Golf Course Etiquette 101
Golf etiquette remains one of the most important details players must consider during their time at the course.
Golfers should always work to leave the course in the same shape as they played it, plus treat those around them with total respect.
But those unwritten rules need to be learned by beginners to help them avoid confrontations with other players.
In this article, we’ll provide a good rule of thumb on what to do around the course to help you play the game and treat others with ideal golf etiquette.
Course Maintenance
One of the biggest areas of etiquette rules belongs in the department of course maintenance.
Simply put, you want to leave the course in the same condition in which you found it.
That means all divots from the fairways and light rough are filled with sand, all divots are repaired on the green, and all bunkers are raked evenly after ball striking.
How to Repair a Fairway Divot
After hitting the golf ball, you want to lay down sand in the divot to encourage regrowth.
You can also replace the divot with a piece of turf and sprinkle sand and water on top to help attachment and regrowth to occur long after you are gone from the course.
How to Repair a Green Divot
On the green, you need a two-prong divot tool to repair ball and pitch marks.
You must insert the tool just outside the divot and push it inward, not up. You destroy precious root connections by pushing up with the ball mark repair tool, so you want to avoid that at all costs.
Instead, insert and push the soil toward the center of the divot, then tamp down with the sole of your putter to make it even.
How to Properly Rake a Bunker
When raking bunkers, you want to make sure to leave the sand even across the entire affected area. This means you’ve refilled your shoe marks with sand and evened it out to match the bunker.
The same rule applies to your divot and any sand splash that’s caused an uneven layer elsewhere in the bunker.
Dress Code
At most golf clubs, there are attire rules that must be followed if you expect to play at the facility. These rules typically dictate the shirts, shorts, pants, and shoes you can wear.
Playing with these clothes is a sign of respect for the traditions of golf.
Shirts
Collared shirts are required at most private and public courses. Turtlenecks and vests are allowed during periods of colder weather.
T-shirts are rarely allowed, although some public courses are far more relaxed with their attire rules.
Shorts and Pants
When it comes to shorts, most golf clubs allow shorts during warmer weather but want golfers to play in long pants during the cooler months of the year.
When it comes to pants, khakis and golf-style pants are required. Jeans are typically banned in private courses but are allowed in most public courses.
Shoes
Nearly all golf clubs have banned using metal spikes. Instead, preferring soft or hard plastic spikes with golf shoes because they do not damage the course.
Most courses, private or public, don’t care if you play in athletic shoes for comfort. However, the use of flip-flops, even those equipped with spikes, is typically banned.
Flagstick and Green Etiquette
If you are first to the green, removing the flag and placing it gently on the ground away from the putting area is also customary.
As you enter the green, take note of whose ball is farthest from the hole; they’ll be the first to putt. The next closest will be next in line to putt.
Marking the Golf Ball
When entering the putting green, you should first repair ball marks and then mark your ball. You also need to avoid walking in another player’s line to the cup.
When marking your ball, you should place the coin or marker just behind the ball. It’s essential to replace your ball in the same spot as when marking the ball.
Players can unknowingly get closer to the hole if they put space between their marker and the ball’s placement.
Golf Cart Usage
Before your round, you should always ask the pro shop attendant where golf carts can be driven on that day.
If a golf course has recently had bad weather, they’ll implement a 90-degree rule where carts can only be driven off the cart path at a 90-degree angle that directly takes you to your ball.
Golf carts typically cannot be driven within 25 to 35 yards of the green. Watch for signs near the green, or rope, that indicate where the cart needs to return to the cart path.
When parking your golf cart, you should press the brake pedal until it locks or “clicks.” That motion activates the parking brake and makes sure your cart stays in place.
Pace of Play
A good round should take four hours, so you should know the benefits of “ready” golf.
Why Ready Golf Is Important
Ready golf means you are ready to play your shot quickly without excessive practice swings and without taking too much time using a rangefinder to determine yardage.
For golfers who agree to play ready golf, proper etiquette is relaxed to speed up play.
For example, you can play your shot out of order from the fairway or rough to increase the speed of play.
Playing Through
If the group behind you is playing quickly, you can let them play through if there’s no other playing group ahead of yours.
It’s always at your discretion whether to let someone play through, but it’s courteous if your round is going slowly and there’s space in front of you that you should let the trailing group go through.
Respecting Others
Respecting the space of other players is very important to good golf etiquette. Here are three tips to help you earn the respect of others on the course.
1. Staying Quiet While Others Are Hitting
When others are standing over the golf ball, you should refrain from talking during their swing. On the green, standing relatively still while the others putt is vital because any movement can cause a distraction.
2. Don’t Step in Other’s Putting Lines
One of the biggest mistakes a golfer can make in terms of etiquette is stepping in the putting line of their playing partners.
By stepping in their line, you could potentially affect the roll of their putt due to depression in the green.
3. Always Take Your Hat Off at the End of Round
When shaking hands with your playing partners at the end of the round, taking off your hat during the gesture is a show of respect.
You should also make eye contact during the handshake and congratulate the other player for a good round.
Safety and Awareness
You should always know where your golf ball could potentially land. That general rule speaks especially to where your ball lands and its relation to the next group in front of your playing party.
Unless that group waves for you to hit your golf shot, you should wait until they clear any potential landing area to avoid hurting someone.
On different courses that use caddies, they can help you know when to hit the golf ball and when to hold off from striking your shot.
Use of Technology
Using a cell phone on the course is discouraged, especially around golfers swinging on the tee box or from the fairway. Turning off your phone’s ringer and setting your phone to vibrate reduces distraction and noise.
Playing music on portable speakers is typically frowned upon at private golf clubs, but most public golf clubs allow music as long as it doesn’t disrupt the play of other golfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is proper golf course etiquette?
Proper golf etiquette means always respecting the course, players, and rules of the game.
From dressing according to the club’s rules to not talking during someone’s swing, good etiquette assures that everyone enjoys their day on the links.
What is the 90° rule in golf?
Golf cart etiquette is essential when the course isn’t in great shape. The 90° rule in golf means you only turn onto the actual course at 90-degree angles to prevent further damage on the fragile fairways.
You should stay on the golf cart path until you reach just behind your ball, then take a 90° turn and directly drive to your ball.
What is the unwritten rule of golf?
The unwritten rule of golf is to respect the course, respect the rules, and respect your fellow players.
By making sure that you are doing the little things on the course, like avoiding slow play, minimizing excessive practice swings, and arriving early to the course to make your tee time, you are respecting the course’s schedule and those around you.
What is the proper golf dress code?
Every golf club carries a different code for clothing, but a relatively universal rule is collared shirts on and off the course.
For private clubs, the required attire is much stricter than for a public course, but regardless, you should always call the club’s pro shop before you play to ensure you don’t break the clothing etiquette rules.