There are two kinds of rules: rules governing play and rules governing conduct. Golf may be the only sport to include a section on player conduct in the official rules. These rules of etiquette are as important to enjoying an afternoon golfing with three friends as the rules of play are to playing the game correctly.
In other words, proper etiquette is as much a part of the game as knowing what to do when your ball gets stuck in a tree. Newcomers typically learn the rules of etiquette as they go, but we’re happy to offer the crash course in on-course etiquette.
Safety First
- Don’t swing your club until you’re sure that everyone is far enough away. Also be sure that nobody can be hit by any small sticks or twigs laying on the ground as a result of your practice swing. Steer clear of others swinging as well.
- Never hit your ball until you are certain that the group ahead is well out of range.
- If your shot (or any playing partner’s shot) is headed towards another group or player, warn them by loudly yelling “Fore!” in their direction so that they may cover their heads, duck, or hide behind a tree.
- Clubs are great at hitting the ball. They don’t make great projectiles in and of themselves. Don’t throw your clubs: you could break a club or, worse yet, a skull.
- Drive golf carts cautiously, particularly on slippery, wet, or sloped surfaces.
Pace of Play
- Many folks like to play “ready golf.” This means that, within reason, the next player who is ready to hit their shot does so. If you’re 150 yards from the green but a playing partner has 165 from behind some trees, he may need extra time to decide what kind of shot to play. Play to the green first if you’re ready to do so. Make sure your partners wish to play “ready golf” before the round begins so you don’t upset anyone by playing out of turn.
- If you don’t play ready golf, prepare for your shots while others are hitting so that you waste as little time as possible when your turn comes. This applies nicely on the putting green as well.
- Though you’re allowed to spend five minutes looking for a lost ball, this does not mean you must force the group behind you to watch you for five minutes. Wave them through while you search.
- Keep up with the group in front. If a space opens up and there’s a faster group behind you, let them through.
- “Army golf” in carts (left, right, left, right) wastes time: drop one player off at his ball with a few clubs and then proceed to the other person’s ball on the other side of the fairway. After the first player hits, he can walk towards the second player.
- Likewise, take a few clubs with you when you walk to your ball from a cart. You may not know the exact distance or conditions until you’re at your ball, so having one stronger and one weaker club eliminates the need to backtrack to the cart.
- Leave the putting green as soon as your group has finished putting out.
Leave the Course Better than you Find It
- Follow cart rules. Keep carts at least 25 yards from greens. Observe posted signs like “90° rule” or “cart-path only.”
- Don’t take divots on practice swings. Brush the top of the grass at the most.
- Repair your divots by replacing the sod and/or filling them with sand supplied on your golf cart. Repair any other divots as time allows.
- Repair your ball mark on the green. Again, repair any others as you have time to do so.
- Rake sand traps after hitting from them. You know how much you’d love to find your ball in a footprint in the bunker: think of those who will follow you.
A Few More
- Please be quiet while others are playing a shot. This includes players on nearby trees, greens, and fairways. Sound travels further than you might think on golf courses.
- Be mindful of your shadow on the putting green. Casting a shadow over someone’s ball or line is rude.
- Don’t walk through another player’s line on the green. Be mindful of the location of your playing partner’s balls and walk around their ball and line to get to the hole.
There are a number of other rules of etiquette, and within any regular foursome the rules may vary. Remember, though: you’ll never offend anyone by adhering to the strictest rules of conduct, and have fun!
There is more information available here: http://www.pga.com/play/golf-etiquette.cfm.
if you are playing in a threesome. If i am away and putt can i continue to putt out or do i have to get permission from 1, both or can i not finish?
In stroke play there’s no penalty for playing out of order, so go ahead and finish out if you can do so without stepping on anyone’s lines. If you regularly play with the same guys, you’ll develop a feel for it.
Is it a penalty to rake your foot prints in sand trap before you hit your ball? These are foot prints going across trap to get rake – not your foot prints around your ball. Thanks, Jo Ann
Yes. You’re testing the condition of the sand.
playing in a local tournament, the group ahead was failing to rake the sand traps after playing from them. an official with the northern texas pga informed me that you would get no relief if you land in their footprints or sand-divots…he further informed me that there in no penalty for the rudeness….with the state of golf today, we will soon see tournaments where poorly raked or unraked traps is a strategy if it is not already going on…..you could mind-game the group following you by simply walking through the fairway bunker – do a little soft shoe while your there – as they sit on the tee-box. you could also make a huge mess of one in a green-side bunker and ignore it.
of course the same official allowed that group to fall three holes behind and refused to address this issue, so maybe he doesn’t know his…..from a hole in the ground or has buddies in that group
i would like to think he is wrong – does anyone know better?