Golfing Etiquette Basics

Monday, August 24, 2009 ·

By Rhys Jones

Golf is a very dignified game of rules, manners and etiquette, and it's quite important to know the basics of golfing etiquette before you play golf for the first time.

Golfing etiquette demands that it doesn't matter whether you are playing alone, in a twosome or in a foursome, you must always wait your turn. You must also stay aware of the group on the next hole and wait until they are well ahead of you before hitting your ball.

Golfing etiquette also means that it is never cool to "hurry" the group in front of you. If you are playing with others, wait your turn to hit the ball and never hit at the same time as another player.

While you are waiting for your turn to play, go to your ball and determine which golf club you will select and how you are going to hit the golf ball with it. This is called "ready golf" and keeps the game moving along, but don't hurry everybody, just be ready for your turn to play.

Another nice piece of golfing etiquette, especially for the novice is 'playing through'. For example, if your team is holding up the players behind you, say because you are consistently over par, let them play through. You would simply wave them through, or if they are near enough, ask them if they would like to play through. You will never make an enemy by doing this!

When someone is taking a shot, you should be standing behind them and you shouldn't make a sound! It is so distracting to be ready to tee off and just as you pull back, someone decides to jingle keys in their pocket or noisily unwrap a bar of chocolate.

Replacing divots. Let's say you are on the fairway and you hit the ball a bit thick and a clod of earth and grass goes flying, no problem, but golfing etiquette says that you ought to replace it. On some courses you just put the clod back into the hole and step on it to keep it down, but on most courses, there is a sand/seed mixture on the course to put into the divot. Also, if your ball makes a deep impression when it lands on the green, you should use your divot tool to repair it.

As soon as you have finished a hole, replace the flag and leave the green quickly so that the next players can play that hole. Count your score and write it on the scorecard as soon as you're back at your cart.

There is much more to golfing etiquette of course, but these simple essentials of golfing etiquette will enable you to get through the course without upsetting anyone. If we all keep to golfing etiquette we will keep the game friendly, or not?

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