A Little Respect Please!
There’s a million rules of golf etiquette. Some are written, and some are unwritten. Some make good sense, and some seem a little silly. If you’re getting ready to join a group of guys or gals on a golf vacation, take a little time to think about golf etiquette. You might be going with your regular group of 20 years and nobody worries about stepping on putting lines or talking in backswings. However, if you don’t know some of your playing partners too well, paying attention to some basic golf etiquette could avoid some unnecessary conflict. Regardless of your group, we always need to be mindful of those rules intended to protect the golf course.
Let’s start with a few important course rules of etiquette:
Observe the cart rules for the day. If the marshall tells you to stay on the cart path, stay on the cart path. When the course is wet, carts can do serious turf damage. We all want to play on golf courses in good condition, and this is a way to help the superintendent achieve that goal.
Many courses use markers to tell you where to enter and exit the fairway, as well as how far to stay away from greens. Observe and use these markers as intended. This is another way the superintendent can manage areas of wear on the golf course and keep it in good condition.
Fix your ball marks on the green! Again, everybody wants to putt on smooth putting surfaces. Fixing your ball mark, and a couple more, helps the green heal quicker and roll smoother. Consider it a badge of honor to fix your mark left by a great shot!
If your cart has a bottle of sand, use it to fill your fairway divots.
A few more “rules” to consider to help your playing partners enjoy the round:
Don’t stand or walk directly behind someone playing a shot. Very distracting.
Rake the bunker after playing your shot. This leaves the next person with a chance at a decent lie, which they’ll appreciate.
Save your joke until you are out of ear shot of someone playing a shot. Again, for some this is very distracting.
Play “ready golf”. Don’t get too hung up on who’s away or who has the honor on the tee. If safe to do so, play ready golf to keep the pace moving. The groups behind you will appreciate it.
Be ready to play when it is your turn. While others are playing their shot, you should be determining your yardage and selecting your club, not checking Facebook. When it’s your turn, fire away. You don’t need to watch and comment on every shot in your group. Same applies to on the green. While others are putting, you should be finding your line and be ready to go when it’s your turn.
On the green, lay your extra clubs across the flag stick after it is removed. This ensures you won’t leave a wedge behind.
Be helpful in looking for wayward shots in your group - to a point. If a ball goes into a hazard, help the player look for the ball for a couple of minutes. If no luck, the player should take the drop and move on. The point is to help your playing partners, but not at the expense of everyone else on the course.
Observing these common sense rules of etiquette keep our golf courses in good condition, while making the game more enjoyable for everyone. Now you’re ready to plan that Branson golf vacation or Destin golf vacation. Request a quote here!
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