To avoid being hit by in the head by a 9-iron, no one should be standing close by a player who is about to swing or practicing his swing. Likewise, a player preparing to swing should wait until others are well out of range. If you play a ball in a direction where people might be standing and there seems to be a danger of the ball hitting them, you should shout out a warning to them right away. The traditional warning shout in golf is “Fore!”

 

 

1. Distractions

Players should not disturb or distract other players while they are taking their shot. Talking or making unnecessary gestures and noises that could potentially mess up a shot is most definitely BAD golf etiquette. Players should turn off their cell phones or put them on vibrate while they’re playing.

 

2. While putting

Players should never stand in another player’s line of sight while on the putting green, as this can be very distracting while they’re making a stroke, especially if you’re casting a shadow over their line of putt. Furthermore, once you’ve holed out, you should remain close to the putting green and wait for other players to hole out also.

 

3. Scoring

Remember to always check the score with the other players on the way to the next tee if necessary, especially if you are acting as a marker.

 

In golf, players should always try to play at a good pace, keeping up with the group in front of yours. If you are being delayed at a particular hole, you should politely invite the group behind you to play through if they are going at at a faster pace.

 

Always be ready to play as soon as your turn is up. If you’re playing near the putting green, leave your bags in a place where you’ll be able to move them quickly off the green when you’re done and move on to the next tee.

 

If your ball gets lost in a water hazard or goes out of bounds, save time by using a provisional ball. If a player is off searching for a lost ball, they should signal to the group as soon as it’s made clear that the ball is not going to be easily recovered, so that they may play through. Standard searching time before declaring a ball lost is about five minutes. When allowing a group behind you to play through, you should wait until they are done and have moved well out of range before starting your game again.

 

 

1. Bunkers

Fill up and smooth out any holes or footprints you’ve made in the sand before leaving a bunker and moving on. You should also smooth out any holes or prints that are nearby even if they were made by others. Use a rake if one is available.

 

2. Divots, ball-marks and shoe damage

Likewise, repair as best you can any damage made by divots or shoes, and any damage made on the putting green by the impact of a falling ball. Again, do so to any nearby marks even if they weren’t made by you.

 

3. Avoid unnecessary damage
Prevent unnecessary damage to the course by avoiding hitting the head of the club directly onto the ground. Even if you mess up a shot and need to release some pent up frustration, you should never resort to hitting the ground. Avoid damaging the putting green when laying down bags or putting in the flagstick. Also, remember not to stand too close to a hole when removing a ball or flag from it and never use a club to remove the ball. Always remove it by hand. Remember to replace the flagstick properly before you leave a putting green and always adhere to local course regulations strictly.