Dress Code Violation = Default ??

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
I think if someone called their hand on that the nonsense would stop. USTA I don't think would hold up that nonsense. You can't impose your standards on everyone else. You can only impose that on the people that pay to be members of your club. I think if people don't say anything others tend to think it is okay and abide by it. It would never fly here...I can tell you that. We play teams from private clubs but we play at neutral sites. Maybe that's something that your area needs to take up as an idea.


There is a difference between most of these points and the ones that deal with attire. If you are playing as a guest in a USTA league event and are required to wear, say, a collared shirt, and you don't have one, you either have to go buy one, or set that match out. For most USTA players, purchasing an extra shirt just for this facility is not a big deal, however, for some it is.

I am currently a student, and as such, don't have a lot of money to spend on tennis. If I were to find out that the league match I have this week was to be played at a club that required a collared shirt, I would have to sit that one out. I know $30 for a collared isn't a lot, but when I add in the league fees and court fees I have already paid, it starts to get difficult to justify spending this much of my small tennis budget on these events.

Now, I don't expect to show up to a club and play in a t-shirt with the sleeves ripped out. I do own appropriate tennis apparel (just not collared shirts), that I have purchased when TW is running a good deal, but that is it, I only purchase my apparel when it is on sale and I can afford it.

When I graduate I will have more money, so a $30 expense won't be such a burden, but that doesn't mean someone else won't be in the same situation.
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
bs. It doesn't matter if they are 3 dollars. I've not read anything where USTA says you have to adhere to some attire club rules that have nothing to do with tennis. Sounds like some uppity folks that want to throw their weight around, if they are anything like the ones I run into, half of them aren't worth a damn and wear the most expensive tennis cloths money can buy to cover for the fact that they aren't worth a damn.


You can get a collared shirt for $10-15. If you go to discount places like marshalls, Ross, TJ maxx you can get them for under $10. If you have to sit out one match because you can't afford that, well I don't think you should lose any sleep over it.
 

cneblett

Rookie
bs. It doesn't matter if they are 3 dollars. I've not read anything where USTA says you have to adhere to some attire club rules that have nothing to do with tennis. Sounds like some uppity folks that want to throw their weight around, if they are anything like the ones I run into, half of them aren't worth a damn and wear the most expensive tennis cloths money can buy to cover for the fact that they aren't worth a damn.

Here in Jacksonville, there is a club that requires men to not play in sleeveless shirts. They a able to enforce it on non members during league play and a forfeit will be enforced by the Usta. The local rules state that you must follow the rules at the club for allowable clothing. You are also restricted at all the clay court clubs to wear tennis shoes to prevent the courts from being damaged. That is in place at every club twith clay courts.
 

goran_ace

Hall of Fame
If you have to default due to dress code don't blame the club or the USTA. Blame your captain for not reading your league rules and informing you. All USTA sanctioned tournaments and leagues require proper tennis attire nationwide and at the local level, if there is a such a club in your district, you will usually find in your league rules that you must adhere to the dress code of the host club.

A couple examples:
http://www.ustanorcal.com/JH2007/07jh_rules_regulation.html
http://www.batonrougetennis.com/archive/league/regulations/BatonRougeMasterLocalRegulations.pdf
http://documents.clubexpress.com/do...WFBQvv3/BFPGLQaTti74ApAizWCsIVUNsKiJaAAyrDQ==
 
bs. It doesn't matter if they are 3 dollars. I've not read anything where USTA says you have to adhere to some attire club rules that have nothing to do with tennis. Sounds like some uppity folks that want to throw their weight around, if they are anything like the ones I run into, half of them aren't worth a damn and wear the most expensive tennis cloths money can buy to cover for the fact that they aren't worth a damn.

My, my, sounds like someone has a big chip on their shoulder.
 

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
As a geezer-in-training, some of the posts on this thread are truly amazing.

I don't know what it is with younger people and their aversion to even the most basic concepts of proper dress. Flip flops at the White House. Cut-off shorts at weddings.

And now the dress-down forces are brazen enough to declare that they will do as they please when granted the privilege of being guests at private clubs.

It really is quite outrageous.

A friend who is a member of a country club has invited me to a cookout event. In her invitation, she informed me of the prohibition against denim. I think the idea that one cannot wear a designer denim jacket to a cookout is ridiculous.

But that is the rule, so I will wear . . . something else. I cannot imagine showing up in denim and announcing that I'm a guest and therefore shouldn't have to abide by the dress code.

Ah, well. The dress code objectors will enter the professional work force and find out soon enough how far noncompliance with official and unofficial dress code gets them.

Now get off my lawn!
 

pingu

Semi-Pro
That's one tough rule. Wherever I play, it's hardly to find any guy with collared shirt on. Especially now in summer time, 95% of players would wear some kind of dri-fit non-collar shirts :)
 

arche3

Banned
The problem in the original post is the visiting team was not informed of the dress code of collared shirts. And almost had to default. Not if the rule was legit for usta matches. If I was the captain for the home team and the visitor was not informed I would not in good conscience take a default due to a lack of communication.
 

goober

Legend
bs. It doesn't matter if they are 3 dollars. I've not read anything where USTA says you have to adhere to some attire club rules that have nothing to do with tennis. Sounds like some uppity folks that want to throw their weight around, if they are anything like the ones I run into, half of them aren't worth a damn and wear the most expensive tennis cloths money can buy to cover for the fact that they aren't worth a damn.

You need to do more reading. I have seen PLENTY of examples around the country in different districts. There are no national rules. USTA lets these matters be handled locally- as they should.
 

goran_ace

Hall of Fame
If I was the captain for the home team and the visitor was not informed I would not in good conscience take a default due to a lack of communication.

Tough situation. What do you mean by not take the default? You'd forfeit? Rescheduling a match can be hard in the same week, maybe at the end of the regular season if you have rain dates available - and just hope you don't actually have a rain-out later in the season. You can't declare a tie/no winner because it may affect league standings and playoff eligibility. Also, as the host team you're still paying for the court time/reservation for the block of courts.
 

goober

Legend
The problem in the original post is the visiting team was not informed of the dress code of collared shirts. And almost had to default. Not if the rule was legit for usta matches. If I was the captain for the home team and the visitor was not informed I would not in good conscience take a default due to a lack of communication.

Would you take a default if it were posted on league website but the home captain didn't otherwise email or call the opposing captain to remind them? I have seen several defaults because of visiting team captain didn't notice that the start time was 1 hour earlier or the venue was not the regular place where the team played but it was clearly stated on the league website.
 

souledge

Semi-Pro
The answer is not so simple. I actually doubt they are ever going to implement a national attire rule for league play OR some provision that requires clubs to drop their own rules. USTA is a business. Dropping teams and clubs from league play is not in their interest. In reality these pretentious clubs are few and far between. Many districts don't even have clubs that would fall into this category so I doubt there will ever be any national outcry over this. So they are not going to grow a set, nor from their point, should they. They are probably going to do nothing.

It's simple, they need to grow a set.

You need to do more reading. I have seen PLENTY of examples around the country in different districts. There are no national rules. USTA lets these matters be handled locally- as they should.

Disagree entirely. The USTA needs a stance for USTA matches. Either that or a reimbursement program giving me reimbursement for any purchases I might have to make under these rules. Obviously they won't do that though.

Under current USTA rules, it is what it is, but I think those rules need to be changed.
 
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souledge

Semi-Pro
As a geezer-in-training, some of the posts on this thread are truly amazing.

I don't know what it is with younger people and their aversion to even the most basic concepts of proper dress. Flip flops at the White House. Cut-off shorts at weddings.

And now the dress-down forces are brazen enough to declare that they will do as they please when granted the privilege of being guests at private clubs.

It really is quite outrageous.

A friend who is a member of a country club has invited me to a cookout event. In her invitation, she informed me of the prohibition against denim. I think the idea that one cannot wear a designer denim jacket to a cookout is ridiculous.

But that is the rule, so I will wear . . . something else. I cannot imagine showing up in denim and announcing that I'm a guest and therefore shouldn't have to abide by the dress code.

Ah, well. The dress code objectors will enter the professional work force and find out soon enough how far noncompliance with official and unofficial dress code gets them.

Now get off my lawn!

Way to miss the point. If I'm directly invited to a function of a club, then I will respect their codes and etiquette. I play golf a different member establishments frequently and always make sure I dress in accordance with their rules.

However, if all I'm doing is signing up for a league where I have no expectation of dress codes, and sanctioned by a body that has no requirement as such, then I'm going to be ****ed off if a club that's holding a league match by this sanctioning body enforces its own dress code separate from any other league match that I've ever played. I would go so far as to call it gamesmanship as to not let me wear my preferred competitive attire during a competitive match. I would strongly ask to either have the club drop its dress code for the match, negotiate with the opposing team captain to have all matches during the season between the two teams played on neutral ground or if the other team is unwilling, talk to the league coordinator and have that private club removed from the list of playing venues indefinitely, until they change their code for USTA matches.

Now, if I sign up for a private club league, you'll see me there in all whites, ready to go.

To me, it matters who the sanctioning body of the league is, not where the venue of the match is played. Matches sanctioned by the USTA, being there to promote tennis to general public, should not be subject to exclusionary conditions, such as a dress code, any more onerous than its own general rules.
 

Overdrive

Legend
Way to miss the point. If I'm directly invited to a function of a club, then I will respect their codes and etiquette. I play golf a different member establishments frequently and always make sure I dress in accordance with their rules.

However, if all I'm doing is signing up for a league where I have no expectation of dress codes, and sanctioned by a body that has no requirement as such, then I'm going to be ****ed off if a club that's holding a league match by this sanctioning body enforces its own dress code separate from any other league match that I've ever played. I would go so far as to call it gamesmanship as to not let me wear my preferred competitive attire during a competitive match. I would strongly ask to either have the club drop its dress code for the match, negotiate with the opposing team captain to have all matches during the season between the two teams played on neutral ground or if the other team is unwilling, talk to the league coordinator and have that private club removed from the list of playing venues indefinitely, until they change their code for USTA matches.

Now, if I sign up for a private club league, you'll see me there in all whites, ready to go.

To me, it matters who the sanctioning body of the league is, not where the venue of the match is played. Matches sanctioned by the USTA, being there to promote tennis to general public, should not be subject to exclusionary conditions, such as a dress code, any more onerous than its own general rules.

This is pretty much the best point here (that I have read).

I would like to see private clubs in the future have a more relaxed dress code to attract the players who don't have to worry about what to wear when they play tennis (I'm meaning 'proper' tennis attire). Because of the strict dress codes in facilities around the country, a lot of people conceive that tennis is an elitist sport.

In this case, it is.

Hopefully, this negative stigma will go away soon. Other than that, I don't see any changes.
 

arche3

Banned
Tough situation. What do you mean by not take the default? You'd forfeit? Rescheduling a match can be hard in the same week, maybe at the end of the regular season if you have rain dates available - and just hope you don't actually have a rain-out later in the season. You can't declare a tie/no winner because it may affect league standings and playoff eligibility. Also, as the host team you're still paying for the court time/reservation for the block of courts.

Not forfeit. Take the match somewhere there is no dress code. Or convince the club to look the other way. I belong to a pretty snooty country club. There is noone policing the dress code. Just play the match and noone will be the wiser. If someone complains the match is over in 2 hours. People run these clubs not a police force. There are always ways to get what you want done. Worst case reschedule the match somewhere else. At least recognize the fact that there was an error in communication and make an attempt to play even if rescheduling. This is not the us open. But if a captain of the home team shows up and informs the visitors they are not up to dress code without informing them of it and declares a win. He is technically correct but he or she is an idiot and unsportsmanlike to do so.
 
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Way to miss the point. If I'm directly invited to a function of a club, then I will respect their codes and etiquette. I play golf a different member establishments frequently and always make sure I dress in accordance with their rules.

However, if all I'm doing is signing up for a league where I have no expectation of dress codes, and sanctioned by a body that has no requirement as such, then I'm going to be ****ed off if a club that's holding a league match by this sanctioning body enforces its own dress code separate from any other league match that I've ever played. I would go so far as to call it gamesmanship as to not let me wear my preferred competitive attire during a competitive match. I would strongly ask to either have the club drop its dress code for the match, negotiate with the opposing team captain to have all matches during the season between the two teams played on neutral ground or if the other team is unwilling, talk to the league coordinator and have that private club removed from the list of playing venues indefinitely, until they change their code for USTA matches.

Now, if I sign up for a private club league, you'll see me there in all whites, ready to go.

To me, it matters who the sanctioning body of the league is, not where the venue of the match is played. Matches sanctioned by the USTA, being there to promote tennis to general public, should not be subject to exclusionary conditions, such as a dress code, any more onerous than its own general rules.

By the time a thread gets to two or more page the POINT has long ago been lost--and probably the match. I play in Senior Age Group tournaments and am always careful to READ the INFO for important facts like: what kind of ball will be used, satellite courts away from the main event site that may be used for early matches AND dress codes. If you were not informed of the dress code for that venue, it's the fault of your captain for not doing his job or yours for not taking the time to read the info you should have been given. If the event were held at a nudist colony would you demand they change their dress code just for you?

"SANCTIONING BODY"?, I've never seen anybody from USTA at a league match or paying a visit to any courts I've played on except at tournaments, otherwise they have no presence at all--it's the inmates running the asylum.
 

arche3

Banned
By the time a thread gets to two or more page the POINT has long ago been lost--and probably the match. I play in Senior Age Group tournaments and am always careful to READ the INFO for important facts like: what kind of ball will be used, satellite courts away from the main event site that may be used for early matches AND dress codes. If you were not informed of the dress code for that venue, it's the fault of your captain for not doing his job or yours for not taking the time to read the info you should have been given. If the event were held at a nudist colony would you demand they change their dress code just for you?

"SANCTIONING BODY"?, I've never seen anybody from USTA at a league match or paying a visit to any courts I've played on except at tournaments, otherwise they have no presence at all--it's the inmates running the asylum.

This is because your obsessive about preparing. Most people just show up. If I had to prepare for a match like you I wouldn't even bother playing. Check the type of balls used? Really?
 
I would like to see private clubs in the future have a more relaxed dress code to attract the players who don't have to worry about what to wear when they play tennis (I'm meaning 'proper' tennis attire). Because of the strict dress codes in facilities around the country, a lot of people conceive that tennis is an elitist sport.

Well, if I was at my snooty club and saw you showing up in the outfit you've got on in your avatar, I would point you to the transgender locker room.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
By the time a thread gets to two or more page the POINT has long ago been lost--and probably the match. I play in Senior Age Group tournaments and am always careful to READ the INFO for important facts like: what kind of ball will be used, satellite courts away from the main event site that may be used for early matches AND dress codes. If you were not informed of the dress code for that venue, it's the fault of your captain for not doing his job or yours for not taking the time to read the info you should have been given. If the event were held at a nudist colony would you demand they change their dress code just for you?

"SANCTIONING BODY"?, I've never seen anybody from USTA at a league match or paying a visit to any courts I've played on except at tournaments, otherwise they have no presence at all--it's the inmates running the asylum.

Are you at the level where the type of ball makes a difference?

BTW, anyone know of any nudist tennis colonies or camps?
 
As a geezer-in-training, some of the posts on this thread are truly amazing.

I don't know what it is with younger people and their aversion to even the most basic concepts of proper dress. Flip flops at the White House. Cut-off shorts at weddings.

They've been brought up in the nanny state, years of self-esteem classes, wanting all the rights and none of the responsibilities of citizenship--it will come around to bite them soon enough--when a society gets this out of balance it always does.
 

goober

Legend
Way to miss the point. If I'm directly invited to a function of a club, then I will respect their codes and etiquette. I play golf a different member establishments frequently and always make sure I dress in accordance with their rules.

However, if all I'm doing is signing up for a league where I have no expectation of dress codes, and sanctioned by a body that has no requirement as such, then I'm going to be ****ed off if a club that's holding a league match by this sanctioning body enforces its own dress code separate from any other league match that I've ever played. I would go so far as to call it gamesmanship as to not let me wear my preferred competitive attire during a competitive match. I would strongly ask to either have the club drop its dress code for the match, negotiate with the opposing team captain to have all matches during the season between the two teams played on neutral ground or if the other team is unwilling, talk to the league coordinator and have that private club removed from the list of playing venues indefinitely, until they change their code for USTA matches.

Now, if I sign up for a private club league, you'll see me there in all whites, ready to go.

To me, it matters who the sanctioning body of the league is, not where the venue of the match is played. Matches sanctioned by the USTA, being there to promote tennis to general public, should not be subject to exclusionary conditions, such as a dress code, any more onerous than its own general rules.

This problem is easily solved. Change your expectations when signing up for a league. Your expectations should be to follow the rules of the establishment you are playing at. If they have indoor courts and strict time limits- well you are going to play a timed match. To me that is a MUCH more onerous change than having to wear a collared shirt. This actually changes the scoring mechanics, potential outcomes AND introduces all kinds of gamesmanship, but people don't seem to be upset about that as what they have to wear. The "sanctioning body" in this case has basically already decided that you have to follow the rules of the local facility.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
It is actually the older generation today which succeeded with minimal education, lack of competition and harassing anyone they didn't like, and are now trying to game the system to squeeze every cent of money out of the younger generation to pay for their imagined ailments as they try to be as young as possible, not to mention concocting wars and conflicts and leaving the burden to future generations. Truly a very stupid and bigoted generation who thought they were moral because they followed dress codes or said thank you at every opportunity, while creating destruction on a large scale and denying basic rights to others.
 

OrangePower

Legend
This problem is easily solved. Change your expectations when signing up for a league. Your expectations should be to follow the rules of the establishment you are playing at. If they have indoor courts and strict time limits- well you are going to play a timed match. To me that is a MUCH more onerous change than having to wear a collared shirt. This actually changes the scoring mechanics, potential outcomes AND introduces all kinds of gamesmanship, but people don't seem to be upset about that as what they have to wear. The "sanctioning body" in this case has basically already decided that you have to follow the rules of the local facility.

I think that's an excellent point.

You would be entirely correct if one knew in advance which facilities one would be playing at, and each posted their rules and regulations.

However, at least in my league, one does not know ahead of time who the matches will be against and where. USTA arranges the flights and home/away schedule after teams and most people have already signed up. And to add to that, it is not always straightforward to find out the rules and regulations of each facility.

If USTA made it known up front which facilities one would be playing at and what their rules are, then yes, one would be able to decide up front whether one can comply, and then decide whether or not to join the league accordingly.

But since this is not currently the case, the only other reasonable alternative is for USTA to ensure that all hosting facilities use rules that are within the typical expectation of players.
 

arche3

Banned
It all depends if you're there for the beer or to compete--balls can make a big difference.

Ok sure. But most players I know who win just show up and win. Id focus my energy on making any type of tennis ball behave the way I want than worrying about the type of ball.

True story. I played a hartru tourney in my club. The club provides balls. I grab a can. Wilson light duty. My opponent brings a can himself penn extra duty. He insists we play with those. I agree. No big deal i tell him. I breadstick him and take the new can we didnt use home with me. Free balls yah!

Its not the balls tom.
 
It is actually the older generation today which succeeded with minimal education, lack of competition and harassing anyone they didn't like, and are now trying to game the system to squeeze every cent of money out of the younger generation to pay for their imagined ailments as they try to be as young as possible, not to mention concocting wars and conflicts and leaving the burden to future generations. Truly a very stupid and bigoted generation who thought they were moral because they followed dress codes or said thank you at every opportunity, while creating destruction on a large scale and denying basic rights to others.

Keep reading your Saul Alinsky sonny , maybe you can get role in Hillary's cabinet or at the pot office.
 

goober

Legend
I think that's an excellent point.

You would be entirely correct if one knew in advance which facilities one would be playing at, and each posted their rules and regulations.

However, at least in my league, one does not know ahead of time who the matches will be against and where. USTA arranges the flights and home/away schedule after teams and most people have already signed up. And to add to that, it is not always straightforward to find out the rules and regulations of each facility.

If USTA made it known up front which facilities one would be playing at and what their rules are, then yes, one would be able to decide up front whether one can comply, and then decide whether or not to join the league accordingly.

But since this is not currently the case, the only other reasonable alternative is for USTA to ensure that all hosting facilities use rules that are within the typical expectation of players.


I don't know how things work in your area, but in my district teams have to register well before the season begins. There is a deadline for the team to register(with their facility), then that is followed usually be a period of 2-4 weeks where the team must have a minimum number of players on the roster before the season starts. So we always know what teams and facilities are being used before we sign up.

No we don't get every facilities rules and regulations posted online, we are just told that you have to follow the rules of the host facility. People are getting all worked up over dress codes- which is minor thing in my view. How about things that actually affect the outcome of the match that the home team can pull on you? One team had their start time at 6 pm on a week night. It is really hard to put together a full team when half your members can't make it because of their work conflicts or driving/traffic issues. Or how about another team forcing a split time for 5 courts - one at 6 pm and one 8 pm, because that is all that is available on their courts that night.

My expectation after years of captaining- is follow the host facilities requirements and be flexible. So far I have never had my expectation exceeded :)
 

eelhc

Hall of Fame
We have a disconnect. I never said anything about dressing up or down. I do as required when granted guest privileges at a private club/function. I own a tux/dinner jacket (with proper shoes) for weddings, galas and other formal events where most people are "brazen" (your words) enough to dress down in business attire (Suits with lace up shoes).. might as well be in cutoff jeans... neither meet dress codes for a formal event. Dress code is a just part of this discussion. The real question is who governs the rules and practices of USTA matches? If a private club invites a public organization to host the public organization's event. IMO that organization governs that event. Might be apples and oranges but this is more evident in Golf (USGA events)... But then I generally find the Golf to be a more civil sport with better etiquette than Tennis (I play both).
As a geezer-in-training, some of the posts on this thread are truly amazing.

I don't know what it is with younger people and their aversion to even the most basic concepts of proper dress. Flip flops at the White House. Cut-off shorts at weddings.

And now the dress-down forces are brazen enough to declare that they will do as they please when granted the privilege of being guests at private clubs.

It really is quite outrageous.

A friend who is a member of a country club has invited me to a cookout event. In her invitation, she informed me of the prohibition against denim. I think the idea that one cannot wear a designer denim jacket to a cookout is ridiculous.

But that is the rule, so I will wear . . . something else. I cannot imagine showing up in denim and announcing that I'm a guest and therefore shouldn't have to abide by the dress code.

Ah, well. The dress code objectors will enter the professional work force and find out soon enough how far noncompliance with official and unofficial dress code gets them.

Now get off my lawn!
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Ah, well. The dress code objectors will enter the professional work force and find out soon enough how far noncompliance with official and unofficial dress code gets them.

It will get them quite far in many innovative environments where the real game-changing ideas come from. It will not get them far in stuffy lawyer or financial offices.

Also, dressing professionally when required for work is not the same as dumbly following dress codes in a country club. A smart person does not need to approach both with the same deference. He can show up smart for work as well as give the country club the finger.
 

goober

Legend
We have a disconnect. I never said anything about dressing up or down. The real question is who governs the rules and practices of USTA matches? If a private club invites a public organization to host the public organization's event. IMO that organization governs that event. Might be apples and oranges but this is more evident in Golf (USGA events)... But then I generally find the Golf to be a more civil sport with better etiquette than Tennis (I play both).

Yes there is a big disconnect. The USTA is not a public organization. It is private. So a private club is not hosting a public organizations event. It is hosting another private organization's event.

1. Are these clubs violating any national USTA rule regarding dress codes: NO

2. Do most, if not all, USTA districts allow for the local club to set rules- such what courts, court times, attire, parking- YES

You make it sound like there is some huge discordance between these clubs and the USTA when in fact there isn't. The only real discordance is from some visiting players who are upset yet can't really point to what USTA code these clubs are violating.
 

musto9030

New User
No, unless you meant it as a joke

Read the wikipedia page on Augusta National Golf Club. Up until last year they refused to allow women to join the club. Up until 1990 they did not allow blacks, and there have been some other past policies they have had that were discriminatory. And incase you don't know much about gold, this club is one of the most famous in the world. So, yes, private clubs can discriminate among the members they allow to join.

It's sad, but true.
 

goober

Legend
Read the wikipedia page on Augusta National Golf Club. Up until last year they refused to allow women to join the club. Up until 1990 they did not allow blacks, and there have been some other past policies they have had that were discriminatory. And incase you don't know much about gold, this club is one of the most famous in the world. So, yes, private clubs can discriminate among the members they allow to join.

It's sad, but true.
This has always been true. Anybody can start a private club and exclude whomever they want. There are plenty of private clubs and organizations that are women only, gays only, one specific race or ethnicity only. Only public entities are subject to antidiscrimination laws. Private companies that receive federal dollars also can have funding pulled if they don't follow suit.
 

musto9030

New User
As a geezer-in-training, some of the posts on this thread are truly amazing.

I don't know what it is with younger people and their aversion to even the most basic concepts of proper dress. Flip flops at the White House. Cut-off shorts at weddings.

And now the dress-down forces are brazen enough to declare that they will do as they please when granted the privilege of being guests at private clubs.

It really is quite outrageous.

Now get off my lawn!

From what I have read on this thread, it doesn't sound like many (anyone?) here is against dress codes. It is when a dress code is one that is out of the ordinary or unexpected that it is a problem. Most golf courses require men to wear collared shirts. Back when I played golf, I had golf polos and wore them whenever I played (even if the course didn't require them).

The majority of tennis clubs (all of them in my area) do not have specific dress codes. Before reading this thread, anytime I would have been invited to play tennis at a club, I would assume that my normal tennis crew tops would meet the dress code. If I didn't find out that the club had a collared shirt rule until I got there and was not allowed to play I would be very frustrated.

As far as who gets to decide the dress code for a USTA match at a private club, I am completely fine with the club enforcing their dress code as long as it is made clear up front. At that point I can decide if I have the required apparel, wish to purchase the apparel, or sit this event out.
 

souledge

Semi-Pro
The problem lies in the consistency between areas. In goober's area, everything is explained beforehand and everyone knows. Fine, if I sign up for that, then I agree to follow the conditions I signed up for.

In OrangePower's case, this is not the situation. People are signing up under one set of expectations based on the information presented to them when signing up. If the rules change after the fact, how can you hold the people responsible for rules that they did not explicitly agree to?

You expect bad times for matches and unavailability of personnel. You don't expect a collared shirt to be the thing that prevents you from playing when you sign up for a league, unless you are told that when you sign up.

That is the essence of the problem.

Also, inmates running the asylum? Not the best way to promote your brand. Consistency does wonders in keeping everyone happy.
 
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RetroSpin

Hall of Fame
From what I have read on this thread, it doesn't sound like many (anyone?) here is against dress codes. It is when a dress code is one that is out of the ordinary or unexpected that it is a problem. Most golf courses require men to wear collared shirts. Back when I played golf, I had golf polos and wore them whenever I played (even if the course didn't require them).

The majority of tennis clubs (all of them in my area) do not have specific dress codes. Before reading this thread, anytime I would have been invited to play tennis at a club, I would assume that my normal tennis crew tops would meet the dress code. If I didn't find out that the club had a collared shirt rule until I got there and was not allowed to play I would be very frustrated.

As far as who gets to decide the dress code for a USTA match at a private club, I am completely fine with the club enforcing their dress code as long as it is made clear up front. At that point I can decide if I have the required apparel, wish to purchase the apparel, or sit this event out.

Well stated.

I think the real problems arise when a club goes to extremes. Most country clubs have fairly similar rules, eg no denim, no cutoffs, no wifebeaters, no tee shirts, no sports bras or compression shorts without coverups. Not too many people have an issue with those.

I think it is a bit unfair to enforce additional rules, eg all white, special shoe rules, only collared shirts, etc, for USTA league matches, but if they are going to do so, it must be disclosed at the time of league signup. I probably would skip a league if it meant I was going to have to buy special shoes, etc.
 
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