Okay, let’s talk about something I actually tried out myself: wearing sports shorts for golf. It’s a question I mulled over, especially on those really hot summer days.
My First Go At It
So, picture this: it was scorching hot one Tuesday afternoon, and I just wanted to hit a quick bucket of balls at the local driving range, nothing fancy. I grabbed my usual gym shorts – you know, the mesh kind, pretty loose, definitely comfortable. I figured, hey, it’s just the range, who’s gonna care? I threw them on, grabbed my clubs, and headed out.
At the range, nobody batted an eye. It was totally fine. I felt cool, I could swing freely, no problem. I thought, “Maybe this isn’t such a big deal after all.”
Trying It on a Course
Feeling a bit bold after the range success, a week later I decided to try it for a casual round at a nearby public course. This time, I wore a slightly different pair – still athletic shorts, but maybe a bit more like soccer shorts, made of that quick-dry material, no mesh, and a bit shorter. Still no belt loops, elastic waist.
Here’s where things got a bit trickier:
- Pockets: This was the main issue. My sports shorts pockets were shallow. Trying to keep a spare ball, a tee, a divot tool, and a ball marker in there? Stuff was constantly feeling like it would fall out, especially when bending over to tee up or mark my ball. Real golf shorts have proper, deeper pockets designed for this.
- The Look: While this public course was pretty relaxed, I did feel a little… underdressed compared to most other folks. They were wearing tailored golf shorts or trousers. My shorts just screamed “I came from the gym.” Didn’t get any comments, but I felt slightly out of place.
- Functionality: No belt loops meant I couldn’t easily clip my rangefinder case or a towel to my waist like I usually do with my golf shorts. Minor annoyance, but noticeable.
Checking the Rules (After the Fact)
Later, out of curiosity, I did look up the dress code for that specific public course, and even they technically preferred “tailored shorts.” Many nicer public courses and pretty much all semi-private or private clubs are much stricter. They often specify “no gym shorts,” “no athletic shorts,” or require shorts of a certain length, material (like chino), and definitely belt loops.
So, What’s the Verdict from My Experience?
Can you wear sports shorts for golf? Sometimes, maybe.
Here’s my practical breakdown:
- Driving Range? Usually, yes. Most ranges are super casual.
- Very Relaxed Public Course? Maybe, especially if they are the more modern, tailored-looking athletic shorts (not baggy mesh ones). But check their rules if you care about following them.
- Nicer Public, Semi-Private, or Private Club? Almost certainly no. You’ll likely get turned away or asked to change. They expect proper golf attire.
My final take: While sports shorts offer comfort, especially in heat, they lack the functionality (pockets, belt loops) and the appropriate look for most golf course settings. It just makes life easier, and shows a bit of respect for the game’s traditions and the specific course rules, to just wear actual golf shorts. They make performance golf shorts now that are super comfortable and breathable anyway, basically feeling like athletic wear but looking the part and having the right features. So, I went back to my proper golf shorts pretty quickly after my little experiment. It’s just less hassle and feels right on the course.
