If you are new to golf, you may be surprised to learn that appropriate attire is required. Most golf courses have a dress code that must be adhered to, even if you are simply showing up for a golf lesson.

Not knowing what to wear to your first golf lesson can be stressful. Our goal with this article is to help you with that. Here’s a look at what to wear and avoid at your golf lessons.

What’s Acceptable to Wear to a Golf Lesson

Men

If you’re a guy who’s taking your first golf lesson, you must make sure you are wearing some type of collared shirt. This is because most golf courses have a dress code that requires collared shirts for men. A short-sleeved polo shirt or a standard golf shirt are excellent choices for your first lesson.

As far as bottoms, men can decide between long pants or shorts. If the weather is on the cooler side, consider wearing either khakis or some type of slacks. If it’s in the heat of summer, any type of golf shorts are perfectly acceptable at most clubs.

As far as footwear goes, things are pretty flexible. Some golfers like to wear tennis shoes while on the driving range while others will opt for golf shoes. If you choose to wear golf shoes to your first lesson, opt for ones with soft spikes because metal spikes aren’t allowed at some courses.

Women

Women golfers have a few more options as far as the top goes. At most clubs, ladies can wear sleeveless tops as long as the shirt has a collar. Women can also choose to wear a turtleneck or crew-neck top if it has sleeves.

As far as the bottoms, ladies can choose from golfing pants, golf shorts, or a skirt. Another option is skorts, which is a combination between a skirt and shorts. As a general rule, skirts or shorts must come down to around the knee.

Footwear choices for women golfers are the same as men’s. Any type of golf shoes or tennis shoes is acceptable, as long as they are spikeless or have soft spikes. Socks that are about ankle high are also a good idea.

What You Should Never Wear to a Golf Lesson

Men

While some golf courses have relaxed their respective dress codes over the last few years, the large majority of them don’t allow any type of denim. So, unfortunately, this means no blue jeans or blue jean shorts. It’s also a good idea not to show up in workout shorts (aka basketball shorts).

As far as the top goes, men should never show up to a golf lesson in t-shirts or tank tops. While both of these are very comfortable, neither one is considered to be proper golfing attire. Remember, golf is a gentleman’s game and you aren’t at the gym.

For footwear, never show up to your lesson in flip-flops or sandals. If you do, make sure you have golf shoes to change into before meeting your instructor. It’s also smart to wear socks to prevent blisters from getting on your feet.

Women

While stylish off the course, women shouldn’t wear capris to a golf lesson. They also should avoid denim shorts and denim skirts, even though a few courses may allow them. They also should avoid shorts or skirts that are too short.

As far as the top goes, ladies should never show up wearing only a sports bra. While this is perfectly fine at almost any gym, it’s not considered proper golf etiquette.

To avoid footwear faux pas, don’t show up to your lesson in boots or heels. This is basic common sense, but as they say, common sense ain’t common these days.

Other Things to Bring to a Lesson

Like a lot of other sports, golf requires lots of accessories. Let’s go over some of the most important accessories to bring with you to your golf lessons.

1. Visor or Baseball Cap

While no headgear is required at a golf lesson, it’s not a bad idea to wear a baseball cap or a visor. This is especially true if your lesson is going to be outdoors. A quality cap or visor will keep both the sun and sweat out of your eyes.

2. Sunglasses

Again, sunglasses aren’t essential but they are nice to have on extremely sunny days at the driving range. I don’t wear sunglasses during my golf lessons because I feel it messes with my depth perception when looking at the ball. That said, a countless number of golfers wear sunglasses both on the course and during their golf lessons.

3. Golf Glove

This one is an essential item because you want to have a good grip on the golf club. During a golf lesson, your golf instructor will be asking you to make several swings. Without a quality golf glove, you’ll likely get an uncomfortable blister or two.

4. Sunscreen

It always pays to have sunscreen in your golf bag, especially during the warmer months. A nasty sunburn is not only incredibly painful but it’s also unhealthy for your skin.

5. Sweaters or Jackets

Either of these will come in handy during the winter months. You don’t want to get too cold on the driving range during your golf lesson. Just make sure that your sweater or jacket fits loosely and doesn’t restrict your golf swing in any way.

6. Bottle of Water

Most golf lessons range from 30 minutes to an hour. You’ll want to have water on hand to stay hydrated during your breaks. The last thing you want is to start cramping up during your golf lesson because of dehydration.

7. A Couple of Golf Towels

It’s nice to keep a couple of golf towels on hand for your golf lessons. You can use one to wipe sweat from your head and arms and the other to clean off your irons after using them.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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Like any other sport, golf is filled with unique nuances and rules. Many things that may be considered normal off the course go against proper golf etiquette.

One of these gray areas has to do with the proper dress code on the golf course. For example, lots of folks may wonder if they can wear jeans to the golf course.

As a general rule, no, you cannot play golf in jeans. While there may be a few golf courses out there that allow jeans, those places are few and far between.

If you show up in jeans for your tee time, an employee in the pro shop may ask you to either change your pants or leave. If you don’t have any proper golf pants or slacks with you, you’ll have to buy some from the pro shop. Needless to say, this will hurt both your wallet and your pride.

Jeans just aren’t considered appropriate golf attire, so they should be avoided. You may be able to get away with jeans on the driving range, but we wouldn’t advise that either. Denim doesn’t allow your knees and legs the freedom to bend and flex as they need to in a proper golf swing.

Typical Dress Code to Play Golf

So, now that we’ve established that jeans aren’t accepted on the golf course, you may be left wondering what you can wear. In this section, we’ll list the specific dress code for both men and women on the golf course.

Men

To play golf, guys should opt for golf shirts or other types of polo shirts. Most courses require all patrons to wear a collared shirt, so keep that in mind before you head out the door for your tee time.

Gentlemen can choose between golf pants or golf shorts for their bottoms. A baseball cap or visor is also acceptable and can come in handy on a sunny day. Choosing to go without a cap is also okay.

If it’s fall or winter, find a nice-looking sweater or windbreaker to wear on the course. Both of these options will keep you warm and can be easily removed when the temperature warms up.

Sunglasses are also a good idea to keep on hand. They can shield your eyes from the sun’s glaring rays and help you to remain focused. However, I prefer not to wear sunglasses while playing golf because I feel it changes my depth perception too much.

Golf shoes must be worn at all times on the course. These are designed to help golfers turn easier during the golf swing. Keep in mind that most golf courses no longer allow golf shoes with metal spikes, so opt for plastic ones or the spikeless variety.

As far as other clothing accessories are concerned, make sure you wear a belt if your pants or shorts have belt loops. A lot of golf courses don’t allow folks to wear their shirts untucked. You don’t want to look silly with your shirt tucked in and belt loops showing with no belt.

Women

The dress code for women golfers is similar to the men’s. Things get a bit confusing when it comes to top choices, though, so ladies should check the course dress code they are playing that day. If you’re in doubt, simply call the pro shop or visit the course website.

Some courses allow women golfers to wear shirts with no collar, as long as the shirt has sleeves. However, if the shirt is sleeveless, it has to have a collar. For ladies, it’s probably best to opt for collared shirts or blouses since they are deemed proper golf clothes at every course.

If the temperature is a bit on the chilly side, women golfers should wear a sweater or light jacket. Most golf apparel companies offer good winter clothing options that are lightweight and won’t restrict any type of movement.

As for the bottoms, women golfers have lots of options. They can choose between golf pants, trousers, slacks, shorts, and skirts. Ladies can also opt for a skort, which is a combination between shorts and a skirt.

Like men, women golfers should also wear golf shoes on the course. While regular tennis shoes or sneakers are permitted, most folks find that golf shoes are just easier to swing in. Socks aren’t required, but not wearing them could result in some nasty blisters.

Things to Avoid Wearing to The Golf Course

Nobody likes showing up to anything wearing the wrong attire. Now that you know what proper golf clothes are, here are some things to avoid wearing to the golf course. Reading over this list and adhering to it can save you some money and embarrassment.

Men

Men should avoid showing up in a t-shirt, blue jeans, cargo shorts, athletic shorts, or flip-flops.

While that type of attire may be perfect for a day at the beach or lounging around the house, it’s not acceptable for a day on the course. Guys also shouldn’t show up in a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Even in extremely cold weather, neither of these articles of clothing will typically be permitted while golfing.

Women

The unacceptable attire list for women golfers is almost the same as for men. Ladies shouldn’t show up in tank tops, halters, sandals, or any type of denim. They should also avoid sweatpants and sweatshirts, even in cooler temperatures.

Women golfers also shouldn’t wear cargos or any other shorts that are super short. While most jackets are permitted in the winter, ladies should make sure that the one they choose isn’t too bulky. The last thing you want is to wear anything that will inhibit your natural golf swing.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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While seasoned golfers will likely be more than familiar with the answer to this question, first-time players and other people new to the sport may have wondered it at some point – probably while watching the professionals on TV. But which hand do you wear a golf glove on?

It might appear arbitrary or random, but it isn’t. There’s a science to the humble golf glove, and its importance shouldn’t be understated.

In this guide, you’ll get the answer to that big question, along with why the simple act of wearing a golf glove could have quite the impact on your game.

Which hand do I wear a golf glove on?

Simply put, you should wear a golf glove on your non-dominant hand. So, for right-handers, this would be your left and vice versa for lefties.

In a standard grip, your non-dominant hand is situated at the top of the golf club and acts as the lead hand. It’s the job of this hand to ensure your swing is controlled, powerful, and accurate. A properly fitted glove can help you achieve this in a number of ways.

If you’re just starting out, you may also wear gloves on both hands. In fact, gloves are often sold in pairs (particularly winter and wet weather gloves), and some professional players prefer going two-handed. Ultimately, the number of gloves you wear comes down to personal preference, and you should do whatever feels comfortable. Just make sure you’re wearing at least one. 

Why should I wear a golf glove?

As mentioned, the lead hand is responsible for the key elements of your swing, and a glove can help you maximise these. Golf gloves are designed to improve your grip of the club, and this in turn will ensure you apply the correct amount of pressure.

Holding a golf club too tightly can lead to a whole host of issues. Many golfers who apply too much pressure with their lead hand find themselves slicing the ball (or alternatively, hooking it), or they’ll find that the over-rigidity of their swing results in the risk of injury. On the other hand, holding a club too loosely comes with its own downsides, namely losing a great deal of control over the clubface and risking injuries to others. You don’t want to let go of the club mid-swing.

Ultimately, correct technique is the solution to these problems, but the glove plays a helpful role. Because wearing one allows for better grip than bare skin, you won’t have to grip excessively hard, and this will help limit the flaws previously mentioned. Golf gloves can also protect your hands. After all, you don’t want to get blisters and callouses from excessively gripping onto the golf club with just your palm.

Given that there are gloves available for all weather types, they can also play a part in dressing correctly for the environment in which you’re playing. Wearing two gloves, for example, would be beneficial in the colder winter months.

All in all, wearing a glove (or two) will make you more controlled, comfortable and confident on the golf course.

What size golf glove should I wear?

Golf brands often use different sizing metrics, which can make it difficult to give an across-the-board answer to this question, but there is a certain way your glove should fit your hand.

In order to maximise the control for which the glove is required in the first place, it’s important that the glove isn’t too loose. It should fit your hand snugly, and there shouldn’t be any excess room in the fingertips; otherwise, you risk missing out on the benefits the glove offers.

However, it also shouldn’t be so tight that it restricts blood flow and movement. You should be able to extend your fingers and ball your fist while remaining comfortable and not stretching the glove too much. It should feel like an extension of your own body: a second skin, if you like.

So, it’s best to try a range of glove sizes to determine which suits you best. 

What different types of gloves are there?

As previously mentioned, one of the benefits of using a golf glove is that it can help combat any adverse environmental effects which you might encounter on the course.

The result of this is that there are various types of golf gloves specifically designed for dealing with the weather. 

Fair conditions

In fair and pleasant conditions, the standard is a glove made from a cabretta leather. The benefit to this material is that it’s malleable and comfortable, but also provides the grip you need. However, leather gloves are not as durable as their synthetic counterparts, nor are they much use in wet conditions. 

Uncertain weather

If the weather looks changeable or uncertain, it’s best to use an all-weather alternative. These are typically synthetic and will subsequently have a longer life than leather gloves. More importantly, they’ll do a significantly better job at combatting the rain, too.

Wet weather

If it gets too wet outside, wet weather gloves are designed to keep your hands dry. Just as importantly, they’ll also maintain control of the club even when the handle gets slippery.

Cold temperatures

There are also winter gloves for colder temperatures. These will keep your lead hand warm (or both if you wear two) and ensure your grip of the club isn’t affected by the cold. 

Which golf glove is for me?

With regard to hand types, there are gloves specifically made for men, women, and children. All are slightly different from one another to reflect the users, and all brands do things in slightly different ways. So, it’s best to try and test a variety of different gloves to determine which type suits you best. 

Ultimately, no two hands are the same, and everyone will have different preferences.

One thing is certain, though. The golf glove serves two main purposes. It improves your grip – and as a result, your technique and overall performance – and it keeps you comfortable.

The gloves you choose, and how many you opt to wear, are up to you. All that matters is you wear them in the right place and at the right time. 

Specialist golf insurance through Golf Care

Your golf glove can make a big difference to your overall game, but accidents and injuries can still happen when playing, even with all the correct gear in place. That’s why you may want to consider specialist golf insurance if you play regularly.

Through Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and Personal Accident Cover up to £50,000. Get a quote online today.

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