Kilted Golfer DENIED Play at Royal Troon because of the kilt

**Lallans** · 10th August 10, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown

Club rules are for the benefit of club members, not overseas visitors. The Caddie Master chose to strictly interpret the Club Rules regarding dress in the same way he would strictly interpret the rules of the game of Golf. Frankly, he did the right thing. If the gentleman members are expected to play in trousers, so are guests. As much as we might like to see it differently, from his perspective you can't have one set of rules for the members and another set of rules for someone who has just dropped in for the day.

What I find faintly bemusing is the thought of contemplating what word will go through the mind of the Club Secretary when he starts reading letters and emails from people -- not members of the club -- complaining about something that happened to someone else (whom they have probably never actually met) when they themselves were not even present when "the outrage" occurred...

Originally Posted by paulhenry

Prepare yourself for a shock MOR, we are in full agreement!

Well really, they expose themselves to outside criticism the moment they allow the raff and the riff in with their nasty money. If they want to be spared such bother, they should just thoroughly bar the gates to outsiders. OR they could clearly post a "No Scottish Dress" policy. I dare them.

**Mike_Oettle** · 10th August 10, 12:55 PM

PEEDYC wrote: “I used to try and bend the rules when I was at school . . . It was often pointed out that my interpretation of the rules did not comply and was sent home to change several times.”

What comes to mind is a story John Prebble told about his schooldays in Kent. For those not familiar with him, he was born in England, but raised in a Scottish township in Canada. He wrote three books dealing with crises in Scottish history.
When he was a boarder at a Kent grammar school, the rule was that all boys had to wear a black tiem. He bucked the system by wearing one in tartan. The only other boy who joined him by also wearing tartan happened to be a Jew.

Jeff, I find the behaviour of the caddiemaster appalling, and I sincerely hope you get an apology from Royal Troon.
Regards,
Mike

**Alan H** · 10th August 10, 01:28 PM

Incredibly, I also agree with MoR on this one, at least partially. The Caddiemaster has Club Rules to follow, he has to do his best to interpret them, and he did so. That's his job. I would not come down too terribly hard on the Caddiemaster on this one, though it might have been wise, or at least gracious of him to SEE Jeff before pronouncing judgment.

Now, the notion of not being able to play golf at a course in Scotland while wearing a kilt, that's really a different issue from what the Caddiemaster did. The Club Rules say what they say.......

and IMHO the Club Rules are on the far side of blithering, totally stupid. It's GOLF in SCOTLAND, for heavens sake. The idea of saying that you're not allowed to play golf in a kilt on a course in Scotland is so stupid that it leaves me without words. The Club should change its rules.

...but the Caddiemaster just did his job. He's not responsible for making the rules, he's responsible for interpreting and enforcing them to the best of his ability. BTW, I just bet that Jeff is not the first person to show up at the course, wearing a kilt.

**Lallans** · 10th August 10, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Incredibly, I also agree with MoR on this one, at least partially. The Caddiemaster has rules, he has to do his best to interpret them, and he did so. That's his job. I would not come down too terribly hard on the Caddiemaster on this one, though it might have been wise to at least SEE Jeff before pronouncing judgement.

Now, the notion of not being able to play golf at a course in Scotland while wearing a kilt, that's really a different issue from what the Caddiemaster did. The Club Rules say what they say.......

and IMHO the Club Rules are on the far side of totally stupid. It's GOLF in SCOTLAND, for heavens sake. The idea of saying that you're not allowed to play golf in a kilt on a course in Scotland is so stupid that it leaves me without words. The Club should change its rules.

...but the Caddiemaster just did his job. He's not responsible for making the rules, he's responsible for enforcing them to the best of his ability.

OK clearly I have missed something here, but where in the rules as quoted does it say that kilts cannot be worn?

**CMcG** · 10th August 10, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

<snip>
...but the Caddiemaster just did his job. He's not responsible for making the rules, he's responsible for interpreting and enforcing them to the best of his ability. BTW, I just bet that Jeff is not the first person to show up at the course, wearing a kilt.

Originally Posted by Canuck of NI

OK clearly I have missed something here, but where in the rules as quoted does it say that kilts cannot be worn?

Whether or not Jeff was the first person to show up in a kilt is an interesting point. Many times, written rules are also subject to precedent and custom. If that is the complete dress code that highlander_Daz posted, then it does not prohibit kilts specifically... but perhaps kilts have been denied in the past, so there was no need to look into the matter further.

Similarly, there is interpretation of rules according to the letter and according to the spirit. If the Caddiemaster understands the spirit of the dress code to mean men are not to show any leg, then he is well within his job description to bar kilts from the golf course.

**Jock Scot** · 10th August 10, 01:45 PM

On a lighter note. Some, ok me, would have banned poor old Jeff from Scotland, never mind some golf course, for wearing that damned flat cap with the kilt.

**Kilted-Marine** · 10th August 10, 01:45 PM

Someday I hope to move up to head greens keeper

**Lallans** · 10th August 10, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

Whether or not Jeff was the first person to show up in a kilt is an interesting point. Many times, written rules are also subject to precedent and custom. If that is the complete dress code that highlander_Daz posted, then it does not prohibit kilts specifically... but perhaps kilts have been denied in the past, so there was no need to look into the matter further.

Similarly, there is interpretation of rules according to the letter and according to the spirit. If the Caddiemaster understands the spirit of the dress code to mean men are not to show any leg, then he is well within his job description to bar kilts from the golf course.

If there was such a hidden precedent, then to spring it on a foreign guest player without even a personal word of explanation, not to say apology, very much resembles rudeness. Arrogance. Churlishness. I could go on.

**Lallans** · 10th August 10, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by Kilted-Marine

Someday I hope to move up to head greens keeper

Brilliant! He would make an even better Caddymaster! I mean the gopher!

**CMcG** · 10th August 10, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

On a lighter note. Some, ok me, would have banned poor old Jeff from Scotland, never mind some golf course, for wearing that damned flat cap with the kilt.

I was wondering how long it would take for this! The flat cap was actually the first thing I noticed about Jeff's outfit... good thing Jock isn't the Minister of Tourism,