Golf etiquette comes down to three basic ideas: keeping the course nice for the next guy, not being a jerk to other golfers, and getting out of the way if you’re playing too slowly. In this post, I talk about politeness and letting others play through.
Politeness in Golf Etiquette
Nothing is more cliche than distracting a golfer when he’s taking his shot. But there’s a lot of truth to this idea. Golf takes focus. Some people can focus in the middle of a whirlwind, other people need to play in a library. Basically, I try not to get in anyone’s line of sight. And I also don’t stand directly behind anyone. Who wants someone behind them when they hit? I don’t!
Letting Others Play Through
When I play golf, I don’t want to be in a hurry. The reason I’m on the course to begin with is to have a little downtime without pressure or schedules. Not to mention it’s a great time to have some good conversation. But if you’re playing on a busy day and the golfers are lined up like Coke bottles on an assembly line, then you might have to make some adjustments to your leisurely pace.
I always try to do my thinking while my teammates are taking their shots. Sure, it’s more fun to stand around and trash talk their goofy swing or just watch the clouds float by. But if I’m ready to take my shot as soon as it’s my turn, there won’t be any wasted time on the tee. Also, unless we’re sharing a golf cart, everyone goes directly to their ball on the fairway instead of zigzagging down the fairway in a little group.
Another little time saver is to take out your putter as you get near the green and just leave your bag nearby. Ideally, you can drop it on the path to the next tee. I’ve found that this helps me make a quick getaway from the greent.
Actually, I really hate playing in front of impatient golfers. Knowing that others are tapping their feet waiting for me to finish just ends up making me stressed and anxious. I usually just step over to the side of the next tee box and let them play through.
Add Your Comment