Golf's 'Other' Rules
The main rules of golf are dependably immutable. You know the powers-that-be won't start allowing "hit till you're happy" off the first tee in competition or declare, "You know what? You can ground your club in a hazard from now on."
Yet golf's other rules -- its unofficial customs and etiquette -- are in a state of constant evolution. Bluejeans at the club? Out of the question a few years ago, but now acceptable at many courses. Cell phones? Considered a hideous invasion a decade ago. Now it's the rare club that doesn't allow them somewhere on the premises.
Depending on your point of view, these represent welcome changes in a game that is sometimes too stuffy for its own good or pernicious threats to the sport you love -- or maybe somewhere in between.
To find out where clubs stand on these and other mannerly matters, we surveyed more than 2,600 public and private-course golfers throughout the United States. Here's what they told us about the rules where they play the game, circa 2010.
COURSES THAT ALLOW DENIM (BLUEJEANS)
PRIVATE: 37%
PUBLIC: 68%
Among private clubs that allow denim, 74% permit it in "designated areas" only.
COURSES WHERE COLLARLESS SHIRTS ARE OK
PRIVATE: 60%
PUBLIC: 69%
Collarless shirts are rarest in the Northeast, where 49% of private clubs ban them.
SNEAKERS IN THE CLUBHOUSE ARE PERMITTED
PRIVATE: 85%
PUBLIC: 93%
92% of all Midwest courses allow clubhouse sneakers, the highest percentage.
COURSES WHERE CARGO SHORTS ARE PERMITTED
PRIVATE: 54%
PUBLIC: 92%
The Midwest is cargo-central; 96% of its public tracks allow them.
FLIP-FLOPS OR SANDALS ARE OK IN THE CLUBHOUSE
PRIVATE: 61%
PUBLIC: 79%
Among courses that do not allow flip-flops, 67% also outlaw denim.
COURSES WHERE GOLF CARTS ARE MANDATORY
PRIVATE: 13%
PUBLIC: 11%
Among courses that smile on walking-and-carrying, 80% permit it at any time.
COURSES THAT ALLOW HATS INDOORS
PRIVATE: 69%
PUBLIC: 96%
Southern public courses are most comfortable with hats inside; 97% allow it.
COURSES THAT ALLOW CELL-PHONE USAGE
PRIVATE: 83%
PUBLIC: 98%
18% of all courses that allow cell phones forbid their use on the golf course.
COURSES THAT LIMIT TEE TIMES FOR WOMEN
PRIVATE: 31%
PUBLIC: 2%
30% of clubs limiting women's tee times do not restrict guest play.
COURSES WHERE MEN MUST TUCK IN THEIR SHIRTS
PRIVATE: 76%
PUBLIC: 24%
Even at public courses that allow jeans, 14% still require men to tuck in their shirts.
WHERE WOMEN MUST TUCK IN THEIR SHIRTS
PRIVATE: 29%
PUBLIC: 13%
Courses requiring tucked-in women are almost twice as likely to limit their tee times.
COURSES THAT PERMIT CAPS FACING BACKWARD
PRIVATE: 31%
PUBLIC: 74%
This look is least popular in the Mid-Atlantic region (only 23% of private clubs allow it).
IT'S OK TO LIGHT UP IN DESIGNATED AREAS
PRIVATE: 79%
PUBLIC: 76%
Smoke 'em if you got 'em in the Northeast, where 80% permit it.
WHERE JACKETS ARE REQUIRED IN SOME ROOMS
PRIVATE: 26%
PUBLIC: 1%
Of all courses requiring jackets, 78% ban backward-facing caps.
CLUBS THAT LIMIT TEE TIMES FOR JUNIORS
PRIVATE: 60%
PUBLIC: 11%
37% of clubs limiting junior play keep them off the course on weekend mornings.