On time for Tee-Time
Checking in 15 minutes before your tee time is recommended and allows you time to pay, purchase golf balls if necessary and maybe a few putts on the practice green. Checking in at your tee time delays the tee sheet and everyone else for the rest of the day.
Who Hits First?
On the first Tee you can spin a tee in the air and who it points at when it lands can go first. During a round, the golfer with the lowest score on the prior holes gets to go first, or has the “honor”, on the next tee box.
Where to Stand? (Video)
When someone else is hitting a golf shot or a putt, never stand in their line of site, as will be distraction and difficult for the golfer to focus on their shot.. This means directly behind or ahead of them. In addition, never stand directly behind them. The best place to stance equal distance to their ball and several feet a way.
Watch Your Shadow!
Avoid standing in a position where your shadow will fall within the player’s line of site. Your shadow may cause the golfer to lose focus and shank their shot and then they will blame it on you! lol.
Quiet Please
Being Quiet while someone is preparing, setting up and swinging a golf club is the foundation of etiquette in golf. This includes hands in pockets jiggling coins, rustling thru your bag looking for a ball or tee, bodily noises like sneezing, and especially talking to others or on a cell phone. No matter how soft you think you are talking to your friend, the golfer can hear you. Just be Quiet Please.
Stop Driving Cart (Video)
Respect is a core value that is displayed in golf and being quiet while some else is hitting is a sign of respect. Pay attention to the world around you and stop driving the cart even if you are driving by a hole that is not yours and someone is about to hit a shot or putt on the green. Give others respect and the golf gods will reward you with a good bounce or two.
Identify Your Ball
Golf ball brand name, model and number stamped are used to help identify which ball is yours while you are playing. However, adding a special marking of your choice with a sharpie, such as dots or a smiley face personalizes your ball so you can identify which ball is yours no matter where you ball lands. This is important if you hit your ball onto another hole and some else approaches your ball.
“Mark” Your Ball on the Green
When you get to the green you are allowed to “mark” your ball which means you place a coin or marker directly behind your ball and then pick up your ball, likely to clean. The coin on the ground “marks” the exact spot your golf ball was sitting. It is considered cheating if you don’t place the ball exactly where it was sitting and/or move the marker in any fashion away from the original spot.
NEVER Walk on My “Line”!
Pay attention to other players golf ball and the entire path their ball must travel when rolling to the hole and avoid walking in that golf balls “path” or “line” to the hole. Walking in some else’s line will stamp your foot print in the grass and may make the putting surface uneven and possibly effect their putt. When marking your ball walk around these lines before placing your marker behind your ball.
Don’t Step on My Line (Video)
Whether you’re marking your ball or approaching your ball on green you MUST be aware of everyone else’s ball on or around the green and avoid walking in the “line” or path between each of their balls and the hole. This may require you walking around the outside of everyone to eventually get to your ball. With multiple golfers this may get tricky so pay attention.
Place Bag Off Green
Avoid walking across the green with a bag on your shoulder. Do your best to walk around to the exit point and always place your bag off the green on the fringe and never on the green.
Lay Down Flag Stick
After removing a flagstick, lay the flat stick down on the green, instead of letting fall or throwing, to avoid any unnecessary damage to the putting surface.
Fix Your Ball Mark
Fixing your ball mark helps repair the green, keep the grass healthy, and ensures a smooth putting surface for everyone. Begin repairing behind the highest point of the mark by inserting repair tool and gently pull the top of tool towards the center. Continue working around the ball mark pulling turf towards the center of the mark. Finish the repair by gently pressing the bottom of the putter on the mark to smoothen the surface.
Pick Up Your Feet on the Green
Always pick up your feet while walking around a green. Preventing any scuffs or unnecessary damage to the green will ensure a smooth putting surface for everyone.
Replace Your Divot (Video)
Closed to the target line refers to your feet, hips or shoulders aligned/pointed right of the target line. Your shoulders and hips are closed to the target line on the downswing and open to target line after you hit the ball. Keeping your shoulders closed to the target line on the downswing is a good thing and helps eliminate a slice by delivering the club on a path from inside the target line.
How to Rake a Bunker
First, find a rake and then enter the bunker from the low point and walk in a direct line to your ball. Place rake down and hit your shot. Then, rake the sand around impact by pushing the rake forwards and backwards smoothing out the surface. Then, rake the sand you walk out of the bunker backwards leaving no trace of your steps. As a courtesy rake more than your area and leave the surface better than how you found it.
How to Enter & Exit a Bunker (Video)
Find a rake first and enter a bunker at the low point and never walk down the steep face of bunker as you will take all the sand off the face.
Exit the bunker the same path you entered by raking you footprints as you walk backwards out.
Ready Golf – Exiting a Green / Where to Place Your Bag
When arriving at a green by walking or riding in a cart, find the exit point of the green that is closest to the next hole’s tee box and leave your bag or cart. When finished putting you will now exit the green without backtracking for your clubs or card helping speed up pace of play.
Dress Code
Most private golf courses require shirts with collars and no jeans. If you are unsure of the dress code call the club, or check their website, or ask the member who invited you. This will avoid the embarrassing moment of being required to purchase a shirt in order to play. Many public golf course require the same code and some do not.
There may be a dress code for women at private clubs that may include no jean, cross tops, halter tops, yoga pants, bikini tops, etc. If unsure its best to ask your friend or call the club.
Private Club Etiquette
Most private clubs have a dress code requiring no jeans and collard shirts when playing. Also, no cell phones in open areas. Many ultra private clubs prefer you put your golf shoes on in the locker room instead of the parking lot. If you are unsure of etiquette ask the member who invited your or go the clubs website to see if they are listed.
Bag Drop
Many Private clubs and Resorts have a “Bag Drop” where you can drop your bags off to the attendants and then go park your car. The attendants will have your bag set up on cart or to the side when you come back. Look for the “Bag Drop” sign when you drive in. It’s customary to tip the Bag Drop Attendents a few dollars.
Tipping
Tipping cash for services provided to you at Private clubs and big fancy Resorts is customary. Tipping Bag Drop Attendants at drop off, Locker Room attendants who clean your shoes, Outside Crew who clean your clubs at the end of the round, the Valet, and beverage cart person are typical services expecting a tip ranging from $3 to $10 or go big and make your member look good by tipping $10 & $20 and up. Tip well and you’ll get good ‘mojo’ on the golf course.
Play Ready Golf – Play Fast & Make Friends
If you are a new golfer, experienced golfers are not concerned about how bad you are playing golf. Golfers just care about playing golf at a pace of play that allows you to finish 9 holes in 2 hours and 18 holes in 4 hours. Learn how to play fast and play Ready Golf and you can play with just about anyone and remain friends.