A message from MWGA President Jane Reiman:

Our MWGA Dress Code Policy has been revised for 2009, and the new version is now on the Tournament Player's Information page (http://www.mwga-online.org/new/pdf/MWGA_tourney_info_sheet.pdf) on our MWGA website.  The MWGA has always expected players and caddies to be neat in appearance and to wear appropriate golf attire -- that has not changed.   The only substantive change to the policy is the measurement of the minimum length of shorts and skirts.   The old policy ('no higher than four inches above the knee') was difficult to enforce consistently and the requirement seemed to discriminate against some body builds.  

As we attempted to clarify and simplify the policy, the MWGA Board researched policies of other state women's golf associations and consulted with our own MWGA Junior Committee.  We decided that measuring shorts length against the player's arms held at her sides would be simpler and would allow for a length that is proportional to the player's height.  Therefore, "fingertip length or longer" is now the approved length of skirts or shorts.  The MWGA Board feels that with this policy our players will have many choices in fashionable golf attire while maintaining the MWGA tradition of tasteful dress.   Please keep the MWGA Dress Code Policy in mind as you plan your tournament and event attire.

Here is the policy as revised:

DRESS CODE: For all MWGA-sponsored events and competitions, players and caddies shall be neat in appearance with respect to personal grooming and clothing. The following dress code shall apply to all grounds of the host club.  Appropriate golf attire in accordance with the host club's dress code policy is required. In addition, MWGA Policy requires that sleeveless tops must have a collar. Shorts, skorts, or skirts should be fingertip length or longer (i.e. When the player's arms are at her sides, the garment hem should be at or below the level of her fingertips.) In cases where the host club dress code and the MWGA dress code conflict, the stricter policy will apply.

Attire that is not acceptable includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Cut-off
Sweat pants
Midriff tops
Racer-back shirts
Tank tops
Athletic shorts
T-shirts
Blue denim jeans or shorts

The player and caddie shall check in at the registration table on the first day of the tournament. Thereafter the player and caddie shall check in with the starter 10 minutes before her scheduled starting time. The Rules Official shall decide whether the dress code requirement has been met and shall have authority to withdraw the entry of a player not complying. If a player or caddie falls out of compliance on the golf course the player shall be disqualified.