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Golf Etiquette

Golf etiquette governs the way that golfers dress and act on the golf course. Though good golf etiquette won’t improve your score, it will ensure that you make a good impression on your playing partners.

Golf Dress Code

Many golf courses have dress codes, and even for those that don’t, it’s often considered impolite to wear clothes that are too casual.

Dress Code for Men and Boys

Collared shirt (no tanktops or T-shirts)
Pants (no jeans), or shorts cut to within 3" of the knee
Rubber-spiked golf shoes or any rubber-soled shoes

Dress Code for Women and Girls

Collared shirt or “dressy” T-shirt (no tank or halter tops)
Pants (no jeans), skirts, or shorts within 3" of the knee
Rubber-spiked golf shoes or any rubber-soled shoes

Arrive Early

At most courses, you or your partner will have to reserve a tee time (starting time) in advance. Arrive with plenty of time to pay greens fees (the fee for using the course), to check in with the starter (the person overseeing the course tee times for the day), and to warm up on the practice range. Arriving late will delay the groups behind you.

General Course Etiquette

Be sure to follow these basic etiquette guidelines when on the golf course.

Identify the Ball You’re Playing

To avoid confusion on the course, make sure you can identify the ball that you’ll be playing from the ball(s) that your partner(s) will play. Ideally, make an identifying mark on your ball beforehand with a permanent marker. You can also identify a ball by its brand and by a number printed on the ball.

Order of Play

Order of play on the first tee is determined by draw. On subsequent tees, the player with the best score on the previous hole plays first, then the player with the next best score, and so on. If the prior hole was tied, the order of play on the prior tee is used. After the tee shot, the person whose ball is farthest from the cup plays first.

When it’s not your turn to hit, stand to the side and slightly behind the person whose turn it is to avoid distracting them. If the sun is low, be sure that your shadow doesn’t fall across the tee when someone else is teeing off.

Pace of Play

A round of 18 holes of golf should take about four hours to play. This allows for a reasonable pace, but you should be careful to keep the game moving:

Be ready to hit when it’s your turn.
Keep up with the group ahead of you on the course.
If any player in your group reaches double par (twice the par of the hole), that player should stop playing the hole and move onto the next one. The player should score the hole at the value of double par.

Caring for the Course

Always try to leave the course behind you in better shape than you found it.

Fix any divots by physically replacing them or by filling them with divot mix, which some courses (typically in the South) provide in a canister on your golf cart.
Fix any ball marks by prying up the indentation with a ball mark repair tool and then tapping it into place with the bottom of your putter.
If you enter a bunker, rake it after use so that the sand is smooth—there should be a rake near each bunker.

Safety

Always make sure that no one is your vicinity when you take practice swings, and never take a swing if there is anyone in range in front of you. If there’s even the slightest chance that a ball you’ve hit might hit someone else, yell “fore” loudly and as quickly as possible.

On-the-Green Etiquette

When you and your partners are on the green, follow these etiquette guidelines in addition to the general etiquette:

When it’s not your turn, lift your ball off the green and mark its place by placing a coin or ball marker behind the ball. This will ensure that your ball neither distracts the other players nor gets in the way of another player’s ball.
Avoid walking in your own line or the line of your playing partners. The line is the path between the ball and the cup.
If the sun is low, make sure that your shadow doesn’t fall across the hole or across another player’s line when that player is putting.
Leave the green immediately after you and your partner(s) have played the hole. By not lingering, you allow the group behind you to progress to the green.