Golf Etiquette 101 (The Front Nine)

I’ve heard some people say they refrain from playing golf because there are “too many rules.” I’m never sure if what they mean by that is that the USGA Rules of Golf are confusing—which they are—or if they really don’t understand the “unwritten” rules of golf.

If it’s the latter, then I’ll write a few for you to take into account when you’re on the course—or if you have the opportunity to play. Below are my top nine (9) etiquette rules for the game of golf. Some of them are “pet peeves,” which not all golfers would agree with—while others nearly all golfers would agree with.

Here they are:

1. Don’t talk during someone’s backswing. Trust me, there are enough swing thoughts in the head of most golfers. And the last thing they need is someone jabbering while they’re trying to quiet their minds.
2. If your ball goes into a bunker (sand trap), rake it after removing your ball. Most courses provide rakes. And they put them either “in” or around the bunker (at some courses, there are even more than one per bunker). A) Enter the bunker at the lowest point—and where you’ll disrupt the sand the least. B) Take the rake into the bunker with you. And C) get your ball out of the bunker and rake the sand as you leave. For further information about what you should and shouldn’t do in bunkers (and we ALL get in them), check out this link.
3. Keep up with the group in front of you. If it’s a busy day on the course, follow this rule. If it’s a slow day—not so much. Getting called a slow player is NOT a compliment. Most avid golfers can forgive someone who’s not that good—but are less understanding of someone who plays slowly.
4. If Cart Path Only (CPO) is in effect, drive a little beyond where your ball is. This item is more for the beginning golfer. And not everyone would agree with it. Nevertheless, here’s the reasoning—and I’ve seen it happen too many times: a guy (or gal) parks the golf cart on the cart path even with (or slightly behind) where their ball is located in the fairway or rough. They then walk out to their ball and proceed to hit it. Unfortunately, sometimes it’ll only go about 10 yards. They then proceed to walk *back* to the cart, move it up 10 yards and do the same thing. Over and over. It’s almost like they’re dragging the cart up to the hole with them. It’s painful to watch. Instead, why not park the cart 5-10 yards beyond your ball and then get the cart after you hit your shot—with your momentum going toward the target?
5. If the course—or the hole—is CPO, take several clubs with you when you go to hit your shot. For instance, if you think your shot is going to call for an eight iron, take your seven and nine irons out as well. This way you won’t have to go back to the cart, once again holding everyone up.
6. If someone else is on the green (putting), and your ball is also on the green, mark your ball. If, in this instance their ball hits yours, they’re assessed with a two-stroke penalty (in serious competition). I recently played (in casual competition) with guys where we all had reached the green. The “A” player (the best golfer in the group) had about a five-foot putt for eagle (yes, eagle)! The C player, whose ball was nearby, asked, “Is my ball in your way? Well, actually it was, but the A player, being polite, modified his stance to accommodate the situation—and proceeded to miss the putt. If the ignoramus had simply marked his ball, the A player would’ve made eagle—a very rare score—on the hole. Had I thought of it at the time, I would’ve said, “Dude, he’s putting for eagle. Give him whatever room he needs!”
7. Don’t Step in Front of a Birdie (or Eagle). If someone in your foursome is fortunate enough to score below par on a hole, they then have “honors” on the next tee. That means they hit their drive before the others, as a reward for their stellar play on the previous hole. The only exception to this “rule” is if others are playing from a tee further away from the green—in which instance they should go first in order to move play along.
8. Don’t walk in someone’s putting line. Even though very few people wear metal spikes anymore, it’s rude! Sometimes on a “tap in,” it’s hard not to do so. In this instance, you essentially have three choices: A) mark your ball and wait until you’re no longer “away,” B) straddle the other person’s line and hit your putt, or C) ask the other players if your putt is good. Depending on whether players are conceding putts that day (it probably depends on how competitive the game is), C might be the best solution for all involved. No stepping in someone’s line and no missed putt because you were contorting your body trying not to step in someone’s line.  
9. Don’t cheat. This one obviously should go without mentioning. Yet so many people do it. Frankly, it’s easy to do (and very tempting, I might add). But the unique thing about this game is it’s played on the honor system. Cheating destroys the integrity of it. And ultimately, the truth eventually comes out.

One of the biggest reasons that golf gets a bad rap is because it “takes so long” to play. Even it you’re only playing nine holes, it’s still a considerable chunk of time that you could be doing something else. If you follow these eight *rules* you’ll play A LOT faster—and you’ll enjoy it A LOT more.

ABOUT: Frank Felsburg is a writer, publisher and marketer in North Carolina who plays recreational golf.