1. Play as quickly as you can.
As they say you should be right behind the group in front. You don’t need to play golf at a semi-trot as we did as children, but it is always good to keep grownups sweet! Get out their way, let them through, and then you can take your time to hit the ball. Encourage everyone else to move quickly. If you are a snail you spoil everyone’s game. Play "ready golf" [think about what club you need and where you want to hit it as you get to your ball] then you are good to go. Be ready to play when it's your turn on the tee and green, and never look for a lost ball for more than 5 minutes.
2. Keep your temper under control.
It happens when you are young. Then you learn the hard way it is not acceptable to toss clubs, sulk or swear [at least out loud] My father caught my brother and myself at the club throwing; my mother dosed us with syrup of figs on hearing her ‘trooper’ children! Once was enough! We all get cross, but take it out on a patch of rough behind the tee - and move on. The world will not change.
3. Respect other people.
Always make your tee times, turn up for lessons or matches. Mobiles give bad manners no excuses. Always shake hands and thank the other players for the game. Smile, no matter how hard it is, when you lose.
4. Look after the course you play on.
As you play more it is good fun to collect plug diggers as mementoes from new courses. It is even better to use them. As for divots, replace them; use the seed mix in the box on the tee. Rake bunkers pushing the sand IN, not out to the edges.
5. Be a ghostly partner.
Stand still while other players do their thing. The etiquette rule of never walking in someone's line of play on the putting green is a must. The area around the hole in particular is sacred ground. Don’t clump across other players’ lines to the hole. Know where to stand and when to keep quiet. Position yourself where the person putting can’t see you and never stand either beyond the hole or directly behind the ball.
This is something you will only learn from experience; there is nothing more weird looking on a green, than a 3 ball foursomes match; it looks like a cross between Scottish country dancing and a slow motion game of ‘statues’.
6. Don’t trail your caddie car over the green.
This includes aprons of greens and tees. Do you want to play out of someone else’s wheel tracks?
7. Always look your best.
Dress codes have thankfully been relaxed. Teenagers grow in such fits and starts that keeping school clothes and golf clothes going is very expensive. But if you want to look sharp, there is always ways of earning extra pocket money, and look after your gear. You can make your own style or trademark colour. A red shirt is all it took for the “Tiger Trademark’.
‘My daughter, the cat burglar’ was how my Dad used to introduce me. Yes, I liked black, but with a very colourful Paco sweater! I might have been small, but, I liked to make a statement too......
8 Turn off the mobile.
If I had my way, mobiles would be turned off at all times on the course, unless for medical reasons; but most clubs have given in to the fact that people are going to use them. At least keep it quiet and keep a vital call so brief that others don't even know you made it.
9. Lend a hand when you can.
It's easy to help out your fellow players, if you just pay attention. One obvious way is looking for lost balls -- better yet, spotting them before they turn into lost balls! Pick up that extra club left on the fringe or the headcover dropped next to the tee. And if you see a provisional ball that needs picking up, don't just walk by. Replace divots that are homeless.
10. Learn the little things.
There are a hundred other bits of etiquette, like saying ‘nice shot’, putting the flagstick down thoughtfully, taking a partner’s ball out of the hole when they sink a long putt - and smiling -, encouraging a partner through a rough patch, and so on. All of these things are learned by observing, with a sharp eye and a considerate heart. Just know that golf has a way of returning favours, and every piece of etiquette you practice, will be repaid tenfold.
Boring lecture over! Back to playing, but with just a touch more thought.
