Golf is a game of rules and etiquette, and it is very important to know the essentials of golfing etiquette before you go up to the tee to play your first game of golf.

Golfing etiquette dictates that it doesn’t matter whether you are playing on your own, in a twosome or in a foursome, you must always wait your turn. You must also remain 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 correct to “push” 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 wait for your turn to play, go to your ball and determine what 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. Don’t rush anybody, just be ready for your turn.

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 not far away from 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 any noise! It is so distracting to be about to to tee off and just as you draw back, someone decides to play with loose change in their pocket or noisily unwrap a bar of chocolate.

Replacing your divots. Say you are on the fairway and you hit the ball and a clod of dirt and grass goes flying, golfing etiquette says you should replace it. On some courses you just put the clod back and step on it to press it down, but on most courses, there is a sand/seed mixture on the course to put into the divot. If your ball makes a deep impression when it lands on the green, you can use your divot tool to repair it.

As soon as you have finished a hole, replace the flag and leave the green as quickly and quietly as possible there may be another team teeing off at the next hole) so that the next players can play that hole. Add up your score and write it on the scorecard when you get back to your trolley.

For sure, there is much more to golfing etiquette than this, but these basic rules of golfing etiquette will enable you to get around the course without upsetting anyone. If we all uphold golfing etiquette we will keep the game nice and friendly, or not?

Popularity: 6% [?]