"Kilted Golfer DENIED...." story in Scotland on Sunday electronic edition Sept 5 2010

[kilted scholar]

First, this is my first post. I am living in Wales, having spent 28 years in the USA. I grew up in London but the male side of the family is entirely Scots.

On this matter, it may be of interest that that bastion of the English establishment, the MCC, allows national dress in the hallowed sanctuary of the Pavilion. For American members, this refers to cricket and the stadium, Lord's is universally regarded as the headquarters of the game, started as it was in 1787. I have worn the kilt there, in the Long Room, which is the inner sanctuary of the pavilion.

To hear that a golf club in Scotland would act like this is, as others have remarked, something that defies belief. If it is trying to be "English" it is being more English than the English.

[Jimmy]

The Scottish Daily Express yesterday carried the story about the good doctor on its front page with photographs and story inside.
As a Scot, I am ashamed at the treatment he received from Royal Troon

[2a5t2f7]

A good friend of mine is the head Grounds Keeper in Augusta, so I forwarded him the article. I was heartened by some of the response, seems like you have developed a following.

I think it only appropriate that Augusta extend Dr. Foster an invitation to play kilted on their legendary links..... (with pictures of course) Take that RT.

[Lallans]

I've spouted off enough about this on the other threads so I will only make two observations:

1) Don't mess about with Clan Forrester. (This might never have happened if Cousin Foster had worn the awe-inspiring Forrester tartan... )

2) Don't say "pants" in Great Britain.

[ForresterModern]

Don't mess about with Clan Forrester. (This might never have happened if Cousin Foster had worn the awe-inspiring Forrester tartan... )

2) Don't say "pants" in Great Britain.

Cousin Canuck

Thanks for your support.

I did not take either the Modern or Hunting Forresters on the trip, something I may someday regret, but it was because I did not wish to be considered Irish by mistake (the Forrester Hunting closely mimics the Irish National), and the Forrester modern has become so loose on me (since losing 20 pounds this year) that I would have had to wear suspenders/braces with it, which are a pain on the golf course.

I will however be wearing one or the other, or both in series, at the Stone Mountain Games next month, with great pride.

I only belatedly realized my error in referring to my trousers as "pants" which in the UK refers to undergarments. NO harm done.

j

[ForresterModern]

A few more international internet sightings of the story:

ttp://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/golf-%E2%...0%9D/844/61943

http:////www.kentucky.com/2010/09/08...-scottish.html

http:////findarticles.com/p/news-art.../ai_n55031277/

http:////www.kentucky.com/2010/09/08...rticle1001.ece

//www.voidstar.com/ukpoliblog/index.php?fid=2443



Several others that I could not get to to open. Will try again later.

[seanachie]

Cousin Canuck

Thanks for your support.

I did not take either the Modern or Hunting Forresters on the trip, something I may someday regret, but it was because I did not wish to be considered Irish by mistake j

Jeff: Rest assured that would not be a bad thing at all. Fighting for what you believe in would fit right in (all in good humor)

[ForresterModern]

In the original Scotland on Sunday article, there was a small section of commentary "For" and "Against" kilt wearing with golf. The "For" guy seems to have met me at Turnberry and thought I looked grand (I do not specifically remember him but could have met him there). The "Against" writer was named David Purdie, who is a known writer from the Ayrshire region who has written a semi-spoof book about golf, golf history and its relationship to your health. Today, I got a phone call from his best American friend who told me that Dr Purdie actually wrote that commentary "against" as a spoof itself, and that he actually thinks I am his new hero. He said that Purdie plans on including me in his next book, and will relay my contact info to him so he can call and talk with me personally. Sounds like there may be more coming with the story, just not sure when.

Got word from a friend today that, while I was out of town last week as the story broke in Scotland, it made the evening news here in Louisville. Not sure which channel---will have to do some checking.

Also today got in the mail an envelope with no return address, which had enclosed a copy of the front section of the print version of Scotland on Sunday from Sept 5, when the story broke. Jock, if that is the one you sent me, my eternal thanks are yours. Otherwise it might be from the paper itself. which late last week promised to send me a hard copy in addition to the electronic version they sent last week. WIFE is having a ball with this, planning its own scrapbook of all the publicity.

Again, thanks to all who have supported me through this ever-expanding event. According to this David Purdie we really did make a significant splash in the news over there. More than just a little ripple.

Jeff

[ForresterModern]

True to his word, this evening I received the following email from Dr David Purdie, who wrote the "Against" commentary to the original Scotland on Sunday article last week:

Dear Dr Foster ;

Fraternal greetings from Edinburgh. This is just to say that all right thinking Scots golfers were appalled at the events at Troon. A least you got to play the course - but in your 2nd choice of apparel. I come from Prestwick next door to Troon, and I do hope you’ll not be put off returning to the links of Ayrshire in future. We have the occasional dinosaurial attitudes which are gradually disappearing - but clearly there’s some way to go yet..

I wrote an article for our national Sunday newspaper in the form of an Open Letter to the Secretary at Troon - by Maj. Warren Dawlish . He is the (fictional) fiery Secretary of the (equally fictional) Royal St Luke’s Golf Club and his column “ The Major ” appears in the magazine Golf International ( not on sale in the US). The article , heavy with irony , basically tells Troon to get a grip.

There’s also a short poem on the subject of your treatment which I sent over to Jerry Tarde - a fellow member of Pine Valley - who’s Editor-in-Chief of Golf Digest in the States. You’ll see - and I hope enjoy it - in January. I leave for a lecture tour of the US on Thursday (sadly, not including Louisville) and I expect to get a wave of ribald comment from our fellow golfers about what happened to you ! I’ll cope.

Best wishes

Yrs sincerely,

David Purdie


Attached to this email is what I believe was the letter to the editor he spoke of, from his fictitional character "The Major":

Copy for; Tom Peterkin; The Scotsman.
Filed ; Wed; Sept. 8th.
Wds: 1260.



An Open Letter to the Secretary of Royal Troon Golf Club;


Dear Mr Secretary;
I was delighted to read, in Scotland on Sunday last week, of the principled stand taken by Royal Troon over the barefaced, or rather barekneed, attempt to play your hallowed course by an American clad, openly, in a kilt! This person had evaded the notoriously slack clothing checks at Muirfield and St. Andrews, but there are clearly no flies on you men of Troon! The chap's kilt was spotted immediately for what it was; he was challenged, halted and straightway trousered from the course. A few short centuries ago he'd have been lucky to survive. In Covenanting times an approaching kilt was known as a Gael warning and Ayrshire's stern Calvinists knew exactly what to do: put a sword through it! It has been argued that the kilt is our national dress, but this notion dates back only to Sir Walter Scott, stage-managing the descent of the gigantic King George IV on Edinburgh in 1822. The kilt is 'The Garb of old Gaul' i.e. the national dress of the highland Celt, not of we Lowlanders with our descent from fiery Saxons, Right Angles and arthritic Ancient Britons
You may face criticism for your courageous stand, but fear not; in the days of trial ahead of you, Royal St Luke's stands beside you to show that we're behind you. As I'm sure you know, this Club was founded in 1603 by King James who had just moved to the top of the new UK leaderboard following the death of England's Good Queen Boss. He did this selflessly, enduring a cut in his numeral from VI to I and despite the fate of his late mother, Mary Queen of Scots, the first woman known to have played the game. Indeed, it was Mary's repeated attempts to introduce golf south of the border that led to her execution at Fotheringay in 1587, her inability to keep her head down over the issue ultimately leading to her inability to keep it on.
On his way south from Edinburgh to London to complete the takeover, James paused to inaugurate this Club, leaving behind him 'Ane Coade of Dresse ' known to this day as the authorised version. Consequently, we have just over four hundred years of experience of dealing with attempted violations; let me tell you how we do it.
The key to dress control here is the Oldest Member; not the delightful character of the Wodehouse novels, but a person of raw executive power. The Oldest Member (OM) belongs ex-officio to our Star Chamber and is our guardian of tradition, standards and general rectitude on and off the course. Enthroned in his window seat in Founder's Lounge, he has both a geographical and a moral view around the club, where dress is naturally a major issue. He gave way some years ago over the popular “ Dirty Bar” where members may now take a restorative in golfing attire, but it’s still collar and tie for luncheon in the dining room. Indeed it used to be so for all other meals as well, a visitor from The Colonies once abreacting sharply on being told of the then strict breakfast dress code.
“Look here, OM, ” said he with some heat, “surely a gentleman could have his breakfast wearing a sports shirt, but with a tailored jacket on top and trousers. Surely ! ” And the OM had said,
“ Certainly, young man. A breakfast could indeed be eaten by a gentleman wearing a sports shirt, tailored jacket and trousers; but not here.”
Dress on the golf course is another OM responsibility. Our Starter is strictly charged not to let players drive off the 1st tee wearing (a) reversed or sideways-pointing baseball caps (b) round-necked T-shirts (c) any shirt in the colours of a Premier Division association football team and, most importantly (d) shorts unaccompanied by long hose to the patella or kneecap. In the latter case, the OM’s binoculars are kept handy to adjudicate. The player in question is made to stand facing the clubhouse and then to slowly pirouette twice, raising one leg at a time. With the Starter’s telescope trained on the clubhouse windows, the response is conveyed by the OM’s raising of a green or red handkerchief. His decision, naturally, is final.
The only exception we made to the football shirt rule was in the case of the late and excellent US Open champion Payne Stewart who was playing demonstration matches with our Professional. Stewart was then under contract to advertise the National Football League (NFL) of the United States by wearing the colours of one of its constituent teams. It had been patiently explained by myself to the OM that this was OK. American football was an evolved variant of rugby - despite its outrageous forward passes - and Stewart’s colourful green-and-white ensemble represented a Team.
“So, who is he today?” demanded the OM, gazing out at the brilliant spectacle.
“I am given to understand,” said I, consulting the events programme, “that this morning he is… a dolphin of Miami.”
“A dolphin of Miami,” mused the OM, “How extraordinary. Tell me, Mr Secretary, will he change into another team, or indeed mutate into another creature, for this afternoon's round?”
“He will indeed. I believe that after luncheon he will become a Ram of Los Angeles…”
The Troon membership is to be congratulated on holding the line by drawing the line and thus taking a firm line with their philibegged visitor. It could have been the thin end of the wedge, worse even than a thinned wedge. The links could have been swamped by had a stream of lederhosened Austrians, ponchoed Mexicans and Taiwanese ladies surmounted by giant conical lampshades.
One suspects, however, that what you actually had in mind the safety of both the player - and of other members out on the course. The SoS report carried trenchant observations from a medical professor that playing Royal Troon in a northerly gale could have serious health consequences. This is correct, as highlighted in a recent report from the Healthy & Safe Executive which warned that if a kilt is 'unaccompanied' i.e. not underpinned by a nether garment, the wind-chill from a Force 8 gale on the wearer's reproductive apparatus can progress rapidly to pelvic hypothermia. This could of course be detected by the caddy, as the player's voice, rising progressively from baritone to mezzo-soprano, announces the onset of exposure. However, such exposure may also have a social component. On the high and exposed tee of Royal Troon's famous 8th hole, The Postage Stamp, what Burns calls 'A blast o' Janwar win' ' could give a kilt a major upward whirling. The elements might thus expose the player's own elements to the view of scandalised ladies, with a consequent outbreak of tops, shanks and airshots.
Finally, Mr Secretary, perhaps your visitor should be encouraged to return next year to Royal Troon, this time taking the sartorial middle ground. Halfway between the trousers and the kilt lie the trews. Tastefully representing the family tartan, they are as acceptable on the golf course as on the dance floor. But as to the kilt - properly worn - perhaps not. After all, lurking in the rough surrounding Royal Troon and our other great links courses is the waist-high thistle and that ultimate terror awaiting the unclad posterior - the gorse…
I am, Mr Secretary,
Yours sincerely,
Maj. RJM Warren-Dawlish, M.C.,
Secretary, Royal St Lukes Golf Club.



I am not sure if it has been published yet but if so I would appreciate hearing about it from anyone who finds it.

I wrote back thanking him for his tongue in cheek style of support. Hope to hear more from him in the not too distant future.

jeff

[artificer]

Clearly, Mr. Purdie is a man of razor-sharp wit (and tongue).

This is a work of genius in the best tradition of British humour, up there with Monty Python's "Letters to the BBC" from The Flying Circus.

I'd hate to be on the receiving end .

A hard copy will certainly a treasure for the scrap book your very patient WIFE is putting together.