Golf etiquette

Golf etiquette rules are more so common courtesy that is practiced by golf players among one another. These are often common sense and golf clubs often implement their own versions and sometimes post their own. They are designed basically for the consideration of all the people using the course as well as the care of the course, to help reduce unnecessary maintenance of the course.

Safety & Consideration for other players
Prior to playing a stroke or making a practice swing, the player should ensure that no-one is standing close by, or in a position to be hit by the club, the ball, or by any stones, pebbles, twigs or that may be moved by the stroke or swing. The player who has the honor should be allowed to play before his opponent or fellow-competitor tees his ball. No one should move, talk or stand too close to or directly behind the ball when a player is addressing a ball or making a stroke. You should not begin play until the players in front are well out of range of your possible shot.

Pace of Play
In the interests of all players on the course, you should play without delay. Players searching for a ball should signal the players behind them to pass as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not easily be found and you should not search for five minutes

before doing so. You should then wait until the players following you have passed and are well ahead out of range before continuing play.When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green. If a match fails to keep its place on the course and loses more than one complete hole on the players in front, it should invite the match following to pass.

CARE OF THE COURSE

Holes in Bunkers
Before leaving a bunker, it is good general practice for a player to carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints that they made in the bunker.

Replace Divots; Repair Ball-Marks and Damage by Spikes
Through the green, a player should ensure that any turf cut or displaced by him is replaced at once and pressed down and that any damage to the putting green made by a ball is carefully repaired. On completion of the hole by all players in the group, damage to the putting green caused by golf shoe spikes should be repaired.

Damage to Greens – Flag sticks, Bags etc.
Players should ensure that, when putting down bags or the flag stick, no damage is done to the putting green and that neither they nor their caddies damage the hole by standing close to it, in handling the flag stick or removing the ball from the hole. The flag stick should be properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green. Players should not damage the green by leaning on their putters, particularly when removing the ball from the hole.

Golf Carts
Local notices regulating the movement of golf carts should be strictly observed.

Damage Through Practice Swings
In taking practice swings, players should avoid causing damage to the course, particularly the tees, by removing divots.