After a few discussions regarding proper etiquette on the golf course, the big takeaway for a lot of people is the importance of taking care of the golf course. It’s one of our biggest priorities to leave the course in better shape than you found it. So in today’s blog, we are going to explain the top three ways you can take better care of the golf course you are playing!

#1. Repair Your Divots

In the south, every golf cart has sand to repair your divots. A divot occurs when you hit the ball and then the ground, although it can also happen when you chunk a shot…but I digress. If you are playing on cool season grasses, your divot should actually come out in one piece. Go fetch your divot, and put it back where it came from. You should step on it and try to reconnect it to the ground. If you are playing on warm weather grasses, the grass will not come out in one piece which is where the sand comes in. Dump some sand in your divot and then smooth it out with your foot so when the mower comes by, it won’t get sand in the blades. If you can, repair some other divots while you’re at it. You should go back to the club house with 2 empty sand bottles.

#2. Repair Your Ballmarks

Especially on bent grass greens, you can get some really big ball marks on the green. To fix your ball marks, locate the high part of the ball mark, or the back of it, take a golf tee or a ball mark repair tool and push the prongs in at a 45 degree angle toward the middle of the ball mark and push straight up to 90 degrees all the way around the ball mark. Then tap it down with your putter or your foot. If you are close to the hole, use your putter. Also, try to pick up your feet while you’re on the green, especially if you have soft spikes. Also, repair your ball mark and a few others if you see them.

#3. Rake Your Bunker

During the last couple of years when golf has become really popular, golf courses were taking the rake off the golf course to avoid the spread of illness. They were telling people to just give yourself a good lie in the bunker and don’t rake it. Since a lot of people started playing golf during this time, newer golfers may not know about this common courtesy to other golfers. Very simple, forward and back with the rake and smooth over the foot prints.

Golf is called the gentleman’s game for a reason! It’s extremely important to not only take care of the golf course and leave it better than you found it, but it’s also about helping out your fellow golfer and having courtesy for those playing behind you. We hope you found this informative. Feel free to comment on ways you make your golf course better!

What are the worst things you can do on the golf course???

Remember the difference between rules and etiquette violations in golf…rules violations will cost you strokes and etiquette violations will cost you playing partners, and friends. So here’s the list of the top 10 breaches of etiquette on the golf course in our own personal order. We have had a TON of suggestions and recommendations to add to this list but here’s what we came up with the start with:

#10. Giving yourself a gimme

Don’t ever assume your putt is good, especially if you are playing for money.

#9. Playing out of turn.

The general consensus is whoever is further from the hole or whoever had the best score on the previous hole typically goes first. There is one caveat here and that’s if you are playing “ready golf” to speed up the pace of play. However, you never want to assume that you are playing ready golf without talking to your playing partners. So if your playing partner had the better score on the last hole, but you are ready to hit, just ask if it’s okay. Don’t assume.

8. Unsolicited Advice

Don’t ever give advice on the golf course if someone hits an errant shot or is struggling with their swing. It’s not usually helpful or productive when someone is having trouble.

#7. Slow Play

Once it’s your turn to play and no one is in your way, hit your shot in less than 24 seconds. More than 2 practice swings is excessive and stay on task. Don’t lose track of whose turn it is by being distracted by other things (especially cell phone use). You want to try to play a round in under 4 hours and 15 minutes.

#6. Shadows or Movements in someone’s shot

You don’t really want to be anywhere that someone can be distracted by your movement. Your shadow should not be crossing the line of someone’s putt. Be aware of your presence when it’s someone else’s turn to hit. Try not to be distracting with movement.

#5. Playing Loud Music on the Golf Course

Be aware that some people really want to be out in nature and may not want to hear your music. Music also does carry across water so you want to make sure that other people aren’t forced to listen to music.

#4. Golf bag on the green

Make sure you don’t ever place your golf bag on the green. This can cause damage to the delicate greens and it’s also inconsiderate to the other golfers you are playing with.

#3. Disrespecting the Golf Course

Always leave the golf course in better shape than you found it. Pick up litter, fix your ball marks on the green as well as others, rake your bunkers, and generally keep the golf course in good condition.

#2. Talking or making noise in someone’s swing

Be very mindful to making noise in someone’s back swing or if they are about to hit a shot. Be very quiet while they are playing!

#1. Walking in someone’s line

We equate this to wearing white to someone else’s wedding. You need to be very aware of where everyone else’s ball is on the green and never walk between their ball and the hole. The history is that when people used to wear metal spikes on their golf shoes, they would change the grain of the grass and could cause someone’s putt to go off line. When you step on the green, there might be a slight indentation where your foot mark was and could change the roll of the putt. You will accidentally do it at some point. Just acknowledge it and apologize. Simply noticing that you did it will go a long way with your playing partners.

So there you have it…

Our top 10 etiquette violations in golf. We are talking more about this on Friday, June 10th at 4 pm live on Youtube and Instagram. We hope you will join us and give us some of your own suggestions on the things that drive you crazy on the golf course. Comment below with your suggestions!