23/10/2026
10 GOLF ETIQUETTE RULES BEGINNERS or SOCIAL PLAYERS ARE EXPECTED TO KNOW… BUT WHO ACTUALLY EXPLAINS THEM?
We send them onto the course expecting them to understand all the unwritten customs!
Nobody is born knowing where to stand, when to play or what to do with a bunker rake.
Here are 10 things every beginner deserves to have explained.
1️⃣ KNOW WHEN TO BE QUIET AND STILL
Once a golfer begins preparing to hit, pause your conversation and stop moving nearby. Keep your phone silent and avoid rattling clubs or opening a noisy wrapper.
It’s about giving someone a fair chance to concentrate.
2️⃣ KNOW WHERE TO STAND
Stand well clear of the club’s swing and where a mish*t might travel. Avoid standing directly behind the ball on the player’s target line or crowding their vision.
If you’re unsure, ask: “Am I okay standing here?”
3️⃣ SAFETY COMES BEFORE SPEED
Never hit while the people ahead are within reach—even if you think you probably won’t hit it that far!
If a ball heads towards someone, shout “FORE!” immediately and loudly. Don’t wait to see whether it misses.
4️⃣ BE READY, WITHOUT FEELING RUSHED
Use the time between shots to consider your distance, club and target, without distracting others.
In stroke play, including Stableford, safe and responsible “ready golf” is encouraged. You can play when ready rather than always waiting for the person furthest away. Communicate with your group first.
Being ready is different from rushing your swing.
5️⃣ KEEP AN EYE ON THE GAP AHEAD
Try to keep up with the group in front. If you lose ground and a faster group is waiting behind, arrange a safe opportunity to let them through.
Beginners deserve time to learn. A little awareness and communication help everyone enjoy their round.
6️⃣ RESPECT ANOTHER PLAYER’S PUTTING LINE
The putting line is the route their ball is expected to roll towards the hole. Avoid stepping on it, and watch where your shadow falls while they putt.
Walk around the line, giving it room. If your ball is in the way, mark its position before lifting it.
7️⃣ LEAVE THE BUNKER READY FOR THE NEXT GOLFER
After your shot, rake your footprints and the area disturbed by your club. Enter and leave by a low, safe edge where possible.
Put the rake where the club asks—it isn’t the same at every course!
The next player deserves a fair lie, not your footprint.
8️⃣ LOOK AFTER THE TURF
Repair the small dent your ball makes when landing on the green—a pitch mark. Ask someone to demonstrate the correct technique.
On the fairway, follow the club’s instructions for replacing divots or using the supplied sand mix. Different grasses need different care.
9️⃣ THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU LEAVE YOUR BAG OR BUGGY
Before putting, leave your bag on the side towards the next tee, clear of the green and other players.
Keep carts and buggies away from restricted areas and follow the signs. Once everyone has finished, clear the green promptly and record scores somewhere safe without delaying play.
🔟 ENCOURAGE PEOPLE—DON’T COACH THEM WITHOUT BEING ASKED
A beginner who misses a shot rarely needs three different swing tips from three playing partners!
Offer encouragement. Help them watch where their ball finishes. Explain unfamiliar customs kindly and at an appropriate moment.
“Let me show you something that might help” goes much further than “You should know that!”
A MESSAGE TO EXPERIENCED GOLFERS
Before getting frustrated with a beginner, ask yourself:
“Has anyone actually explained this to them?”
Golf etiquette should help people feel safe, comfortable and welcome. We all had a first round—and we all needed someone to show us the way.
What golf custom caught you out when you first started? Or what do you wish someone had explained earlier?
