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Let's Keep The Game of Golf Fun

Etiquette and the game of golf go hand in hand. It has become apparent to me that etiquette with respect to the game of golf has been overlooked by more than just a few golfers. This is not exclusive to the first-time golfers but instead includes those golfers who have been playing the game for many years and hold themselves above others based on their abilities as players and the amount of time that they have been playing. There is a slogan by a athletic-wear company that states how I feel about these people who should know better but don't choose to care, "Get Real".

Taking the time to care for the golf course and the players around you not only gives the players in your group an opportunity to enjoy their rounds of golf but also allows the players behind you the luxury of seeing the same golf course that you did when you played it. With the rising costs involved with the operation of a golf course these days, it is critical that every golfer observe the rules of etiquette and assist others in the acceptance of them in everyday play. These simple rules do not detract from the round of golf by asking you to re-build a bunker or mow a green, but instead ask you to think of the other golfers that are playing with and behind you. They are not time consuming, generally taking anywhere from 5-20 seconds to perform a task, but they can pay dividends that are insurmountable.

It becomes obvious while watching a PGA Tour event on T.V. that these men know what the rules of etiquette are and abide by them to afford each and every other player out there the same opportunities as they have. Believe me, if there were any group of people that were more competitive than the players on the PGA Tour I would like to meet them. However, each and every one of the players on Tour understand the importance of the rules of etiquette and what would happen if the rules were not abided by. The only difference between the courses on the PGA Tour that you see on T.V. and those that you play every weekend, besides the length of the course, is that each and every one of the players respects the Course Superintendant and his staff and all the work that goes into making that course the most playable it can be. When a player lands in a bunker you don't see a bunch of footprints in there from the previous player, do you? When the player hits his ball to the green, what's the first thing you see him do once he reaches the putting surface? He repairs his ball mark and then marks his ball and makes sure that he's not standing in the line of someone else's putt. There's one word that describes what etiquette is, CONSIDERATION.

I would like to list some of the things that I feel would enhance everyone's enjoyment of the game of golf and make the job of the Course Superintendant that much less time consuming. Remember, the job of the Course Superintendant is dictated by time. If he's busy repairing things that should have been repaired by the golfer himself/herself, that detracts from the time that he could be spending on giving that fairway an additional cut to make your ball sit up like it was on a tee, or seeding the course, or verticutting the greens to give you the idea of what the pro's have the ability to play on week in and week out. Please take the time to learn these simple rules and point them out to others if you see them failing to adhere to them. It helps ALL OF US.

1. When teeing off, please remember that you are afforded two club-lengths in depth from the tee markers in a line marked by the outside edges of the markers.
2. Please be sure to remain quiet while the person hitting any shot is addressed over the ball and preparing to play their shot.
3. If you hit a ball that is believed to be out-of-bounds please play a provisional ball before leaving the tee or from the point you last played your shot. If on the tee, you play your provisional ball AFTER everyone else has played their first shot.
4. While looking for a lost ball, please be aware of the group playing behind you and the other players in your group. Don’t make this an all-day-affair. You are allotted 5 minutes to search for a lost ball.
5. When in a bunker be sure not to ground your club, and upon exit from the bunker take the time to rake it smooth of your footprints and divots.
6. When approaching a putting green there are a few things to remember:
1. Be aware of the location of the other player’s balls and be careful as to not stepping in their line of play to the hole.
2. Be sure to repair the ball mark left by your ball when it hit the green. This is VERY IMPORTANT!!! This alone, if not followed, can tie up a Course Superintendent and his staff for hours a day, thus making it impossible for them to spend the time on the course doing the little things that will make your round that much more enjoyable. If the green gets to a point that it has to be closed, you will be forced to play on a temporary green, something that none of us want. The cost of rebuilding a green that has been overly damaged is in excess of $120,000/ per green. PLEASE REPAIR ALL BALL MARKS.
3. When one is putting please try to keep your shadows out of the line of play and also try to stay out of the line of vision of the player putting. Putting is hard enough without all of the distractions.
4. After you have completed a hole of play, please exit the green in a timely manner so as not to delay the play of the group behind you.