Etiquette

Etiquette is very important on the golf course, so much so that it forms the first section of the Official Rules of Golf published by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf Association. It is part of the tradition of golf, but is also important for safety. Learn about golfing etiquette as soon as possible, so that even if you are a high handicap golf, you will always be welcome on a golf course. Here are some key points that are basically just good manners:

• Don't walk or move while others are playing.
• Always try to be aware of others playing behind you and let them through if you are holding them up. Remember players may hit the ball 250 yards and may be waiting for you, even though they seem a long way away. If you are losing ground on the match in front, be prepared to stand aside and wave other players on. Once you have waved them on, let them go. Particularly if you lose a ball be quick in waving other players through. If you do find your ball, don't then try and get back in front of them again.
• Always be punctual on the first tee and never have practice swings on a tee.
• Replace divots
• Repair pitch marks on the greens.
• If you go into a bunker, always enter it from the back and never down the face
• Rake the bunker well to smooth over your footprints. If there is no rake, use your clubhead or feet.
• On the green, don't walk on the line of another player's shot. Always step carefully across it if you are going up to attend the flag. When attending the flag, first see that it is loose and will pull out of the hole easily. Secondly, stand away from the hole to the side and don't cast your shadow over the hole. Thirdly, hold the flag to keep it from flapping in the wind. Finally, pull it out immediately after the player has struck his putt.
• State the score in a match at the end of every hole if you are the player who is down. If you are the one who is up, state the score if you opponent fails to do so.
• When marking your ball on the green, use a small coin or ballmarker and place it behind the ball before picking it up. When replacing it, put the ball down in exactly the spot it came from and then pick up the marker. If, for some reason you have to ask a player to mark their ball to the side, then remind him to replace it in the right spot.
• Etiquette is also vital for safety.
• Always stand to the right of the shot and never behind a player.
• On the tee, always go over to the right side of the tee to watch another player. This is crucial for safety. Remember that the other person may hit their drive, not be satisfied with it and then take a practice swing while you are possibly walking forward to take up your position.
• Never get ahead of a player, and never turn your back on someone who is playing, however expert. Always keep level with him and on the correct side.
• If there is any likelihood of your ball hitting someone else, or if it going over trees towards an adjacent fairway; call out "fore". If you hear someone else shout "fore" don't just look around to see whether they mean you, but bend over and cover your head with your arms.
• Always wait until the players in front are out of range. When hitting to the green wait until they have cleared it and are well to the side before you play on.
• Finally, try to play golf at a reasonable speed. When you get to the tee, don't mark your card for the previous hole, if you are the first person to drive. Get on the tee as quickly as possible, but take time over your shot. Other players should then get their drivers out and be ready, again marking the card if necessary while going up to the next fairway. Don't mark your card on the green or even by the green after finishing the hole.
• Get used to leaving your clubs on the correct side of the green as near as possible to the exit to the tee.
• Move quickly between shots so that other players are not delayed.
• If you think you have lost a ball, get used to using a provisionally ball rule. This will avoid the bother of having to go back to the tee.
• The rules state that you are allowed five minutes to look for you ball. If you think that it could be lost, check your watch as soon as you arrive on the scene. Be prepared to call other players through from behind you , and only use that five minutes. In a four ball, assume that each player is responsible for his own ball and keep play moving.

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