A dear friend of mine recently brought up a dining dilemma that left him utterly perplexed, and admittedly, had me clutching my pearls and gently wincing!
He mentioned that time after time, he watches players come in from a spirited round of golf or an energetic match on the tennis court, step into the club dining room, remove their baseball caps, golf hats, or sports visors, and promptly set them right on top of the dining table. Ewww!
Whether a gentleman or lady, being active outdoors is wonderful fun, but a dining table is a sacred space reserved for delightful food, lovely conversation, and civilized camaraderie. (Of course, traditional etiquette has always dictated that a gentleman removes his hat the moment he steps indoors!) A perspiring cap or athletic visor, after hours under the midday sun, certainly has no place beside a bread plate, a water goblet, or on top of table linens.
While classic etiquette has long permitted ladies to wear lovely formal luncheon hats, fascinators, or garden-party brims at the table, modern athletic headwear falls into an entirely different category. Sports caps, sun visors, and casual ball caps are athletic equipment, and they should be treated as such.
So, what should thoughtful ladies and gentlemen do?
Here are several effortless options:
🌸 Tuck it away before stepping inside: Leave your cap or visor nestled in your golf bag or tennis tote as soon as play concludes.
🌸 Store it in your locker or car: Take a brief moment in the clubhouse locker room or at your vehicle, to stow it away.
🌸 Check the coat pegs: Most classic clubs provide handsome brass coat hooks or hat racks near the dining entrance specifically meant to relieve you of your outerwear.
🌸 Keep it concealed in a tote: For ladies carrying a roomy club tote, slip your visor or cap entirely out of sight rather than setting it on the table or adjacent seating.
Whatever you choose, the rule of thumb remains simple- athletic headwear never belongs on the table where one dines.
The Forbidden Faux Pas
The No-No: Setting any golf cap, baseball hat, or sports visor on a dining table.
The Proper Protocol: Remove all athletic headwear before entering an indoor dining venue to keep your cap out of sight. Leave it in your vehicle, stow it in your golf bag or carry tote, or discreetly place it on an unoccupied coat peg. A dining table is strictly for dining!
I would love to hear what clever or graceful solutions you or your club have adopted for stowing away caps, visors, and hats before entering the dining room.
And thank you, Russ, for suggesting this topic! Please keep the ideas coming.
Xx
Holly
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