Texas Children's Houston Open

Memorial Park Golf Course



The Loop

Today in questionable golf attire: Playing in flip-flops

November 20, 2015
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The other day we discussed the merits of playing golf in spandex leggings, which, with the exception of maybe Mick Jagger or Richard Simmons, is really only a dilemma for half the population.

But almost everyone has a pair of flip-flops, and if you're like me, you count them among your favorite pieces of footwear in warm weather. As for whether flip-flops work for golf, it's really two questions: can you play in flip-flops, and should you.

Sadly, in both instances, the answer is no.

For starters, most clubs aren't going to permit flip-flops because they fall short of what they consider appropriate golf attire. A muny course might look the other way, but then there's the question of performance, or in this case, a lack thereof. (We should probably clarify, by the way, that we're not talking about golf sandals, which feature rubber spikes on the bottom for traction. We're talking flat-bottom flip-flops where anything more than a leisurely stroll is a sprained ankle waiting to happen.)

Look, flip-flops are fine for mini-golf, but good luck maintaining a level stance hitting a 3-iron from a sidehill lie. Plus, there's the message you're sending your fellow players when showing up in flip-flops, which is that you have about as much interest in competing seriously as a guy showing up for a bike race with a tricycle.

At least spandex leggings still give you a fighting chance.