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!