Unwritten Rules of Golf

[klineka]

4 minutes ago, Midpack said:

Probably the same video I watched. They claimed it's actually posted on some courses in the UK. I'd never heard of it until then either.

Rick Shiels and Peter Finch had a little bit about it in one of their course vlogs within the past week or so.

Mark Crossfield also just had a daily vlog about unwritten rules of golf and he mentioned the same thing about no practice swings on the first tee.

[mcanadiens]

8 minutes ago, Midpack said:

And some kept their hats on (mostly bald guys).

I got to take my cap off at least a few times during a round to let the steam off. 

[Eric C]

39 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

I got to take my cap off at least a few times during a round to let the steam off. 

I wear a visor specifically because it keeps my head cooler, and also doesn't muss my beautiful locks ... but I have my own etiquette rule of removing my sunglasses before shaking hands.  I prefer to look you in the eye when we shake, and would give you the same opportunity.

[BamaWade]

I follow all but 8 & 18.  But I don't really take many real practice swings overall.  Gotta make up for being a little slow over the ball on occassion.  

14 minutes ago, Eric C said:

but I have my own etiquette rule of removing my sunglasses before shaking hands

Good rule!  I agree.  The hat thing is over the top, but eye contact is a must.    BTW...also a visor guy.  Need all the heat-escape methods possible in the SE US!

[Missouri Swede]

21 minutes ago, Eric C said:

I wear a visor specifically because it keeps my head cooler, and also doesn't muss my beautiful locks ... but I have my own etiquette rule of removing my sunglasses before shaking hands.  I prefer to look you in the eye when we shake, and would give you the same opportunity.

If I take my sunglasses off, everything beyond 10 inches is blurry. 

[BamaWade]

4 minutes ago, Missouri Swede said:

If I take my sunglasses off, everything beyond 10 inches is blurry. 

So take 'em off and choose one of these fine options:

1.)  Keep your distance and shake what you think is a hand...and hope that it is

2.)  Pull each partner inside 10 inches...nice and close...and shake from there.  We've all had one of those guys in our group (or family, etc.) at some point.  Makes for a nice personal touch. 

[NM Golf]

#5 needs to include walkers with their bags and push carts as well. They are worse than people in carts when it comes to leaving their bags in the least convenient area possible. Always try to leave your bag between the green and the next tee box.

#8 no practice swings on the first tee I have never heard of. The first tee may be the only tee I do take a practice swing on, especially if I haven't warmed up sufficiently. 

#18 I always shake hands with whoever I play with, taking my hat off is not something I normally do.

[Missouri Swede]

1 minute ago, BamaWade said:

2.)  Pull each partner inside 10 inches...nice and close...and shake from there.  We've all had one of those guys in our group (or family, etc.) at some point.  Makes for a nice personal touch. 

Ewww. Not a way to grow the game. 

[BamaWade]

Just now, Missouri Swede said:

Ewww. Not a way to grow the game. 

Agree.  But if your group has grown a little too large for your tastes, it could help you thin it back out to a reasonable level.  

[NM Golf]

25 minutes ago, BamaWade said:

2.)  Pull each partner inside 10 inches...nice and close...and shake from there.  We've all had one of those guys in our group (or family, etc.) at some point.  Makes for a nice personal touch. 

Everyone likes a close talker! 

 

[Elmer]

17 hours ago, Midpack said:

 

1. (Remove your hat and) shake hands with your player partners at the end of every round

I wear a visor, so technically 1/2 my hat (if not more) has already been removed. So I dont remove my hat!
I prefer a fist bump to shaking some  dude's sweaty hand. Think about it after 6 hours of wrapping his hands around that petri dish he calls grips. After he has pulled his ball from all the ponds, still water puddles and woods. NOPE!!!! NOPE!!! NOPE!!!!

[Popeye]

Sorry can some one explain the logic behind the 'no practice on first tee' rule? I don't get it? Our am I just being a bit dim??

[RandallT]

13 minutes ago, Popeye said:

Sorry can some one explain the logic behind the 'no practice on first tee' rule? I don't get it? Our am I just being a bit dim??

Pretty sure they are aiming to reduce damage from accidentally catching turf with your club. Insert appropriate adverb in place of "accidentally": obliviously, ignorantly, carelessly, etc.

Seems safer to swing up there alone than to swing beside the box where you might be unaware of others.

[Popeye]

Just reading the rules and it seems that no practice strokes are allowed during a hole or between a hole ( the exception is putting) however a practice swing is not classed as a stroke and is allowed at any place. 

[DaveP043]

4 minutes ago, Popeye said:

Just reading the rules and it seems that no practice strokes are allowed during a hole or between a hole ( the exception is putting) however a practice swing is not classed as a stroke and is allowed at any place. 

Exactly, the REAL rules allow practice swings.  I can't remember a place where a practice swing wasn't allowed on the first tee.  

One thing I've seen about hats, is that some clubs want you to take off your hat in the clubhouse.  I know MidSouth and Talamore in Pinehurst are like that, but my home club doesn't have a similar "rule."  As to removing my hat when shaking hands, I generally follow the lead of my group, but I don't think its essential.

[omelette]

Related to removing caps and sunglasses, do you remove your glove before shaking hands if you're a lefty? And if you're a woman or playing with women do you shake hands or hug!

Also never heard the one about no practice swings in first tee. Why just the first?

 

[sjduffers]

6 hours ago, NM Golf said:

#8 no practice swings on the first tee I have never heard of. The first tee may be the only tee I do take a practice swing on, especially if I haven't warmed up sufficiently. 

 

I think that we have a failure to communicate here. The unwritten rule is that only the guy who is up, on the tee, is supposed to have practice swings. The other three should remain still and not doing willy-nilly practice swings, you know like 5-10-20, on the side just to warm up.

I admit I fail this one from time to time too. But I do shake hands while removing my hat, showing my sweaty bald top, regardless of whether it looks good or not (it does not): it's a traditional courtesy (in Europe at leas) to remove's one hat to salute another person...

[Papa Steve 55]

Two of my rules.

1 That three foot putt you missed always goes in when you rake it back and try again.

2 The provisional is always better.

Somebody in the group always says "same Guy", and I say yes, but with more practice.