Leggings are a very popular clothing item, and many women like to wear them to play various sports.
Whether you are headed for a run or to the gym, leggings are a popular fitness clothing choice.
However, wearing leggings to play golf is still a bit controversial.
If you are unsure if it is acceptable to wear leggings to play golf, we have all the answers you need.
However, it is important to remember that as the game of golf changes, so do the requirements for players and what they can wear.
This means that you may find that the rules change quite often and the dress code will vary from one course to another.
Can You Wear Leggings To Golf?
It is generally not acceptable to wear leggings to a golf course.
However, there are many golf courses that allow leggings.
A strict dress code isn’t always enforced because golf courses are trying to encourage golfers to play, so they don’t want to be too restrictive about what players can wear.
Here are a few things you should consider before you wear leggings for your next round of golf.
1. Public Vs. Private Course
A public golf course and a private golf course typically have different dress codes.
For the most part, public golf courses are a bit more lenient regarding dress codes than private golf courses.
Private golf courses are stricter because they must maintain a certain standard at their course.
Public golf courses tend to set a standard and try to abide by it, knowing that it’s much more difficult with a wide variety of people who will come in and out of their facility.
Many female golfers do wear leggings to play at public golf courses, but this should be done at your own risk.
There is still a chance that a public golf course could turn you away for wearing something that is not considered appropriate golf attire.
Some leggings look much more like they are for working out than for golf, and these are going to be tough to get away with when on the golf course.
Private golf courses are almost always going to turn you away if you show up with leggings on.
When you are a guest at a private golf club, try to be careful about how you dress and the way that you handle yourself at the golf course.
The private courses will have no problem sending you away if your attire or your attitude is not to their standards.
2. Practice Vs. Play
Sometimes it is acceptable to wear leggings to practice golfing.
Many driving ranges are not affiliated with a golf course.
This means that you can head out to practice and there will likely not even be a dress code.
You can spend time on the golf driving range, wear whatever you like and enjoy yourself.
However, some driving ranges are affiliated with a golf course, and they may have more strict guidelines regarding leggings.
Places like Top Golf or Drive Shack do not typically have dress code requirements.
Golfers can wear anything that they feel is comfortable and enjoy themselves and not worry about what they are wearing.
Before you head out to play or practice golf wearing leggings, try to remember that the overall requirements vary depending based on where you go.
3. Type Of Leggings
adidas Women's Standard Cold.RDY Legging, Black, Small
This is where the legging debate for golf gets a bit complicated.
There are many different types of leggings and they don’t all look the same.
In addition, some golf pants are a little tighter and they actually look like leggings.
It makes sense to consider the type of legging that you are going to wear and whether or not it looks like it is appropriate for golf.
As sporty and athletic as golf clothes have become, this is a game that is a bit more traditional and requires that extra bit of respect and attention to the history of the game.
If you are going to give leggings a go, it may make sense to wear something that looks a bit more traditional and could almost pass as a type of pant as opposed to leggings.
You can probably look at your current wardrobe and see if you have any options that would be acceptable for your next round of golf.
Chances are you can find some leggings that will work quite well for the course and will look like a pair of golf pants to the untrained eye.
Will Leggings Be Allowed For Golf Soon?
There is no question that the game of golf is changing, and the dress code is changing along with it.
You may have noticed that golf hoodies are becoming popular and are even sometimes allowed on the PGA Tour.
The golf hoodies are a big change to the standard golf dress code, and some golf traditionalists are not thrilled with the way this is changing the game.
Leggings are one of the next topics of discussion when it comes to golf dress codes.
Some courses are staying on top of this and setting a dress code before it becomes a problem.
Others are waiting to see if this becomes an issue, and if so, they will have to decide if this is a dress code that they feel is appropriate for the long term.
Leggings can be an excellent choice for fall and winter golf if they are worn with other, more appropriate clothing, but it may take time for that concept to be widely accepted.
What Should You Not Wear When Golfing?
Leggings are not the only type of clothing that is discouraged on the golf course.
Here are a few other things that should be avoided when heading out to play golf.
1. Jeans And Denim
Almost all golf courses discourage players from wearing denim on the golf course.
Typically speaking, denim is more appropriate for casual situations, and golf is not supposed to be casual.
Years ago, when the game started, golf was generally played by those who were educated and successful.
Many of the people who played golf would wear suits and ties as well as dresses when they hit the course.
However, in today’s world, anyone can play the game of golf, but it does require you to be relatively well-dressed when you head out to the course.
Jeans and denim are sometimes not even allowed in a golf clubhouse as they tend to require dressier clothing as opposed to casual.
Some public courses truly have no dress code, but these are rare, and you should not show up at a golf course hoping they will allow denim.
Always find out what you can wear ahead of time, or you may end up having to buy yourself a new outfit in the golf shop before you can play.
2. Cargo Shorts
Cargo shorts are a bit of a problem on the golf course as well.
Many golfers tried to start wearing them because they have great pockets that are useful for carrying golf gear.
However, the pockets do not necessarily look all that professional.
In addition, many cargo shorts are longer than standard golf shorts, and the baggy look with extra fabric is not typically acceptable on a golf course.
If anything, golf clothing has evolved into a sportier and even more form-fitting style in recent years.
Not being allowed to wear cargo shorts has never truly been an issue for golfers and most seem to accept this as a general rule and are fine with it.
3. Anything Too Revealing
Both men and women need to be mindful of how they are dressed for the golf course when it comes to showing skin.
Typically speaking, men are expected to wear short or long-sleeved collared shirts, and there is no tolerance for a shirt that has cut-off sleeves.
Golfers who are looking to wear clothing like this may want to consider playing another sport.
In addition to having to ensure your shirt has sleeves, you must also wear something with a collar.
Women get a bit of leniency here, and they are typically allowed to wear a shirt that has no collar as long as it has sleeves.
The best golf shirts to wear on the course are the standard collared shirts; as you know, you will have no issues with this.
In addition to not showing too much of your arms, there are also issues with shorts that are too short.
Most golf courses specify a length of shorts that they deem acceptable for players, and those who wish to play there must ensure their shorts are this length.
In years past, golf courses would get specific about this requirement and, at times, even measure shorts.
This is no longer the case, and you will mostly see that players are pretty good about wearing shorts that come down to around the knee.
Can You Wear Leggings Under A Golf Skirt?
BONTIME Skirted Leggings for Women Tennis Skirt with Pockets, Gym Yoga Active Skort Navy Blue
Another question that golfers ask about playing golf is whether or not it’s ok to wear leggings under a golf skirt.
This is likely more acceptable than wearing only leggings.
Some golf courses will allow this if it’s clear the leggings are being worn for sun protection.
If you wear leggings under a golf skirt, make sure that you first find out if this is acceptable by stopping in the golf shop.
As long as the golf skirt is of appropriate length, this should not cause you any issues on the course.
Always keep in mind that the golf shop staff is there to help you and they will work with you to ensure you are adequately prepared for the course.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can now see why golf courses have some restrictions regarding leggings and how this could impact all of us moving forward.
It can take quite some time for things to change in the game of golf.
Don’t expect to see any major changes overnight when it comes to the ability to wear leggings on the course.
When you start seeing more and more LPGA professionals wearing leggings, you can expect that the requirements will change.
Overall, we can hope that a golf brand will soon develop golf-specific leggings for players, and that will likely solve this issue.
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