Golf Fundamental Etiquette

[andrew12]

Most golfers have at least a superficial understanding of the rules of golf. Most of the time they choose not to apply the rules that they are aware exist. Golf is a game that you play against yourself. You might not be breaking any rules but in my mind, given that we are not playing against each other like those guys on the PGA tour, I consider you to be breaking something more important than the 'rules of golf'. You're breaching the fundamental etiquette of the game!

The fundamental etiquette of the game is that you should endeavor each and every time you step on the golf course to ensure that you not only don't negatively impact the game of any other golfer who play with cheap golf clubs on the course but in fact assist in improving each golfer's experience. This is why we fix ballmarks and spikemarks on the green, replace divots on the fairway and rake sandtraps. While I can personally attest to the fact that most golfers that I have seen and played with are aware of these 'rules of etiquette' few consider the speed of their play to be a commensurate responsibility.

The fact is that on most golf courses, groups generally keep up to the group ahead of them (hopefully the course you play has a good marshal that insists that groups that do not keep up pick up their ball and move to the next tee). The problem is not that any one group is slowing things down. The problem is that the overall speed of play is too slow. And everyone is to blame for it - you included!

Let's face it - you and don't play with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or Mike Weir. There is no need to change your mind three times about which cheap golf clubs you are going to hit and then take six practice swings each time you address the ball. Most courses these days encourage golfers to play ready golf - do it!


Don't be misled - rookie golfers who play with cheap golf clubs are not the sole reason that golf is too slow. Often I find that, because of their eagerness, and because they don't know any better they are the most proficient of golfers in the application of ready golf.