Green Camouflage Patterns and Slippers/Sandals Prohibited
Shorts Allowed Only During Practice Rounds in July and August
Two Cases of Disciplinary Action for Violations...Fines Imposed
Sam Ryder (USA) is taking a shot in the final round of the Farmers Insurance held on the 29th of last month at Torrey Pines GC in San Diego, California, USA. [Photo by Yonhap News]
At last month's PGA Tour Farmers Insurance event in the United States, the highlight was Sam Ryder's (USA) "purple tracksuit." The deep purple color and the loose pants that clearly revealed the ankles were a rare sight at the typically reserved and formal PGA tournament, making it the best cut of the day.
In principle, wearing tracksuits is allowed on the PGA Tour. The PGA only has regulations regarding the length of pants and no other restrictions. Since Rickie Fowler first tried wearing tracksuits in 2016, Eric Van Rooyen followed suit. However, it is unlikely to see players like Ryder in Korea.
According to the Korean Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) tour dress code as of the 3rd, all players participating in tournaments must wear collared shirts and long pants. The long pants mentioned here are limited to "golf wear," excluding tracksuits and similar attire. Shirts must be neatly tucked into the pants, and colors are allowed except for green camouflage patterns. Slippers, sandals, and similar footwear are also prohibited.
So far, there have been only two cases of disciplinary action for violating these rules. In July 2014, Kim, a pro wearing round tees during the KPGA Frontier Tour, which was then a third-tier tour, was fined 300,000 won for improper attire. In 2018, Park, a pro who wore slippers at the KPGA Korean Tour Genesis Championship, was fined 500,000 won.
Unlike the PGA, which allowed shorts for the first time in 90 years, the KPGA has much stricter regulations regarding length.
In March 2019, the PGA revised its dress code to allow shorts during pro-am events and practice rounds. The reason was that the old culture of taboo against exposing leg or armpit hair had become outdated and weakened. However, shorts must not rise above the knees, and leggings worn under shorts are restricted to solid colors without patterns.
Despite this global trend, the KPGA only permits shorts during practice rounds. Even then, it is only allowed for tournaments held in July and August after consultation with the golf course. Shorts shorter than the knees are not allowed.
The situation is similar for amateur golfers. Some private golf clubs maintain dress codes stricter than professional tournaments. For example, they either do not allow shorts at all or require long socks reaching the knees if shorts are permitted.
A KPGA official said, "Nowadays, with many clothing brands emerging and golf wear designs becoming more diverse, it is true that dress codes are becoming more relaxed. However, it is also true that a culture emphasizing neatness and formality still remains, especially in official tournaments and some private golf clubs."
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