Rickochet

In my mind there would be absolutely nothing wrong with tour players wearing a pair of nice golf shorts and an untucked-design collared shirt. It wouldn't sway my viewership interest whatsoever.

Over the years I've been privileged to play with some very accomplished head professionals in our region, in both a casual setting and tournaments. Most all of which were during the summer months, when it was 90+ degrees outside and nearing 100% humidity. They all wore pants. And several of them sweated just as profusely as I did in the summer heat and humidity, completely drenched in sweat by the 3rd or 4th hole. I just casually made the remark to one head pro that I was playing with one day, "man - I don't know how you guys handle wearing long pants on a day like today."

His reply: "We uphold the code."

Now mind you - a soldier who's been taken prisoner in war, who's sworn to not give any information to aid the enemy... that's what I think of when I hear the phrase, "We uphold the code."

I guess not wearing long pants on a hot summer day is a deal breaker as it relates to "the code."

As long as the so-called caretakers and rules makers of the game continue to fight change - they'll continue to experience declining interest across the board. The predominant stereotype of golf traditionally being a "wealthy white man's game" hasn't changed over the years, even despite Tiger's presence in the 2000's. It's only gotten more expensive, despite the numerous course closures and businesses closing their doors.

Golf is still stuffy. It's still too restrictive... can't wear this, can't wear that. Can't do this, can't do that. Can't buy the latest and greatest equipment unless you take out a second mortgage on your home. Can't listen to music while you play. Can't wear a nice shirt untucked. Can't wear your hat inside the clubhouse. Can't wear jeans if you decide to take your wife up to the club and have dinner one evening.

This all impacts perception. And the game, nor the industry, nor the game's caretakers and rules makers, don't seem willing to make some sort of reasonable compromise to sustain (or god forbid) increase interest.


      He looked good....and I would wear that shirt in a heartbeat!

      IMO it should be encouraged as the sport needs all the new golfers it can possibly muster. If he won a major it could make a big difference. The kids love Ricky!

      And lol at golfers hating on Ricky, I suppose pretty boys get hated on across the board.

      #GoPuma, Cobra, and Ricky

      PA-PLAYA Golf is still stuffy. It's still too restrictive... can't wear this, can't wear that.

      Almost all of the local courses in my area are close to going belly up. They only thing they don't allow are tank tops. And I am not sure why they even have bans on them. You see people in stores and restaurants every day wearing tanks.

        The company that makes that shirt had it's biggest sales day ever yesterday.
        Time for that old stodgy fashion needle to move a little bit in a more forward leaning direction!IMO

        You can't tuck in a Hawaiian shirt... Fashion snafu.

        Golf shirts I tuck mostly because my golf shorts are too big and I need the extra shirt material to fill in and hold up the shorts. The belt is on the first hole too.

        Most of the time I wear underarmour heat gear t shirt style and u don't tuck that.

          When I saw it, I thought how much more comfortable he looked than other guys and started wishing at least for the Hawaiian tourneys they'd allow knee length shorts and even wild prints Hawaiian shirts as Already seen in Pebble Beach pro am.
          I'd be a good start and probably help jump start making other improvements long overdue to golf.
          I bet the players would enjoy it and maybe even improve their play because of being comfortable. They aren't playing in N Scotland , for goodness gracious!
          Go Ricky! The style inovator.

          It's Ricky being Ricky. Pushing the fashion edges is his thing.

          ode I've tucked once in 20 yrs, that I can remember and it was when I played with Tom (Tcafla) in Tampa at his private club. They insisted. It was out by the time we hit the 1st green.....maybe earlier.

            Typhoon Golf shirts I tuck mostly because my golf shorts are too big and I need the extra shirt material to fill in and hold up the shorts. The belt is on the first hole too.

            Unfortunately.....I don't have that problem. 😆

              I wonder if he got a talkin' too today,had a regular PGA issue polo shirt on?

              Typhoon You can't tuck in a Hawaiian shirt... Fashion snafu.

              Bingo! Everyone dresses like that in Hawaii. Ricky was just trying to go native, and I'll bet the locals loved it.

                Bravo Ricky! Let them all wear them and shorts. PGA needs to update its code and let players be more comfortable.

                Y'all might want to take a few minutes to picture in your mind some of the styles you are advocating. For instance senior pga players in shorts, know by kneed, lacking color except for some of the brushing seen from meds.

                Not sure sponsors really want that image advertising their products.

                Rules and discipline add to a professional image imo. Most golf courses have relaxed the rules for the amateur golfer, and that probably has made golf a bit more accessible (👍). I don't see relaxing rules on professional fashions doing anything but reducing sponsors money into the game and the respect for the game.

                  I like the untucked look. I usually become untucked in the back anyway (all business in the front, party in the back) because I'm round shouldered and have a longer torso. However, when I do go untucked I get comments from the fashion police. Like you look like a bowler etc..

                  If it wasn’t for this thread, I wouldn’t have ever known. I watched a couple of hours and, except for the pattern, never even noticed his shirt. I generally think he looks like someone desperately wanting attention, but I didn’t even notice the untucked part.

                  Martee

                  Then I guess the overriding question would be this:

                  Is golf better off catering to the older, aging crowd, whose years of being active in playing the sport and watching on tv are limited, or should they be trying to appeal to the younger generation of players and potential would-be golfers who are ultimately being relied upon to carry on the interest of the sport and tv viewership when guys like you and me are no longer playing/watching?

                  There's definitely a generational gap here that has to be figured out. And for what it's worth, there are just as many 20-somethings needing car/home insurance, or financial needs, or whatever, as there are older viewers who might find that "image" unacceptable.

                  Who should they appeal to? Only those of us who might need Cialis?