Golf Etiquette Tips

One of the most important elements of our mission statement is to help educate our members about proper conduct and golf course etiquette. Always remember that golf is a game of honor. Your actions and behavior are a direct reflection upon the association and women's golf in general. Help us bring a new level of dignity and respect to women's golf by reviewing and adhering to the following 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)
Compare golf balls with your playing partner in order to differentiate one from another. Mark your ball with a colored marker.
Try to apply ready play whenever possible. BE READY to hit your ball the moment another player has completed her shot.
Take several clubs with you if you need to depart from the cart to avoid the necessity of walking back to your cart. 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.
Never spend more than 3 minutes looking for lost balls (and even less on a crowded golf course).
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.
When asked by the ranger to speed things up, accept and respond to his request graciously. He wouldn't be asking if the golf course didn't need to be thinning out. A little trimming of time here and there can make for a more playable day for everyone on the course!
Always park your cart on the side of the green closest to the next tee to allow for the group behind you to play immediately upon 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. It's just like cutting in line, and nobody will appreciate your dilemma.
Make every effort to keep track of your own shots as you go along.
Bring at least 18 balls to the tournament (one per hole).
Whenever you strike the ball and tear up a hunk of earth (called a divot), retrieve the hunk and place it back in the spot from which you hit, then step on it lightly.
On each green, use a tee to pry up any dents in the green made from your ball landing on it (called ball marks).
Always mark your ball with a plastic marker or a dime once it has landed on the green, unless it is the one furthest from the hole (in that case, it's your turn to play). When walking to and from that spot, never step in the path between another player's ball and the hole—footprints cause a ball to veer off its line, and make other golfers livid.
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.

BEFORE THE TEE—Learn the Etiquette

FROM 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 in deed out of bounds. If you end up playing your provisional ball, you are lying 3.

FROM THE FAIRWAY

This same rule pertains to a shot hit from the fairway out of bounds. Hit a provisional from the original position and then determine which ball is playable. Don't forget, any time you play the provisional ball, it counts as an extra stroke.
Another opportunity to keep pace 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 their turn arrives.

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

SAND BUNKER (FAIRWAY OR GREENSIDE)

When entering the sand bunker, always enter from the low side, so as not to break down the integrity of the design. Take a rake with you and put it near your ball location. Thus, it will be available for grooming immediately after you hit your ball.

ON THE PUTTING GREEN

All players but one are on the green, one is on the fringe, but closer to the hole than one other. TEST: who hits first? Per USGA rules, the person farthest away on the putting surface hits first. But in ready golf, the player on the fringe may prefer to have the flagstick left in the hole. So, the player on the fringe may go first and then the flagstick is removed from the hole. Or the player farthest away may hit first and another player tends the flag. Pull it immediately after farthest player putts. Replace the flag for the player on the fringe, if requested. 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 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 it, without waiting to be asked to do so. Be aware of other player's lines. Do not walk on them. The proper place for the marker is directly behind the ball. If another player prefers you to move your mark out of their line, then ask them which direction. First mark it where it lies and then move it one putter foot length in the direction requested. When replacing your ball, again use the putter foot length to put the ball back where it originally stopped.
If a player hits a long putt and the ball stops within four feet of the hole or closer, that player could choose to finish putting out. It is faster to do this than marking the ball and waiting for another player get ready to putt. This is only a choice, as some putts may require more analysis or may put a player in another player's line.

RECORD YOUR SCORE ON THE NEXT TEE

After you finish the hole, leave the green immediately. Write the score when you reach the next tee box.

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