The latest “Thank goodness THIS is finally being addressed” problem rearing it’s head around the golf world actually has more to do with players’ tails. More specifically what and how much fabric is covering them.

it looks like the European Tour is giving the thumbs up to allowing professionals to wear shorts during practice rounds AND pro-ams. Just in case you’re new to this whole pro golf thing and don’t know what a pro-am is they are the days during the tournament week in which amateur golfers like you, me and corporate CEOs pony up boatloads of money to play golf with, and largely get ignored by, Tour professionals.

Sartorial standard bearer Ian Poulter is all for it and now so is, not so much sartorial standard bearer and current world number one, Jordan Spieth. Playing in Abu Dhabi instead of the California desert this week the newest next Tiger Woods said of wearing shorts, “I think it’s awesome, it will be something that I would love to see on the PGA Tour, as well. I’ve not heard one person complain about it.” (The quote comes thanks to the reporting of Alistair Tait).

Well then Jordan allow me to be the first to complain. Remember me? I’m the card carrying member of the “get off my lawn” club and I say keep your legs to yourself. Believe it or not I thought about this in September of 2014 while watching professional tennis players in collarless shirts. I wondered what happened to decorum and good taste? Then I asked a few friends, professional golfers and professional golfers who are friends if they were a “yay” or a “nay” on professional golfers sporting short pants.

i asked 13 guys (I know not a huge sample size) and 7 gave me an unequivocal YES, including Jerry Foltz, Colt Knost and Dave Stockton Jr. An eighth said yes but added “reluctantly” and a ninth said yes but if he were in charge “he wouldn’t let them do it”. Three others said no and one said “Hell No!” If you’re counting at home that’s 9-4 in favor of untanned, hairy, legs on display.

I did the “study” then forgot about it until Poulter and Jordan, among others, made me think about it again. One argument for shorts is, “I’d rather see shorts than guys sweat through their slacks on hot, humid days”. Something tells me guys who sweat through moisture wicking pants are going to sweat through shorts too.

Another argument on the affirmative side is that “the girls and ladies of the LPGA get to wear shorts so why shouldn’t the guys?” To that I say many women wear dresses to their offices everyday and my guess is those dresses are more comfortable than suits and ties but I don’t think men in similar offices should wear dresses to work.

Bottom line for me as a viewer and fan is that this is their job and I think they should maintain an air of professionalism and wear appropriate attire (by that I mean long pants). But by the looks of my, now dated and tiny sample size, poll what I think may soon not matter.

What say you?