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.
It doesn’t matter whether you are playing alone, in a twosome or in a foursome, golfing etiquette demands that you must always wait your turn. You must stay aware of the group on the next hole and wait until they are well ahead of you before you hit 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 for your turn to hit the ball; never hit at the same time as another player.
While you are waiting for your turn, go to your ball and determine what club you will need to use and how you are going to hit it. This is called “ready golf” and keeps the game moving along. Don’t rush anybody, just be ready.
Another useful piece of golfing etiquette, especially for beginners is ‘playing through’. For example, if your team is holding up the players behind you, perhaps because you are playing consistently over par or taking a long time to choose your club, let them play through. You would simply wave them through, or if they are near enough to you, just ask them if they would like to play through. You will never make enemies by doing this!
When someone is making a shot, you should be standing behind them and you shouldn’t make a sound! It is so distracting to be about to to tee off and just as you pull back, someone decides to jingle coins in their pocket or noisily unwrap a sweet.
Replacing divots. Let’s say you are on the fairway and you strike the ball a bit thick and a clod of earth and grass goes flying, golfing etiquette says that you ought to replace it. On some courses you just put the turf back 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 when you’re back at your cart.
Of course, there are many more rules of golfing etiquette, but these simple ones will enable you to get through the course without making anyone annoyed. If we all keep to golfing etiquette we will keep the game dignified, right?
If you are interested in learning more about golfing etiquette, visit our website on Golfing Tips for Beginners for stacks of free tips. This article, Golfing Etiquette Essentials has free reprint rights.
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