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Golf Etiquette Tips

It's good sportsmanship not to pick up lost balls while they are still rolling.  ~ Mark Twain

• Practice caution. Beware of your surroundings before swinging a club…whether for practice or an actual shot. Look around first to prevent any potential of fellow player injury. If a player should be in the line of the flight of your ball and may come close to another player or group, it’s your obligation to yell “fore”….this is not just a courtesy it is truly an obligation to safeguard others on the course. This goes for the grounds maintenance crew, too! Keep in mind, liability for the injury or damage becomes the responsibility of the golfer who caused the injury or damage, not the golf course. This includes errant shots resulting in a broken window or the like.
• Practice patience. Hitting into the group ahead of you is not a good strategy to keeping the pace of play. It’s easy to misjudge the distance or your hidden ability to hit an awesome shot that goes 20 yards further than you imagined. Stay cool and always allow the group ahead of you to get out of range of any shot before hitting.
• Stay still and silent. Avoid distractions such as movement, talking with other golfers or the player hitting, digging in your golf bag, using your cell phone, or making other noises while someone is hitting.
• Position. Stand beside, not behind, a golfer about to hit a shot while keeping a good distance to avoid distraction to the golfer as well as avoid injury.
• Pace of play. Play ready golf. Be prepared for your next shot. Know where your ball is and have your club ready when it’s your turn to play. And, remember, a practice swing equals one swing not three or four. Be courteous to other groups. Invite the group behind you to play through in the event your group should fall behind. A good gauge is if one hole opens up between the group ahead and your group.
• General repairs. Respect the golf course and take the time to repair divots, ball marks on the green as a result of the impact of your ball landing, rake the sand bunker of sand divots and footprints. Walk on the green…..avoid scuffing the green with your golf shoes. On the greens, lay the flagstick down out of striking range….don’t drag it or drop it.
• Scoring. Recording your score is reserved for your arrival at the next hole’s teeing area. Avoid tallying scores on the green that you just finished playing. Remember to maintain pace of play and enjoy your round!