What Is Golf Etiquette for Beginners?
While there are different golf courses, the behavior and rules on the courses don’t change. It is important when you start golfing that you know the proper etiquette so you can play accordingly. What is golf etiquette for beginners? The experts at Deer Creek can help answer that.
There are three categories of golf etiquette to know:
- Consideration for other players
- Pace of play
- Care of the course
When people head to the course for the first time or even their 100th time, they should know basic golf etiquette for beginners.
Golf Etiquette for Beginners
Depending on the seriousness of the group you are playing with, you may or may not want to adopt some of the more formal etiquette practices. It is important to know the expectations of the group before the round starts. Whatever your group rules are, here is some basic etiquette you should follow:
- The lowest score on the previous hole tees off first.
- The player furthest from the hole goes first. This includes the green.
- Mark your ball when on the green while others are putting.
- Don’t walk in between a player’s or your own ball and the hole on the green.
- Be quiet while others are hitting their shots.
These are the universal etiquette rules unless the group has decided against them or on different rules for the day. It can also depend on the skill level of the group. If the group has a higher skill level, then the more traditional rules will work best. If the skill level is lower or mixed, then the game may move differently. However, the ability to play golf shouldn’t dictate the pace of play. If you’re new to the game, you can set a limit for yourself. Start with a stroke limit of 8 for each hole. Once you get to 8, pick up the ball and place it on the green to finish your hole from there. There are also etiquette practices regarding the pace of play:
- Write down the scores at the next tee box.
- Park your golf cart on the side of the green towards the next hole.
- When it’s your turn to play, make sure you are ready.
- Limit the amount of time spent at the turn (between holes 9 and 10), or let the group behind you play.
- Limit practice swings to 2. You should hit the driving range beforehand to get some practice in.
- If you are a larger group of 3 or more, send the first person to putt at the next tee box as soon as they are done with a hole.
It is easy to get wrapped up in your own game. Be mindful of the groups behind you to ensure they aren’t waiting for you and your group to finish every hole. If this happens 3 to 4 holes in a row, think about letting them play ahead of you, or you can play more quickly.
Contact Deer Creek Golf Club
Once you have these rules down, then you can check out our tee times and rates. If you have any questions about our course, then contact us today.