Golf etiquette isn’t about a stuffy set of rules designed to make newcomers feel uncomfortable. It’s the opposite. Think of it as a shared understanding among players to keep the game safe, fast, and enjoyable for everyone. This guide will walk you through the practical, unwritten customs of the game, helping you feel confident and prepared from the first tee to the final putt.
If you take away only one thing, let it be this: be mindful of your pace. A four-hour round is standard, but slow play can stretch that to five or even six hours, which nobody enjoys. The goal is to keep up with the group in front of you, not stay ahead of the group behind you. Here’s how you can be a pace-of-play all-star.
The days of rigidly waiting for the person "farthest away" to hit are mostly gone, especially in casual rounds. "Ready golf" is the modern standard. This simply means that if you're at your ball and you're ready to hit, and it's safe to do so, you should go ahead - even if a playing partner is slightly farther from the hole but isn't quite ready.
Losing a golf ball happens to everyone, from beginners to pros. The difference is how you handle it. The official rule gives you three minutes to search for a lost ball. Respect that clock.
The tee box sets the tone for the hole. A little awareness here goes a long way and shows your playing partners that you respect the game.
The player with the best score on the previous hole, known as having "honors," typically tees off first. On the first hole, honors are usually decided by a coin flip, by agreement, or a friendly tradition like tossing a tee. In ready golf, however, if the person with honors isn't ready and another player is, it’s fine for the ready player to go first.
When another player is hitting, the most important thing is to stand still and silent. Be respectful of their space and concentration. The best spot to stand is usually out of their line of sight, often behind them and to the side. Never stand directly behind the player or directly in front of their target line. Treat them the way you'd want to be treated - give them an uncluttered space to focus on their shot.
A golf course is a beautiful living thing, and as players, we have a responsibility to take care of it during our round. This is a massive part of golf etiquette that veteran players take very seriously.
A divot is the patch of turf that gets displaced when you hit an iron shot. Leaving a big wound in the middle of a perfect fairway is just bad form. If your divot is a solid piece of turf, simply pick it up, place it back in the hole like a puzzle piece, and press it down with your foot. If the course provides sand bottles on the carts, use the sand/seed mix to fill the hole. A clean fill helps the grass grow back quickly, leaving a great lie for the next golfer.
This is non-negotiable. When your ball lands on the green from an approach shot, it often leaves a small indentation called a ball mark or pitch mark. An unrepaired mark can harm the health of the green and affect putts for weeks. Here’s the right way to fix one:
Always, always rake the bunker after you’ve played out of it. Your goal is to erase any evidence that you were ever there - including your footprints and the crater from your shot. When you exit the bunker, leave the rake in a smooth spot where it's out of the way but accessible for the next player.
The putting green is a delicate area with its own special considerations. Since this is where strokes are saved and lost, tension can be high, making good etiquette even more important.
Every player has a "line," which is the imaginary path their ball will take to the hole. Never step on or cast a shadow over another player's line. It's considered a major breach of etiquette. Always walk well around other players' putting lines, even if it means taking the long way around their ball.
The rules have evolved, and you can now legally putt with the flagstick in the hole. However, it's customary to ask your partners what they prefer. If someone wants it removed, one player can "tend" the pin, pulling it out after the ball is struck. When you pull the pin, don’t just drop it on the green, place it down gently off the green, away from any putting lines.
Once the final putt drops for everyone in your group, don’t hang around the green to tally scores and celebrate. Pick up the flagstick, walk off the green, and proceed immediately to the next tee box. You can mark down your scores there while the next group plays their approach shots. Strategic placement of your bag or cart between the green and the next tee also saves valuable time.
Golf is a game, but a flying golf ball is a dangerous projectile. Safety is the foundation of all course conduct.
Ultimately, golf etiquette boils down to awareness and respect - for the course, the pace of play, and the other people sharing the experience with you. By following these simple guidelines, you not only make the game more enjoyable for everyone but also represent yourself as a thoughtful, respectful golfer that anyone would be happy to play with.
Feeling comfortable goes beyond the "rules" of the game, it’s about knowing what to do. Sometimes the biggest source of anxiety is not wanting to ask a "dumb" question about a situation or a procedure. This is where modern tools can help. Our private, on-demand coach, Caddie AI, is available 24/7 to answer any question you have - from "How do I properly rake a bunker?" to Complex rulings, without judgment. We can help you walk onto the course feeling prepared, confident, and ready to focus on what matters most: hitting great shots and enjoying your round.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
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