Trousers tucked in, major faux pas

So, as most of you know, I'm 6 mths or so into my golf career and still getting to grips with the etiquette side of things. On the 18th at Mitcham today and struck up a conversation withth a guy who was playing in front of me, after complimenting me on my tee shot ( I greened it! Bit of a fluke to be fair) he explained that it's not really the done thing to tuck your trousers into your socks like I'd done. amazingly he told me this as he was taking his trousers out if his socks?! He said he was only doing it as they were his good trousers. I should point out that this guy was also wearing a Man city tracksuit top so wasn't exactlyaling an effort sartorially. I think he may have been a bit peeved as he had totally sliced his tee shot into the bushes and i greened mine after telling him I'd only started playing in september.

Is this a thing in most clubs? I've been doing it all the time! Have I been embarrassing myself all this time?

Hi Brian

You'll find most clubs will have quite a strict dress code, most will not allow you to play with your trousers tucked into your socks. I suppose a Man City track suit top wouldn't come under the 'no football, rugby shirt' banner, that would depend on the individual club and their dress code. Always pays to look up the dress code of golf clubs especially if you haven't played there before. I have seen 1 or 2 guys severely embarrassed by turning up at a course and getting a rollicking from a club official or member for being inappropriately dressed.

From what I've seen I think that the trousers in the socks rule is quite split. Some clubs clearly state on the dress code that you can't do it, others don't mention it at all. I think that if they haven't mentioned it then you can assume it is OK to go ahead with.

Payne Stewart didnt seem to have too many problems with this in his career and he always did it!

I think Payne Stewart was wearing plus fours (or similar) rather than simply tucking his trousers into his socks !

Correct Brian T. Most clubs allow Plus 4's, but not normal trousers tucked into socks. This is allowed under Waterproof Trousers though.

I think Mr Constable was only trying to inject a little good humour into the debate....

Don't fret about it Brian. It's one of those things that are OK in some places and not others. I would just check before going out if I thought I might need to resort to 'tucking in'. The bloke himself started with no credibility when sporting a Man City track suit top. 'Nuff' said..

I have found it to be frowned upon at most courses but I have played two courses this winter where I have ignored the rules and tucked them in. The course was so wet and muddy that it should really have been closed. Of course, if it was closed they would lose all the green fees so they left it open with appalling conditions. If it is going to be that wet and muddy underfoot them I am tucking the trousers in!

I can't see why it's regarded as offensive, seems commonsense if it's wet and muddy. I was once asked to refrain when played at Bigley St. Ives.... he must have caught me unawares as I obliged.

Well, at least I'm not the only one mot dure why it's an issue really. It's wet n muddy out there sometimes and you don't want to get dirty. As a new comer to the game it's precisely this kind of thing that scares people off.