Essentials Of Golfing Etiquette

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 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 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 tee off and just as you pull back, someone decides to jingle loose change 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 dirt 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 press 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 completed 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.

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?