By Alex Myers
This is a true story. We begin by saying that because your first thought will probably be This CAN’T possibly be a true story. But it is! A recreational golfer was turned away from playing a course because of his socks, specifically, the color of his socks. Again, this is a true story.

Thanks to our friends at Bunkered for sharing this tale of woe woven material. It seems a man named David Cole showed up to play Letchworth Golf Club in Hertfordshire (UK) and was told he wouldn’t be allowed to play with the black socks he was wearing. Here’s Cole’s tweet at the club (We assume he meant “sports”):

Got refused @GolfLetchworth as my socks were not white!.(they were black spots socks) I was wearing shorts and a polo shirt but still got refused! They would rather so no to £60 between me and my brother for a sock colour which you can hardly see! ? @TheClub @Dpugh54 #Golf

— Max Powers (@davidjcole77) August 20, 2018

When the club responded by confirming its Wimbledon-esque dress code included no black socks, but that Cole should have been offered the chance to change them, he tweeted this:

Hi @GolfLetchworth unfortunately I don’t carry spare socks but was told I could pay £7.50 for long non sports socks from your pro shop on top of my green fee! This I couldn’t bring myself to do. Would love to know the reasoning behind the white socks only rule? #golf

— Max Powers (@davidjcole77) August 20, 2018

Dress codes in golf are certainly nothing new and are debated all the time. Notably, the PGA Tour requires its players to wear pants even in sweltering conditions and the LPGA has taken criticism from a few of its stars over a stricter dress code that went into effect in 2017. On the local level, it’s common for clubs or even public courses to require the wearing of collared shirts and prohibit things like jeans, but being sticklers over what color socks someone is wearing? That’s a new one.

Golf Digest’s fashion guru Marty Hackel isn’t a fan of black socks on the course (I know from personal experience and now I’m scared to leave the house wearing them), but even he wouldn’t force someone to change them before playing. You can hardly see them sticking out of your shoes! At least one other English golf club chimed in to agree this rule is ridiculous and not doing the game of golf — or Letchworth Golf Club itself — any favours.

Rules should have a point and a purpose. In a time where golf clubs are financially failing all over the country and membership numbers are in decline, golf clubs who stick by old, outdated and pointless rules which cause people to feel unwelcome will die.

— Lancashire Golf (@LancsGolfReview) August 21, 2018

Anyway, in case you’re ever thinking of playing Letchworth, wear white socks. Again, this is really a thing. In 2018. Amazing.

The post Golfer not allowed to play because of his socks (Seriously. This really happened) appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.