The Quarry One Minute Clinic #6

A Beginner's Guide to Course Etiquette: What to do when you have NO idea what to do!

We have all been there at some point in our golf careers. You are up next on the tee and you hit your shot. Problem is—your ball went somewhere nobody else in your group would even think of going, well, at least not on this hole. We have all been there! We aren’t exactly sure what “etiquette” would call for or what the other players in our group are expecting of us. Hopefully, these tips can help you at least appear to know what’s going on.

Choose your tees wisely. Tee boxes, that is! Everyone has to start somewhere, but before you sign up to play in the club championship or play from the back sets of pro tees, consider your playing experience and the length of the course from where you will be playing. How far is the longest par 3 from each set of tees? Can you get there in one shot? Ask the course starter or golf professional for advice on tee boxes based on your experience and the length you hit your average tee shots.  They can give you a good idea of where you will enjoy the course the most from. Notice, I said ENJOY…

Keep the Pace. “Pace of Play” is probably the best way to summarize most course etiquette situations. Here at The Quarry, we pride ourselves on some of the best pace of play around because of the way we stagger the tee time intervals. We space our tee times 10 minutes apart, whereas most courses do 6 or 7 minute intervals. This might not seem like such a big deal at first, but it eliminates much of the wait time between holes and lets you enjoy your time on the course without feeling like the group behind you is breathing down your neck.  This is not the feeling you want whether you are a beginner, pro, parent with a child or businessman trying to get some time in with a customer. When searching for a lost ball, but not wanting to hold up your partners, toss down a *mulligan and try again!

*Mulligan is a golf term for another shot played after a bad shot that doesn’t count against your score. Only allowed in recreational play.

Dress the part. Every golf course has its own dress code and requirements, so it is always a great idea to call beforehand and ask. Nicer courses will require a shirt with a collar and do not allow steel spikes. In certain parts of the country this summer, smoking was even banned do to fire hazards from drought conditions. Wear comfortable clothing you can move in. To be on the safe side, try to wear something made by a golf clothing manufacturer such as FootJoy, Greg Norman, Peter Millar or Nike.  Usually if it is made for golf or in the pro shop you can wear it on the course.

Looking for more advice? Check out the hilarious book Golf for Dummies by Gary McCord, or pick up an official rule book at USGA.org.

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This One Minute Clinic brought to you by the awesome Sean Etheredge, head golf pro at The Quarry.