By Jack Moorehouse
Tournament officials at the State Farm Classic disqualified Michelle Wie recently for failing to sign her scorecard. This wasn’t Wie’s first disqualification from an LPGA tournament. Tournament officials also disqualified her for taking a bad drop at the Samsung World Championship in 2005�her first event as a professional. Her drop landed the ball 12 to 15 inches closer to the hole. Neither of Wie’s violations was intentional. But they did violate the rules.
Some rules of golf may seem pretty harsh to the average weekend player. But they’re well thought out. They prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage on another golfer. Other “rules” of golf that players should follow are more courtesy than anything else. Golf’s rules of etiquette aren’t always covered in golf lessons and golf tips, but they make the game more enjoyable and should be adhered to as well. Below are some of the more common ones that all players should follow regardless of their golf handicaps.
Play Ready Golf
In tournament play the player whose ball is farthest from the hole generally plays first, followed by the player whose ball is second farthest from the hole, and so on, until everyone has holed out. In causal play, play ready golf instead. That means hit when ready, even if you aren’t away, until you reach the green. That speeds up play. Also, be prepared to hit when it’s your turn on the tee. And don’t spend more than 5 minutes looking for a ball. The idea is get around the course as quickly as possible without hurrying. Evaluate your play honestly and often. If you’re slow, speed up.
Repair Divots
This should really read, “Repair the ground you play on.” Many weekend golfers fail to repair the course out of laziness. Others simply don’t care. But making repairs only takes a minute or two and it helps keep the course in good shape. Carry a penknife or a divot tool to repair ball marks on the green. Replace divots when you can or use the seed mix packed on the side of your cart. And rake bunkers after hitting from them. Make the bunker as smooth as you can and don’t leave furrows after raking. Ask yourself if you would want to play from the bunker. If not, then go back to work.
Be Respectful On The Green
There’s nothing worse than someone talking or making a loud noise in the middle of your putt. Stand quiet and still from the moment a player sets herself until the ball has left the club. Then you can do all the talking and moving you want. If a player is putting, don’t stand in his field of vision practicing your swing. Never, and I mean never, walk in someone’s line of play on the green, even if you are wearing spikeless shoes. And never stand in a player’s line of play either behind the player or beyond the hole. Note where every ball is on the green, and then stay clear of everybody’s line.
Turn Off Cell Phones
Many people carry cell phones on a course for good reasons. But if you have to carry a cell phone, turn it off when playing. No one wants to hear one ring in the middle of one’s backswing, especially on the tee or the green. If you’re waiting for an important call, you can always check the phone between shots. If you have to return a call, keep your voice down and step off to one side. Also, make the conversation as brief as possible.
Observe Cart Etiquette
Carts are an integral part of today’s game. But they can damage a course. So observe good “cart etiquette” when playing. Ideally, your goal is to leave no trace of having driven a cart over the course. Avoid wet areas, areas under repair, and areas that have been beaten up. Follow the directional signs club’s put out and the pathways lining the course. Instead of following each other single file before branching off, scatter�everyone taking a different course�so cart traffic is spread out. Scattering minimizes the damage done to courses by carts.
Other rules of etiquette include laying the flagstick down carefully, tamping down spike marks when walking off a green, and letting faster groups play through. Also, always check the green before leaving to make sure you or another player hasn’t left a club behind that might interfere with another player’s shot.
These are just a few of the game’s rules of etiquette. Many aren’t covered in golf instruction sessions. But you can learn them by staying alert and noticing what others do. The idea is to make the game as enjoyable as possible. Following the rules of etiquette is something every golfer can and should do, regardless of his or her golf handicap. It’s just common courtesy.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book “How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros.” He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.
