Mar 28, 2022

Top 10 Golf Etiquette Tips You Need to Know

beginner golfers golf tips and tricks on the course

Golf is a game with etiquette. To ensure everyone on the course enjoys themselves, golfers adhere to a customary code of polite behavior. Here are 10 tips you should know before heading to the course.

  1.  Understand the tee box

The tee box is the closely mown area with tee markers where players can tee their balls. You can tee up your ball anywhere from the front of the tee markers to two club lengths back as long as you’re inside the width of the markers.

When another player is hitting, stand behind them outside of their peripheral vision. You want to give them space and stay quiet while they hit. If you have a cart, park on the right side of the ball if your part is right-handed. This will minimize distractions for them.

  1.  Yell “Fore!”

Have you ever heard someone yell “Fore!” on the golf course? This word is derived from the word “forecaddie” who were individuals responsible for watching golf balls and indicating where they landed. To let them know when the ball was being hit, the golfers would yell out to them.

Today, people yell “Fore!” to give others on the course a heads up when they’re hitting. It can feel a bit embarrassing to yell this in the beginning but don’t be self-conscious. No one will be mad that you’re yelling — someone will be mad if your ball hits them without warning!

  1.  Sand your divots

In the tee box, if you make a divot and there’s a container of sand there, you should sand it. However, some courses have a maintenance professional who will do this on your behalf. Sanding divots in tee boxes isn’t always necessary or mandatory.

If you create a divot on the green or fairway, the best thing to do is replace the chunk of grass removed if possible. However, depending on the hit, there isn’t always a clean piece to put back into the hole.

Sanding bottles provided by the club can help you fill in these divots. These bottles are meant to be poured upside down. Often (but not always) this is a sand and seed mixture. You want to pour it out into a divot and smooth it out with your foot, so it’s even with the ground.

If you’re on a course that’s cart/path only and you must walk across the fairway, then it can be difficult to navigate the logistics of the sand bottle. Should you bring it with you? Should you walk all the way back to your cart to get it?

If possible, bring the bottle with you, but if you’re walking and carrying, then sometimes it is what it is. You won’t be able to fill in every divot. You can make up for this in the future by filling in extra divots that you didn’t create on the days that you have a sand bottle with you. 

  1.  Be mindful of noise

Many golfers love playing with music; however, others like silence. It’s a personal preference. So, whenever you’re playing within earshot of others, make sure you ask whether they mind if you play music. Golf is a fun extracurricular and a way to relax, but its noise can be distracting. It’s common golf etiquette to be mindful of the noise you create whether it’s talking or playing music.

During tournament play, music isn’t standard. It’s best to leave it at home!

  1.  Rake the bunkers

During COVID-19, many courses chose to remove the rakes from the bunkers. Due to this, many people have fallen out of practice raking, and this is resulting in less-than-ideal bunker conditions. As the world reopens, it’s time to start raking bunkers again!

Although there’s no hard and fast rule about where the rake should be, there is a best practice. Some clubs want the rake to be inside the bunker, but this is rare. If the club wants the rake in the bunker, there’s often a note on the handle of the rake indicating this.  

In most cases, the rake should sit outside and parallel to the hole. This prevents the rake from interfering with the ball during play. As a beginner golfer, bring the rake into the bunker or close to it (within arm’s reach), so you can rake the bunker after making your shot. It makes everything smoother and more efficient.

Another key part of bunker etiquette is walking into the bunker at the lowest section rather than the steep cliffs. Doing the latter puts a deep indent into the sand, and it’s hard to repair at that point.

  1.  Be aware of what’s going on on the green

This is the most common golf etiquette rule: do not walk in someone else’s putting line. You must pay attention because it’s not only you on the green. You should note where everyone else’s ball markers and balls are, so you don’t interfere with anyone else’s play.

Today’s golf shoes don’t necessarily make big indents on the green, but it’s all about respect for the other players.

Additionally, picture a two-foot radius around the hole that you should never step in. Keep your foot as far from the hole as possible. When you pull your ball from the cup, be careful not to damage the cup, and if you do, fix it. The condition of the cup, grass, and flag can impact those final putts and whether the ball goes in.

  1.  Remove the flag stick from the green

When another player asks you to remove the flag stick, remove it from their line of vision and hold it by the flag. This ensures it won’t be distracting or create extra noise.

If there are no caddies, the player closest to the flag stick will pull it out. Ask your partners at the beginning of the round about their flag stick preference. Typically, people like it in when they’re far away but out when they get closer, but it’s okay if you or another player has a different preference.

  1.  Remember to be quiet and still

Whether you’re on the green, on the fairway, or in the tee box, when a player gets into the stance, you want to be quiet and still. This is golf etiquette 101. You should cease all talking and movement until they’ve completed their stroke. 

As a player, don’t be afraid to ask someone to move on the green if they’re in your way or distracting you. As a beginner, you may feel awkward if someone asks you to move. Don’t take offense! It’s just part of the game. Everyone is trying to do what will help them focus best.

  1.  Repair your ball marks

A ball mark is a small crater in the grass from a golf ball when it lands on the green from a tee shot or approach shot. They form when you make a high-velocity hit and your ball makes a direct impact on the ground. 

Unrepaired golf marks kill the grass and make the course difficult to maintain. Carry a divot repair tool in your bag. They’re often free in the pro shop. Insert the tool at an angle along the edge of the crater and lever the tool forward while slightly twisting or pulling the grass toward the center. This will help the roots recover from the trauma. You should not try to lift the center of the depression back to the surface as this will simply kill the roots altogether.

Like fixing divots, repairing a ball mark is one way you can positively impact the courses you regularly play on.

  1.  Tip your staff

The two people you should tip after rounds are the cart girl and the guy who cleans your clubs. While you can pass on the cleaning, this is how they make money at the course, and it only costs you the tip. We recommend $5 per person. There’s no need to tip the starter or the guy who brings your bags to your car.

Final Thoughts

As a beginner golfer, it can be helpful to read up on etiquette so you feel in the know during your next visit to the course. Visit Compete Confident Golf for more information about golf practice programs, retreats, tournaments, and courses to improve your play.