Quote Originally Posted by ronstew View Post
Friend Jeff,

If it is truly a matter of principle, why did you change into pants instead of requiring a refund on the spot? I suspect the answer is that you were flustered, which would be fair enough.
Friend Ron

It is much as CDN Sushi says above. I was not flustered, merely crushed between several variables, not the least of which was time. I had exactly 45 minutes from the time Troon's dress code decision was made, and the time we were required to be teeing off, else we would ALL four lose our tee time and our prepaid greens fees (not cheap). We were notified in advance of the dress code (NO SHORTS) and aware that we needed to show up appropriately attired, and I even went so far as to write our tour operator to notify him I planned on playing all rounds kilted (if possible) and got no negative response to that notification. We were also aware of the cancellation policy being for the whole foursome, not just myself, even if only one member was late or inappropriately dressed. As it took 20 minutes drive each way plus time to change in the hotel room I was forced to make a rather heavy weighted decision within a matter of seconds. I had no time to seek out further club officials, as I did the next day at Muirfield (where I had come prepared with pants in the bus just in case).

There was no option of a refund, no chance for a delayed tee time to allow for a protest and request a higher official to rule in, and only enough time to make the drive and switch into pants or else ruin the possibility of the whole round for my whole foursome, including three "appropriately" attired friends who also had their prepaid monies on the line because of my decision. I believe I made the right one----live to fight another day---and played in pants, but with a well circulated complaint in place even before the teeoff.

After some clever reflection, were the situation to arise again I would simply have bought some rain pants in the clubhouse, put them on under the kilt (would look silly but meet the club requirements) for the first hole tee off, then removed the rain pants after the first hole and played kilted despite the rule. I doubt they would have pulled me off the course partway through the round, and if they did threaten to do so, I could have put the rain pants back on again. But due to time constraints my options were limited, and I did not come up with this one soon until after the round was completed.

Anyway, back from the trip late last night. Played 8 rounds in 7 days, 4 rounds in medium to heavy rains and four in either overcast or sunny weather. 7 of the 8 rounds were kilted, and in each of those 7 cases I had folks taking pictures, asking to pose with me, etc... We had fun, I did not play up to my game, but had some moments of brilliance among the general hacking and slicing and topping of small white dimpled balls through the brush. Interestingly, other than overnight a couple times, the only times it rained wherever we were was when we were on the golf course. Cannot count the number of times we would be finishing a round just as the rain stopped and the sun came out to shine on us while we enjoyed a wee nip and some lunch afterwards. Brought home my expected "Edinburgh" vacation tan, otherwise known in Kentucky as "frog belly" white skin.


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