Kilted Golfer DENIED Play at Royal Troon because of the kilt

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Jeff, I think you might want to show a bit more patience in waiting for a reply from the Royal Troon. In August many people (like yourself) are on holiday, and it may be that the Club Secretary-- the only person authorized to correspond with anyone on behalf of the Club-- is away until the end of the month. I can understand that there is a cultural difference between the social expectations of people from the United States and those who live in the United Kingdom, but generally speaking one would usually expect a letter to a club (as opposed to some sort of government body or commercial enterprise) to be answered with thirty days, not two or three days, and certainly answered by the post, not email. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Scotland and keep your head down on the swing.

[wildrover]

To be honest, I wouldn't bother holding my breath if I were you.

They're a business with a snooty reputation, and you're one guy from out of town...so, they're probably saying "who cares?" and moving along. The likelihood of anyone doing anything similar to what you did, even in Scotland, is low enough to be a non-issue.

Sorry to put it so bluntly, but that's the beauty of multiple levels of management, detached decision-making, and representative authority...it provides ways to ignore people, and at worst, to disavow any responsibility for a poor decision.

If you're serious about rubbing their nose it in, do so. Otherwise, let it go. They probably have, except for the caddymaster, who is probably still laughing at some guy from America who had the audacity to wear a kilt in Scotland.

Wait a year and go back.

-Sean

[MacBean]

Sounds like a poor business decision. This thread already has nearly 3,000 views. You'd have to PAY for advertising like that!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Sounds like a poor business decision. This thread already has nearly 3,000 views. You'd have to PAY for advertising like that!

True enough, but private clubs aren't businesses in the usual sense of the word. Membership is usually by presentation, not application. Many clubs require that new members be proposed by at least two members in good standing, and that the proposal be seconded by two or more members. The proposal is then reviewed by the membership committee who interview the proposer(s), and then put it to the members as to whether or not the proposed new member should be accepted into the club. Yes, it is very much an old boy's network, closed shop sort of a thing, but really not that different than trying to become a member of the Longshoreman's Union in New York when you get right down to it.

In reality, I think WildRover has nailed it as far as the attitude of the Royal Troon goes.

[Slag101]

True enough, but private clubs aren't businesses in the usual sense of the word. Membership is usually by presentation, not application. Many clubs require that new members be proposed by at least two members in good standing, and that the proposal be seconded by two or more members. The proposal is then reviewed by the membership committee who interview the proposer(s), and then put it to the members as to whether or not the proposed new member should be accepted into the club. Yes, it is very much an old boy's network, closed shop sort of a thing, but really not that different than trying to become a member of the Longshoreman's Union in New York when you get right down to it.

In reality, I think WildRover has nailed it as far as the attitude of the Royal Troon goes.

Makes me want to break out the plaid pants, and the golf bag with AM/FM radio. It is now my goal to go there dressed like Mr. Dangerfield in Caddy shack, get out to the middle of the green and shout, "HEY, EVERYBODY'S GONNA GET L**D!"
I would go to that course just to make a scene, even though I feel golf is beneath my social status, unless it involves shooting the ball through a giant dinosaur, or the moving blades of a windmill.

[ronstew]

Friend Jeff,

If it is truly a matter of principle, why did you change into pants instead of requiring a refund on the spot? I suspect the answer is that you were flustered, which would be fair enough.

[CDNSushi]

Friend Jeff,

If it is truly a matter of principle, why did you change into pants instead of requiring a refund on the spot? I suspect the answer is that you were flustered, which would be fair enough.

I'm sure Jeff will answer this for you, but I for one can understand why he chose to play anyway. I would've done the same had I been in his shoes.

For most of us, we don't wear our kilt for the simple, solitary purpose of making a statement -- that just comes with the territory. If I had spent a lot of money to take a trip to Scotland, to play at some of the best golf courses the country had to offer, the only one to lose out would be ME if I chose to take the issue to heart and not play in the end. I think there's a time and a place for every battle, and choosing the battlefield (and timing) is important. I don't think it necessarily has anything to do with being flustered. At least it wouldn't for me.

I would've probably done the same thing... Changed into other attire, enjoyed my day of golf with my friends, to the best of my abilities (trying not to let things p*** me off too much in the meanwhile), and then put on the kevlar helmet and flak jacket to go to war afterward. ith:

[ForresterModern]

Friend Jeff,

If it is truly a matter of principle, why did you change into pants instead of requiring a refund on the spot? I suspect the answer is that you were flustered, which would be fair enough.

Friend Ron

It is much as CDN Sushi says above. I was not flustered, merely crushed between several variables, not the least of which was time. I had exactly 45 minutes from the time Troon's dress code decision was made, and the time we were required to be teeing off, else we would ALL four lose our tee time and our prepaid greens fees (not cheap). We were notified in advance of the dress code (NO SHORTS) and aware that we needed to show up appropriately attired, and I even went so far as to write our tour operator to notify him I planned on playing all rounds kilted (if possible) and got no negative response to that notification. We were also aware of the cancellation policy being for the whole foursome, not just myself, even if only one member was late or inappropriately dressed. As it took 20 minutes drive each way plus time to change in the hotel room I was forced to make a rather heavy weighted decision within a matter of seconds. I had no time to seek out further club officials, as I did the next day at Muirfield (where I had come prepared with pants in the bus just in case).

There was no option of a refund, no chance for a delayed tee time to allow for a protest and request a higher official to rule in, and only enough time to make the drive and switch into pants or else ruin the possibility of the whole round for my whole foursome, including three "appropriately" attired friends who also had their prepaid monies on the line because of my decision. I believe I made the right one----live to fight another day---and played in pants, but with a well circulated complaint in place even before the teeoff.

After some clever reflection, were the situation to arise again I would simply have bought some rain pants in the clubhouse, put them on under the kilt (would look silly but meet the club requirements) for the first hole tee off, then removed the rain pants after the first hole and played kilted despite the rule. I doubt they would have pulled me off the course partway through the round, and if they did threaten to do so, I could have put the rain pants back on again. But due to time constraints my options were limited, and I did not come up with this one soon until after the round was completed.

Anyway, back from the trip late last night. Played 8 rounds in 7 days, 4 rounds in medium to heavy rains and four in either overcast or sunny weather. 7 of the 8 rounds were kilted, and in each of those 7 cases I had folks taking pictures, asking to pose with me, etc... We had fun, I did not play up to my game, but had some moments of brilliance among the general hacking and slicing and topping of small white dimpled balls through the brush. Interestingly, other than overnight a couple times, the only times it rained wherever we were was when we were on the golf course. Cannot count the number of times we would be finishing a round just as the rain stopped and the sun came out to shine on us while we enjoyed a wee nip and some lunch afterwards. Brought home my expected "Edinburgh" vacation tan, otherwise known in Kentucky as "frog belly" white skin.


j

[ronstew]

Have you formally lodged your complaint in writing yet?

[fluter]

"In brief, the weather will be normal for the time of year."

Well done, Jeff.

Anyway, back from the trip late last night. Played 8 rounds in 7 days, 4 rounds in medium to heavy rains and four in either overcast or sunny weather... Interestingly, other than overnight a couple times, the only times it rained wherever we were was when we were on the golf course. Cannot count the number of times we would be finishing a round just as the rain stopped and the sun came out to shine on us while we enjoyed a wee nip and some lunch afterwards. Brought home my expected "Edinburgh" vacation tan, otherwise known in Kentucky as "frog belly" white skin.