Etiquette Questions...

Im going golfing for the 1st time Wednesday. I'm gonna play 9 holes w/my Dad, Uncle and their boss, who is my old boss and a friend of ours. Since it is my first time out on a course, I am just looking for a few things on etiquette that I should know going in.

Thanks

Here is few things from a newsletter I put out recently (it was written for non-golfers like the OP)

As many will attest, one of the truths of golf is that the way you behave on the course is likely the way you will behave when you are doing business. Follow these simple tips and you’ll be sure to keep yourself on par and out of the “rough.”

* Ready Golf or Honours. Find out if you are playing ready golf or honours when you are teeing off. If it is ready golf that means whoever is ready will tee off first. Honours means the person with the lowest score will tee off first. To maintain pace of play, most people play ready golf because it is faster.

*Pace of Play. This is the speed at which we play each hole. The objective is to be half a hole behind the people in front of you. Not half a hole in front of the people behind you! If your foursome is falling behind it is up to all of you to “pick up your pace” and catch up to the group in front of you.
Five ways to pick up your pace:
- Limit your practice swings to two or three.
- After hitting your ball, try not to meander. Put your club in your bag and walk the course as quickly as possible.
· If you have hit a ball into the rough and think you may not be able to find it, hit a provisional ball. If you are unable to find your first ball after a few minutes, finish the hole with your provisional ball.
· When you get within 15 yards of your ball, fully turn your attention to planning your next shot.
· By the time it is your turn to putt, you should already know approximately what line you want to putt your ball on.

Putting.
* The biggest thing to remember in putting etiquette is that the person farthest from the hole putts first and never walk on the line between another person’s ball and the hole. Always walk around the other person’s marker or make sure that you are stepping over the line that their ball would make.

Silence.
* Even when we are playing for fun, we need to respect the people that we are playing with. When someone is teeing off and when someone is putting, all talking should cease.

Position.
*Make sure that you are positioned so that you will not distract your fellow golfer, yet are still able to see where their ball lands so you can help them find it. The best place to stand is behind and to the side of the person hitting so you are out of their view. During the early or late day, it is also important not to cast a shadow that would distract your fellow golfer.

* Weather. Hopefully you have beautiful sunshine for your golfing event. The average round of golf takes four and a half hours and a tournament can take up to six hours. Be sure to drink a lot of water and, of course, be aware of how much alcohol you consume. On hot days, dehydration can be a big factor in your ability to hit the golf ball straight down the course.

* Novices. Leave the driver in your bag and hit your 3-wood off the tee. You are more likely to hit the ball a reasonable distance. It took me two years of lessons before I hit my driver. On the fairways, hit the club that you find easiest to hit and that will give you some distance. Experienced golfers are usually very generous and happy to help you with the rules, so don’t be shy. However, the golf course is not a place for lessons so try not to fall into the trap of someone teaching you golf out on the course.

* Enjoyment. Remember to enjoy yourself. After all, it is one of the reasons you decided to go out and play. It is only a game and no one really cares how good of a golfer you are—except maybe you.

When the round is over be sure to remove you hat and sunglasses and shake each players hand.

+1 that will get you through the first time just fine.

tyvm appreciate it

a few videos on golf etiquette:

swear and throw clubs

One thing to add.

Like mentioned in previous post, always be mindful not to step in the putting line of a playing partner...but something many people forget, is that line extends out past the hole. I dont know about most of you, but I dont make every put and sometimes run it past the hole...so be mindful of that as well.

A few really simple statements:

---It is not a sin to play poorly, but it is a sin to play slowly. Always keep up.

---Even if you play well, people won't enjoy playing with you if you're not a pleasant, fun partner. Be nice to everybody. Talk and enjoy being with your friends (when it's time to do so, of course). Most importantly, don't let any bad shots or bad luck you may have get you so angry that you're no fun to play golf with

Be mindful of what you say after one of your playing partners hits a poor shot. He may not seem too upset, but if you crack even a light-hearted joke that person may be pretty angry even if they don't show it.

I'll give you some that a lot of people don't mention.

Don't drag your feet on the green, don't jam the end of the flagstick into the green, be careful when putting it back into the hole so that you don't damage the sides. Repair any fresh ball marks you see. If you see trash on the course, then be courteous and pick it up til you can find a trash can.

If you see someones wedge laying by the green go ahead and pick it up so no one forgets a club. Don't just leave your tees stuck in the ground at the teebox. If sand/seed mix is provided then always use it.

+1

Also, if you have a slow group in front of you, be sure to hit into them every chance possible as well as shout obscenities at them when they're addressing the ball (i.e. 'Hurry the f*** up assclown!). Before anyone gets their shorts in a knot, this is 100% in jest.

I always like to spit my sunflower seeds all over the green... It will command respekt! Sorry I had to jump in on this one...

My god I swear there is a golfer always ahead of me who puts his sunflower seeds in my line. How he knows where I will land the ball is beyond me but it seems like every putt is 1/2 reading the putt and 1/2 sweeping seed shells out of the way.

oh, Dont forget this....a wife-beater t-shirt, cut off jean shorts and golf shoes with metal spikes. If anyone hits a bad shot, point and snicker and add in an occasional "and I thought I sucked"!

and last but not least...stand right next to the flag stick, but NEVER EVER pull it!

Just have fun and good luck!

make corny jokes like old men golfers do and compliment every single shot with comments like "thats a peach" or "helluva shot" even though the players capable of much better

If either your Dad or your Uncle say "Pick it up" ....TRUST THEM!!!!

If they say, "that's good, pick it up", smile say thank you.

If they say, "just pick it up already", get the ball quietly and quickly.

I have played with my best friend for over 20 years, and he always leaves his wedges on the wrong side of the green! When you get out of the cart with more than your putter, hit your chip then put your wedge between you and the cart.

Nothing can slow down a round more than having to walk to the other side of a green to retrieve clubs while others are waiting to play behind you. And you will eventually lose a club or 2.