Golf Etiquette

Golf Etiquette

If you are a beginner golfer or are interested in playing golf, it might be helpful to have some basic knowledge of the golf etiquette when playing with other fellow golfers.

Always look your best as your appearance speaks volumes about you as a person. From Tiger Woods and Bobby Jones to Payne Stewart, the best players have been meticulous about their appearance. The neatly appointed golfer suggests that he thinks highly of the golf course and the people there.

Check with the golf course and scorecard for specific local rules. Give yourself ample time to warm up, starting with the short irons, then the mid and long irons and then moving on to the woods. Complete your warm up by hitting a few soft wedge shots prior to practicing on the green. Make sure your ball has an identifying mark and inform your playing companions the type and number ball you are playing.

Try to avoid slow play as this is one of many golfers' pet peeves. When your group is not keeping pace with the group ahead of you, walk briskly between shots and plan your next shot by studying the strength and wind direction. It should not take more than 30-40 seconds between choosing the club and hitting your shot. If you are not ready, you can encourage one of the other players to go next.

To maintain the course, you should replace the divots which can sometimes be difficult. Many courses have seed mixtures available which you can simply fill in the divots. If not, you can use your toe shoe to kick in the turf around the edges of the divot. You should also bring a rake into the bunker and rake the area like you mean it - nice and smooth. Don't leave deep furrows from the rake. Players have a tendency to poorly rake the sand when he has a not-so-great bunker shot. Ask yourself, would I be upset if I had to play from that spot?

One of the first things to note when you walk onto a green is to pinpoint the location of the balls within your group. The etiquette rule of not walking in the player's line of play on the putting green is an absolute, either directly behind the ball or beyond the hole. Volunteer to mark your ball if it lands on the player's line. Avoid standing where you might distract a fellow player and be extremely quiet when he or she is preparing to putt (make sure your cell phones are on silent or turned off). Once all the players in your group has putted, walk quickly to the next tee.

Players have a responsibility to learn and understand the Rules of Golf (rules can be found at USGA's website: http://www.usga.org/rules-hub.html), among them are Out of Bounds, Unplayable Lies, Lost Balls, Water Hazards, & Cart Paths, to name a few. Aggressive behaviors such as yelling and throwing clubs are not tolerated. Another tip for being a good fellow player is to offer to pay for drinks or refreshments at the end of nine holes or following the round. At the end of the round, shake hands, congratulate the winners and give yourself a pat on the back for making it through the game!

 

Furthermore, many courses have caddie programs which can make the round more fun and help improve your score. These young lads will give you advice on yardage, layout of the golf course, which clubs to use, etc. In recent years, electric motorized golf carts have also grown in popularity (great selections are available at www.motogolf.com). Not only do these golf trolleys carry your bags for you, it has many features that are attractive: