Golf is often associated with country clubs, and country clubs have dress codes. Likewise, most public golf courses have a dress code as well, although it may be slightly less stringent than the one you’ll find at your typical country club. While there’s no set of black-and-white rules when it comes to golf dress codes, there are some general rules and practices you can follow to ensure that you’re always allowed on the course, regardless of where you’re playing.
By purchasing the right golf clothes for women, you won’t have to worry about what you’re wearing and if you’ll be able to play. Golf-specific clothing lines are designed around fashion and function, in addition to following most golf course dress codes. Relying on general athletic wear won’t always fly on the golf course, as many courses specifically warn against athletic clothing.
Stay away from casual. Golf dress codes are designed to keep players from dressing too casually on the course. That’s why good golf-specific clothes are made to feel like comfortable athletic wear without looking like it. Women’s golf shirts almost always come with a collar, for example, because it’s a requirement on many courses and collared shirts help dress up a shirt that would otherwise look like your typical t-shirt.
The long list of don’ts: While golf courses don’t always provide a list of acceptable attire, they’re sure to tell you what’s not okay to wear. These items include denim, cutoffs, tank tops, mid-rift shirts, short shorts or skirts, and tight spandex pants. The message, again, is don’t dress too casually. By purchasing golf-specific attire, you ensure that you won’t be caught wearing anything deemed “inappropriate.”
Wearing a skirt on the course: Some country club dress codes still say “no skirts,” but as the pros set the standard for what’s okay to wear on the golf course, country clubs follow suit by changing their regulations to fit the times, continuing to attract young, hip players to the game.
Ladies’ golf skorts are all the rage these days because they’re acceptable on most courses and offer women the chance to wear something cute and comfortable both on and off the course. Most courses still don’t want players wearing short skirts or shorts, and the general rule is that your skirt or skort should be no shorter than six inches above the knee.
Appropriate ladies golf shirts. Golf courses don’t want women wearing spaghetti straps and tank tops that show a lot of skin. Some courses say no tank tops at all, but others allow “appropriate” tanks that sport a collar and cover most of the chest and shoulders. If your course has a strict “no tanks” policy, a good compromise is to wear a ladies’ golf polo with off-the-shoulder sleeves that fall just below the shoulder.
Call the course. Most golf-specific clothing will get you on the course in style, but it’s always a good idea to play it safe by calling ahead or visiting the course’s website to double check their dress code policy, especially if it’s a course you’ve never played before.