124 replies to this topic

[hawaiiandude]

When the last guy holes out on the 18th green, everyone comes together and shakes each others hand and exchange pleasantries.

Now people take their hats off when doing so.  When did this become the norm? Does it make you more polite?

You see the PGA players do it all the time but as long as I have been playing this seems to be a more recent phenomenon.
People weren't doing this ten years ago, let alone 5 years ago.

I shake everyone's hand and tell them it was enjoyable round etc... but I don't take my hat off!

Thoughts?

Edited by hawaiiandude, 24 December 2012 - 02:32 PM.

[Man In The Miura]

I hear ya.  When one guy does it, I feel like I have to as well.  So I just do.  Whatever.  It's just part of the routine.  It's hard to be too polite nowadays anyway.  A little extra can't hurt.

[highergr0und]

It's a sign of respect allowing you to make eye contact during the handshake.

[Sawgrass]

I find it an interesting new "tradition."

While I would in no way judge someone who doesn't do it harshly, I have to admit that those who do this come across as being particularly nice.

That's a very nice kind of bandwagon, so let's get on it!

[Turbs]

I also remove sunglasses if I am wearing them, as mentioned in a prior post, its a sign of respect for your fellow players. I think its awesome... a fantastic oportunity to bring some of the "lost" manners from days gone by. My 3 year son old acompanies myself and grandpa when we play at the lake course and he is right in there shaking hands and thanking us for the round.

cheers.

[tmfool]

i get the question...

and if you read it closely - he is not asking why?

attempting to get at deeper root of question:

when did this become the norm?

and does it make you more polite?

[Turbs]

tmfool, on 24 December 2012 - 03:11 PM, said:

i get the question...

and if you read it closely - he is not asking why?

attempting to get at deeper root of question:

when did this become the norm?

and does it make you more polite?

I don't know when it became the norm, I have been playing golf since 1977 (14 year old playing muni's), and removing your hat was the norm then. As for part (B) I dont think it makes it more polite, its just the right thing to do....

cheers. turbs

[hawaiiandude]

Well im 45 and played competitive golf since I was 13.
My memory is that it was never done untill only recently.
I just went on youtube, and you can watch the last round of every Masters going back almost 20 years.
If you look at all the clips in the 90s, they did not take their hats off.
Freddy even kept his visor and sunglasses on!

Just sayin!

Edited by hawaiiandude, 24 December 2012 - 03:22 PM.

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

I don't remember seeing it until Tiger came around. He did it every time.

[tmfool]

KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE, on 24 December 2012 - 03:25 PM, said:

I don't remember seeing it until Tiger came around. He did it every time.

i think you're on to something here - at least to the extent it was popularized by PGA Tour and driven by television

similar to the matching color of hat to shirt - which was a quick fad about 7-10yrs ago (still around for some)

[freddyottawa]

I've always done this. I hadn't really given it much thought until this question was posed. For me, I think it came from playing with some older golfers when I was much younger. Now it just seems like the right thing to do when shaking hands with others on the 18th. I also remove my sunglasses like a poster mentioned above also.

That being said, in no way do I find it disrespectful or poor etiquette for someone not to do this. I will keep doing it however.

[Socrates]

It is becoming more common, but the OP is right - it wasn't common back in time.  Even now, it is awkward if, at the end of a round, one person does or doesn't do it.  Sort of have to try and figure out your playing partners (if you don't know them) and what might happen.  At the very least, I'll take off my sunglasses and tilt up my hat so they can at see my face.  I'll also do it at the introductions.

[Newby]

It is the norm in the UK.

It is and has been for centuries a sign of courtesy that gentlemen remove or tip their hats when shaking hands.
In the same way they remove hats when indoors (particularly when dining) and stand up when a lady enters the room.
It originates with medieval knights lifting their visors after jousting.

http://answers.yahoo...26193011AAOr8PU

Edited by Newby, 24 December 2012 - 07:08 PM.

[mdgboxx]

What I've noticed. We shake hands when we meet someone for the first time. We shake hands when we introduce ourselves (when matched with other people) on the first tee and, we DON'T take our hats off THEN. Common sense, tells us that we'll shake hands again when we part on the 18th.

When He holes out on the 18th, the Pro hands his putter to his caddy. Both his hands are free. I have my putter in one hand and I'm wearing a wide brim hat. I will shake hands with my playing partners but, I don't take my hat off. I can give a sincere handshake on the 18th, I also can go through the motion with someone improvising as a Teaching Pro, expert reader of a green from all sides, then end up with 40+ putts. You know, THAT Guy? Rest assured that the handshake won't be the same. Taking my hat off or not has nothing to do with how I feel at the time. I will however take off my sunglasses off if I'm wearing them. But, that's just ME, not the norm in any way.

Perhaps I should start giving hugs reeking of phony, like they do on the LPGA. If it disturbs you, THAT much, that I don't remove my hat on the 18th, then, YOU NEED a hug!

Edited by mdgboxx, 25 December 2012 - 05:05 PM.

[Sean2]

Newby, on 24 December 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:

It is the norm in the UK.

It is and has been for centuries a sign of courtesy that gentlemen remove or tip their hats when shaking hands.
In the same way they remove hats when indoors (particularly when dining) and stand up when a lady enters the room.
It originates with medieval knights lifting their visors after jousting.

http://answers.yahoo...26193011AAOr8PU

Thanks Newby.

I've always removed my hat (and sunglasses if I'm wearing them). I guess it's the knight in me. :-)

[Mr. Bean]

Newby, on 24 December 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:

It is the norm in the UK.

It is and has been for centuries a sign of courtesy that gentlemen remove or tip their hats when shaking hands.
In the same way they remove hats when indoors (particularly when dining) and stand up when a lady enters the room.
It originates with medieval knights lifting their visors after jousting.

http://answers.yahoo...26193011AAOr8PU

Precisely.

It gives me nausea to hear that people do not know how to behave on a golf course, let alone elsewhere! Not taking off one's hat when shaking hands with another person does not only show poor golf etiquette it shows poor manners in general. Same goes with wearing hats indoors (a cap is also a hat!).

O tempora, o mores... no manners anymore...

Edited by Mr. Bean, 25 December 2012 - 08:36 AM.

[profsmitty]

I wonder if we aren't talking about two separate things. In the States, we commonly shake hands with playing partners at the beginning and at the end of the round as a sign of friendship. Doffing one's cap is a sign of respect that has its roots with our British ancestors and friends. Combined, shaking hands and doffing one's cap are a very powerful comment on the friendship and respect golfers should have for each other. Like many other expressions of etiquette,

I suppose this artifact of our past and cultures makes very little sense if we try to dissect them looking for any practical or logical utility. They belong to another time and another place in time for utility. They only belong in the "now" for what they mean. It is the responsibility of one generation to pass the meaning of these gestures to the next or risk having them pass away.

BTW - I have also heard that doffing one's cap should be done at the end of the round - even when playing alone - as a sign of respect to the course.

[FLOGMR]

Mr. Bean, on 25 December 2012 - 08:31 AM, said:

Newby, on 24 December 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:

It is the norm in the UK.

It is and has been for centuries a sign of courtesy that gentlemen remove or tip their hats when shaking hands.
In the same way they remove hats when indoors (particularly when dining) and stand up when a lady enters the room.
It originates with medieval knights lifting their visors after jousting.

http://answers.yahoo...26193011AAOr8PU

Precisely.

It gives me nausea to hear that people do not know how to behave on a golf course, let alone elsewhere! Not taking off one's hat when shaking hands with another person does not only show poor golf etiquette it shows poor manners in general. Same goes with wearing hats indoors (a cap is also a hat!).

O tempora, o mores... no manners anymore...

+1000 on those comments.....actual manners are a quickly disappearing part of modern life. At 66 I am old enough to remember when all these things were common place...... Alas...no more!! Sad to watch.
Is it too hard to lift your cap/hat and shake hands with someone you have just spend 1/2 a day with??
It has always been a part of golf where I play.

Edited by FLOGMR, 25 December 2012 - 03:08 PM.

[BrianL99]

Mr. Bean, on 25 December 2012 - 08:31 AM, said:

Newby, on 24 December 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:

It is the norm in the UK.

It is and has been for centuries a sign of courtesy that gentlemen remove or tip their hats when shaking hands.
In the same way they remove hats when indoors (particularly when dining) and stand up when a lady enters the room.
It originates with medieval knights lifting their visors after jousting.

http://answers.yahoo...26193011AAOr8PU

Precisely.

It gives me nausea to hear that people do not know how to behave on a golf course, let alone elsewhere! Not taking off one's hat when shaking hands with another person does not only show poor golf etiquette it shows poor manners in general. Same goes with wearing hats indoors (a cap is also a hat!).

O tempora, o mores... no manners anymore...

Maybe I'm just in a cranky mood tonight, but your post is pretentious b.s. and quoting Yahoo is ludicrous.   Do a little more research and while you see that while  *some* so-called "experts" claim removing one's hat is proper hat etiquette, just as many will disagree that it is recommended etiquette when ENDING a conversation with a peer.

Look at photos of golf tournaments for the last 50 years and you'll see it was hardly ever done, until Elrod decided he wanted to embarrass and intimidate other players.  In my opinion, he single handedly created the issue over the last 15 years or so.   You surely don't see it in many other sports that I've ever seen.

[Mr. Bean]

BrianL99, on 25 December 2012 - 08:51 PM, said:

Mr. Bean, on 25 December 2012 - 08:31 AM, said:

Newby, on 24 December 2012 - 07:05 PM, said:

It is the norm in the UK.

It is and has been for centuries a sign of courtesy that gentlemen remove or tip their hats when shaking hands.
In the same way they remove hats when indoors (particularly when dining) and stand up when a lady enters the room.
It originates with medieval knights lifting their visors after jousting.

http://answers.yahoo...26193011AAOr8PU

Precisely.

It gives me nausea to hear that people do not know how to behave on a golf course, let alone elsewhere! Not taking off one's hat when shaking hands with another person does not only show poor golf etiquette it shows poor manners in general. Same goes with wearing hats indoors (a cap is also a hat!).

O tempora, o mores... no manners anymore...

Maybe I'm just in a cranky mood tonight, but your post is pretentious b.s. and quoting Yahoo is ludicrous.   Do a little more research and while you see that while  *some* so-called "experts" claim removing one's hat is proper hat etiquette, just as many will disagree that it is recommended etiquette when ENDING a conversation with a peer.

Well, isn't that what we are talking about here? Ending a round of golf..?

I agree, you are in a cranky mood. There is no justification for bad manners, and a person tipping of lifting his hat when shaking hands or saying hello to others shows good manners doing it, no matter how you look at it.

[Ghost_Orchid]

Sometimes I do it, sometimes I don't.  I play golf by the Rules of Golf, and I don't recall reading anywhere where you have to take your hat off.  I sometimes wear my hat a little crooked (its still functional because it still keep the sun from my eyes), sometimes I'm untucked, sometimes I wear dirty cleats; however I do fix my divots (and others divots), I keep up with the group in front of me and I won't talk during your backswing.  I'm on the course to golf!

To the OP, I don't know where the hats off tradition comes from, but its not one I usually follow.

[profsmitty]

To my friends who are scornful of the practice of taking off one's hat when shaking hands at the end of a golf match, please do what you think best. No one may even notice and fewer will care. However, I can say without a doubt that if you do observe the proprieties, people will notice. You will place yourself in elite company. You brand yourself who cares about being respectful of others. It's a small club but it costs almost nothing to join and the benefits can last a lifetime.

[jwrogers]

mdgboxx, on 24 December 2012 - 08:08 PM, said:

What I've noticed. We shake hands when we meet someone for the first time. We shake hands when we introduce ourselves (when matched with other people) on the first tee and, we DON'T take our hats off THEN. Common sense, tells us that we'll shake hands again when we part on the 18th.

I do take my hat off when shaking hands with someone, on the golf course or off.   I was taught it as a child.   It's a matter of manners.   Maybe it's a southern thing.   People were doing it 10 years ago.   They were doing it 30 years ago.   Your grandfather probably removed his hat when greeting someone.   It's where "tipping your cap" came from.  

I notice when other people don't remove their hats, too.

Edited by jwrogers, 25 December 2012 - 10:48 PM.

[jwrogers]

Amen to profsmitty, btw.   Well said.

[Str8Shot]

I think this has been common practice for some sports like golf and baseball after a round but maybe not common at your local course or who you play with. I mean for some people it is just shown out of respect for multiple reasons. I don't think it makes you a bad person for not doing so but I would say I would ask the people I play with if it bothers them you do not remove your hat after shaking hands! Just my 2 cents on the whole idea.

[Newby]

Someone who has been brought up to be polite and therefore expect others to be polite would be too well mannered to make any comment if common courtesy is not followed.

[kevcarter]

profsmitty, on 25 December 2012 - 10:33 PM, said:

To my friends who are scornful of the practice of taking off one's hat when shaking hands at the end of a golf match, please do what you think best. No one may even notice and fewer will care. However, I can say without a doubt that if you do observe the proprieties, people will notice. You will place yourself in elite company. You brand yourself who cares about being respectful of others. It's a small club but it costs almost nothing to join and the benefits can last a lifetime.

Great post!

[hawaiiandude]

Again, I will say this to all those that say its the "right" thing to do and that its always been done...
Go on and watch old golf tournaments, especially in the 90's and 80's.
You can go on youtube and watch Masters, US Open, Open Championship, whatever.
You will see it was not done 90% of the time!!

When Faldo beat Norman at the Masters, Norman kept his famous black brimmed straw hat on when shaking Faldo's hand!
Faldo, however, wasn't wearing a hat to take off (he hardly ever wore a hat).

When Floyd won his Masters, he didn't take off his visor!
When Freddy won his Masters, he kept his sunglasses and visor on!

I can go on and on.  Are you saying these people didn't have manners? Bollocks!
It was just the sign of the times.

Edited by hawaiiandude, 26 December 2012 - 09:48 AM.

[Big Ben]

I ALWAYS take my hat and sunglasses off to show respect and appreciation for my playing partners courtesy and more importantly company during the round. This world is so full of nothingness anymore I actually enjoy any opportunity to distinguish myself and display good sportsmanship, it's what defines our game from so many others. Regardless of rules old or new I think it's a true shame that some can not see the many benefits of being a gentleman...BB

Edited by Big Ben, 26 December 2012 - 10:48 AM.

[Kaysquare]

I have a question.  I don't really care if you take your hats off or not, but could you walk to your carts or whatever & do your handshakes & hugs so the people playing behind you can hit their shots to the green?