Advice on Course (Practical)

[gbogey]

My wife is a very casual golfer and only started keeping score in the last two years as the club told her she needed a handicap. Besides playing with me and a few other couples, she plays with a few girlfriends, almost all of whom are newer golfers. The other day at a ladies event they emphasized certain golf rules in a heavy handed manner. The one that upset the ladies was the "no advice" rule because to these ladies the conversation on the course is just as important as their score. Of course, the event leaders forget to mention that "no advice" doesn't apply to team events and the event that day was a scramble.

So I'm trying to give my wife practical guidance on advice on the course to make things simple. Keep in mind that these ladies all have 30+ handicaps, are distance challenged, and at this time would never enter an individual competition.  The only ladies events they enter are team events - they are keeping golf social as maybe we all should.  So for casual rounds playing for individual score, I come up with the following:

Don't

1. Help each other read their own putts;
2. Give advice on whether to lay up or attempt to cross a water hazard;
3. Give advice on whether to chip or putt when just off the green.

Do:

1. Give advice on distances
2. Give advice on rules

I'm purposely ignoring the "what club did you hit?" because quite frankly in a casual round I don't think that information is helpful to any of these ladies. Any other thoughts?

[DaveP043]

One thing that came right to mind was:

OK   "This fairway slopes left"

Not OK " Aim right, this fairway slopes left"

[gbogey]

Yeah, I probably should add something like, "don't give advice on how to hit a shot that's unusual due to the stance, lie, or wind conditions. 

[Rulesman]

  On 2/14/2025 at 4:06 PM, gbogey said:

Don't

1. Help each other read their own putts;
2. Give advice on whether to lay up or attempt to cross a water hazard;
3. Give advice on whether to chip or putt when just off the green.

Do:

1. Give advice on distances
2. Give advice on rules

 

Expand  

I suggest that you differentiate between 'advice' and 'information'. The latter (above) are information.

There is a pond to the left behind those trees is information.

Hit well right, there is a pond to the left behind those trees is advice.

 

[boogielicious]

Also on distance. Saying it’s 150 yards to the flag is just information. Saying it’s your 6 iron distance is advice.