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The internet is awesome! There’s some seriously funny stuff out there – and some serious stuff that doesn’t know it’s funny. There’s also some serious serious stuff, and some funny funny stuff.  I really love the stuff that doesn’t know it’s funny – people who are trying to be serious, or want to be taken seriously, and, for one reason or another, it’s just not working. Like Glenn Beck, or this kid, or Glenn Beck.

I’m not sure why I thought of that, because it really doesn’t have very much in common with the rest of this post…

Anyway, the recent “serious that doesn’t know it’s funny” situation was featured on a blog called the Denim Guy. Without trying to discredit them, or the parties involved, like my friend Samuel, they posted a funny observational piece on our recent golf outing in Vegas.  Maybe it’s only funny because I know the back story; here goes:

Please keep in mind, I’m not trying to be negative, because I’ve done the same thing before – written an opinion piece based solely on my observations without getting the facts straight [here]. And I sling my good share of BS too, so try and read this in the light-hearted way I intend it.

Here’s a paragraph from their post:

“While golf has never been the most fashionable sport (polo shirt, Dockers and golf shoes…sigh), Samuel has photographed what is becoming a new era in what used to be your grandpa’s favorite past time on Saturday mornings. He has captured everyday golfers taking in everyday trends and merging them together to make their own relaxed style at the 18th hole. Combining old school tradition with modern appeal and style, the end result is a look that the fashionable can embrace while still adhering to the rules of the game. Take a look at the images below and see why Samuel Lippke is the master of capturing modern style one click at at time.”

I love that sentence in bold above. Everyday golfers? The author of the post on the denim guy grabbed photos from Samuel’s blog where Samuel explicitly states, “My first round of golf…ever.” Not only was it Samuel’s first time golfing, but it was also Danny’s first time golfing.  Like most golf courses, there is a dress code, so when we decided to go golfing that morning we ran to the mall to find clothes that we could wear on the course.  Danny bought a pair of womens shorts on the sale rack at Levi’s for $9.99.  Samuel found that plaid green long sleeve for $19.99. I kinda went all out at J Crew with the khakis and polo shirt, because I wanted to look like a sappy golfer, and I even bought that dopey cowboy hat.  Evan happened to be wearing those black cords, and the plaid shirt, so he didn’t have to buy anything – but, ironically, he’s the only one out all of us that actually golfs on a semi-regular basis. But, look at the kid, he’s a rail, and couldn’t possibly fit in anything other than skinny fitting trousers.

Unknowingly, we picked up on, according to the author,  “…a new trend that ties the worlds of golf and fashion together in a way that hasn’t been seen before.”

We are fashionable!

A couple points on that.

1. Golf has always been a very fashionable sport. In fact, it has a very distinct look that is instantly recognizable.  Well, let me modify that – it may not be fashionable per se, but it has always been the one sport where we can count on fashion statements being made.

2. Golf [and tennis] was one of the driving forces in fashion development at the turn of the last century.  Men and women were shedding their Victorian garb,  embracing a more recreational lifestyle that involved sports such as golf and tennis. (The bicycle and the automobile were also very influential.)

3. Golf was a gentleman’s sport – Gentleman wear nice gear.

4. Cardigans, V-Neck sweaters, Ivy Caps, Fedoras, Tweed and Wool Trousers, Saddle Shoes.

4. It’s all been seen or done before. Here are a few examples:

Above: The late, great Payne Stewart, who dressed like this in the 90′s!

photo credits: Samuel Lippke, Golf.com., Time, LIFE archive