KEY POINTS:
One of the really weird things about golf is the insistence most clubs and courses, especially in the northern part of the country, have about what clothes you must wear when you play.
For men, the usual rules are that you wear a shirt with a collar and
non-denim trousers. If you wear shorts, your socks must be white. Don't ask me why. For women, and I'm far from expert on this, I understand a stylish top without a collar may now be acceptable. Bare midriffs may be allowed, but only if the ladies' club captain isn't watching and you're under 25.
I fronted up at The Australian in Sydney around 20 years ago when I was covering a cricket tour. I was with Jeff Crowe and Lance Cairns, and Richie Benaud had arranged our booking, but we were wearing cotton trousers. The man in the office said that wasn't good enough. The trousers had to be either wool or polyester and pressed! So we called a taxi, went back to our hotel and returned acceptably attired.
A friend was once told at Titirangi his white socks weren't high enough up his ankles. If he wanted to play, he would have to buy an appropriate pair at the pro shop. He did.
I was flabbergasted once at Middlemore when a playing partner showed up in jeans. He was a member of the exclusive Auckland Golf Club, the son of a former chairman of the New Zealand Golf Association and a low handicap player. After a few holes, I had to ask if this most prestigious of golf clubs had relaxed their dress code.
"No" he said, almost ashamed "but I've come straight from work and discovered I had no golfing pants. That's why I sneaked around the back of the pro shop to the first tee and that's why I'll be into the car and away home straight afterwards."
These stories, farcical as they sound, are true. But why do golfers have to dress in a particular way? The obvious answer is that there are dress rules in every sport.
However, there's no doubt the restrictive code is a turnoff for the casual player. But significant change is happening outside the big cities.
Clubs in the country, especially in the South Island, have essentially given up trying to enforce a dress code. I was initially horrified, then surprised and finally accepting of players turning up to tournaments in Oamaru and Dunedin wearing jeans. Even at country clubs in Waikato jeans now appear acceptable.
I'm spending Christmas and New Year in Wanaka. I played with the club captain here the other day and he was in a T-shirt and beach shorts. It looked pretty outrageous but, heck, it's holiday time.
Like many of my generation, I'm uneasy with the way the dress of the golf course is becoming the dress of the street, the nightclub or the beach.
But does it really matter? Sports must adapt to changing times or otherwise they die. Remember, once cricketers always wore white no matter how long their game lasted.