in advance, let them know why you are asking and you will be welcome.  Anyone visiting that wants to follow the rules rock.  Believe me, many members break rules constantly.

 I know that Sudbury GC, Middlesex does not allow "white vans" in their Car Park........but prefer " Bob The Builder" to drive in his / her Porsche or Ferrari.
That says a lot about the Club mentality.

The golf course is interesting with lovely views of London, Wembley etc.

What should I say when I call in advance? "What completely stupid rules do you have?" I'm not sure that will go down very well.

............to spell it out, I would just call and say the reason you are calling in advance is due to an experience you had recently which was not detailed on the website, or something that was expected and caused unnecessary inconvenience.  e.g. tell them about your shoe bag experience.....If you are calling in advance to find out something like that, then they will appreciate why you are calling and also alert them to update their website rules.

There are ways of telling people things.  Any visitor should be treated with respect and also - they could be there because they are thinking of joining.  It sounds like the person who told you was not someone who you will be going for a few beers with.  Also, they may have risked losing future membership or green fees if you decided to spread the word and tell people which club it was.

Persoanlly, I think you should name and shame the club, it's your experience and one that clubs should be aware of....

I spoke to the pro, whom I know from having had lessons with him, who confirmed that it was indeed a rule but that nobody ever mentions it except one person - the one who had stopped me. He confirmed that the person in question is not a 'people person'. 

Having been a member of a club I know that most rules are there for a reason. Members vote on them at AGMs. So it is democracy in action. And the secretary's job is to enforce them.

Many rules come about for security reasons. Golf clubs are easy pickings for thieves. Non-golfers can pull into the car park in a white van and steal an unattended set of clubs and trolley in less than a minute.  Likewise, players may have found their possessions missing from the changing rooms. So a rule is put in place to block an identified weak point of exit. And dress code can also help prevent opportunists casually walking through.

You will see that club members usually park first in the areas covered by CCTV.

 What an interesting thread, Steve.....  when I first went to a golf club to ask about membership (and knowing absolutely nothing about the rules) - I went there in jeans - and was promptly thrown out!  Not that long after I did join I was wearing wet weather trousers (as it was pouring - and I walked to the club) and went into the bar - and was frog-marched out by the lady Captain - infront of all the lady players - and grilled as to why I was wearing 'training bottoms' - I tried to explain that they were wet weather gear - because it was - like - wet and I don't drive - hence I walked there.  I was told it was against the rules.....however, the way I was treated was awful - she could have had a quiet word with me at a later stage.....    So I totally agree with you - why didn't someone right from the start tell me about these rules.... how am I supposed to know them if no one tells me??!!  Was I supposed to ring them in advance and ask them what silly rules they inforce...????!   grrrrrr!!  Penny

 Oh my goodness, your kidding me....??!!  Different colours for morning and afternoon - and changing mid-day??!!  NO?!!!   Well, thats one club (or sport) i would NEVER join!  Get into the 21st century you clubs out there!!!  LOL!

That is a good example of a rule which made sense at the time but which has now passed into tradition and nobody wants to change it.

 Golf clubs that have archaic rules like this deserve to go bust.  You should judge your visitors on how they behave, not what they wear!  There are a number of golf clubs who believe they are a little bit elite because they have stupid dress codes!

I am seeing a number of golf course - 'relaxing' some rules in order to appear more progressive and attract or retain members.

Royal Epping for exmple relaxed the 'something red' rule recently - quite probably in response to the odd complaint by people turning up then being advised that unless they wore outer garment of red they couldn't play (as it happens the small pro shop had a stock of not inexpensive items for sale...)

Nobody actually defined the pantone shade of red that was deemed acceptable and the pro was often making judgements on outer attire - Magenta (a shade of red?) wasn't allowed for one of a group - as I recall).  Pink also a shade of red? wasn't allowed either.

Anyway moving with the times and probably pandering to the 20% of the male population who are red/green colour blind anyway (and don't know it) that rule is relaxed. 

The thing about rules being voted in - quite possibly they had been historically voted in - but you know that apathy would have set in and lip service paid, until there's a jobsworth enforcer...

More could be done by many clubs to attract more casual members, even us oiks deserve an oportunity. LOL...

I've asked around and there are a lot of clubs with failing and falling membership numbes, who will soon become (if not already) reliant on casual green fee revenue to keep afloat... and whilst most club members are pleasant enough - there have been some intolerent ones.  Anyway we can all play a part and engage with club members wherever possible... a chance to spread the word and speed the likelihood of rules reviews...

But then again some clubs just can't be helped... I remember taking a million-dollar proposition to a select members only club not far away from Wimbledon...and the club secretary said that they weren't interested (course and clubhouse were empty... ).

archaic rules can be fun though... if nothing more than to laugh about...

 Please could one of you explain to me (as daft as this question may be....!!) - why, oh why, do we have to wear collars on our shirts or teeshirts to go out and play golf??!!  WHY??!  And why did my old club let ladies in the bar without wearing a collar but not the men??!!  Providing your top is smart and maybe only has sports logo's on them - why why why do they have to have a collar??!!!  grrrrrrr!!!

While there are perfectly smart t-shirts that do not have collars there are also a lot of t-shirts which are not smart that don't have collars. Insisting on collars means you're more or less guaranteed to be wearing a passably smart top.

 Haaa!!!  You hit a nerve with me there..... I'm a tennis player!!!!!  LOL! (and always look passably smart on a court!!)

Long socks with shorts look absolutely ridiculous and bot smart and fashionable at all, will avoid any playing any clubs with such ridiculous rules. A nan with short socks anytime......😊
So we can see those beautiful calf muscles.....