Golf Etiquette

Like I've mentioned before, I’ve recently taken up golf and I’ loving it. However, there are a lot of rules that go along with the game of golf that I was never aware of.

Experienced golfers take the sport very seriously. When you think about it, anyone who’s willing to spend 4 hours hitting a little white ball in the hot sun has to have true love for the game, so rules for women
are very important in the game of golf. I’ve had my recent oh-no moments this past couple of weeks while learning the art of golf.

q Don’t ever swing your club until you know that others in your group are a safe distance away from you, unless you’re the former Mrs. Wood s.

q Don’t hit the ball until you are certain that the group ahead of you is out of range. If you do, you’re going to get a very angry –argyle-wearing -group of men after you.

q If your ball appears headed toward another player or group of players, give them a warning and yell, FORE! (Not “ Ops sorry, or watch out)

q Keep your cart off the grass as much as possible. I learned this the hard way.

q Don’t spend all day looking for your lost ball, especially if you have people waiting behind you. I found out that you’re technically allowed 5 minutes to look for it. If you want to take the full 5 minutes, golf etiquette says you should let the group the behind you “play through.”

q Repair all divots you make. These are the holes and kicked soil and grass you make. I tend to make a lot of these, so I always have to remember to fix them back up.

q If you hit the ball into a sand trap, you have to rake up all of your footsteps; they are very particular about this rule.

q NEVER talk during a players swing. You will be scorned if you do so and swinging clubs are involved.

q Always be aware of your shadow on the putting green. Don’t stand where your shadow could be obstructing another player’s line of vision and putting line.

q Never walk through a players putting line. Your footprints could alter the terrain and path of the players putt.

I’m still working on my swing and my golf wardrobe, but I’m hopping I nail down these rules and get a chance to play with the big boys at my office and really become a working woman.