These New Dress Code Restrictions For Female Golfers Are Totally Ridiculous
It would seem that to every regulatory body in sport, female athletes have been wearing targets on their back. Only a couple of days ago, there was outrage when the WTA encouraged Wimbledon fans to rate the female tennis players for their style rather than their skill, and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) seem to be taking a similar leaf out of their book.
According to an email sent by LGPA Player President Vicki Goetze-Ackerman to Golf Digest, the following dress code rules are being put into place:
“Racerback with a mock or regular collar are allowed (no collar = no
racerback)Plunging necklines are NOT allowed.
Leggings, unless under a skort or shorts, are NOT allowed
Length of skirt, skort, and shorts MUST be long enough to not see your bottom area (even if covered by under shorts) at any time, standing or bent over.
Appropriate attire should be worn to pro-am parties. You should be dressing yourself to present a professional image. Unless otherwise told “no,” golf clothes are acceptable. Dressy jeans are allowed, but cut-offs or jeans with holes are NOT allowed.
Workout gear and jeans (all colors) NOT allowed inside the ropes
Joggers are NOT allowed.”
Credit: LPGA
Firstly I want to know, since when were racerbacks, leggings or joggers inappropriate? This is yet another example of the sporting world shaming female athlete's bodies, and prioritising how they look over their skill. This is likely to cause problems for female golfers, because their clothes generally come through sponsors; with these new (but totally old) rules put in place, it could be enough to put sponsors off dressing female golfers entirely.
If you're found breaching these new dress code regulations, you'll land yourself a $1000 fine. Any further violations and the penalty charge doubles.
Athletes should be able to move in the clothes that they wear, and comfort is an obvious factor to help performance. Maybe the LGPA should be less worried about placing the importance of the male gaze above a woman's worth, and more focused on the incredible talent of the women whose bodies are being policed.
