Find Out About Golf Etiquette

By: Justin Flowers

You may think that I'm crazy, but the sport of golf consists of more than the optimal golf swing, the best equipment or flawless putting technique. Since the beginning of the sport, golf has always been considered to be a sport for gentlemen (and ladies), so golf etiquette has always been an important feature of the game. Golf etiquette guidelines are usually related to three distinct areas: taking care of the golf course, being courteous to other golfers, and the problem of slow play.

Please Respect The Golf Course

Sand Traps. I would almost bet that you didn't want to hit your golf ball in the sand in the first place. But that's no excuse for leaving a mess behind once you get out. You should erase any footsteps and marks you've made as completely as you can. The golf course has most likely furnished a rake so you can do this. If you can't find a rake, use your club to smooth out any record of your presence. The golf etiquette goal for the sand should be to make it appear that you were never there.

Dealing with divots in the fairway. When you're hitting from the fairway, it's possible for both pros and beginners alike to leave a divot as a result of their practice swing or real shot. Go get your divot, place it back in the damaged spot you made and tread it down with your left foot. Doing this bit of golf etiquette will give the turf a better chance to repair itself.

The Greens. Golf course greens require a lot of extra care. When your ball hits the green, especially if you've pitched it up from ten or twenty yards away, it's going to leave a mark. You can either utilize a special tool or the tip of your tee to mend the mark. Then use your putter to lightly tap the damaged spot. You might not think this would make any difference, but un-mended ball marks can take as long as 21 days to mend themselves. Ball marks treated according to golf etiquette rules can fix themselves overnight. Other ways to care for the green include taking care not to drag your shoes. No one wants to allow for spike marks when making their putt. Golf etiquette also asks that you take special care with the flag. Don't drop or toss the flag; rather, place it carefully on the surface of the green.

Do Not Forget Courtesy In Golf Etiquette

The essence of courtesy in golf etiquette is distraction. As in, don't be a distraction. It doesn't matter if you're playing with a partner or an opponent, stay out of their line of sight when they're taking a swing. Don't stand right behind a golfer. You should also keep from crowding, not only for reasons of golf etiquette but for personal safety as well.

Slow Play Is Sometimes A Significant Issue

No one really looks forward to hurrying through a golf game. Golf is a sport that's meant to be enjoyed, and there ought to be ample opportunity for joking with teammates, personal reflection and enjoying the beauty of the course. At the same time, if you're golfing on a busy day and the course is jampacked, you should be considerate of the golfers behind you. Proper golf etiquette includes not holding up the players behind you.

Endeavour to think ahead while your partner is playing. Instead of analyzing your partner's performance or standing around in a daze, plan your next shot. After you tee off, go directly to your golf ball instead of walking over to other players' balls at first. (This assumes you're walking the course and not riding in a golf cart.) Once you get to the green, take out your putter and place your golf bag on the way to the next tee. This will help you make a quicker exit from the green and not delay golfers waiting on the fairway behind you.

Have you ever played in front of faster golfers? There's no point in trying to finish the game feeling rushed and stressed. Step aside and politely wave the faster players through. This is especially true if you need to find your golf ball in the rough. They'll thank you and you'll be able to rest for a few minutes.

The goal of golf etiquette is not to complicate your life, nor is it to transform the sport of golf into something insufferably polite. Golf etiquette has developed over time to make the sport of golf a rewarding experience for all golfers and to keep the golf course in the most playable condition possible. So if you're not willing to follow the rules of golf etiquette for the sake of other golfers, do it for your future enjoyment.

Niche Article Directory: http://www.thatsmyniche.com

J. Flowers writes articles on health, sports, and computing. If you want to find out more about the fascinating game of golf, please visit his web site www.free-golf-stuff.com which includes information regarding Best Set of Golf Clubs, and other matters.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated