14 Golf Etiquettes you might be
Breaking
The game golf as we all know prides
itself as a "gentleman's game." Prompting all , golfers take this
mantra to heart, therefore adhering not only to the rules, but towards standard
etiquettes on the golf course and to their fellow golfers.
Unfortunately, due to bad habits or
general ignorance, there remains a multitude of breaches of etiquette. We're
all guilty of some fallacy and one point or the other; it's simply a matter of
understanding proper procedures and complying to these rules or given two
strokes as stated in the golf rules #which we all avoid and frown at when such
plays out.
Here are the 14 manners of golf
etiquette that are commonly violated.
1. Showing up less than 15 minutes
before your tee time
Showing up late for tee off especially
when there is kitty or tournament potentially puts the rest of the tee sheet in
danger of delay. The 15-minute period is actually generous; most courses would
prefer golfers be on the course 30 minutes before balls are in the air.(tee
off)
2. Putting with too many balls on
the practice green
If you’re all alone by yourself within
a range, feel free to go nuts but If the area is crowded, not more than two
practice balls is enough for practice before the final tee off , or else you're
hogging for real estate lol.
3. Failing to pick up the flagstick
Ever have that awkward moment where
you're the last to finish, and as you head to the next tee box, you realize the
pin remains on the ground, forcing a walk of shame back to the green? Luckily,
it wasn't your fault. If you’re the first to finish out, you should immediately
grab the pin except there is a caddy attending to the flag
4. Cart-path only? Carry more than
one club to your shot
Having to run back to find the right
club will definitely slow things down, instead of holding only one club why don’t
you rather start excermin the lie of you ball immediately after play given you
the clue of clubs to hold in order to get out of the bad lay in no time for you
and the other team players.
5. Looking longer than five minutes
for a lost ball
We get it: Golf balls are expensive,
and it's nice you're risking the threat of poison ivy to find another's ball.
But there's a difference between making an honest effort and belaboring the
point. After five minutes, come to peace with the ball's disappearance and move
on. Take a drop and let the game continue they say “golfers don’t die they only
lose strokes”
6. Talking to someone's ball
Well intentioned as it is, it's
annoying, and to some, disingenuous. Quit it it’s a bad habit.
7. Standing behind someone as they
putt
Even if not directly behind them,
overtly going to school on someone's putt is untoward why don’t you rather just
stay afar from his radar to avoid distraction.
8. Walking in a player’s “through
line”
Numbersof amateurs are unaware that
a putter’s line extends two-three feet past the hole this is essential, as if a
putt misses long, the through line is where the ball will end up, and it is the
path for a golfer to finish the hole out. Next time you watch a tour event,
keep an eye on Phil Mickelson. He'll routinely practice a putt on the through
line side of the cup.
9. Placing bag on a tee box
Congrats, you decided to walk over
ride. Alas, many that shoulder their sticks fail to keep their stand off the
tee box. There's the potential to scuff up the hitting area, but of greater
note, bags can be distracting if it's in a player's striking vision bags should
not be placed on the putting green nah! Not at all gentleman.
10. Walking across the green with
your bag
The extra weight can make an imprint
on the green. Traversing the fringe is fine, but keep off the dance floor
thanks.
11. Lack of divot pattern on the
driving range
There are differing opinions on the
right method -- some belief your divots should be in a row, others in vertical
lines -- but there's unquestionably a wrong one, as scattering your shots chews
up more turf than you need
12. If you're terribly behind on a match
play hole, pick up
The beauty of match play is that
strokes don't carry over to the next hole. If its apparent you've already lost,
pocket the balata and get moving. After all it could be your shine the net hole.
13. Checking your phone too much
It's one thing to check a score or
send a text between holes. But continually attached to your phone goes against
the spirit of being with friends or one with nature. Even if not causing an
audible disruption, you're telling your group that you find them tedious and
boring.
14. Gimmes
This goes in both directions: Not
being charitable enough (making someone finish tap-ins every hole) or going
overboard (nice that you want to give a partner a downhill eight-footer, but
it’s breaking the spirit of the gesture).
Points by Joel Beall
