Golf etiquette for beginners can be overwhelming and intimidating if you don't know what to do and when to do it. I'm here to help you learn the basics so you can confidently handle yourself on the course.
Before we get into our list of the basics of golf etiquette, I want to assure you that most golfers are happy, friendly people. If you make a golf etiquette booboo, you'll likely be forgiven. Here's a list of golf etiquette for beginners that will stop you from annoying your playing partners:
1. Golf Etiquette On The Green
Golf etiquette on the green can be summarized as "don't be annoying." When you're on the green, here are some things you want to avoid on the green:
don't talk when someone is putting
don't stand or walk in someone's line (don't stand/walk in between the person putting and the hole)
don't cast a shadow over someone else or their line of putting
don't bring your power cart or push cart on the green
Here I am, minding my own business trying to putt, and Horace won't stop dancing and being obnoxious. Don't be like Horace on the green.
2. Golf Etiquette Gimme Putts
Gimme putts fall into the golf etiquette on the green category, but I thought it deserved its own section. Gimme putts that are so short, and the ball is so close to the hole, it's impossible to miss. But of course, new golfers, the Gals Who Golf included, never cease to amaze each other with what is missable. Do we sink 20-foot putts sometimes? Yes. Do we miss 3-foot putts sometimes? Yes.
When your ball is in 'gimme putt' territory, it's best to let your playing partners give you a gimme, rather than scooping up your ball yourself, confidently proclaiming, "that's a gimme," and potentially irritating your golf buddy.
In the above image, Anna (left) and Anne (right) are proud of hitting fairway shots onto the green, but sadly, these are not gimme putts.
3. Golf Etiquette On The Tee Box
This one is pretty easy- the most critical golf etiquette on the tee box is to stand back and shut up. Give your playing partners some room to do their thing, and never, ever talk during their backswing. This advice is true for the entire course, the entire game. Don't be a backswing talker.
4. Golf Etiquette Letting Players Play Through
Sometimes your group will be slower than the group behind you, and that's OK. Larger groups and groups with beginners are going to play slower than pairs, solo golfers, and highly skilled players.
If you feel that you're holding up a group or a golfer behind you, good golf etiquette is to let them play through. They'll be pleased to move along at a faster pace, and you'll be grateful you don't have the stress of feeling someone lurking behind you.
Sometimes it doesn't make sense to allow groups to play through though - if there's a bottleneck and the group ahead of you is holding you up, and they are held up by the group ahead of them... there's no point in having people at the back of the line jump ahead.
5. Golf Etiquette Yelling Fore
You never forget the first time you yelled 'FORE!' unironically. It's a fundamental golf rite of passage. If you hit a ball and it's gone rogue, it's good golf etiquette to yell 'fore' and alert other golfers that there's a ball coming their way. Fore: it's fun to yell, and it keeps everyone safe.
[Source: GIPHY. I apologize for the man yelling fore... would you believe Giphy doesn't have any woman golfer gifs? Shocking.]
6. Golf Etiquette Women's Clothing
Women's golf clothing, I love it. I love it so much that I wrote a blog on women's golf clothes, specifically the What To Wear If You Don't Have Golf Clothes. This is a great read if you're wondering about golf etiquette: women's clothing.
I hope this article taught you something and will help you feel more confident next time you're on the golf course!