Getting paired up with people who do not know ANY golf etiquette

[Wannabe Paper Tiger]

What have you found to be the most effective but polite way to let someone know about certain golf etiquetter rules?

When I get paired up with folks who are totally new to the game I only care that they know the essentials, like I don't care about who hits first but I do care that they are stepping in my line or not fixing their rare ball marks.

Thoughts?

[Big_M]

I would just politely explain the rules (the ones that are important to you).

[Eore]

even though i'm always the youngest in the groups i play in, the older people don't know any etiquette (for the most part) i get hit into when i play by my self, and people talk in my backswing. but if i even scratch my leg, they get mad. i just ask them not to do it, and then they respect that i actually know something about the game.

[MasterOfTheBogey]

Its honestly common sense for the most part. I dont have alot of respect for people that dont respect the rules on the course.

I am not a stickler for major things, but when I am getting ready to hit my approach and the person is stepping up to their ball at the same time that kinda pisses me off.

Lucky enough not to get paired with people that dont know the game that well though. Knock on wood.

[Avid Golfer]

What have you found to be the most effective but polite way to let someone know about certain golf etiquetter rules?

You could drop hints by constantly asking the person/people etiquette related questions.

When you walk up to the green and are fixing your own ball mark if you don't see the other player fixing his/her ball mark you could ask: "Would you like me to toss you my extra divot tool, so you can fix your ball mark over there?" Beyond that you could fix the ball marks yourself (that will usually attract their attention), and promote him/her fixing them as well. As far as the line of the putt, and people stepping on it. If you see someone constantly stepping on your line or you want to get the point across to the person early start saying to them "Where is your mark? I don't want to step on your line." (even if you know where he/she is on the green). Once the person finds out you are concerned about his/her line the person might start being more conscious of your line. Frankly I'm not too concerned with the effects of people stepping in my line (unless they are 300+ pounds). I figure with all the people that have trampled on the green before me that day, and soft spikes not penetrating the turf like metal spikes did, if I miss a putt its more often caused by lack of a solid strike on the ball than one of the millions of slight imperfections on the green.

[Shindig]

What have you found to be the most effective but polite way to let someone know about certain golf etiquetter rules?

You could ask them when they are in your line to please move, explaining to them why.

When you walk up to the green and are fixing your own ball mark if you don't see the other player fixing his/her ball mark you could ask: "Would you like me to toss you my extra divot tool, so you can fix your ball mark over there?" Beyond that you could fix the ball marks yourself (that will usually attract their attention), and promote him/her fixing them as well.

I usually tell them that I'm following the Corey Pavin rule. Legend has it that when Pavin was captain of the UCLA team, he made the players repair 5 ball marks on each green, since it was on his watch that the team gained playing rights at various top courses in the area. This made the members happy, instead of apprehensive, to see the team using the course.

I don't always repair 5 at each, but if I'm not doing anything in particular at the moment, I'll look for ball marks to repair - especially if I've already holed out.

Frankly I'm not too concerned with the effects of people stepping in my line (unless they are 300+ pounds). I figure with all the people that have trampled on the green before me that day, and soft spikes not penetrating the turf like metal spikes did, if I miss a putt its more often caused by lack of a solid strike on the ball than one of the millions of slight imperfections on the green.

I agree with this entirely, although having a fresh mark in your way is a bit annoying.

[Three Putt]

I don't always repair 5 at each, but if I'm not doing anything in particular at the moment, I'll look for ball marks to repair - especially if I've already holed out.

I'm good for 2 or 3 a hole, especially the bad ones.

I think that one of the nice things about golf is walking up to a green in decent shape, not one that looks like someone did a "drive by" on it.

[walk18]

You could drop hints by constantly asking the person/people etiquette related questions.

I agree with that advice completely.

[King Norre]

Beginners, just like me, often make "mistakes" because they don't know they do anything wrong. That's why it's always important to point out what they're doing wrong. I've learned a lot from playing with people with more experience who told me when I was doing somthing wrong. Not everything is written down in the rules, especially the etiquette. So don't get annoyed, just tell them and they'll be thankfull for the advice.

[r7 425]

Today-I see a lot of people who could care less about the history of the game. The "Grip It and Rip It Type) J.D. excluded---dont seem to grasp the tradition of the game..I see a lot of guys just want to hit it as far as they can and not care about etiquitte or proper camaraderie of the game..Its a shame to see because this game was built on sportsmanship

[iWALK18]

I think that repairing the other player's ball mark is a great way to bring attention to that aspect of the rules. If he still doesn't get it after a couple times, you could compliment him on hitting the green, especially if he is new and hitting a green is a big deal, marvel at the ball mark a bit, and hand him the repair tool.
"would you like to do the honors"... or something like that.

As for stepping in your line, thats a bit tougher, but i like the suggestion of making it clear that you are concerned about this aspect of golf etiquette by asking where the other player's mark is. Or you could "accidentally" step in the other player's line, and then apologize profusely to get the point across that this is really not acceptable to you.
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry, i didn't mean to step in your line! I didn't notice your ball right there. I'm so sorry"


SIDE NOTE:
This reminds me of how my grandmother used to get me to put a napkin in my lap at the table when I was young:

"What a lovely napkin you have there, can we trade?"
*Gramma takes my napkin off the table and places hers over my leg.*

All done in a very learned Proper English Accent! Classic!

[Shindig]

I think that repairing the other player's ball mark is a great way to bring attention to that aspect of the rules. If he still doesn't get it after a couple times, you could compliment him on hitting the green, especially if he is new and hitting a green is a big deal, marvel at the ball mark a bit, and hand him the repair tool.

Man, sometimes I think I was the only one who got excited about fixing ball marks when he finally started hitting greens.

But the line about doing the honors -- I'm going to use that!

[lamebums]

If he still doesn't get it after a couple times, you could compliment him on hitting the green, especially if he is new and hitting a green is a big deal, marvel at the ball mark a bit, and hand him the repair tool.

That's the best way to approach the situation I've heard in a long time. I should try that.

[RogueGolfer]

Man, sometimes I think I was the only one who got excited about fixing ball marks when he finally started hitting greens.

LOL , ya when I leave a ballmark I make a production of fixing it.

[Dent]

Usually i never have this problem, but sometimes to be Polite Ill drop hints to them so they get the point.

[Jeepthrills]

I have had to deal with an even tougher "situation." My wife and I have a couple that are our best friends. We spend a lot of time with thme, including vacations. Last year they decided to play more golf and even joned our league. We were up North for a weekend and we took them out to play on a Saturday afternoon. The course was pretty busy and we were only playing 9 so they sent us off the back. 10 is a tough par three and needless to say it tokk a little time for us to get to the green. By the time we got there, another group had rweached the tees. A second group was there by the time we walked off. I din't want to waive them through right away as it could have taken forwever for us to play 9. On the 11th tee I said "We need to pick up our pace." That was met by my buddy's wife saing "Why? We paid the same that they did." I had to try and nicely explain that it doesn't work that way. We did waive the threesome up that was on the tee as we got to the green, but we were able to pick up the pace enough to stay ahead of the group behind them. Needless to say my game suffered for the first few holes. Fortunately for us there were some slow groups ahead of us that we caught on 13 and 14.

The hardest thing they had to learn last year, mostly in the league, was when it was appropriate to talk and how to be ready to play when it was your turn. Unfortunately they have decided not to play in the league this year. They are always fun to hang out with.

[Feanor]

Know what i hate? when i first started hitting greens on approach shots, tee shots on par threes, i would get to the green all happy and looking for my ball mark with my divot tool in my hand, and much to my chagrin, i couldn't figure out which one was mine amongst the 6 others in the area. So i just start fixing them all lol.

I think a lot of new players when they start hitting greens actually enjoy fixing their ball marks. I can relate to this because I've only been playing a year. I live in NYC and play crowded public courses where the faster the better, so a lot of the etiquette on when to shoot or get ready for your approach goes out the window with playing "ready golf." So a lot of you guys facing this situation might be playing with some city boys who are used to being hustled along by the marshal.

I have had people politely tell me when i do something wrong and i didn't take it to heart and anyone who is seriously trying to learn the game, wont be offended as long as your not a douche about it. I remember my second time on the course i stepped too close to the cup and this guy freaked on me like he was my father and so it turned into a big screaming match between us which is bad for everyone.

[JaY_B]

In mens tournys at my club I get paired with blokes who walk on my line, hit shots at the same time as me, talk when I'm on the tee, laugh at jokes mid swing, always ask me for rules decisions, rarely help you look for a ball, say great shot in pure amazement even though the ball misses the green.

All in all these competitions are important to my for handicap purposes, IMO players with no etiquete is just anothe rpart of the game that you have too master.