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.
Whether you are playing alone, in a twosome or a foursome, the first rule of golfing etiquette is 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 says that it is never right to “hurry” the group in front of you. If you are playing with others, wait your turn to hit the ball and never play at the same time as someone else.
While you wait 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 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 making a shot, you should be standing behind them and you shouldn’t make a sound! It is very distracting to be about to to tee off and just as you pull back, someone decides to jingle loose change in their pocket or noisily unwrap a piece of candy.
Replacing divots. Let’s say you are on the fairway and you hit the ball a bit thick and a clod of dirt and grass goes flying, no problem, but golfing etiquette says that you ought to repair the hole. On some courses you just put the turf 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 ought to use your divot tool to repair it.
As soon as you have finished a hole, replace the flag and leave the green as quickly as possible so that the next players can play that hole. Add up your score and write it on the scorecard as soon as you get back to your trolley.
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?
If you are want to find out more about golfing etiquette, visit our website on Golfing Tips for Beginners for loads of free advice. You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.
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