Getty Pictures
Dan from Maine asks:
As a visitor at a high-end personal course, ought to I really feel obligated to let the clubhouse attendant clear my sneakers? On the one hand, I don’t need to add to their workload. However I additionally don’t need to offend them by not permitting them to do their job. Personally, I’d be superb not having my sneakers cleaned. However I need to be certain that I’m not, um, stepping on any toes.
Expensive Dan:
Simply as nice energy comes with nice accountability, taking part in as a visitor at a elaborate personal membership comes with every kind of pesky questions, resembling how you need to costume (psst, skip the cargo shorts!); what sort of thank-you present you need to get your host (how a few good bottle of wine?); and whether or not you shoulder order the membership sandwich or the crab bisque (trace: the membership sandwich is the safer guess).
Thankfully, your shoe-cleaning query shouldn’t add to your stress.
Earlier than we get to the reply, a little bit of context. Most personal golf equipment provide an array of an extras, from membership storage and luxury stations to valet parking, and, sure, shoe shines. Fairly often, the prices of those companies are folded into month-to-month membership dues. At many of those similar golf equipment, tipping for these companies is forbidden. The perks are a part of the swanky package deal, there to be loved by members and their friends.
Must you really feel obligated to make use of them?
Obligated is a humorous phrase. The Etiquetteist wouldn’t go as far as to say that you just’re required to get your sneakers cleaned. However he’d suggest it. You may as effectively. In spite of everything, what’s the hurt? The worst that might occur is that you just’ll go away the membership wanting spiffier than you probably did whenever you arrived. In the perfect case situation, you’ll be allowed to tip the attendant for his or her effort. Handing out a pleasant gratuity creates good emotions throughout.
As for feeling dangerous about including to their workload, that’s ridiculous. It’s, as you notice, their job, and there’s nothing undignified about it.
In case you nonetheless end up waffling over the choice, a superb rule of thumb is to comply with your host’s lead. To scrub or to not clear? No matter they go for, you possibly can comfortably do the identical.
Past that, there’s no want to provide your sneakers a second thought.
To be secure, although, you in all probability shouldn’t change them within the car parking zone.