Golf's rules of etiquette are less mysterious than they sound. They exist for two reasons: to protect the course (both physically and for following groups) and to make the experience enjoyable for everyone you are playing with. Most of them are common sense once you understand why they exist.
Here is the essential guide for anyone new to the game.
Pace of Play
Slow play is the most common complaint on any golf course. Being slow is the most noticeable etiquette failure, and the most avoidable.
Be ready to play when it is your turn. While others are hitting, decide which club you are going to use, check your yardage, and plan your shot. Do not start this process when the other player has finished. The average hole should take around 12 to 15 minutes for a group of four; a full round of eighteen holes should be completed in four to four-and-a-half hours.
Keep up with the group in front, not ahead of the group behind. The relevant reference point for pace is whether you are keeping up with the players in front of you, not whether anyone is catching up behind you. If you fall more than one full hole behind the group ahead, you are too slow and need to pick up the pace.
Search for lost balls briefly, then move on. Under the Rules of Golf, you have three minutes to search for a lost ball. Most experienced golfers search for one to two minutes and then play a provisional or take a drop to keep the group moving. Spending five minutes searching while a group waits on the tee behind you is poor etiquette.
Pick up and move on when out of the hole. This is particularly relevant for beginners. If you are ten shots into a par four, pick up the ball, note a score, and move on. There is no shame in it. Everyone has holes they want to forget. Continuing to play when you are far over par while others wait is unnecessary.
On the Tee
Do not stand in a player's eyeline. When another player is teeing off, stand to the side and slightly behind them, not directly in front or to the side where you are in their peripheral vision. The same applies throughout the hole: do not stand directly behind or in front of someone who is about to hit.
Wait until the group in front is well out of range. Even if you believe your shot will not reach them, hitting before the group ahead has moved well clear is poor form. If in doubt, wait.
Honour the tee. The player with the lowest score on the previous hole tees off first. This is called "honour." In practice, on a social round, it often makes more sense to just play "ready golf" where the first player ready hits first. Check with your group.
On the Fairway and Around the Green
Repair your pitch marks. When your ball lands on the green and leaves a small indentation, repair it immediately with a pitch mark repairer (or a tee). Unrepaired pitch marks take two to three weeks to heal; repaired ones recover in a day or two. Repair yours and any others you see nearby.
Rake bunkers after use. Smooth the sand back to its original condition after playing a bunker shot. The rake is placed either in the bunker or alongside it, depending on the course's preference.
Replace divots or use the sand mix provided. When an iron shot takes a divot from the fairway, replace the turf or, on courses that provide a sand and seed mix in a bottle, fill the divot with the mix. This is particularly important on par-3 tee boxes where concentrated divot damage can be severe.
Mark your ball on the green. When you are on the green and your ball might be in another player's line, mark it with a ball marker and pick it up. Replace it only when it is your turn to putt.
Attend or remove the flagstick. Ask the group if they want the flag in or out before putting. Under current Rules of Golf (2019 revision), you can putt with the flag in; some players prefer it out. Attend the flag for players putting from a distance where they cannot see the hole.
Mobile Phones and Noise
Keep your phone on silent during a round. Taking a call mid-round is acceptable in emergencies; checking social media while someone is preparing to hit is not. Conversation is part of the game and is welcomed, but silence during another player's shot is expected. Loud music from a speaker is not appropriate unless all players in the group have explicitly agreed.
The Basics in Summary
Most golf etiquette comes down to three principles: take care of the course, be ready to play when it is your turn, and respect your playing partners' concentration. Get those right and you will be a welcome presence on any golf course.
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Sandeep Grewal is a former tour professional and the founder of Swyng. He personally handles every booking and redemption, using his competitive background to match you with the right course, lesson, or experience. About Sandeep →
