What an Effective Tech and Attire Policy Looks Like
Good morning and welcome back.
Last week I received a tip from a well-informed person at LACC discussing the club’s new technology and attire policy. I found it not only fascinating, but also to be the gold standard from the perspective of common sense and enforcement.
I’ll lay out the abbreviated basics and give a little insight into why I believe its the benchmark and should be adopted by every top club in the country. Without further ado:
Attire
Men must wear pants, with a collared shirt tucked in at all times.
No hats under any sort of cover, even outside (Men and Women)
Men must wear sport jackets inside the clubhouse after 6pm
Women must wear a dress or pantsuit inside the clubhouse after 6pm
These attire rules apply to all boys/girls over the age of 7. Bringing your 3rd grader to dinner at the club? Better put him in a jacket + nice shoes
Staff will not serve those who are not in adherence with the dress code
The last two bullets are the most important ones in my eyes. To create a special culture, the members and staff need to be aligned on the end vision. Is there a better way to teach young kids how to dress than by example? I’m not sure there is.
What You Cannot Wear
Denim of any kind (men and women)
Shorts of any kind (women can wear skirts, no shorter than 6” above the knee)
Capri pants (jogger bros down bad)
Cargo pants (obviously)
Flip flops (obviously)
T shirts, apparel containing slogans
Metal spikes
Outside of metal spikes and shorts, I agree with everything here. This list should be standard for all top elite country clubs in the country.
Technology Guidelines
Phones or tablets are not permitted, and no calls are permitted unless in your car with all doors closed or in designated phone rooms in the club
Discrete use of phones is permitted in locker rooms
All photographs must be taken on cameras, not cell phones
Discrete usage of phone is permitted on the North and South Course, as long as pace of play and the Member Experience is not impacted
No phones permitted near the clubhouse or on the putting green
No earbuds or audible music is permitted
I was surprised to see that LACC allows phone usage on the course and in the locker rooms. Given the formal nature of the club, I assumed they would take a stronger stance with the phone policy. I do agree with their position, however. The club knows people will look at their phones regardless of any rule, so they’ll put a clause in that allows for it.
The final interesting tidbit about the new rules is that children of members must attend a seminar reviewing the rules before they are allowed on the property. It’s a great way to ensure the next generation is aligned with the standards set forth by the club. Again, more clubs should adopt this template.
In my eyes, the guidelines are strict but fair, and driven by what common sense behavior should look like at a private club.
Clubhouse Spotlight - Shinnecock
It’s my favorite clubhouse in the world.
Etiquette Tip
I’m a big proponent of ready golf, but if you’re playing a friendly match, make sure your opponents are on the same page. Occasionally you’ll run into a pairing that cares about honors on the tee. Don’t be the guy who can’t read the social cues and hits first on every tee box.
In some cases, you’ll want to hit second or third, especially on a par 3 when you want to see others play first.
Lost Holes - Timber Point
A Lost Long Island Gem
Timber Point opened in the 1920s on the South Shore of Long Island and was the work of the celebrated design team of Colt and Alison. The course was built on a grand estate and the original mansion still stands as the clubhouse today. In its earliest years, Timber Point was praised for its variety. The front nine moved across seaside ground, sandy inland stretches, and holes reminiscent of the great heathland courses. The back nine featured a series of demanding tests that included a long par four, a bold par three modeled on Alister MacKenzie’s Gibraltar hole, and a final stretch of seaside holes that finished with a sweeping par five into the prevailing wind.
Despite its brilliance, Timber Point never attracted a large membership. By the time of the Second World War, the club had declined and eventually Suffolk County purchased the land. The original eighteen was reworked into a public twenty seven hole layout and several of the finest holes were lost.
Golf writers believe that if the course had survived in its original form it would rank among the best in America. Today, Timber Point remains a reminder of how fleeting greatness can be in golf design.
The Purist’s Line
I’ve noticed a lot of younger players bringing portable Trackmans and other such devices to the range recently. In my eyes this should not be permitted at country clubs, and they should fall under the same guidelines as cell phones. Leave em in your car.
(What Makes a Great Range?, for our newer readers)
Go into the teaching bays or to a public range if you want to track your ball speed/spin/smash etc etc. The driving range is a place for quiet reflection and focused practice. Members don’t want to have to look at your 14 different training aids.
At most clubs the range is where working men/women go for 30 minutes of free time before/after work. It’s time for reflection and decompression. I ran into a friend the other day who brought his 2 year old to the range, and was courteous enough to walk to the far end for some quality father-son time without needing to worry about his son launching a ball into some older guys knees. This is the kind of atmosphere we are looking for at a range.
Thanks for reading, talk soon.
-BTG
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