One of the scariest things about starting golf is knowing the etiquette. Breaking the etiquette rules can create a more explosive reaction from fellow players than breaking written rules of the game!
When I started playing golf 20 years ago, I broke every etiquette rule in the book. I learned quickly how to behave on the golf course after being lectured by more experienced golfers. You'll have a head start by reading this guide and like me, have etiquette breaches that bother you and others that don't.
Etiquette Rules to Help You Be a Golfer
Etiquette and golf rules are two different things but both matter. It's worth learning about these things to make sure playing golf is a stress free event.
1. Etiquette before the game
No golf bags in the clubhouse
Leave your bag outside the clubhouse or pro shop. I don't know why, but that's how it goes.
Respect people's time
Be at the golf course 20-30 minutes before your tee time to pay, warm up and practice a few putts. If you're late or don't show, you put your playing partners in a stressed state and it spoils the beginning of their round. You also won't be invited back if you don't show.
Don't cancel last tee times minute. The only reason to cancel a golf game last minute is if you're dead. Otherwise, be there! You will lose a lot of golf friends if you flake.
Introduce yourself with a handshake
If you're playing with strangers, walk up to the groups around the tee and ask what time they're playing. Once you find the group you're playing with, introduce yourself and shake everyone's hand. You can tell them if you're a new golfer - up to you. Make it a real man's hand shake and not a 'dead fish'. That's just not done.
If you want to bump elbows because you're scared (even though you call yourself a man)...rather just say hi and wave like a teenage boy across the green. Don't do the elbow bump. People will think you are an idiot. Because you might just be one. Also it's just not proper etiquette. Grab and grin.
Dress appropriately
2. Etiquette for general play
Silence is golden!
Whenever someone is playing a shot near you, it's best to keep quiet and stand dead still. Similar to how we react to our women when they've got a problem with our behavior.
This includes the cell phone - on the golf course put it on total silent mode without vibration and leave it in the bag. If you have more important business than your golf game with buddies, you have your life priorities wrong!
One of the most common irritants is when someone undoes their golf glove Velcro on your back swing. Do this, along with pulling and putting clubs in the bag, between other guys shots.
If you really dislike the people you are playing with, these are top tips to get under their skin. I do it from time to time when I get paired with the guys who think they are bigger than golf.
Take your time BUT don't be slow
You should develop a pre-shout routine but since you probably take a lot more strokes than a lot of golfers, make your routine short. One or two practice swings and set up to the ball and hit. Efficient golfers always get an invite to play, whereas slow golfers lose friends quickly!
Regarding preparation before your shot, get things ready beforehand. While waiting for others to play, think about what club to hit - look at and gauge distance as you walk up to the ball. Pull the club out between other guys shots so when it's your turn you're ready to fire. Don't start the whole process only as it's your turn.
You're going to miss a lot of greens and a lot of putts and hit some woolly and wild shots, and no one really cares if you do. We're all out there for fun and a chat with some boys anyway. But no amount of good personality can overcome a new golfer who stands in disbelief that he hit a bad shot, all the while holding up play. Keep moving, keep playing and remain positive and everyone will love you.
Don't lose your temper
There's no such thing as bad publicity they say. That's not true for golf courses. While Sergio likes to treat his shoes like a bad burrito, you're not being paid millions for brand awareness of TaylorMade and Adidas. Word of your ill temper gets around a country club or golf club very quickly and no one wants to play with a drama queen.
Watch where you stand
When looking at the ball at address, movements or positions of other golfers can sneak into your peripheral vision and this distracts most golfers. There are some places you can always stand that won't offend anyone:
Picture courtesy of Golf ChannelRespect the course and other players
Repair the course
Always always always repair your divots in the fairways and always repair pitch marks on the greens. This is general common sense that so many golfers ignore or are ignorant to. Repairing the divots and pitch marks immediately significantly speeds up the regrowth process. Those brown pitch marks and divots you see? Lazy bastards who couldn't be bothered. You can buy a great divot tool here.
Interacting with your partners
In general, be quiet on others shots and congratulate them on their good shots with a 'good/great shot' comment. Don't give unsolicited swing/shot advice to other players as it's usually very unwelcome. If someone asks you what they're doing wrong, just say, 'looks good, maybe just relax and swing easy'. That's very generic and will usually stop them asking again.
I once told someone after being asked what he should do to take a break for 2 weeks, then give the game up completely. I don't recommend this for making friends.
Chat with everyone and don't be that weirdo who storms off in front of everyone or lags way in the back to avoid talking to people. I'm a single digit handicapper and have been for 15 years. I love all golfers especially newbies and high handicappers. We're all here to escape our miserable lives and wives so have some fun. If anyone is anti-fun, just never book a tee time with them again. Easy peasy.
Be aware of other groups
Don't hit if the people in front are reachable. If you hit it into people in front, apologize profusely. If they want to fight, roll up your sleeves and always pull an iron from the bag like a swashbuckler and swing it over your head like a mad man. I highly recommend the 7 iron. I never miss with a 7 iron.
If they want your membership number to report your behavior, give them a fake one.
I hit long bombs and am usually the designated driver assigned with hitting into the slow group in front of us. I've been asked my membership number (mainly by sour old women) countless times. I've never given them my actual number or name. I'm usually 'Steve' and my membership number is 3427.
Don't be like me. Be better.
If you hit a ball that is flying to where there are people, shout 'fore!' at the top of your lungs. Shout quick and shout loud! If you hit someone, prepare for dirty looks. If you hit a woman, prepare for soap opera level drama.
Help other guys look for their balls
The most romantic moment two heterosexual men can have on a golf course is finding another mans golf ball in the rough. The deeper the rough the higher the bromantic feeling you will develop. This is scientific fact. Golf rules say you should take three minutes looking for a player's ball. It used to be 5 minutes. It's really up to you and your playing partners how long you want to take.
3. Etiquette on the tee
Stand still and be quiet
Find a place to stand as described above then be quiet until shots have been hit. A 'nice shot' comment is always welcome. Total silence is usually best for bad shots, but if you have some fun guys, a little ribbing or an 'ooooh' is OK. Judge it yourself. I won't be held responsible for your hospital fees.
Respect 'honor' unless playing 'ready golf'
Usually the order of play is predicted by the lowest scorer on the previous hole. Playing first is called 'the honor'.
TOP TIP: Only crack the pathetic "your honor, your honor" joke if you're a generally funny guy. Fake laughter always stings and people will confirm your worst fears - you are not funny.
Often though, guys play 'ready golf' which means if you're ready while the guy with the honor over you is fiddling around, hit before him to speed up play.
Wait until everyone has teed off
One of the rudest things you can do is leave the teeing area before everyone has hit their tee shot and start walking up to your ball along the side of the hole. This is a surefire way of getting the guys in the group to gossip about you while you're playing! Unless the rest of the guys are jerks, stand and watch the other guys shots.
4. Etiquette on the green
Don't stand on other players' lines
I don't really mind this because the greens are usually torn up from a lot of use anyway but I do mind on anything inside 6 feet. Try not to stand on other players lines - basically any piece of grass on a straight line between the golf ball and the hole.
FIX YOUR PITCHMARKS!
Looking after the course keeps it in pristine condition and makes the green-keepers job much easier. Grass on greens heal much quicker when pitch marks are repaired within a couple of minutes than if left unattended. Unattended marks go brown and cause scarring which looks awful.
Use a pitch mark repairer, pocket knife blade or tee peg. Just use something.
Mark your ball
Use a coin to mark your ball or something equally flat. If it's not on anyone's line, I use beer cans, the toe of my putter, a tee peg and sometimes. If your ball is in someones line of sight, best to use a coin.
Watch your shadow
Be conscious of where your shadow is cast especially early mornings and late afternoons. Try not to have your shadow touch the golfers putting line. They'll usually say 'watch your shadow' so this isn't a punch-up worthy error.
Hold the pin for others
When another guy is putting, if you're the closest to the pin on the green, hold the flag for other guys' lag putts after you've marked your ball. Inside of 20 feet, just pull the pin and set it down next to the green.
Replace the pin if you're first to hole out
If you hole out first, you should hold the pin for the last guy to hole out. You could also be the second from last guy and hold the pin too. But if you're holding the pin to put it back in the hole every hole, you're the beta of the group.
You need to exert some dominance and become the alpha dog and just walk off the green after you hole out for about 6 holes. This will show the rest of these jerks that you're not their caddy and they not your daddy.
Never drive a golf cart onto the green
I'm hoping this is obvious, but driving a heavy golf cart onto the pristine putting green is a big no no. It's so bad you might be asked to leave the course.
5. Etiquette after the round
Shake hands with everyone
There's only been one guy in 20 years I haven't shaken hands with. Not only did he break every single etiquette guideline in the book, he didn't even bother shaking hands and went directly home. Always offer a handshake and a 'thanks, that was fun' or 'thank you, I really enjoyed that'.
If it wasn't actually fun, shake hands and say thanks and add in an excuse to leave early so you don't have to stay for a drink.
Very important! You are forbidden from shaking hands with a dead fish handshake. You grip the hand and you squeeze and pump. You look the other guy in the eyes and say thanks for the game. If anyone serves you a dead fish handshake, you immediately ask him how much soy he eats and go home. Do not drink with this man. He cannot be trusted. Dead fish hand shakes after golf are as egregious as sneezing on someones backswing.
Stay for a drink (if they shook hands properly)
It's often traditional to stay and have a drink with the guys you play with after the round. You can have a shower or not, but drinking will only occur after everyone's arrived.
If you really had an awful time playing with some unpleasant people or you're too stingy to pay for drinks, here are some good excuses:
There is no shame in GTFO'ing of there. If you have just spent an agonizing 4 and a half hours with people and cannot imagine sitting for another minute with them, you are allowed to leave.
No caps or hats on in the club house
This is an old tradition and might not be in effect everywhere you go. Best to take it off when entering the clubhouse or bar anyway otherwise you might get told to buy the whole bar a round of drinks!!!
Conclusion
There are a lot of things to remember. But it can really be broken down into some very simple things:
- Don't stand on peoples putting lines
- Keep quiet when others are hitting
- Look after the course
- Dress properly
- Be the type of guy you would want to play with
- Know the rules
Most importantly, have fun! Don't be a prick.
