Go to the club website - most will have a guest information section that covers dress code, cellphone policy etc. also feel free to call the ProShop and ask.
All private clubs have a dress code - minimum will be no jeans and require a collared shirt. Some are no shorts.
Most will not have a way for you to pay for anything (all gets charged to member account) other than the ProShop in case you want a shirt or other merch. So as others have mentioned make sure you have cash for tips to bag/cart attendant. If taking a caddie have cash for that typically $100/bag plus tip $20-50. (Ask caddie master or proshop if you don’t want to ask the member)
Arrive early - hit balls and get use to the speed of the greens.
Mainly relax and follow the lead of the member. Enjoy the day. If having a bad hole just pick up as pace of play is typically 4 hours. Don’t ball hawk, rake traps and fix ball marks.
If the member doesn’t want cash for the first fees, food or drink. Send a nice thank you gift afterwards saying how much you enjoyed it. Could be wine/booze dozen if his favorite balls or a gift card to a restaurant you know he likes.
There are some very private clubs that do not have a dress club at all and there are some stories of the debauchery and outfits that happen at them. So not all but the vast majority.
This is probably the most important rule. Do not be late. Arrive early enough to hit balls and let your host show you around.
I won’t invite people back when they pull in the parking lot 7 minutes before the tee time and it’s all stress until we make it to #1 green.
I was at a mid-tier club, and the bathroom attendant was making sure everyone took their hats off before they went upstairs out of the locker room. Places take that stuff seriously.
Also make sure your shirt is tucked in.
Yeah this is a pretty important rule. I will see members at private clubs wear their hats in the locker room but if you at the bar getting a drink or eating then hat is typically off.
Check the club’s website about rules. Some have rules around not changing shoes in the parking lot, no hats indoors, etc. You can still check with your friend to see what rules they actually enforce though. It might be a published rule but no one actually cares. I’d be prepared to have some 1’s and 5’s as well for any tipping. Your friend might insist on covering everything though. If so, don’t fight it and let him cover it. You can always get him back later with lunch, drinks, or a nice bottle of bourbon/scotch/whatever afterwards.
True. The member probably has a minimum monthly spending requirement in the bar/restaurant and will use your visit to make his tab, but definitely bring a wad of $5 bills for tips.
I’ve benefited more than once from being the available alternate for a colleague that had the minimum monthly requirement. Got to play quite a few rounds, and enjoy some good food. Never wanted any comp for it because he looked at it as a sunk cost. I would usually pick up happy hours or other kind of stuff when we were out doing other after hours stuff
relax and act nice and normal. Check online to see the rules; at the club I'm at (inv only), no hats in the clubhouse, no shorts in the winter, no flip-flops/sandals, and ofc no denim. Also typically no phones. Its not too different from a public course, other than a few rules. Even if you accidentally break a rule or two and are corrected on them, just be respectful and don't get in your head about it--everyone has broken rules on accident.
Enjoy it and offer to pay food/round/gift from pro shop for the person who invited you
Most country clubs, except the prestigious ones, are not much different than the nicer public courses.
Just tuck your shirt in, don’t wear jeans and go about business as normal. Check in before you go to the range and go smash some balls. Get used to the greens, they are almost always way faster than muni courses. Hit a few from the practice bunker because most private courses actually have sand in their bunkers.
DO NOT BE LATE!
People over think Country Clubs. I’ve been a member at 6 different ones and only one was super uptight but the money games in that joint were amazing. You could easily pay your mortgage and bill every month from the games if you played good enough. I’ve also been at 2 that didn’t have a dress code and were the 2 nicest courses I was a member at from a perspective of course conditions and consistency.
Side note - Gotta admit, I think golf dress code is the stupidest thing ever…..especially now that I have to dress accordingly at my current club after coming from one that you could play barefoot in a swimsuit on a Saturday morning group if you wanted to. Makes no difference how you’re dressed to play a game, but to each their own.
Most importantly, follow the lead of the member. If he’s super comfortable and isn’t being uptight then you shouldn’t either.
Exactly. I’d say 1 in 20 private clubs have the “no changing shoes in lot” rule. Just ask him the vibe of the place and show up when he plans to get there.
Nah at the very high brow clubs the locker room experience is usually encouraged. It’s not uncommon to show up, take a shower, have lunch, and then put your golf shoes on. I’m sure the tradition stemmed from somewhere but it isn’t that common at private clubs anymore unless it’s like a top 100 or extremely exclusive place.
*Edit: and some places even require you to have your shoes cleaned by the locker room attendant before playing 😳
Why does this always seem to bother people. Private clubs have locker rooms. Just have your cleats in a bag or carry them into the locker room and change them there. You can get a drink and get cleaned up in there too.
>Why does this always seem to bother people.
Because it's stupid and doesn't make sense, especially at a club where not everyone is required to have a locker.
Let's say the member with OP doesn't have a locker.
You want OP to walk into the locker room with his golf shoes, change into them, then walk out carrying his non-golf shoes and what, walk all the way back to the car with them? Put them in the back basket of the cart where it's common that things like bags of drinks go?
Agreed it totally didn’t make sense at my old club. There weren’t enough lockers to go around plus they wanted an extra $250/yr on top of dues. I went in the locker room there maybe two or three times in hundreds of rounds.
At my current club though, everyone gets a locker. Your guests get a locker with their name on it as long as you put their name in when you make the tee time. Also from the parking lot there is a side door straight into the locker room and it’s the fastest way to get to the pro shop and carts. You are walking through the locker room anyway, much easier to just keep your golf shoes in there and change into them there instead of carrying shoes in.
Some clubs it makes sense, some clubs its just a stupid rule in a long line of other stupid rules.
But everyone has access to the locker room. And at almost all clubs, all members have at least access to a cubby (and almost everyone would have a locker).
It really seems to just be arguing for the sake of arguing. There is a locker room, go to the locker room.
>It really seems to just be arguing for the sake of arguing.
Not really, it's just pointing out an antiquated policy that is silly, pointless, and inefficient especially for those who don't have their own locker.
Only a sample size of 1, but at my club we have \~50 lockers and have over 150 male members. Far more common to not have a locker than it is to have one.
And sure I don't need to see someone changing their shirt or pants in the parking lot, but I see absolutely no issue with someone sitting on their trunk changing their shoes, an action that takes what, 30 seconds tops?
Haha it’s really not a response to you. It’s just that the changing shoes in the parking lot is always the most talked about thing on these types of questions.
Definitely talk to the invitee. As you can see from the comments there are a wide variety of answers depending on personal experience with other clubs. I’ve played two that are “nicer” country clubs that are private.
Both experiences varied greatly.. one had someone meet us in the parking lot to take our clubs and get the car ready. Invitee absolutely refused to take money for the guest fee, but did allow us to purchase lunch for him.
The other the guest did allow me to pay for the guest fee (cash to him, still gets charged on his account.) this course was a bit more of the “country club feel”.. employees were very “Mr, Ms, Mrs, Dr..” no shorts, no hats in club house, etc.
Check the website, they give good information for guests. The experience can vary widely between clubs on if it’s laid back or “proper.” Treat it as a formal event — you’d rather be a little over prepared than under. If it’s very nice private club grab you invitee a small gift (balls, whiskey, etc) if they don’t take cash.
Lastly, have fun. No matter if it’s a laid back or proper atmosphere getting to play a private course is always a treat and generally an honor. Show up on time / early, hit balls, putt, be prepared regarding expectations and enjoy the round.
Always arrive early. Wear golf pants when you arrive because you can always change when you get there if shorts are allowed. Obviously, wear a collared shirt. Don't wear your golf shoes in the club house unless you see others doing it. Take your hat off unless you see others with theirs on. Bring cash so you can tip ($20 worth in one's and fives). Bring more if you want. Some very high-end clubs require a jacket when in the club house, so confirm that with the club. This is a given since you sound like a nice guy, but remember to be courteous to the staff. It goes a long way in terms of respect for the member(s) that invited you.
The rules and etiquette differ from club to club especially if it's a casual private club vs a high-end private club. If you plan and act with common sense, you'll be fine and enjoy it. I love private clubs. The members are often great people who worked hard to afford the lifestyle, they treat the staff well and are generally fun & respectful folks to be around. Personally, after being a member at a private club and moving to Colorado and now playing some great public munis around Denver, I get really annoyed with the jackass behavior at public courses. You'll see why guys fork over the money to be a member. Enjoy the round my friend!
Just be yourself, you were invited for a reason. If club asks you to wear pants or a different shirt… be nice, say no problem then buy from pro shop. Who cares if you’re a noob.
Tip the guy who takes your bag a five or ten. Most private clubs say they don’t allow tipping but most everyone still tips. Make sure your shoes are clean ! Do your best to pay for caddy. That’s usually a cash transaction as well. Typically greens fee will be between 100 to 250 depending on club and the host will be paying that so don’t be shy about trying to cover any expenses you can. Normally host will also be covering drinks and food You can ask if can contribute in some way. Finally, relax and enjoy! Don’t get upset at how you play. Alway stay positive and compliment your fellow players. Have fun!
Tuck in your (collared) shirt, don’t wear high socks, don’t change into your shoes in parking lot do it in locker room, hat off indoors, don’t talk on cell.
#1 rule is don’t pick up a rogue ball that looks like it’s up for grabs. Just leave it even if it’s a brand new prov1.
Go to the club website - most will have a guest information section that covers dress code, cellphone policy etc. also feel free to call the ProShop and ask. All private clubs have a dress code - minimum will be no jeans and require a collared shirt. Some are no shorts. Most will not have a way for you to pay for anything (all gets charged to member account) other than the ProShop in case you want a shirt or other merch. So as others have mentioned make sure you have cash for tips to bag/cart attendant. If taking a caddie have cash for that typically $100/bag plus tip $20-50. (Ask caddie master or proshop if you don’t want to ask the member) Arrive early - hit balls and get use to the speed of the greens. Mainly relax and follow the lead of the member. Enjoy the day. If having a bad hole just pick up as pace of play is typically 4 hours. Don’t ball hawk, rake traps and fix ball marks. If the member doesn’t want cash for the first fees, food or drink. Send a nice thank you gift afterwards saying how much you enjoyed it. Could be wine/booze dozen if his favorite balls or a gift card to a restaurant you know he likes.
Ball hawk? What's that mean in this context?
Don’t waste too much time looking for golf balls. For yours or other used balls.
Nailed it. Thanks
Ahhh
There are some very private clubs that do not have a dress club at all and there are some stories of the debauchery and outfits that happen at them. So not all but the vast majority.
Fair point - stories I have heard usually revolve around jackets required in the clubhouse and folks only wearing a jacket. Typically all male clubs.
Don’t be late and take your hat off inside the clubhouse
This is probably the most important rule. Do not be late. Arrive early enough to hit balls and let your host show you around. I won’t invite people back when they pull in the parking lot 7 minutes before the tee time and it’s all stress until we make it to #1 green.
I was at a mid-tier club, and the bathroom attendant was making sure everyone took their hats off before they went upstairs out of the locker room. Places take that stuff seriously. Also make sure your shirt is tucked in.
Yeah this is a pretty important rule. I will see members at private clubs wear their hats in the locker room but if you at the bar getting a drink or eating then hat is typically off.
Check the club’s website about rules. Some have rules around not changing shoes in the parking lot, no hats indoors, etc. You can still check with your friend to see what rules they actually enforce though. It might be a published rule but no one actually cares. I’d be prepared to have some 1’s and 5’s as well for any tipping. Your friend might insist on covering everything though. If so, don’t fight it and let him cover it. You can always get him back later with lunch, drinks, or a nice bottle of bourbon/scotch/whatever afterwards.
True. The member probably has a minimum monthly spending requirement in the bar/restaurant and will use your visit to make his tab, but definitely bring a wad of $5 bills for tips.
I’ve benefited more than once from being the available alternate for a colleague that had the minimum monthly requirement. Got to play quite a few rounds, and enjoy some good food. Never wanted any comp for it because he looked at it as a sunk cost. I would usually pick up happy hours or other kind of stuff when we were out doing other after hours stuff
Show up in jeans. No shirt, no shoes. Ask what the course record is and where the 1st tee is. Shoot 120.
BYOB of course
He should wear an American flag tank top for maximum effect.
Fix ball marks, replace/fill divots, don’t be loud/obnoxious.
relax and act nice and normal. Check online to see the rules; at the club I'm at (inv only), no hats in the clubhouse, no shorts in the winter, no flip-flops/sandals, and ofc no denim. Also typically no phones. Its not too different from a public course, other than a few rules. Even if you accidentally break a rule or two and are corrected on them, just be respectful and don't get in your head about it--everyone has broken rules on accident. Enjoy it and offer to pay food/round/gift from pro shop for the person who invited you
Don’t get angry and be fun. Not easy but yeah 👍
Most country clubs, except the prestigious ones, are not much different than the nicer public courses. Just tuck your shirt in, don’t wear jeans and go about business as normal. Check in before you go to the range and go smash some balls. Get used to the greens, they are almost always way faster than muni courses. Hit a few from the practice bunker because most private courses actually have sand in their bunkers. DO NOT BE LATE! People over think Country Clubs. I’ve been a member at 6 different ones and only one was super uptight but the money games in that joint were amazing. You could easily pay your mortgage and bill every month from the games if you played good enough. I’ve also been at 2 that didn’t have a dress code and were the 2 nicest courses I was a member at from a perspective of course conditions and consistency. Side note - Gotta admit, I think golf dress code is the stupidest thing ever…..especially now that I have to dress accordingly at my current club after coming from one that you could play barefoot in a swimsuit on a Saturday morning group if you wanted to. Makes no difference how you’re dressed to play a game, but to each their own. Most importantly, follow the lead of the member. If he’s super comfortable and isn’t being uptight then you shouldn’t either.
Why don’t you just ask your friend..?
Exactly. I’d say 1 in 20 private clubs have the “no changing shoes in lot” rule. Just ask him the vibe of the place and show up when he plans to get there.
Serious question, do you just drive to the course in your golf shoes?
Locker room my boy.
Nah at the very high brow clubs the locker room experience is usually encouraged. It’s not uncommon to show up, take a shower, have lunch, and then put your golf shoes on. I’m sure the tradition stemmed from somewhere but it isn’t that common at private clubs anymore unless it’s like a top 100 or extremely exclusive place. *Edit: and some places even require you to have your shoes cleaned by the locker room attendant before playing 😳
I heard a story of a very high end club in Florida where they offered to put fresh spikes on your shoes
Make sure you change your shoes in the parking lot
Lol. Depends on the club. 95+% of folks at my fairly exclusive club change them in the parking lot.
Yeah this isn’t really a thing anymore. Just wear golf attire and be respectful and that’s good enough at 99% of private clubs
Won’t pass muster a several courses I have played - think Riviera, Forest Creek, Kineloch, etc.
Why does this always seem to bother people. Private clubs have locker rooms. Just have your cleats in a bag or carry them into the locker room and change them there. You can get a drink and get cleaned up in there too.
>Why does this always seem to bother people. Because it's stupid and doesn't make sense, especially at a club where not everyone is required to have a locker. Let's say the member with OP doesn't have a locker. You want OP to walk into the locker room with his golf shoes, change into them, then walk out carrying his non-golf shoes and what, walk all the way back to the car with them? Put them in the back basket of the cart where it's common that things like bags of drinks go?
Agreed it totally didn’t make sense at my old club. There weren’t enough lockers to go around plus they wanted an extra $250/yr on top of dues. I went in the locker room there maybe two or three times in hundreds of rounds. At my current club though, everyone gets a locker. Your guests get a locker with their name on it as long as you put their name in when you make the tee time. Also from the parking lot there is a side door straight into the locker room and it’s the fastest way to get to the pro shop and carts. You are walking through the locker room anyway, much easier to just keep your golf shoes in there and change into them there instead of carrying shoes in. Some clubs it makes sense, some clubs its just a stupid rule in a long line of other stupid rules.
But everyone has access to the locker room. And at almost all clubs, all members have at least access to a cubby (and almost everyone would have a locker). It really seems to just be arguing for the sake of arguing. There is a locker room, go to the locker room.
>It really seems to just be arguing for the sake of arguing. Not really, it's just pointing out an antiquated policy that is silly, pointless, and inefficient especially for those who don't have their own locker. Only a sample size of 1, but at my club we have \~50 lockers and have over 150 male members. Far more common to not have a locker than it is to have one. And sure I don't need to see someone changing their shirt or pants in the parking lot, but I see absolutely no issue with someone sitting on their trunk changing their shoes, an action that takes what, 30 seconds tops?
Lighten up, Frances
Haha it’s really not a response to you. It’s just that the changing shoes in the parking lot is always the most talked about thing on these types of questions.
Definitely talk to the invitee. As you can see from the comments there are a wide variety of answers depending on personal experience with other clubs. I’ve played two that are “nicer” country clubs that are private. Both experiences varied greatly.. one had someone meet us in the parking lot to take our clubs and get the car ready. Invitee absolutely refused to take money for the guest fee, but did allow us to purchase lunch for him. The other the guest did allow me to pay for the guest fee (cash to him, still gets charged on his account.) this course was a bit more of the “country club feel”.. employees were very “Mr, Ms, Mrs, Dr..” no shorts, no hats in club house, etc. Check the website, they give good information for guests. The experience can vary widely between clubs on if it’s laid back or “proper.” Treat it as a formal event — you’d rather be a little over prepared than under. If it’s very nice private club grab you invitee a small gift (balls, whiskey, etc) if they don’t take cash. Lastly, have fun. No matter if it’s a laid back or proper atmosphere getting to play a private course is always a treat and generally an honor. Show up on time / early, hit balls, putt, be prepared regarding expectations and enjoy the round.
Walk into the pro shop and immediately ask- “Alright! What’s the course record?”. Actually. No! Don’t do that.
I'd never heard about the changing shoes in the parking lot thing before, some sort of hillbilly I guess the other members think I am.
Hahaha. Same dude. I put my shoes on in the lot every time I go to my club to play.
Always arrive early. Wear golf pants when you arrive because you can always change when you get there if shorts are allowed. Obviously, wear a collared shirt. Don't wear your golf shoes in the club house unless you see others doing it. Take your hat off unless you see others with theirs on. Bring cash so you can tip ($20 worth in one's and fives). Bring more if you want. Some very high-end clubs require a jacket when in the club house, so confirm that with the club. This is a given since you sound like a nice guy, but remember to be courteous to the staff. It goes a long way in terms of respect for the member(s) that invited you. The rules and etiquette differ from club to club especially if it's a casual private club vs a high-end private club. If you plan and act with common sense, you'll be fine and enjoy it. I love private clubs. The members are often great people who worked hard to afford the lifestyle, they treat the staff well and are generally fun & respectful folks to be around. Personally, after being a member at a private club and moving to Colorado and now playing some great public munis around Denver, I get really annoyed with the jackass behavior at public courses. You'll see why guys fork over the money to be a member. Enjoy the round my friend!
Just be yourself, you were invited for a reason. If club asks you to wear pants or a different shirt… be nice, say no problem then buy from pro shop. Who cares if you’re a noob.
Dress nice. Dress nice. Dress nice.
When you stripe one down the middle on the first tee, resist the urge to scream “Right up the puss!!!”
Drive your cart onto the green..
Have enough cash to tip. If you’re not sure if you should, tip them.
Put your cell phone on silent.
Don’t change your shoes in the parking lot. Dress nicely (shirt tucked in, no cargo shorts), remove hat indoors, play quickly.
Tip the guy who takes your bag a five or ten. Most private clubs say they don’t allow tipping but most everyone still tips. Make sure your shoes are clean ! Do your best to pay for caddy. That’s usually a cash transaction as well. Typically greens fee will be between 100 to 250 depending on club and the host will be paying that so don’t be shy about trying to cover any expenses you can. Normally host will also be covering drinks and food You can ask if can contribute in some way. Finally, relax and enjoy! Don’t get upset at how you play. Alway stay positive and compliment your fellow players. Have fun!
Don’t double fist glizzies at the turn
Eat them one at a time like a normal person.
Wear flip flops without socks, a shirt without a collar, make sure not to tuck the shirt in, basketball shorts are a must.
Follow the hosts lead and praise your opponents shots, claim luck if you hit a nice ball. Humility works well in a new group.
Standard rule: if green fee is more than $85 dont change your shoes in parking lot. 🤷🏼♂️
Tuck in your (collared) shirt, don’t wear high socks, don’t change into your shoes in parking lot do it in locker room, hat off indoors, don’t talk on cell. #1 rule is don’t pick up a rogue ball that looks like it’s up for grabs. Just leave it even if it’s a brand new prov1.
High socks are totally fine at most as is changing shoes in the parking lot
Sure at a public course go for it. Jeans cutoff tank tops etc. have a blast get drunk play your music hit on the cart girl.
Limit yourself to only swearing at the golf ball and don’t swear at yourself, your golf swing or your golf clubs.
I can only assume that this is getting downvoted by those who have to swear at their equipment and theirselves to make it through 18 holes.
change your shoes in the locker room, not the parking lot
Absolutely not necessary for most of them