What You Need To Wear When Golfing
What To Wear For Golfing
Golfing has always been something of an elitist sport which not everyone can get into and is an acquired taste. It should, of course, come as no surprise that you can’t show up on the golf course in a tee-shirt and ripped jeans or a button-down shirt and flip flops. It can be pretty embarrassing to get turned away from the golf course on account of what you have on. Therefore, the following list would be useful for people who are new to the sport or those who have played the sport but perhaps in a smaller town without a dress code.
The Shirt
Yes, golf is a sport; however, this does not mean you are then allowed to put on a football jersey or basketball vest. You will get turned away if you wear such a shirt. When golfing, the shirt of choice is always the collared polo shirt. Depending on where you go golfing, the material of your shirt might change. You can go for cotton if you find yourself golfing in a humid area. If it’s cold outside, then naturally, you should wear a warmer shirt.
We highly recommend getting a thermal shirt. This is helpful as it can work for both the heat and the cold. Most of such shirts wick moisture away pretty effectively, so you would never find yourself sweating furiously while wearing a thermal shirt. Endeavor to wear a plain shirt with no bold adverts or brand names. Also, it should go without saying, shirts with bold expletives would not be welcome on the golf course, so don’t wear those.
Shorts/Skirts/Slacks
As mentioned at the very beginning, you can’t rock up to your local golf course sporting ripped jeans, it won’t end well. The best thing to have is a pair of shorts or slacks. Just like with the shirts, you should get thermal shorts that can keep you warm if the weather is cold and vice versa. Please keep in mind that your shorts should have belt loops. So, stay away from shorts that feature ropes or soccer shorts and keep it simple with the colors when on the golf course; beige, grey, or tan are the best colors to have when golfing.
As a beginner, white might be a terrible idea as it is a color that is associated with pretentious golfers or people who have really moved up the golfing world. Pink also has the same downsides as white and is a color reserved for more experienced golfers. Also, three-quarters are a big no-no.
Golf Shoes
Just like soccer and basketball boots or tennis shoes, golf also has its category of shoes for both the newbie and the experienced golfer. There are three classes of golf shoes you need to keep in mind, and we’ll have a look at them one after the other below;
- Steel spikes – These aren’t really common, and most golf courses would not allow it, especially with amateurs. The spikes are there to keep you steady when golfing.
- Soft spikes – These are just like the spiked shoes; however, the steel is replaced by more delicate materials like plastic or rubber. These serve the same purpose as the steel spikes, but they also don’t tear up the vegetation. It is a lot more commonly used and are the go-to shoes for most golfers – pro or amateur
- Spikeless – As the name implies, spikeless golf shoes have no spikes. In place of spikes, there are little rubber studs. They are especially popular with people who suffer from spike pressure when wearing spiked or soft spike shoes. What’s more, they are comfortable to walk around in and help elongate your playing time on the course.
With that said, do not show up on the golf course in flip flops. Also, trainers and trekkers aren’t welcome and are the cause of mild embarrassment for people.
Belt and Socks
When talking about the ideal shorts or slacks to wear when golfing, we mentioned wearing shorts with belt loops. This is important as it is viewed as proper golfing attire. In terms of the belt, you can be a little less formal. So, wear something comfortable and stretchy. As for the socks, ankle-length socks are a great idea and are the most popular socks for golfing.
Golf Hat
There is almost no golfer that goes out to golf without the inevitable golf hat. There are different types of hats you can wear to the golf course. Here are some of the most popular ones.
- Baseball caps – This is the one occasion that an item of clothing meant for another sport can be worn on the golf course. Like the shirts, it is advisable to wear caps that aren’t too loud or with bold inscriptions.
- Cowboy hats – You’ll rarely see this on a golf course, but if you are feeling daring and bold, then sure, why not
- Wide brim hats – These sorts of hats don’t have a great rep on the golf course as more often than not, it is associated with newbies. If you don’t care about being seen as a newbie, then feel free to wear one of these. It does help keep the sun out of your eyes.
- Visors – Not many people wear this, and it is especially bad for bald people. It is useful if you don’t want to leave the golf course with ‘hat hair.’
- Bucket hats – Like the wide-brimmed ones, they keep the sun away, but don’t have the same bad rep that the wide-brimmed ones have.
Golf Glove
This isn’t strictly necessary; however, it does no harm to have it as it helps with your grip when playing. Keep in mind the size of your hand when buying one as it would be useless if you get a glove that doesn’t because it’s too small or large for the wearer. Also, it is vital to keep in mind that right-handed people wear their gloves on the left hand and vice versa.
There are other rules and etiquette to follow on the golf course, but if you dress the part, you should have no problems when next you go out to play golf with friends or business associates.
Sources:
- How to Dress for Golf, Wiki How
- Do Golf Courses Have Dress Codes?, Live About
