[buIf6yoW]

I wanted to share a story that happened a couple of years ago. I'm a bit of a redneck being from Wyoming. The courses i grew up playing on really didn't have a dress code. My father always made me wear a collared shirt though. To this day it's not uncommon to find me on the links in a pair of jeans. I know people scoff at the idea of jeans but it's perfectly acceptable here.

Anyway my parents and my wife were in Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo. We hadn't planned on doing much golfing, if any. We ended up getting bored and decided to play golf the next day. I talked with the conceirge and he made us a tee time at a course in Henderson. We had played Bali Hai and Desert Pines the year before so i wanted to play a new course. The concierge said nothing about a dress code. When going to Vegas for the rodeo you don't really plan on bringing slacks. It was also pretty chilly and i didn't want to wear shorts. We both threw on jeans and nice golf polos.

We paid about $100-$150 for the cab ride to the course and arrived at a course in a gated community. It looked very nice. At the club house we were met by a nice kid who welcomed us and took us to the pro shop. There was another nice kid that checked us in and got us some rental clubs. Everyone was very nice. Then the club pro came in. His first words were "Are you planning on buying some slacks while you're here?" My father didn't understand the pro was upset about our attire. He just said no thanks because it was a bit chilly for slacks. The pro then went off on my dad. "This is an exclusive club. We have high standards. Blah, blah, blah." My dad isn't someone you can do that to but he calmly asked the guy if he'd like us to leave. The pro stormed out without saying a word. The kid behind the counter felt bad and gave us the rentals for free and got us set up.

We played our round. It was fairly uneventful and a good course but i have to say the earlier encounter spoiled the round for me. My dad has done well for himself and i make a comfortable living. Neither of us batted an eye for the $450 in green fees. It seemed very strange the pro would judge us based on the fact we wore jeans. I completely understand courses have dress codes and they should be enforced. But generally the concierge will let you know. It's not like we could run back to the hotel and change.

After the round we brought the clubs back to the shop and sat in the bar while we waiting for the cab to come. We were there for 2 minutes before the club pro visited us. He explained he saw us driving in and had already called the cab and he'd like us to wait outside. We weren't even good enough to sit in their bar, have a beer and watch football. On the way out, i'd finally had enough. I told the guy what i thought of him, his club and asked if he'd like to discuss things further in the parking lot. He declined my invitation to further the discussion and went back in the clubhouse.

Anyway, i learned some unique lessons that day. The biggest, don't judge a book by it's cover. I can't express how important that's been in my career. He assumed we were trash. Second, there are always going to be pricks in this world. You shouldn't let them get you down. Most of these people feel they can get away with saying whatever they want. Once there are ramifications for what they've said they usually back down. I'm not saying what i did was right but this guy had it coming. If you want to run your mouth, you better expect to have it filled with a fist. Third, just bring a pair of slacks when you travel. They don't take much room on the suitcase.

I'm not bitter about what happened that day. Probably more embarrassed than anything. My dad and i laugh about it every year when we go to Vegas. We haven't gone back but we laugh about it. It usually makes for a good story on the 19th hole. My dad always jokes that it would have been terribly ebarrassing if that guy would've whipped both of us.

[natahololll]

It's not clear from your story whether you and your dad ended up buying slacks. If you paid all that $$ to cab it over to the course, I would've bought a pair of their slacks and played. Hey, stuff happens...you didn't get the word. Yeah, the concierge dropped the ball but you guys could have called ahead too. Just another thought on the topic.

The pro definitely over reacted but if he let you guys play in jeans anyway, then he had no right to stay upset about it. I'm an incredibly patient person but if it were me and had bought slacks and he was rude enough to ask me to leave the club after I had complied with their rules, I dont know that I would have asked him to the parking lot but it would have gotten ugly and I would have been asking to speak with the owner or the management group and demanding they at least refund my money for the pants. I might be able to understand him getting upset at first, but staying upset just indicates the guy has some serious issues and doesnt need to be in a high profile customer-facing job. I would have let his employer know that.

[Uvgsgssu]

I feel bad about your experience,and the way you were treated. There is no excuse for bad behavior, and the pro displayed a tremendous amount of "attitude." I think you showed a lot of restraint - good for you!

The same thing happened to me and my buddies about 10 years ago, at a not-so-exclusive course. We had made tee times, and no mention was made of a dress code when we were talking to the pro shop. Two of our foursome showed up in jeans and were told that "blue" jeans were not allowed. When one of the guys in our group said he'd be glad to strip to his skivvies and play that way, the pro "lost it." We ended up playing another course.

This course eventually changed management and now the staff is great - still no "blue" jeans though!

[casinobonusfrees]

Wow, the pro seems like a real chump. No excuse for the lunacy that he offered, but I do sympathize to an extent. An exclusive club at that pricetag, heck even a pretty standard club is going to ask for close toed non-metal spiked golf shoes, no jeans, and shirts with sleeves.

Kind of surprised the concierge didn't have the right of mind to let you know about their dress code.

[anfuckinggs]

Never play golf in jeans. That's my motto. My daughter played a conference meet at a private club Tuesday. The mother of one of her playing partners came to watch straight from work. In jeans. They asked her to buy a skirt or shorts in the pro shop. They didn't have her size so they let her on the course. She played again at a private club yesterday. A girl on another team came in a tank top. Nope, sorry. Her coach, who should have known better, had to buy her a top in the pro shop or she couldn't play.

Just never play golf in jeans and this doesn't happen. Though the pro was overly dick like, and could have handled it better.

Kevin

[Queueftof]

While the pro was a jerk, do understand that jeans are not allowed at most golf courses most places in the country. While there are some, it's a fairly rare thing. It would have been far better if he would have just said, "well now you know, so next time, wear slacks."

I'm not sure how challenging the guy to a fight in the parking lot enhances either your position or how you were perceived though.

[NudiJuicervich]

I don't know how to react to this thread.

But I do feel like you were more in the wrong than he was. The pro probably could have handled himself differently. But to challenge a man to fight, over jeans, is childish IMO.

[Vemnagelignc]

I understand rules and most nice(more expensive courses) won't allow jeans. With that said-the Pro didn't handle the situation very well. Common decency and manners should always be the rule when dealing with people.

[Agedprepdoock]

What gets me is you guys paid and played your round in jeans, but the pro didn't want you guys hanging out at the bar drinking a beer while you wait for your cab in jeans... The pro was an ass, plain & simple!!!!

[Flerdourdyged]

I don't know how to react to this thread.

But I do feel like you were more in the wrong than he was. The pro probably could have handled himself differently. But to challenge a man to fight, over jeans, is childish IMO.

Asking the man to the parking lot didn't really have anything to do with jeans. He was disrespectful and I'd had enough. Childish? Probably. The reason for the story was to see how other golfers would react. In no way do I think what I did was right.

[DavidShreder]

I have seen this happen to friends but from the starter and not the course pro. A friend turned up wearing black cords and was told no way by the starter, he had to go in the changing room and take off his pants then use his rain pants to play in.

The same course let me order and pay for food in the clubhouse before some guy comes over and says you can't be in here without a collar. I was wearing a plain t-shirt. I told him I had paid for my food and wasn't leaving, he said fine and walked off.

I believe it's more to do with how people approach the situation. If that pro had come to you in a nicer way you and you father would probably have bought some pants but the fact he was a jerk about it got your back up straight away.

I prefer to wear golf pants and shirts if i'm honest

[Yb4bulVR]

It sucks that you caught some flack in the manner that you did, it seems as though the pro could have managed the situation a bit better. That being said, you should have brought some slacks with you or notified the concierge that you guys were wearing jeans so he could act accordingly and either get you some slacks or find a course with a relaxed dress code. I don't think the pro was judging your character nor do I think he was thinking you were trash. I think he was trying to protect the integrity of his club and it's members, at $450 a pop to play I would have bought some slacks regardless of how the pro acted, I would have felt guilty.

[SoorgoBardy]

It sucks that you caught some flack in the manner that you did, it seems as though the pro could have managed the situation a bit better. That being said, you should have brought some slacks with you or notified the concierge that you guys were wearing jeans so he could act accordingly and either get you some slacks or find a course with a relaxed dress code. I don't think the pro was judging your character nor do I think he was thinking you were trash. I think he was trying to protect the integrity of his club and it's members, at $450 a pop to play I would have bought some slacks regardless of how the pro acted, I would have felt guilty.

At $450 a pop I would have worn a tux. Since the OP asked how we would have reacted, I myself would have been embarrassed. I probably would have explained the situation and bought the slacks if they wanted me to. I'm surprised a course that expensive actually let you play in jeans at all. While I hate it when other players get snobby about what someone else wears on the course (cargo shorts, jeans, untucked shirt etc...), I always make it a point to find out what the dress code is for any course I play as well as other rules that might affect me and dress and act accordingly..

In my area you see people golfing in jeans, tee shirts and even steel toed work boots, so when I go to a nicer course I'm completely out of my comfort zone and don't want to make any mistakes.

[illerlytoindy]

I'm all for playing in whatever you want (jeans in LV? I'd perish), but I do realize some places have dress codes. I may not agree with them, but it's their sandbox.
If I'm dropping $600-odd bucks on a round of golf, all my fish out of water alarms go off, and I check or just dress up from my norm.

If memory serves, I actually brought dress code up to the concierge when I was in Vegas a few years back just to make sure I was good to go, but whatever. He should have mentioned it, particularly if you were decked out in jeans at the time.

That being said, the pro...has delusions of grandeur. If the course can turn down money, good for them. They have a dress code? Enforce it or don't bring it up. Had it been put as "I'm sorry, we require slacks, there's a selection in the shop or would you like to re-book" he'd seem like less of a goober. I'm sort of surprised a high-end course like that didn't have a selection of loaner clothes for high rollers that might show up inappropriately dressed. To let you play in jeans THEN make a stink? Bah.

Telling him off - perfectly understandable.
Offering to pound him - not so much. Around here the offer would be quickly accepted or declined and forgotten afterwards, I'd think lawyers in Vegas would be baying at the moon over something like that. I understand the point you were making, but it couldn't have ended well had the pro lost his mind and fought with a customer in the parking lot. That would mean his job at the very least, I suspect.

[nermise]

Asking the man to the parking lot didn't really have anything to do with jeans. He was disrespectful and I'd had enough. Childish? Probably. The reason for the story was to see how other golfers would react. In no way do I think what I did was right.

I would have apologized to the Pro when initially told about the dress code and for not knowing the course's standards and bought a pair of slacks.

[Extipletape]

Wow, lots of crazy things in this post...first off, If I am playing an exclusive course that cost $200 per player...I am assuming they have a dress code...that's just normal and should be expected in my opinion.

As far as the concierge goes...did you ask if there was a dress code? He may have assumed you would follow my first point above....just sayin'

Now to the pro....he handled it wrong, if he had approached you with, "Im sorry gentlemen, but we have a dress code that does not allow jeans..however we have a nice selection in the pro shop and I would be happy to help you find something that would work"...then you would probably have bought the slacks and everything would have been fine....so that's one mistake by the pro

After they allow you to play in your jeans and then he asks you to wait outside....Well now...it might be the redneck in me coming out but I probably would have said, "Sir, my jeans were good enough for you to take my $450 and allow me on your course, so I am sure they will be fine for another 15 minutes while I wait here for my cab and have a beer"

Now, even though I am a somewhat admitted redneck, I wouldn't have challenged him to a fight (hell you are in vegas...people disappear in the desert there...LOL) he he insisted that we wait outside, I might have invited him to have sexual relations with himself or something along those lines.

[cheesypeetyz]

First of all I think that that kind of rude behavior is never acceptable (the club pro not you) and he should have presented himself in much more respectful manner (although your "take it to the parking lot" comment makes me want to remind you about this as well...physical violence is hardly a solution here is it).

That said I don't think jeans belong on a golf course. If it's acceptable where you normally play, no problem. But I can't see how you can get upset about the fact that it was not acceptable at a 200USD per round course (and how it is the concierge's fault for not specifically mentioning the dress code. Surely this is something you should have checked yourself), although I understand getting upset about the manner in which this was communicated, which I completely agree with.

[Elelaytet]

This is what I hate about so many golf courses, and most golfers. Most golf pros and golfers think they are God's gift to this earth. If the "pro" was a professional, and saw both of you in jeans, and knew that was not part of the dress code, the "professional" thing would have been to explain that to you and try to come to an amicable solution. Not act like a 3 year old, being sarcastic, ranting then walking out. Be an adult! Just because someone is wearing jeans, does not mean they don't deserve the respect of being an adult and should then be treated as such. HoselRocket's point of not judging a book by it's cover! Most golfers automatically think you are less of a person than them if you are not dressed as they think you should be. I understand the dress code! But that does not give anyone the right to disrespect me, or especially my father. Most dress codes are a joke. As long as you look nice on the outside, you can be as much of as a$$hole as you want. I'd rather kick the drink jerk SOB's out of the bar before I do someone with jeans.

[JoZertekAdv]

After reading the responses, we were either the dumbest or most naive people to step foot on that course. The dress code, talking to the concierge never crossed my mind. I agree with what everyone is saying though. The green fees were $225 per person. I didn't know what the place was like beforehand. I'm sure we could've bought some pants but the guy didn't really give us a chance.

Its funny. A few years after this my dad became a member of a private club. My dad always wears slacks. "nice jeans are acceptable" at the club. But he always wears slacks.

[Overlord]

I had a issue at a TPC Scottsdale Stadium course last year(I am a member at another TPC course FYI). I had my clubs with me on a business trip and had some free time so I decided to make a tee time. The course was more expensive than it should have been (the course was beat up from the tournament) but I had never played it before.

As is the case with most guys my size, when you make a golf swing, the shirt often gets untucked (I don't dress sloppily, but just can't find shirts that have long enough tails to stay tucked). Most of the time, I fix it between shots, but on the range prior to the round, I let it stay out for the sake of time. As i was finishing up, a clubhouse attendant asked me to come with him to the clubhouse. No reason was given. I agreed to go there and the assistant pro was there waiting for me.

Before I could even get a word out, he lands into me and told me that they have "standards to uphold" and that a untucked shirt was not allowed on "their course". He suggested that I find somewhere else to play. I said "no problem, just refund my $199".

I proceeded to go into the clubhouse and asked for the TPC liason manager, who came out to assist me. I proceeded to explain what had transpired and told her that I was furious that no one had even warned me. I also showed her my membership credentials and she quickly left to talk with the Assistant Pro. She came back out and told me that they were sorry, but I could go out and play if I remembered to get tucked "frequently". I told her that I was still mad and wanted my refund. I would go play elsewhere.

As I was leaving, I called my home course and let the pro know what had happened. He knows me very well and called the Director of operations at Scottsdale and landed into him. Around 10 minutes later, my cell phone rings and it is the assistant pro apologizing for acting so harshly. He told me to come back to the course and they would comp me "as much as I wanted to play for today". I went back and was treated like royalty. The Director of Operations met me at the bag drop and pulled me aside and apologized profusely. He told me that while it is a higher end course, they still need to realize that customers should be treated with respect and given ample leeway to correct any issues as they occur. He said it is a work in process for their courses, but they are getting improvement over 5 yrs ago.