Golf Etiquette for Beginners

Nobody told you the rulebook — but there is one

Golf has an official rulebook. But it also has a layer of unwritten expectations that nobody explains to you when you start. You're just supposed to absorb them somehow.

This guide covers both. The things that are actually in the rules, and the things that are just understood by everyone who's played for more than a year.

Before you even tee off

Arrive on time. Showing up at your tee time is not good enough — arrive 10–15 minutes early. You need to put your shoes on, warm up briefly, pay any green fees, and be at the tee ready to go when it's your turn. Missing your tee time because you were late in the car park is one of the most embarrassing things you can do.

Know your pace. On an 18-hole course, a group of four should finish in roughly 4 hours. That's 13–14 minutes per hole. If you've never played before, ask whether there are quieter times when a slower pace is more acceptable, or consider a 9-hole round first.

Put your phone on silent. Not vibrate. Silent. Or at most, keep it in your pocket and step away from the group if you genuinely need to take a call.

On the tee box

Stay quiet and still. When someone is about to hit, stop moving, stop talking. Even a small movement in your peripheral vision can ruin someone's concentration and their shot. This is probably the single most important thing to remember.

Don't stand behind the player. Stand to the side and slightly back — never directly behind the ball on the target line, and never directly behind the player in a spot that's distracting.

Don't offer swing advice unless asked. Even if you see something obvious. Unsolicited tips are almost always unwelcome, even from friends. If they want to know what you think, they'll ask.

Honor: who goes first? Traditionally, the player with the lowest score on the previous hole tees off first. In casual play, most groups use Ready Golf — whoever is ready goes first. Either system is fine, just be consistent within your group.

On the fairway and rough

Keep up with the group in front, not behind. The pace benchmark is the group ahead of you, not behind you. If there's a gap opening in front, you're going too slow — pick it up regardless of what the group behind is doing.

Play Ready Golf. Don't wait for strict honour order to be re-established after every shot. If you're ready and it's safe, play. This alone cuts 20–30 minutes off most rounds.

Walk with purpose. Plan your next shot while others are playing. Have your club selected before it's your turn. Don't chat at length between shots — save the conversation for the walk to the next ball.

Don't slow down to look for a ball forever. You get 3 minutes to search. After that, declare it lost and move on. If you know the ball is probably lost, play a provisional ball from where you last played — it saves everyone time.

Stay on the cart path or the rough when near the fairway. Even if the grass looks fine, try to spread foot traffic and keep buggy wheels away from the playing surface where possible. Some clubs have strict cart path rules — follow the signs.

Around the green

This is where most etiquette issues happen, so pay extra attention here.

Don't walk on anyone's putting line. The putting line is the invisible path between a player's ball and the hole. Walking across it (or parking your buggy on it) leaves footprints and can affect the ball's path. Walk around, never through.

Mark your ball. If your ball is anywhere near another player's line — or if you're asked to — mark it with a coin or ball marker. Place the marker directly behind the ball, lift the ball, and replace it in exactly the same spot when it's your turn.

Attend or remove the flagstick properly. You can leave the flagstick in or take it out — it's your choice under the rules. What you can't do is leave it lying across the green where it can be in someone's way.

Don't stand on the hole side of the cup. Your shadow or presence can distract the player putting.

Repair pitch marks. When your ball lands on the green and leaves a dent, fix it. Use a pitch mark repairer (a small fork-shaped tool) to push the edges inward and smooth the surface. Takes 10 seconds. Leaving them unfixed is genuinely inconsiderate — others have to putt over them.

Hole out properly. In formal play, everyone holes out fully — no picking up unless in a match play context and your putt has been conceded. In casual play, gimmies (short putts that everyone agrees to concede) are common, but ask before picking up.

Bunkers

Rake after you. Every time you play from a bunker, rake the sand flat before leaving — your footprints, the splash from your shot, all of it. Leave the bunker in better condition than you found it.

Enter and exit from the low side. Don't climb over the lip — walk in from the lowest point to avoid damaging the bunker edge.

Leave the rake inside the bunker (some clubs leave them outside — follow the local rule). Either way, put it back where you found it.

Dress code and general conduct

Most clubs have a dress code. The basics:

• Collared shirt (polo shirt) in most clubs
• No jeans, no trainers/sneakers
• Golf shoes or clean, flat-soled trainers in some casual settings

If you're not sure, check the club's website or call ahead. Being turned away at the first tee is an avoidable embarrassment.

Don't swear loudly or throw clubs in anger. Golf is infuriating — everyone knows that — but losing your temper loudly affects everyone else's round.

Congratulate genuinely. A good shot from your playing partner deserves a "nice one" or similar. Golf is hard. Acknowledging someone else's good play costs you nothing.

The unwritten rule that covers everything else

If you're ever unsure what to do, ask yourself: would this slow the game down, damage the course, or distract someone? If yes, don't do it. That covers about 90% of golf etiquette situations.

The other 10% comes with experience.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my phone to look up rules on the course? Yes, absolutely. Looking up a rule mid-round is completely acceptable and encouraged — guessing the rule and getting it wrong is much worse.

Do I have to keep score? In casual play, no. In any competition, yes — and you're responsible for verifying your scorecard is accurate before signing it.

What do I say when someone else makes a good shot? Something simple like "good shot", "nice one", or "well played" is plenty. You don't need to be effusive — genuine is better than enthusiastic.

Is it okay to ask to play through a slower group? Yes, it's acceptable to signal to the group ahead that you'd like to play through, especially if there's an open hole in front of them. Do it politely — a wave and a brief explanation is enough. Most golfers will oblige.

What if I'm the slowest player in my group? Focus on playing Ready Golf, decide on your club before it's your turn, and accept that you won't always get a perfect setup for every shot. Keeping up matters more than your pre-shot routine for now.