Horace, the great Roman poet and satirist, once said, "A picture is a poem without words." I am sure that he was talking about the artist's canvas rather than the photographer's lens. Proof of that might well be found in a photo from the 1970s of Jack Nicklaus all decked out in his fitted plaid pants caught in full swing of the driver. Quite a fashion statement, but hardly poetry other than Jack's impeccable swing. But the fashion aspect of his clothing?!? Golf has had some rather famous fashion faux pas.
Not long ago Golf Magazine surveyed their subscribers for the worst fashion mistakes made in golf. While the first was, of course, golf sandals, the following three were all pants. Two through four were the aforementioned fitted plaid pants, bell-bottom pants from the 1970s and Jesper Parnevik's infamous stovepipe pants. Parnevik is well known for his garish wear on the course as is Duffy Waldorf who often looks like the salad of the same name.
Every age has its own flavor of apparel that is inherently its own. The old timers such as Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris used to deck out in coats and ties and even vests. The movie, Bagger Vance, revealed a little of golf's penchant for the formal in its early years as the 1930s period piece showed the golfers in regular shirts and ties as opposed to the more comfortable wear of the modern day.
Clothing does carry a distinctive flavor which relates to those who wear it most often, hence the golf shirt. And who else but golfers would be caught dead in plus fours also known as knickers. Golf shoes, while very comfortable, are hardly ever worn anywhere but the course thus identifying the wearer as a golfer. From knickers to cowboy shirts to leotards to clerical robes, clothing serves a dual purpose or fashion and identification. The Christian is no different.
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." Colossians 3:12-14 Paul believed firmly that the Christian has a special wardrobe "as the elect of God." Are you wearing the proper clothes?