5 Guidelines for Good Golf Etiquette

With golf season underway, you’re probably chomping at the bit to get onto the course at your favourite Whitby golf club for a few early-season rounds to get rid of the cobwebs. But sometimes that eagerness can make us forget our manners. That’s why we like to start each season with a reminder to follow the rules of golf etiquette and make the season more enjoyable for everyone.

Good Golf Etiquette Guidelines

We’ve covered a number of basic golf course etiquette rules in a previous post, including keeping the pace of play, golf cart etiquette and the golden rule on the greens, don’t step in anyone’s putting lines.

Here are five more good golf etiquette rules all golfers should observe on the course.

1. Arrive Early at the First Tee Ready to Play – At very least, this means to not be late for your tee time and be ready to step into the tee box well before your tee time. You’ll get a lot more out of your golf game if you arrive early enough to take a few practice swings with both your drivers and irons, and a few practice putts too.
   
2. Stay Out of Sight – Last year, we told you that silence is golden. The same is true for invisibility. As much as possible, stay out of the sight lines of your fellow golfers. On the tee, that means staying well behind the person who is teeing off – and that’s for your own safety as much as anything else.
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4. Practice Flagstick Etiquette – When’s the last time you brushed up on your flagstick etiquette? Here are just a few basics. If you are first onto the green or closest to the hole, it is good etiquette to offer to tend to the flag. Lift the flag from the bottom of the cup and let it rest in the cup so you can pull it out of the way quickly. Once it’s out of the hole, either hold the flag upright or lay it down flat on the ground, off the green.
   
5. Mark Your Ball – If you are closest to the hole or at all close to anyone’s putting lines, you should offer to mark your ball.
   
6. Stay Cool – Golf can be at once a highly exhilarating and highly vexing sport. However, while expressing some frustration may be expected, but uncontrolled outburst, including damaging the course with your club, throwing clubs, swearing, or being loud is absolutely unacceptable.

If you liked this post, check out our recent article about how to increase your club head speed in a golf swing.