Great Golfing Advice

My Golf is a Joke!

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Basic Golf Etiquette

Many golfers take to the sport without the basic

understanding of how the game should be played. Of

course, we all know that the game requires a tee, a

ball, and clubs, but few golfers actually take the

time to learn the proper etiquette of the game.

Lacking this type of fundamental knowledge can lead

to tremendously embarrassing mistakes on the green.

Golf is a great game when digested properly and then

studied correctly. It's important to take each step

as it comes and do it right. This article should

help you to understand the basics of good golf

etiquette. I think that I can best show you how

the game is played by taking you through the play

of one hole with a foursome.

The members of the foursome or twosome hit in turn.

The closest ball to the green hits last and so on.

When on the first tee, the order in which the players

hit is decided, this order only pertains to that first

shot. The golf term for this action is honor.

From the very beginning, it is always good to check,

before swinging, to see if the members of your party

are out of swinging distance. The ordinary swing of

a golf club can be a deadly blow. Therefore, rules

of etiquette are often rules of safety. Everyone in

the group should be standing to one side or sitting

on the benches, provided by most courses, awaiting

their turns to hit, and there should be no talking on

the tee or at any time when an associate is preparing

to make his shot. All clubs, bags, carts and other

essentials of the game should be left off the teeing

ground.

Don't practice your swing while other members of your

group are hitting, and don't stand behind the tee.

Stay behind the player - to his back. It is easy to

see a player out of the corner of your eye and that

little thing could be distracting and result in a

missed shot.

When the entire party has completed their first

shots, walk directly in the line with your ball.

But if another player has hit short of your ball

wait for him to complete his second swing. This is

another item of etiquette protecting the safety of

the players and the skill of the hitter. Like the

swing of the club, the flight of the ball can be

dangerous. If players walk in front of another who is

hitting, the distraction could cause a missed shot and

the result can be injury to a companion.

Before you get going to far, one of the most important

points of golf etiquette is waving through. Never hold

up a group playing behind you. If you are slower than

they are wave them on and wait until they have safely

gotten out of range before you continue.

If you game is anything like mine, when you take your

first drive, you may have to contend with that familiar

obstacle - the rough. When your ball is in the rough,

Nothing rooted may be removed to allow an easier shot.

It is all right to remove dead wood, grass or leaves,

providing the ball does not move. Be very careful here!

When it's virtually impossible to hit your ball, you

may declare it unplayable. It is then allowable to

pick the ball up, move two club lengths away from the

obstacle (not nearer the hole) and drop the ball over

your shoulder. But this isn't for free-you have to

add two strokes to your score. In winter time, and

during wet weather, it is sometimes permissible to

lift your ball and drop it again for a better

position. Also, around some clubs players move their

balls to a choice spot with their hands. This always

pertains to balls in the fairway.

Once you reach your ball and prepare to approach the

green, study the lay of the land. Remember, when your

ball is hit out of the fairway nothing can be removed

to improve the lie of the ball unless it is dead

matter. In rough, or woods, players can pick up dead

limbs, leaves, paper or cut grass. But growing bushes,

roots, tall grass must remain in place.

In traps or on the fringes of bunkers the player

can move only things that were, perhaps, left there

by careless course attendants. This would only include

rakes, lawn mowers and other equipment used in caring

for a golf course. These technicalities make it a

'must' to know your rules.

Your iron shots from the fairway will often dig up the

grass, roots and all. This piece of turf, called a

divot, should be picked up by you or your caddy and

put back in its place, packing it down well with

your foot.

Now that the group has reached the green, other

rules of golf and etiquette will come into use. As

each player shoots the caddy faces them and lifts

the stick so that the ball may have freedom of the

hole if it has the proper direction. Without

caddies, the player in the group with the ball

closest to the cup has the obligation on holding

the stick for his companions. When his time comes

to hit, another member of the party holds the stick

for him.

Should another player's ball be blocking your line

to the hole, then you may ask him to mark and

remove it. The marking is usually done with a coin.

If your ball is in such a position that it might

interfere with a player's approach to the hole, it

is always good to ask him if he would like it marked.

Don't just walk up and grab your ball or the ball of

a fellow member of your group.

Some players make the mistake of entering a sand trap

by climbing into it from the high side, but a

following player may be penalized by having his ball

come to rest in one of the deep footprints left

behind. Tearing down the sides of traps and then

leaving without repairing the damage is an

inexcusable breach of etiquette. Also, when you

are in a sand trap, be careful that your club does

not touch the sand, even in your address, until you

are actually making the downward swing of the club

in your stroke.

Putting on the green is handled in the same way as

is hitting from the fairway. The ball which lies

the greatest distance from the hole is putted first,

and so on down the line until the closest man plays.

Then the process is repeated until the entire group

has played the hole out.

Remember, a careful study of the rules of play and

etiquette can do more to insure enjoyment than any

other one thing. Thousands of tiny, intricate

situations can arise in golf. Don't hesitate to seek

the knowledge of your pro. That's part of his job.

Your aim is to be a polite as well as a skillful

golfer. The two go hand in hand. To know the rules,

leads to confidence. And confidence is the key to

your quick success in this new undertaking.

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