All About Golf

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.

2005 BlackCash Enterprises, LLC - All Rights Reserved

~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=

Learn the Mental Weapons to defeat your competition!

Click Here ==> http://www.LostGolfSecrets.com

~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=

*** Notice: eZine editors and Site owners ***

You may reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all our links in place, do not modify any content and include our resource box as listed above.


MORE RESOURCES:

The Southern Ledger

Golf: Lee makes US Amateur matchplay rounds
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand - 7 hours ago
By Peter Martinez New Zealand's Danny Lee has advanced to the matchplay rounds of the US Amateur golf championship with an even-par second round at ...
No. 1-ranked amateur Lee looks to finish on top at Pinehurst USA Today
Danny Lee continues strong play at US Amateur The Associated Press
Golf: Lee off to shaky start at US Amateur New Zealand Herald
New Zealand Herald - New Zealand Herald
all 240 news articles


Golf365.co.za

The FedEx Cup playoffs make the post-major golf season more ...
ESPN - 13 hours ago
The FedEx Cup and its playoff events might be flawed in some ways, but it is a far better alternative than what golf fans were stuck with in previous years ...
What they said: Padraig Harrington PGA Tour
Out of the Rough Sports Network
Contenders See an Opening as the FedEx Cup Playoffs Begin New York Times
The News-Press - Brattleboro Reformer
all 99 news articles


Yahoo! Eurosport

Golf-Harrington finds confidence elusive despite major wins
Reuters.uk, UK - 10 hours ago
"Generally, when I play my best golf I stand over every shot worrying about where I'm going to miss it. "I'd love to be able to be the guy who doesn't see ...
Padraig Harrington a major champ and motivational speaker The Canadian Press
PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedExCup begin this week at The Barclays PGA.com
Woods content to wait for 2009 The Press Association
NJ.com - Belfast Telegraph
all 44 news articles


New York Times

Weekly This week's golf tournaments
The Canadian Press - 17 hours ago
Course: Kennemer Golf and Country Club (6626 yards, par 70). Purse: $2.65 million. Winner's share: $441900. Last year: England's Ross Fisher won his first ...
As playoffs are set to begin, no consensus on Barclays winner - Golf ESPN
This Week in Golf - August 21st through August 24th Sports Network
Barclays Classic Golf Betting Bet123.net
PGA.com - New York Times
all 36 news articles


Golf | Craig Stadler, 4 others withdraw from Boeing Classic
Seattle Times, United States - 1 hour ago
A delegation of 13 Champions Tour golfers visited the American Lake Veterans Golf Course Tuesday in Lakewood on the grounds of the VA hospital. ...
Golfers meet with military veterans ahead of Boeing Classic The Olympian
Curtis Strange, big name in Boeing Classic, revisited Seattle Post Intelligencer
all 5 news articles


Rio Secco Golf Club To Host 2008 Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge
FOXBusiness - 12 hours ago
For 2008, Rio Secco Golf Club, located in Henderson, Nevada, will host the official pro-am on November 10 and the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge professional ...


NDTV.com

Els backs golf's Olympic bid
Sky News, UK - 11 hours ago
I really hope I'm still around if and when golf is introduced. I know some critics say that the Olympic Games are for amateurs and that golf shouldn't be ...
Nadal takes Federer's number one tennis ranking AFP
all 45 news articles


The Money Times

Fillmore takes second-round lead in US Amateur qualifying
USA Today - 7 hours ago
Fillmore, who is a junior at Brigham Young, took time off from golf to go on a Mormon mission to Chile, during which time he never touched a club. ...
U High's English to play in 26-man playoff at US Am Bloomington Pantagraph
Fillmore leads way at US Amateur News & Observer
Fillmore earns medalist honors at US Amateur Sports Network
Richmond Times Dispatch - Charleston Post Courier
all 96 news articles


Canada.com

Seaforth Golf Club hosting Country Classic
Stratford Gazette, Canada - 17 hours ago
SEAFORTH – The Seaforth Golf Club is hosting the “Seaforth Country Classic,” a professional golf tournament on the Canadian Tour, for the next three years. ...
2008 Top 100 Best New Course List SCOREGolf
Vantage point an ace in hole for golf fans Ottawa Citizen
Perspective gained Edmonton Sun
Northwest Cable News - ic Liverpool
all 1,130 news articles


Vietnam's economic hub ceases licensing golf projects
Xinhua, China - 3 hours ago
20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's economic hub, southern HoChi Minh City, has decided to cease licensing new golf projects tore view socioeconomic effects of already ...

Golf - Google News

home | site map
© www.Tons-of-Articles.com 2006