Etiquette

One of the most important elements of the EWGA mission is to help educate our members about proper conduct and golf course etiquette. Golf is a game of honor, honesty and integrity. Your actions and behavior are a direct reflection upon the association and women's golf in general. Help us bring a new level of respect to women's golf by reviewing and adhering to the following golf etiquette tips.

Follow all USGA and course rules.
Always arrive at the golf course in plenty of time to be prepared for your golf game (at least 30 minutes before your tee time).
Before heading to the first tee, make sure that you have everything you need (plenty of balls, tees, ball markers, etc.).For tournament play, bring at least 18 balls (one per hole).
Be at the tee box 5-10 minutes before your tee time.
Compare golf balls with your playing partners in order to differentiate one from another. Mark your ball with a colored marker.
Be courteous when another player is hitting. Do not move, talk or stand close to a player while that player is taking a stroke.
Try to play READY GOLF whenever possible. Be calculating your yardage and selecting your club while another golfer is hitting. Be ready to hit your ball the moment another player has completed his/her shot.
Take several clubs with you if you need to depart from the cart to avoid having to walk back to the cart to get a different club. Make sure you and your partner communicate who should drive the cart.
When confined to cart paths, always park your cart just a little ahead of where you hit the ball so you don't ever have to walk back.
Help each other spot your balls when they head for the woods to reduce the amount of search time.
If you suspect you will be unable to find your ball, hit a provisional ball. (Remember the penalty for a lost ball is one stroke and distance.)
Never spend more than 3 minutes looking for lost balls (and even less on a crowded golf course).
Always yell "FORE" if your ball is heading towards another player.
Make every effort to keep track of your own shots as you go along.
Always keep up with the group in front of you. If you find your group is lagging behind, take the initiative to suggest everyone speed up in order to catch up.
If your group is falling behind and the group behind you is always waiting, invite the group behind you to play through.
When asked by the ranger to speed things up, accept and respond to his request graciously; he wouldn't be asking if things were not getting backed up. Remember a little trimming of time here and there really keeps the game moving and makes for a more enjoyable day for everyone on the course!
Always park your cart or position your bag on the side of the green closest to the next tee so that you can exit the green quickly and so that the group behind you can continue play immediately upon your holing out.
Never record your scores while at the green...do it at the next tee.
Whenever stopping for food and beverage (whether at the beverage cart or at the turn) try to avoid any delays on the course. Don't expect to take a break and then jump back in whenever you're done.
Whenever you strike the ball and tear up a hunk of earth (called a divot), retrieve the hunk, place it back in the spot and then step on it lightly. You can also use the sand mixture provided on some carts to fill the divot.
After playing a ball out of a bunker, always rake the bunker and then lay the rake back outside the bunker.
Once your ball has landed on the green always mark the spot with a marker or coin. When walking to and from that spot, never step in the path between another player's ball and the hole - footprints cause the ball to veer off its line and is not fair to the other player. Also, do not stand in another player's eye line (behind the player in line with the hole) when that player is putting.
Use a ball mark repair tool or tee to pry up and fix any dents made from balls landing on the green (yours or other's).
Do not drop clubs on the putting green. Leave clubs on the edge of the green on the side where you left your cart/bag.
Try to be aware when other players are putting for par, birdie, or eagle.
Remove and replace the flagstick carefully.
Move off the green as soon as all players in your group have holed out. Mark your score when you get to the next tee.
When it comes to advice on one's golf game, remember the phrase, "Don't ask, don't give." You have no reason to be offering advice, and the practice range is the only place where you should be receiving advice.
No swearing, no throwing or slamming clubs, and little-if any-alcoholic consumption.

Etiquette Tips for Specific Course Areas

On the Tee

Men generally hit from the white or middle tees. They tee off first before the women, who generally hit from the red or forward tees.
Ready golf means that the first person with golf club, tee and ball in hand should step up and tee off, regardless of who won the previous hole. This speeds up play on the course.
If you believe your tee shot is out of bounds, hit a provisional ball at the tee box. This saves time later when you discover that the ball is indeed out of bounds. If you end up playing your provisional ball, you are lying 3.

On the Fairway

If you hit a shot from the fairway out of bounds, the same out of bounds or lost ball rules apply. Hit a provisional from the original position and then determine which ball is playable. Again - any time you play the provisional ball, it counts as an extra stroke.
Another example of ready golf that helps keep the game moving is for a player with a ball in the middle of the fairway to hit ahead of another player who is searching for a ball either in the woods or tall grass.
Players lined up similar distances from the green should always make their club selections then proceed directly to their balls. This helps players to get ready to hit when it is their turn

Sand Bunker (Green or Fairway)

Take a rake with you and put it near your ball location and outside the bunker so that it is easily available to rake the bunker after your shot.
When entering the sand bunker, always enter from the low side, so as not to damage the bunker edges.

In Front of the Green

Players on the fringe may hit onto the green while a player analyzes how to hit out of the sand; as long as you are safely out of the other player's way, this keeps play moving.
When a player hits toward the green, but the ball goes beyond the green, another player may hit up to the green to get his/her ball onto the putting surface. The first player will then have time to get to his/her ball and prepare to hit again.

On the Putting Green

When all players but one are on the green, and the one is on the fringe but closer to the hole than the others - who hits first? Per USGA rules, the person farthest away on the putting surface hits first. In ready golf however, the player on the fringe may prefer to have the flagstick left in the hole. The player on the fringe may therefore go first, after which the flagstick can be removed from the hole for all players. Or the player farthest away may hit first and another player can tend the flag and then replace the flag for the player yet to hit from the fringe. Again in ready golf, if the player farthest from the hole is not ready, another player may putt first to keep the pace moving.

Tending the Flag: Stand out of all players' lines of putting and be aware of your shadow. Do not allow it to cover the hole or the line of the putting for the player. Also, hold the flag itself so it does not blow in the wind. Flagsticks must be out of the hole whenever a ball is putted from the green.

Marking your ball: When a ball reaches a green, each player should mark his/her ball; the proper place for the marker is directly behind the ball. Be aware of other player's lines and do not walk on those lines. If another player prefers you to move your mark out of their line, then ask them in which direction. First mark the ball where it lies and then move it one putter foot or club length in the direction requested. Remember that you must remark to putt your ball from its original position (it is a penalty if you do not putt from the original position). Use the putter foot or club length to put the mark back to the original position. Once the original position is marked you can place your ball and putt.

If a player hits a long putt and the ball stops within four feet of the hole or closer, that player can choose to finish putting out (it can be faster to do this than marking the ball and waiting for another player to get ready to putt). This is however a choice and is completely up to the player as some putts may require more analysis and/or the player may choose to wait.

After you finish the hole, leave the green as quickly as possible. Record your score when you reach the next tee box.

Handicap Maintenance
All EWGA members receive access to the EWGA GN21 handicap system included with their membership dues. EWGA Westchester strongly encourages all members to have a handicap - establishing and maintaining a handicap is an important and essential part of the game of golf.
You are responsible for entering your own score and for keeping your handicap current. The Handicap Chair may check score entries from time to time.

League Etiquette

Inclement Weather Policy
In the case of inclement weather, call the golf course after 3:30 p.m. (for 9 hole leagues) to inquire whether league play will occur on that day. There will be no rain dates provided in the Saxon, Maple Moore, or Sprain leagues; these leagues have been extended to 12 weeks to account for rain cancellations. Doral Arrowwood provides a rain check for league play cancellations due to weather.

SubList and Guest Policy
If unable to play, you can choose to contact someone from the sublist to cover for you. Please make sure you notify your foursome if a sub is playing for you. Missed play is not made up. If a substitute player is needed in a league and there are no subs available from the league sublist, a league player may bring a non-member ONCE as a guest substitute for that night. The substitute player is required to pay the greens fee like any other substitute player. If a guest plans on substituting more than once, they are required to join EWGA Westchester and pay the substitute fee.

Code of Conduct and Etiquette
Etiquette covers both courtesy and priority on the course, as well as care of the course. The major etiquette points outlined above are not rules, but are a very important part of the game and should be followed as closely as possible. All league players are expected to conduct themselves appropriately on the golf course. Players are expected to follow all local rules and rules of behavior, including dress code. EWGA reserves the right to terminate a player's participation in the league if that player is found to not be in compliance with the rules. If a player is terminated, her league fee is not refundable.