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Dress Code

FROM THE HOUSE COMMITTEE

James J. Black, III

With the start of the summer season at Philadelphia Country Club, recognizing that all of our venues are open, especially our Pool, Summer House, and Terrace, the House Committee felt that it was appropriate to make the Club as “user friendly” as possible while, at the same time, assuring that we adhere to the dress code provisions that have been an integral part of our Club’s culture over the years. To that end and, for your convenience, the dress code is reprinted here.

Dress Code - Revised as of April 2013

Philadelphia Country Club Members wish to enjoy the Club’s facilities in an environment where all Members follow guidelines of proper attire. At the same time, Philadelphia Country Club is a premier, full-service, family-oriented, private country club dedicated to the enjoyment of our Members, their families, and Guests.

With these goals in mind, please permit the following rules to aid you in determining what attire is proper for Philadelphia Country Club.

1.      The following items are inappropriate in any section of the Clubhouse (locker rooms excluded), regardless of gender:

  •  Exposed undergarments
  • “See-through” fabric without proper lining
  • Bare midriffs
  • Shorts or skirts with a hemline more than 4 inches above the knee
  • Hooded sweatshirts that are not related to a school, team, or Philadelphia Country Club
  • Clothing with large brand names, images, slogans, or logos
  • Torn, sloppy, or un-tailored clothing and footwear
  • Bare feet

Members may only wear swimsuits and swimwear in and around the Swimming Pool and Summer House area.

2.            Dining Rooms

Philadelphia Country Club is fortunate to be able to offer Members several venues for dining.  These venues offer different levels of dress code formality, and we ask that Members consider these varying levels when making plans to visit the Club. 

Casual Attire

Grille Room, Terrace and Byron Nelson Room and Bullitt Bistro are casual attire venues.

Casual attire consists of, at minimum, sportswear that is acceptable for all sporting activities at the Club, including, but not limited to:  Golf, Shooting, Tennis, Paddle Tennis, Squash, and Pilates.   Members are directed to the Golf and Racquet Shops in the event Members are unsure of what is appropriate sportswear.

Gentlemen may wear un-tucked shirts in other casual attire venues, provided the shirts in question are designed to be worn un-tucked, for example, certain tailored tropical shirts.  Generally speaking, most shirts do not fall into this category.  For example, Golf, Tennis and Rugby shirts may not be worn un-tucked by men and young men 13 and older. 

Neatly tailored blue jeans may be worn in casual attire venues.  Jeans that are frayed, torn, or bleached are not permitted.  Members are reminded to use the utmost discretion in regard to blue jeans. 

Ladies may wear caps, hats, and visors in casual attire venues after participating in sporting activities at the Club.  Gentlemen are never permitted to wear caps, hats and visors within the Clubhouse or on the Terrace.

Children below the age of eighteen (18) are permitted to wear school athletic uniforms in the Grille Room only

Members are encouraged to consider common sense, respect for tradition, modesty, and the comfort level of fellow Members when making casual attire dress code decisions.

Country Club Casual Attire

Ball Room and Polo Room are country club casual attire venues.

For gentlemen, country club casual attire consists of, at minimum, tailored slacks, collared and turtleneck shirts, and dress shoes.  Gentlemen are encouraged, but not required, to wear jackets during 1890 Room lunch service each day, and during 1890 Room dinner service on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.  However, jackets are required during 1890 Room dinner service on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, and during events in the Ball Room and Polo Room unless otherwise specified by the House Committee. 

For boys, country club casual attire consists of clothing commensurate with the attire worn by gentlemen.  Young men 13 and older must comply with the requirement to wear jackets, and wear their shirts tucked in. 

For ladies and girls, country club casual attire consists of, at minimum, classic, modest, tasteful, and tailored outfits, with dress shoes or summer sandals. 

Members are encouraged to consider common sense, respect for tradition, modesty, and the comfort level of fellow Members when making country club casual attire dress code decisions. 

Formal Attire

The 1890 Room is a formal dining venue.

Gentlemen are encouraged, but not required, to wear jackets during the 1890 Room lunch service each day.  Jackets are required during the 1890 Room dinner service.

For Boys, appropriate attire consists of clothing commensurate with the attire worn by Gentlemen. Young Men 13 and older must comply with the requirement to wear jackets, and wear their shirts tucked in.

For Ladies and Girls, appropriate attire consists of, at minimum, classic, modest, tasteful, and tailored outfits, with dress shoes.

Sporting attire and jeans are not permitted to be worn in the 1890 Room.

Members are encouraged to consider common sense, respect for tradition, modesty, and the comfort level of fellow Members when choosing their attire.

Other Venues, Special Events, and Traditional Events

Other venues include the Ballroom, Polo Room, Gladwyne Room, Rosewood Room, and Founders’ Room, all of which are used primarily for special events. 

Special events include, but are not limited to, Dinner Dances, Members-Guest Sporting Events, Gourmet Wine Dinners, and Happy Hours.  The House Committee and Club Staff shall determine and publish the applicable dress code for these venues and special events on an event-by-event basis. 

Traditional events include New Year’s Day Open House, the Annual Meeting, Easter, Mother’s Day, the Invitational Dinner Dance, and the Annual Christmas events.  Gentlemen are required to wear a jacket to these traditional events, unless otherwise specified by the House Committee and Club Staff.  Ladies, girls, and boys shall wear attire commensurate with the gentlemen’s jacket requirement to these traditional events. 

Young men thirteen (13) years of age and older must comply with the requirement to wear jackets, and wear their shirts tucked in. 

3.       Enforcement - Please be advised that all matters pertaining to the Clubhouse are under the House Committee’s jurisdiction.  The House Committee shall enforce the foregoing rule, and the House Committee entrusts the Club Staff with the same enforcement authority, in the Staff’s capacity as agents of the House Committee.

Members must understand the foregoing rules are neither all-inclusive nor dispositive, due to the subjective nature of fashion and personal tastes.  The House Committee reserves the right to judge Members’ dress code decisions on a case-by-case basis.  Further, the House Committee insists that Members respect any dress code decisions Club Staff render, and Members are reminded to direct any questions to the Manager on Duty.

Finally, we ask that our Members assume the responsibility to inform their Guests as to the contents of the Dress Code so that it does not fall solely upon the Staff to do so once the guests arrive at Philadelphia Country Club.