Etiquette

[Slab]

Rakes, pitch marks, bunkers, walking on line etc etc, all things that when not done or done incorrectly are pretty much universally agreed as bad etiquette, but... some go on about it like the world is ending and that punishment should be severe & swift

It’s nice that nearly everyone cares so much but when you happen across a dissenter you could just a) forget any facts or mitigating circumstances and just lace up your kicking boots and lay in to them or b) realise that no-one’s been shot or stabbed and you have an opportunity to offer some friendly advice/guidance at a suitable time/place to a fellow golfer. Both have their merits and are productive in their own way.

Trouble is the majority don’t do ‘a’ or ‘b’ they do c) blame it for that missed putt or poor bunker shot and whinge about it to PP’s or anyone who’ll listen (repeat for each round)

 

[seochris]

Agree with the basis premise of the OP and the list is pretty self explanatory. I think however it's something that comes with time and so new golfers are necessarily going to be fully clued up on how to behave on the course. If golf is to grow then it needs to be accessible and it needs to lose the stuffy image it has which a lot of people would recognize as etiquette.

That said, as a member of a club I do expect my fellow members to have a grasp of the etiquette and not repairing pitch marks is an absolute bug bear of mine and something that seems to be getting worse. Not sure how that improves as with slow play, it seems it's always someone else causing the problem

Agree whole heartedly with this.

We have a guy at work who is just taken up the game and had a shed load of lessons but never been on a course. So being the eternal philanthropist that I am ....I suggested we go out onto a golf course with the sole intention of giving instruction on etiquette, and all those on the list were mentioned. It was the first time he had been on a course and he was very interested in the etiquette however did lapse on a few occasions but when you are just starting out the main aim is to hit the ball so the etiquette bit takes second place. However he was very apologetic when he was reminded of the 'rules'!

 

[MashieNiblick]

My 2 pet hates are people not raking bunkers (I've seen massive foot prints going right past the rake in a competition). If I have an un-repaired pitch mark on my line at least I can fix it. If I'm in a foot print in a bunker I can't.

The other is people with carry bags not standing still when I'm playing a shot - clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink...

 

[Slab]

My 2 pet hates are people not raking bunkers (I've seen massive foot prints going right past the rake in a competition). If I have an un-repaired pitch mark on my line at least I can fix it. If I'm in a foot print in a bunker I can't.

The other is people with carry bags not standing still when I'm playing a shot - clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink, clink...

If only there was some kind of head cover for irons....

 

[One Planer]

The one thing I always try and be is polite on the course and try and ensure I follow good etiquette on the course

For me the basics are

Repair pitchmarks
Rake bunkers
Be quiet and still when someone is playing their shot
Try to keep up with the group in front
Allow the quicker group behind to come through at the earliest opportunity
Don't walk on people's lines on the green
Recognise the signs on the course and abide by them

I'm sure others have more that they consider part of the basic fabric when playing BUT over the last 3 weeks I have seen more and more ignorant people on the golf course failing to abide by the most basic of etiquette - this morning alone people shouting and chatting whilst people playing shots , bunkers full of footprints , greens covered in pitch marks and a lot of the time it's from golfers who have been around and playing for a long time

Recently there was a thread asking should people have a basic grasp of the rules before playing comps

Well IMO people should have a basic grasp of course etiquette before being allowed to play any round of golf

No very often I agree with you Phil, but in this case I do 100%.

I have a few more 'rules of etiquette' I could add to your list that I use (replacing divots, allowing faster groups/individuals to play through etc) but your list is well rounded.

I played my home track for the first time in 8 weeks at the weekend. It was shameful the amount of unrepaired pitch marks that were left on greens, and not little one either!

Really grinds my gears as it takes literally no time to repair.

I've often said that slow play is an issue of etiquette.

I have no issue with how fast or slow someone wants to play the game. If slower moving groups allowed faster groups through, the courses would flow much better.

Sadly they don't and we all are well versed in the consequences

 

[Robobum]

Part of any joining fee (or year 1 subs) should be a playing lesson with the pro so they can see what you do know and point you in the direction of some good habits if necessary.

 

[Hacker Khan]

The word 'etiquette' is outdated and I imagine to young people who the game needs to attract, sounds like something Victorian dad would day. Yes people need to learn the common sense stuff listed by the OP, by both trying to learn it before hand and also by playing the game. But please don't make it sound like it is something taken from the script of Downton Abbey. Every other sport has common sense things you do or not do, but they are not so pretentious to call it 'etiquette'.

 

[Capella]

What would a more modern term meaning the same thing be then? Fair play? Covers some of it, but not all, I think. A lot of it has to do with taking responisibility. For your own actions and behaviour, but also for the well being of the other players and for the condition of the course. Maybe stressing that part of it sounds more attractive to young people.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

How about "on course behaviour". I agree with HK that etiquette as a term is a turn off although what it means is essential. This is one for the PR people to work out.

 

[Hacker Khan]

How about "on course behaviour". I agree with HK that etiquette as a term is a turn off although what it means is essential. This is one for the PR people to work out.

That sounds a decent suggestion but does it need a name, by naming it are we just highlighting that there are certain things you are expected to do/not do? And this in turn feeds into the perception and problem with the image of the game? Again all other major sports have equivalents, but you don't have a specific term for them apart from rules and common sense. No one talks about cricket etiquette or football etiquette.

As for PR then this is what does frustrate me about golf a lot. In a lot of cases not that much needs to change, but the marketing and image of the game are at times very poor and time after time golf portrays an out of date image which further fuels peoples perception of the game.

People like Keith Pelley and Chubby Chandler do fill me with some hope for the future at the top level as they seem switched on and knows about the importance of image. No one wants style over substance, but with a bit of decent PR and marketing, especially as the grass roots level, I think the game would be in a much healthier state.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

The OP has nothing to do with image or PR etc etc

It's about behaviour on the course and acting properly and taking into consideration your fellow golfers and not acting selfish.

It's not outdated at all and as I said in my OP the lack of etiquette I see on the course actually comes from people who have been playing the game for a long time

 

[Capella]

That sounds a decent suggestion but does it need a name, by naming it are we just highlighting that there are certain things you are expected to do/not do? And this in turn feeds into the perception and problem with the image of the game?

There is a big difference between golf and most other sports, though, and that is that golf is not as closely monitored and refereed. Golf depends on you doing what's right, not because there might be penalties if someone catches you, but just because it is decent to do so. And you ARE expected to do certain things. And that fact should be highlighted from the start, no matter if the beginning player is a junior or a retiree. I don't care if it sounds antiquated, it just is an absolutely integral part of the game. If we give that up to make golf more hip and more attractive to young people, then I'd rather not, because it would destroy the game as we know it.

Compare it with something like martial arts, if you want. At least in the more traditional ones there are a lot of things you just do, because they are tradition. Bow before you enter the dojo for example. Bow to greet your sensei and any opponent or training partner. I never ever heard a kid complaining that that was something uncool to do, even though it does come from another time and in that case even a foreign culture. Quite the contrary, they usually love it. It makes them feel being part of something special. I don't see why golf should be different.

 

[HankMarvin]

The OP has nothing to do with image or PR etc etc

It's about behaviour on the course and acting properly and taking into consideration your fellow golfers and not acting selfish.

It's not outdated at all and as I said in my OP the lack of etiquette I see on the course actually comes from people who have been playing the game for a long time

I didn't think some of the issues you mentioned would be allowed at your course Phil maybe you should speak to the committee and get them to speak to the members concerned if you know who they are.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I didn't think some of the issues you mentioned would be allowed at your course Phil maybe you should speak to the committee and get them to speak to the members concerned if you know who they are.

I would hope the issues mentioned wouldnt be allowed at any club

 

[HankMarvin]

I would hope the issues mentioned wouldnt be allowed at any club

Unfortunately it does happen and all too often

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Unfortunately it does happen and all too often

Hence the reason I started the thread

 

[Hacker Khan]

There is a big difference between golf and most other sports, though, and that is that golf is not as closely monitored and refereed. Golf depends on you doing what's right, not because there might be penalties if someone catches you, but just because it is decent to do so. And you ARE expected to do certain things. And that fact should be highlighted from the start, no matter if the beginning player is a junior or a retiree. I don't care if it sounds antiquated, it just is an absolutely integral part of the game. If we give that up to make golf more hip and more attractive to young people, then I'd rather not, because it would destroy the game as we know it.

Compare it with something like martial arts, if you want. At least in the more traditional ones there are a lot of things you just do, because they are tradition. Bow before you enter the dojo for example. Bow to greet your sensei and any opponent or training partner. I never ever heard a kid complaining that that was something uncool to do, even though it does come from another time and in that case even a foreign culture. Quite the contrary, they usually love it. It makes them feel being part of something special. I don't see why golf should be different.

Yes and no. When it comes to competing for the time of people looking to play a sport in an increasingly time pressured society then it is no different to others.

And I have never said we should give the things mentioned in the OP up to make the game more hip, in fact I am sure I stated we should do them. My argument was just re-brand it for want of a better word, make it seem more relevant to modern society in the way it is portrayed. I agreed with Fundy in a previous post in that clubs should make these things clear from the start, cover basic rules and basic behaviour on the course in a fun and engaging workshop for new and possibly existing golfers. No need to give them a test, just a certificate of attendance. Simples.

 

[rudebhoy]

The OP has nothing to do with image or PR etc etc

It's about behaviour on the course and acting properly and taking into consideration your fellow golfers and not acting selfish.

It's not outdated at all and as I said in my OP the lack of etiquette I see on the course actually comes from people who have been playing the game for a long time

have seen a fair bit of this from long-standing members since I joined our place in November. Fairway protection has been in place since November, and the rule is you have to move your ball outside red lines which have been painted on either side of the fairway, but I have seen this ignored by quite a few players of a certain age.

Also, until a couple of weeks ago, there was a trolley ban in place, and you could only use one if you had a medical certificate. However I would regularly see at least 3 players in 4 balls with trolleys.

Me and my mate who joined at the same time are new to the game, and try to follow the rules, but sometimes you think what's the point, when you see other folk flouting them.

 

[Hacker Khan]

The OP has nothing to do with image or PR etc etc

It's about behaviour on the course and acting properly and taking into consideration your fellow golfers and not acting selfish.

It's not outdated at all and as I said in my OP the lack of etiquette I see on the course actually comes from people who have been playing the game for a long time

OK, you have highlighted a problem. So let's move on and look at possible solutions, other than just moaning about it and saying it is bad. Which I think we all probably agree on? What practical real life steps can we take to ensure golfers have a basic grasp before they tee off? As it seems the current way of doing it is not working.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

OK, you have highlighted a problem. So let's move on and look at possible solutions, other than just moaning about it and saying it is bad. Which I think we all probably agree on? What practical real life steps can we take to ensure golfers have a basic grasp before they tee off? As it seems the current way of doing it is not working.

Education and sanctions.

As with rules if etiquette isn't followed after education then sanctions to people are applied. If people can't look after the golf course they shouldn't be using the golf course