Etiquette- Lessons you never forget!

[Craigg]

Just a bit of light-heartedness to move away from all the angst on the forum at the moment.

As a younger man in my first golf club, and in my first medal, I thought my etiquette was ok, only to get short shrift from my opponent for swishing a practice swing while he was teeing off. That was probably 20 years ago but it sticks in my mind like glue. I have to add I've never done it since, and my course etiquette always puts others first. He struck fear into me that day!

Do any of you have any similar stories of etiquette transgressions that have stayed with you?

 

[Robster59]

A friend of mine tee'd off while the Pro was putting out on the nearby 18th green, mishit his drive and the ball flew across and knocked the putter out of the Pro's hand. The Pro firmly explained to him where he went wrong.

 

[Val]

Not a transgression as such but it was once suggested to me that when others are putting out after you have holed out rather than you pick up the flag and wait till they are done to replace it but to stand at the flag and leave it on the ground till they are done then pick it up

I try to do this as I find it good manners and good etiquette all be it I don't think it's something that is widely done or known.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Played with the great Dan Maskell (the BBC tennis commentator) as a young, newcomer to the game. He was standing by his ball on the green patiently waiting for his young PP to tend the flag. I was standing patiently by my own marker wondering why he was taking so long. I soon got a very detailed explanation in clipped BBC tones about the need to tend the flag for the PP. Needless to say those words of wisdom stuck. I was petrified for the rest of the round but he was very kind and could see I was a quivering wreck.

 

[hovis]

On my first ever round i walked straight through the entire groups putting lines as i was reading my putt

 

[garyinderry]

My dad gave me a clip on the back of the head for running to my ball the very first time he took me onto a course.

It was also the first time I had heard the word etiquette. he also told me never to stand ahead of anyone as they hit their ball.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Please nobody mention the HNSP

 

[hovis]

My dad gave me a clip on the back of the head for running to my ball the very first time he took me onto a course.

It was also the first time I had heard the word etiquette. he also told me never to stand ahead of anyone as they hit their ball.

I still stand ahead of fellow pp today!!! just not smack bang infront

 

[t0m]

We where on a society day and a newbie to golf had a bad start and put it into a bunker on the opposite hole. Took 3 to get it out and then walked off not raking the bunker. He then got a telling off from some members so proceed to go home after playing half a hole.

 

[RollinThunder]

I was innocently standing behind someone putting, and he stopped mid stroke to give me a lecture. His reaction of pure anger when he stepped out of the putt was the worst thing. He went round in +1 that day too.

We played in a charity day, that was free beer chucked in with the ticket, carts bringing you cans during the round. It was just a fun day, and an excuse for a leisurely round of golf and a piss-up. I'd had a few pints at the pub I was representing, and it was a shotgun start at a local course. We were on a short par 3, and it had been heavily raining for a while before that, so the tee boxes had been hacked to bits. I just chucked a ball down and belted it onto the green. An old gimmer in my group came up to me and said; "Nice shot that young man, but take three off the tee... You were just in front of that marker!". In a club comp, yes, I wouldn't have have done it, but it was a charity day piss-up. It ended up being the most serious and unenjoyable round I've ever had.

I wasn't there, but my friends played at a prestigious, local course, and they said that a member marched over three fairways to tell somebody to tuck their shirt in.

I stand in front of people, just not directly in front of them, as if everybody stayed behind them, I think pace of play could be an issue. Keep moving, but stop when they take their swing, and always be ready to take your shot as soon as possible.

 

[t0m]

I never tuck my shirt in I don't like it

 

[garyinderry]

I still stand ahead of fellow pp today!!! just not smack bang infront

When teaching a hyperactive 8year old who will most likely be showing his mates how to play and behave, safety is of paramount importance.

When experienced it isn't as vital to stick to these rules but it helps.


My dad was from a break away NHSP as he said the safest place to stand would be at 7 o'clock of the target line is 12. I've seen Scouser hit it at 9 o'clock but never 7.

 

[t0m]

Some of the people I have played with its safer to stand in front of them

 

[chrisd]

Four of us were at Burhill last week filming loads of video clips for GM. on one clip I was required to chip on to the green and wheel my trolley to the exit area from the green, take my putter and walk to my ball. The other 3 players had their markers on the green to replicate a proper game. I got to the ball but stepped very carefully to avoid walking on one of the other players putting line - no one was going to putt out and that's where they stopped filming, but etiquette is so ingrained!

 

[Three]

First person to whole out? Pick up the darn flag.

Amazing how many people just stroll off the green like the flag's going to put itself back in the hole...

 

[williamalex1]

First person to whole out? Pick up the darn flag.

Amazing how many people just stroll off the green like the flag's going to put itself back in the hole...

See post 3.

 

[delc]

I was always told you should wait on the green until everybody has putted out. Also the first player to hole out should be responsible for replacing the flag stick. There now seems to be a thing amongst younger US amateurs and pros that the first to hole out walks straight off to the next tee! How did that come about?

 

[Slab]

I was always told you should wait on the green until everybody has putted out. Also the first player to hole out should be responsible for replacing the flag stick. There now seems to be a thing amongst younger US amateurs and pros that the first to hole out walks straight off to the next tee! How did that come about?

It's being trialed to see if it speeds up play, what wacky idea will they come up with next, they say its working though!

 

[delc]

It's being trialed to see if it speeds up play, what wacky idea will they come up with next, they say its working though!

If I'm playing a match, I want .to see my opponent's putt and next drive! Also if it's high profile player such as Tiger Woods, the crowd will follow him, which must be off-putting to his opponent or fellow competitors!

 

[PhilTheFragger]

V

I was always told you should wait on the green until everybody has putted out. Also the first player to hole out should be responsible for replacing the flag stick. There now seems to be a thing amongst younger US amateurs and pros that the first to hole out walks straight off to the next tee! How did that come about?

Rory Sabatini has been doing this for years on the tour
Not good IMO