15 Golf Etiquette Guidelines for Newcomers
Maybe no sport might be extra intimidating for rookies than golf. For those who’re lucky, you’ve gotten a mentor that will help you at first, to stroll you thru a few of the fundamentals of golf etiquette, like how and the place to face on the tee and the inexperienced, learn how to sustain tempo of play, and easily how to ensure your taking part in companions are comfy taking part in with you.
Forty years in the past after I first began taking part in golf, I had such a mentor. I can nonetheless bear in mind him lastly pulling me apart after a couple of rounds and explaining to me how I continually walked on different golfer’s placing traces. I wasn’t conscious that was an issue, in fact, however extra on that slightly later.
Right here, then, are a 15 recommendations on correct etiquette on the golf course. To not be confused with the Guidelines of Golf, most of that is merely understood as a courtesy to your taking part in companions and, fairly frankly, the remainder of the gamers on the course as properly. Right here, we cowl the whole lot from the tee to the inexperienced and even the golf cart.
1. Get to the golf course early
In contrast to tennis, the place there’s nothing you are able to do on the court docket earlier than your appointed court docket time, golf doesn’t start at your tee time, it begins within the car parking zone. This implies you must arrive early, at the least a half hour or extra, relying on how a lot you need to follow, or maybe seize a snack or a beverage. It begins with dropping off your golf equipment at bag drop or taking them out of your trunk to the course, placing in your golf footwear, and checking into the store. For those who plan on hitting vary balls, you must issue that in as properly. And try to be on the first tee at the least 10 minutes earlier than your tee time to examine in with the starter. For those who wait till the final minute to point out up, you’re not solely stressing your self out, however the remainder of the gamers in your group as properly.
2. The place to face on the tee
So that you’ve made it to the primary tee on the golf course. The place must you stand? The higher query is likely to be the place shouldn’t you stand. Particular person golfers have their very own quirks and pet peeves, however usually you don’t need to be anyplace in entrance of the participant teeing off or within the participant’s line of imaginative and prescient. So instantly throughout from the participant (the identical line because the ball) might be not a good suggestion, and plenty of gamers don’t prefer it when somebody is instantly behind them. The one exception to the latter is likely to be when the golfer is teeing off into the solar, so you’ll be able to assist the participant find the ball after it’s hit. Additionally vital: attempt to not transfer whereas the participant is swinging, and no speaking. And it doesn’t hassle each golfer, however sitting in your golf cart whereas the others are hitting tee pictures might be thought of impolite, too, so it’s all the time greatest to observe the opposite gamers pictures and even encourage them.
3. ‘Prepared Golf’ guidelines (however birdies and eagles ought to go first)
In informal golf, Prepared Golf has definitely grow to be the customized, which means that taking part in out of order is okay so long as you aren’t impeding one other participant. (Custom has all the time been that the participant farthest away from the outlet go first, however that may usually decelerate play.) For those who’re able to hit, go for it. The one exception is on the tee when one of many gamers in your group has made birdie or eagle on the earlier gap. On this case, it’s all the time preferable, even when that participant isn’t prepared, to say “birdie goes first,” at the least making the provide.
4. Don’t hit multiple ball
This can drive critical golfers nuts. Don’t use the course as a driving vary. So that you hit a foul shot. So long as it’s findable or not out of bounds, don’t hit one other one. It slows everyone down, and there’s nothing worse than having to search for two balls from one participant when it’s completely pointless.
5. Exchange or fill your divot, restore ball marks
For those who make a divot (making a crater within the floor together with your membership), both substitute it or fill it with offered sand. Totally different programs have completely different guidelines relying on the kind of turf (substitute or fill). Additionally, in the event you make a pitch mark on the inexperienced together with your strategy shot, you should definitely restore it with a tee or ball mark restore device.
6. How and when to mark your ball on the inexperienced
You don’t all the time need to mark your ball on the inexperienced, however it is best to if it interferes with one other participant’s placing line, whether or not that’s on the way in which to the outlet and even behind it (your ball is usually a distraction, and it’s a penalty if one other participant’s ball contacts yours. One of the best ways to mark is with a coin or spherical devoted ball marker, by putting it instantly behind your ball, then elevate your ball. If you putt, attempt to substitute your ball in the very same location after which take away the mark. Additionally, concentrate on the place you stand on the inexperienced when one other participant is placing. Keep out of the participant’s direct line of web site in the event you can.
7. Tending the flagstick
Now that the Guidelines of Golf permit you to go away the flagstick within the cup, you don’t all the time want to drag it whereas placing. It’s grow to be a choice a method or one other for many gamers. Nonetheless, in the event you do pull it, lay it down on the inexperienced the place it doesn’t intervene with play. Additionally golf etiquette usually requires the primary participant to putt out to seize the flagstick and return it to the cup when everybody finishes on the inexperienced.
8. Don’t step on placing traces
Whereas many golf footwear as of late are spikeless (this isn’t as huge a deal because it was once with steel spikes), it’s nonetheless good etiquette to keep away from strolling in your fellow opponents’ placing traces (the trail {that a} participant’s ball will use to journey to the cup). The reason being since you may trigger indentations or marks that might alter the trail of their putts. It’s additionally an excellent follow to not stroll on the through-lines, that are the potential path a participant may need again to the cup is a putt runs previous the outlet.
9. Sustain the tempo – restrict follow swings
Protecting issues shifting is a typical theme to good golf etiquette, so listed below are some extra pointers: Don’t take extreme follow swings. One or two needs to be a lot. And be able to hit or putt when it’s your flip. Attempt to collect as a lot data as you’ll be able to whereas different gamers are hitting their pictures, i.e., yardages, how a putt breaks, wind, and so on.
10. File your scores on the following tee field
By no means do that by the inexperienced you simply performed. It is best to clear the realm as quickly as potential so the group behind you’ll be able to hit their strategy pictures. And there will likely be loads of time on the following tee to document scores whereas your fellow opponents are hitting their tee pictures.
11. Don’t hit into the group in entrance of you
No person likes seeing somebody ready for the group on the inexperienced to clear from 275 yards out when that golfer solely hit a 200-yard drive. However by the identical token, in the event you assume you’ll be able to attain the inexperienced or get close to it with an excellent shot, it is best to wait, each by way of security and disturbing the group on the inexperienced. The identical is particularly true when teeing off. Be certain that the group in entrance of you has moved out of your vary. Everybody who has performed golf for some time has skilled somebody hitting into them. It’s each scary and impolite.
12. It’s OK to choose up on a gap
Until you’re taking part in in a match the place each stroke is counted, if a gap will get out of hand, you don’t have to complete it. Making a 12 on a gap won’t have an effect on your handicap any greater than making a 7 or 8, so to maintain the whole lot shifting, it’s OK and preferable to place your ball in your pocket and transfer on.
13. Golf cart etiquette
The place to drive your golf cart for a newbie isn’t a given. Most programs have guidelines about how near the inexperienced (normally no nearer than 50 yards) you’ll be able to drive a cart, and it is best to not often go away the trail for par 3 holes. When carts are allowed within the fairways, many have a 90-degree rule, which means it is best to keep on the cart path till you’re even together with your ball or your taking part in companion’s ball, then drive over. The concept is to restrict potential injury to the course. Additionally, be cognizant about locking the break whereas another person is taking a stroke. An ill-timed noise from the cart may cause one other participant to flinch.
14. Music do’s and don’ts on the course
A newer phenomena in golf are the moveable audio system individuals wish to take out on the course as they play. A great rule of thumb is that music shouldn’t be performed at a quantity that will hassle different gamers on the course, and it is best to all the time ask the remainder of your group if they’re OK with it.
15. Cellphone golf etiquette
Until you’re at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership or the like, having cell telephones on the course is usually permitted. However please silence your ringer. And restrict your cellphone calls on the course. However cell telephones are sometimes used with golf apps that allow you to navigate the course or maintain rating, so they’re a part of the sport now.
