Golf is considered a gentleman’s game and has always been associated with prestige and the elite. As such, there are certain unwritten rules pertaining to the game of golf. Of course these are not hard and fast rules which affect the game directly, but more of good etiquette when playing golf. If you practice good golf etiquette on the greens, it shows that you have respect for the game, as well as the other golfers that you play with.

Having said that, let us take a look at some of the general golfing etiquette that you can put to practice, regardless if you are an amateur or a professional. These will be followed by some rather specific rules that you should be aware of at particular times during a round of golf.

Keeping Quiet

Having respect for other players means that you should be quiet whenever other golfers step up to the ball. This allows the golfer to concentrate on the swing. After all, you would want to demand the same level of respect from the other golfers.

Another thing to remember is to avoid running on the golf course. Even if this doesn’t affect your game or the other golfers in your group, running around the course will distract others from their game.

Practice Playing Safely

When you step up to the ball and just before you take your swing, look around. Check if there is anyone standing in the vicinity of the area where you predict your ball will go to. Never take it for granted that the other golfers will be on the lookout to see if they’re standing in your way.

Similarly, whenever you are practicing your swings, never do it when there are others around. It is very rude to take practice swings in the direction of other golfers.

Also remember, make it a point to never swing your club when someone is walking nearby. And vice versa, never walk around a golfer who is trying to take a swing.

Keep To Your Pace

At any given time, remember that you or your group are not the only golfers on the golf course. Thus, keep in mind that you should at all times try to keep to your pace of play at a comfortable rate. This means that there should be enough time to keep up with your group, but not too much time that you’re holding up other golfers and cutting into their time.

Never hit into the group playing ahead of you. This is considered to be very very rude. If it was done unintentionally, then you should realise that you have failed in observing the common courtesy of golf. Even if the group ahead of you were playing slowly and you had intentionally done so, bear in mind that it is not a reason to commit such a rude act.

Should you need to play through the group ahead of you, have some courtesy by asking for their permission first. However, before asking, do check if the next hole is vacant so that there will be enough space for you to pass through.

If and when permission is granted for you to play through the group ahead of you, make sure you finish the hole in the least amount of time possible, so that you can move onto the next hole immediately after that.

On the Teeing Ground

Do stand out of the golfer’s line of sight as well as his peripheral vision so that he can concentrate fully as he prepares to take his swing. The best way is for you to stand behind the golfer and to remember to keep quiet as you do so.

On the Fairway

Avoid hitting too many divots, though some is acceptable. Moreover, try to put a few of the divots back in place by replacing and stepping on them into the hole.

Also, avoid spending too much time looking around for a golf ball that is lost. The golfers behind you might not enjoy being delayed. Should you lose a ball, and fail to locate it in a few minutes, just replace the golf ball with another.

On the Bunker

Do make use of the rake that is provided to clear off all marks made by you or your golf ball after you have taken your shot. Make sure you rake out all marks and footprints, and then leave the rake outside the bunker with the handle place parallel to the fairway.

On the Green

Do not step on any ball paths of the other golfers as this can affect the putt. What you should do is to walk behind the ball on its direction to the hole. Or you could step over the imaginary line between the ball and the hole.

Take time to repair any marks made by force of the ball which landed on the green. Your courteous ways will reflect your respect to the other golfers as you have left them with an unmarked green to play on.

It is important to place your ball back on the green before you pick up the ball marker. This will erase any doubts on other golfers as to whether or not you have positioned your ball in the proper manner.

On the Practice Grounds

Do remember to continue observing the general etiquette of playing golf as you would do on the golf course.

The rules or golf etiquette above are but a few of the good golfing practices that you can incorporate into your day at the golf course. These are basic common courtesies that are founded on mutual respect for one another’s safety as well as having respect for a game that you love. By practicing these simple ways, you will have a greater and more pleasant golf experience with other golfers.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/golf-articles/golf-etiquette-how-to-be-a-gentleman-on-a-golf-course-140462.html

Instead of angular or square? Any reason?
wouldn’t it be easier to mow a square instead of a circle?

Visual. It’s more pleasing to the eye. I used to mow greens at my local course. I’d would have been much easier to mow a square, yes, but I’d rather play circles/ovals!!! Although it would be interesting to try a squared of course. Just to try it!!!

The Nullarbor Links Golf Course will be officially opened on the 22nd of October 2009. It is an 18 hole par 72 golf course that stretches over 1365 kilometers from Kalgoorlie in West Australia to Ceduna in South Australia, making it the Worlds longest golf course.

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Ok here’s the thing: I play golf and there’s an open space of long grass by my house. I would like to mow myself a putting green, but I cannot afford a high end lawnmower for greens that golf courses use. They obviously use to use reel mowers at some point in the past and so I would like to know the type of reel mowers they use to use and attempt to buy one.

push mowers with rotating blades

this is newer version

http://www.e3living.com/files/brill%20razorcut%2038%20rear%20view.jpeg

I play Bridgestone e5+ and Nike Black golf balls. I can control my ball better on Bent grass but on bermuda it seems to run away. Anything suggestion would greatly be appreciate.

Bermuda grass is much more difficult to play than a bent grass green or course. Bermuda grass is gnarly, has a heavy grass blade and root system which requires an almost perfect strike with irons and approach shots to the green and a definite grain on the putting surface. One has to play these greens in order to properly read the grain with side hill putts being a definite problem.

So how do they get those greens so short? and even the fairways… do they use lawn mowers (like special ones)? or are they turf?

Special mowers. They just showed one of the commentators at the Quail Hollow Championship on CBS working one of the special push mowers. You drive it to where you are going to begin cutting with rear rubber tires and when you get to that location they actually take the rear tires off and there is a metal rolling disc along the back of the mower that then acts as the wheel. This lowers the cutting blade down to get the fast grass that pros play on. Of course this is a pro course and most municipal courses wouldn’t have that type equipment. One local course I was at they used a tractor with wide turf tires so they wouldn’t tear up the green and the actual mower was an old-timey mechanical manual mower that was pulled behind the tractor that just uses the wheel speed to turn a bunch of blades in a circular motion. For the fairways they had another pull-behind deck that was just a commercial mower. But to get the really short grass, special mowers are used.

How do you READ a green? What are you looking at? What are you looking for?
I’m going to be a tad more specific. Although all the answer are great, here’s the crux of the situation. Can you really tell which way a green goes by "eyeballing" it with your putter? Maybe i’m just not getting and its been a while since i’ve truly "whacked the ball".

try plumb bobbing

hold your putter in front of you with 2 fingers on the top of the grip

line up the bottom blade with the ball

with your non-dominant eye closed start at the ball and slide up the shaft till you see the hole

your putt will break towards the side of the grip the hole is on

Recently played on a tough course with slick fast greens.

Of course in this situation,on downhill slope much less force is needed to hole the ball.

My question is regarding a couple slightly uphill putts. They did not go hand in hand with the slick greens. They were hit with slightly less force than I usually hit for uphills and both landed 5-10 feet short.

1. Are the speed of the greens not a factor with uphills? I assumed just like a reg. putt on a fast green,you had to be careful and hit with a shorter pendulum.
or
2. Is this a normal part of golf course design-to make the greens more difficult/tougher to read? (On TV you see even the pros with the confused,w.t.f? look when a putt goes where it seems shouldn’t)
Putts were from around 20-25 feet

The speed of your putts has a lot to do with the grain of the green as well as more obvious factors like uphill/downhill.

Typically putts that go against the natural grain of the grass will require more force to go the same distance as a putt that goes with the grain.

Here’s a tip from a tutorial on reading greens: "Look at the green from all angles in the early morning or afternoon sun. Depending on how high the sun is you may have to squat down as low as possible to see the grain.

The noticeable sheen you see means that you are looking directly down or with the grain. Putts hit with the grain roll more smoothly than against the grain but, more importantly, they roll further."

What putting green/mat should I get. I was looking at the tour links dogbone. Suggestions?????

Turf can be VERY expensive.

Real grass can just be a pain watering and cutting.

here are a list of sites.

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=golf+putting+greens&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.synthetic-turf.com%2F

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=golf+putting+greens&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.backninegreens.com%2F

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=golf+putting+greens&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=4&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.softrakgreens.com%2F

My fiancee and I are fairly new to the game and want to play more golf, but greens fees are killing us. Paying 25 a piece everytime to go out when we stink just doesn’t make the game fun. Can anyone recommend a cheaper course that is in fair condition? Thanks in advance!!!!!

try krendale in butler county