Golf Etiquette

                Marking your ball when on the green is another part of the game that although is not technically a rule, should be followed to avoid a collision with another player’s ball. When two or more players are on the green, the players who are not up to putt should mark their balls with a flat coin-like object. Simply put the marker directly behind the ball in line with the hole and then lift your ball. When it is your turn to putt, just put the ball back in front of the mark. If other players in the group are not marking their balls, simply politely request that they do. It may not occur every round, but you’d be surprised how common collisions happen on the putting green, so it’s better to play it safe and mark your ball.

                The main reason for marking your ball on the green is it’s a courtesy to whoever is putting. If their putt happens to strike your ball, it results in a two-stroke penalty against them and they have to play the new lie, which may be much further from the hole than they were originally. It’s simply poor etiquette not to mark your ball, especially when yours is close to their putting line. If a player asks you to mark your ball, honor the request and respect the player.

                What if I don’t have a ball marker? All golf shops either sell or provide their own course markers for players.  You can find almost any style of ball marker that you can make your own, but keep in mind it should be a flat, small and round object. Again, it’s not a rule, but it’s recommended by the USGA rulebook. Players can use a tee or other object, just as long as there’s no confusion to where the ball is marked and as long as no collisions occur, these objects are permitted. Most players use ball markers that are of some personal significance, like a token, coin or logoed object.

                Now what if your marker is directly in the player’s line who is putting? That player can request that you move the mark to one side of the line. A simple and accurate way to do this is by measuring with your putter head and placing the mark that distance either to the left or right of the player’s line. Then after he/she putts, you can put your marker back in its original spot and place the ball back on the putting surface directly in front of the mark for your own putt.

                The act of marking your ball is not a rule, but lifting the ball before marking is. If you want to clean your ball or simply move it out of the way for another player, you must mark it first before lifting it off the green.  Failure to do so will result in one-stroke penalty and if you putt from the incorrect position due to failing to accurately mark your ball, it results in a two-stroke penalty. So it’s important not only from an etiquette standpoint, but a scoring one as well. It’s simple to do, so avoid the hassle, confusion and fuss and always mark your golf ball on the green.

FEATURED AUTHOR:  Daniel Johnson graduated. from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism in 2009 and has since worked as a freelance writer. His work has appeared in numerous publications including, Poker Pro Magazine, Inside Golf Newspaper and Pacific Northwest Golfer Magazine. When not writing, he enjoys spending a day on the golf course. 

                The game of golf has a rule for almost every scenario that occurs on the course. The USGA rulebook is a thick, dense piece of reading. Even some PGA pros don’t know all the rules of the game, as some of them apply to situations that almost never happen. Although knowing these basic rules of the game is important when it comes to keeping score, knowing and understanding golf’s unwritten rules is just as important. More than most games or sports, golf is built on tradition and etiquette. The unwritten courtesy and etiquette rules may not be a factor on the scorecard, but they guide the way that true gentlemen and ladies play the game.

                There are many examples of etiquette or courtesy on the golf course and one of the most common is the act of allowing another group to “play through”, meaning to go ahead to the next tee or hole. This unwritten rule is a matter of rate of play. It’s designed to keep the flow of play at a consistent pace that keeps all the groups moving along and getting their round in as quickly as possible. Although people love being out on the course on a nice sunny day, they will usually get frustrated if a round takes five hours or more to finish. An average 18-hole round takes about four hours, according to golflink.com. If your group is slower, it may be due to your own play, the size of your group, or it may be due to the group or groups in front of you, who are taking far too long.

                Slow groups are encouraged to allow faster ones to play through. The group may be slow because it consists of inexperienced players, or because it contains a foursome playing ahead of a single or a twosome. Golf etiquette says that if the group behind continues to wait for the one ahead on each hole; it’s time to let that group play through. It’s always a matter of judgment on the part of the lead group. They should take into account their rate of play and the rate of play of those behind them when deciding to let a group through. If they lead group fails to recognize their slow pace and doesn’t adhere to the rule, it may be up to the trail group to request to play through.

Nothing gets you out of your rhythm more than having to wait on a slow group. Some golfers get so frustrated by groups that don’t allow them to play through, that they let it affect their game. Don’t be afraid to ask: May we play through? You would be surprised how asking a simple question can save a lot of headaches. Many slow groups may not realize how slow they are and when alerted and more than happy to oblige. Most golfers don’t want to be the ones who hold others up and jam up the entire course. Once you are granted to pass, be sure to thank the group who let you play through, play your shots without delay and move along briskly.

                There are times when there’s nothing you can do as the lead group. It may not be you who’s backing everyone up and if you let a group through, they will just get behind the slow group at some point anyway. It may even be one group who is causing the whole course to be jammed. It’s like traffic. If no one else is in front of that slow group, don’t be afraid to ask to play through and go around. Communication between the groups is essential to maintaining good golf etiquette. Make sure everyone knows the deal and agrees to let the group play through. If each group disagrees, sometimes a course marshal or other representative can be sought out to determine the action.

                If you are the lead group and don’t have anyone in front of you, be sure to track your rate of play and keep an eye on the groups behind you. If you see they are continually waiting for you, allow them to play through. It will make for a more pleasurable golfing experience for everyone. Personally, I feel pressured if I see a group waiting for me and watching me hit. I would rather get them off my tail, so I can take my time and play my game. It’s a gentlemanly gesture as well and when you see that group at the clubhouse, I’m sure they will thank you. So keep things cordial and always keep good golf etiquette in mind when you are out on the course. It may not be in the rulebook, but it’s something that should still be followed nonetheless.

FEATURED AUTHOR:  Daniel Johnson graduated. from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism in 2009 and has since worked as a freelance writer. His work has appeared in numerous publications including, Poker Pro Magazine, Inside Golf Newspaper and Pacific Northwest Golfer Magazine. When not writing, he enjoys spending a day on the golf course. 

Now here’s an idea we can get on board with.

Angel Park Golf Club, a stalwart of the Las Vegas scene, now sets aside the first five tee times of each day for golfers who vow to complete 18 holes in 3 hours and 45 minutes or less. The “Express Lane” tee times alternate between Angel Park’s Mountain and Palm courses and have been a huge hit with players who prefer a brisk pace.

While actual times vary with the seasons, Angel Park currently blocks off slots from 7:00 – 7:28 a.m. for speedsters. To ensure that slowpokes aren’t unwittingly caught in the fast lane, golfers must sign an agreement stating that they’ll maintain the pace or face interruption to accommodate faster groups.

Golfers are also reminded of Express Lane rules when booking tee times, again with a note on their cart, and given a final nudge by the starter before teeing off. If all that fails to light a fire, groups falling behind might be whisked to the other course, asked to skip a hole, or slipped back in the queue behind the Express Lane racers.

Golf’s slow-play problems are no secret, especially in resort towns like Vegas. As round times creep ever higher, it becomes tougher to squeeze in 18 holes without devoting most of a day to the links.

Angel Park got the message.

“One of the things we consistently hear throughout the golf world is that it takes too long to play,” said Greg Brockelman, the club’s Director of Golf. “The reality is that most people live very busy lives. Whether it’s trying to catch up at work or other responsibilities at home, people have a hard time carving out five hours to play a round of golf. Not to mention that some golfers just like to play fast.”

They include Vegas resident Lowell Masters, who called the Express Lane “a win-win situation for us. We can tee it up in the morning, and get back to the house with the entire day still ahead of us.”

Angel Park’s pair of lush Arnold Palmer designs make it a favorite of Vegas visitors and locals. The club also features the Cloud Nine Short Course and a natural grass putting course.