Kilted Golfer DENIED Play at Royal Troon because of the kilt

**Alan H** · 10th August 10, 01:52 PM

Rules are interpreted.... that's always how it is. I would wager that a number of men have come to the Club in the past in a kilt and the "shorts" rules...and "No leg showing" rule have been interpreted to disallow kilts. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the Caddiemaster knows that, and just "followed the rules".

So I suspect that aside from the snub of not even bothering to view Jeff before denying him access to the course, the Caddiemaster was not out of line here.

However, the CLUB....for having a rule on the books which is interpreted to disallow the playing of GOLF in a KILT in SCOTLAND is so...so....

...it's just so incredibly stupid that I don't even have words for how STUPID this is. I could see it at a really snooty, stupid, stuffy course in the USA. But in SCOTLAND? It's insane.

**CMcG** · 10th August 10, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Rules are interpreted.... that's always how it is. I would wager that a number of men have come to the Club in the past in a kilt and the "shorts" rules...and "No leg showing" rule have been interpreted to disallow kilts. I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the Caddiemaster knows that, and just "followed the rules".

So I suspect that aside from the snub of not even bothering to view Jeff before denying him access to the course, the Caddiemaster was not out of line here.

However, the CLUB....for having a rule on the books which is interpreted to disallow the playing of GOLF in a KILT in SCOTLAND is so...so....

...it's just so incredibly stupid that I don't even have words for how STUPID this is. I could see it at a really snooty, stupid, stuffy course in the USA. But in SCOTLAND? It's insane.

I agree, it seems quite ridiculous.

**unaspenser** · 10th August 10, 03:02 PM

Incredible that this should have happened. I have sent an email to the address you provided.

**McClef** · 10th August 10, 03:29 PM

The club might be within their rights to define a dress policy but that is not the issue - what they have interpreted is different to what they have defined.

If they wish to plainly ban kilted golfing and risk the ire and opprobrium and bad publicity then they should say so.

When one has read the rules as stated one is entitled, member or not, to be somewhat surprised that there are additional unstated exclusions. This has led to major inconvenience for a visitor besides his experiencing a discourteous attitude in the way it was handled.

We have seen the effect that adverse publicity has had on other plain daft rulings - this club deserves all that it gets.

**ForresterModern** · 10th August 10, 04:40 PM

I mentioned in my OP that after the round, while in the clubhouse I was talking with weveral senior members of the club, and mentioned that I had been prevented from playing while properly kilted. Each of them said that without a doubt that was NOT the intention of the NO SHORTS FOR MEN rule, and that they thought the caddiemaster was incorect in his decision, and one even said that after talking to me he was considering formally asking the rules committee if he himself could play a round kilted, as he thought it a "grand idea".

As we approached the 18th green (which I birdied from 3 feet right in front of the members dining room window) I was visually accosted by seeing two gentlemen in knickers in canary yellow and fluorescent pink respectively, with matching argyle vests, teeing off from number 1 adjacent. And they consider that appropriate?

For those who say "rules are rules", I agree, except that I TOO read the rules before arrival and saw nothing against the kilt, as those who have reproduced those rules here have corroborated.

No apology so far, but I did play what most around here regard as the snootiest of private clubs in Scotland, Muirfield (Edinburgh Golfer's private course), today, kilted almost identically to yesterday. They are so restrictive that they would not even let our driver take us down the short street to the club, and instead made him drop us at the outer gate and we walked the last couple hundred yards carrying our own bags to enter the grounds and go to the clubhouse. Again I was met at the gate by a caddiemaster who said no to the kilt, then alledgedly called down to the club to verify and again returned with a NO answer. I grabbed my pants and said I would have to go to the toilet in the clubhouse to change, and while in the clubhouse asked three MORE senior officials, all of whom were more than pleased to allow me to play kilted, even excited to have a kilted golfer from america in their midsts. One even asked to be photoed with me before our round. I mentioned the caddiemaster's initial and repeated refusals at the gate, and they were appalled and promised to "straighten him out" about kilts in the future. Had a blast in the rain, still played like crap, but had fun anyway. And got a lot of compliments (and six other photo requests) before departing after the round. I will return to Muirfield again some day. And I thanked them all profusely.

jf

**denmcdough** · 10th August 10, 05:39 PM

At a boy Jeff!!! Good for you!

**AFS1970** · 10th August 10, 06:31 PM

It seems to me as others have said, that while it is perfectly within the clubs right to ban kilts, they so far have not done so. If this is a common and repeated interpretation of the rules, then it would seem that the rule needs to be clarified in order to not have the same question raised again.

Especially on kilt oriented forums like this one, we see a fair amount of folks who wear the kilt to the exclusion of those two legged garments. Had this been the case, the option to return to a hotel to change would not have been possible and the response would have been every bit as rude.

**Riverkilt** · 10th August 10, 07:28 PM

It seems to me that if any business in Scotland had a rule AGAINST kilts they would have it posted prominently.

LACK of a rule against kilts certainly seems to be permission and acceptance.

That there is no specific rule against wearing a kilt seems a strong indication that there was no intent to ban kilts.

**Bigkahuna** · 10th August 10, 07:44 PM

Once again, one of the outstanding virtues of living in the USA is being able to play golf ANYWHERE kilted and if you so desire you can hire yourself a topless female caddie at some courses!

**ForresterModern** · 10th August 10, 09:54 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.

Aye Jock I knew that was coming. So at Muirfield I wore a proper wool tam just for you:

Same Ancient Red Douglas tank, sporran already tucked away in me bag as the rains were descending already, proper tam in place a'la Jock Scot's request. Did not wish to get banned again because of improper headwear this time. The tam got unintentionally "jocked" in the heavy Scottish rains yesterday and now looks even better as she dries on the table beside me.

And most recent update, now more than a full day after posting this and my email to the Royal Troon Secretary, is no reply as yet. Time will tell.

By the way, thanks for calling yesterday Jock. It was great to talk with you and has really raised my spirits on this trip. Sorry we couldn't get closer to Inverness-shire. Another time my friend, and we shall share afternoon tea or evening's repast followed by some fine single malt.

Jeff