Golf Etiquette for Beginners
Golf etiquette is the set of habits that keep a round safe, quick and pleasant for everyone on the course. Most of it comes down to three things: don't hurt anyone, don't hold anyone up, and leave the course as you found it.
Nobody expects a beginner to play well. Be safe, quick and considerate, and you'll be welcome anywhere.
Safety first
- Wait until the group ahead is out of range before you hit. If in doubt, wait.
- Shout "fore!" loudly the moment your ball heads towards anyone, and if you hear it, cover your head and turn away. See what does fore mean.
- Stand well clear when others swing, ideally to the side and slightly ahead of them, never directly behind or in front.
- Look around before a practice swing. Clubs travel further than you think.
Keeping pace
Slow play is the complaint you'll hear most often on any course. The Rules of Golf recommend taking no more than 40 seconds to play a stroke once it's your turn, and usually less.
- Be ready when it's your turn. Pick your club and line while others are playing.
- Play "ready golf" in casual rounds: whoever is ready and safe hits first, rather than strictly waiting for the player furthest away.
- Keep up with the group in front, not just ahead of the group behind. If a gap opens up and a faster group is waiting, wave them through.
- Limit your search for a lost ball. The Rules allow three minutes. In a casual round, a minute or two and a fresh ball is kinder to everyone.
- Pick up when it's hopeless. In a friendly game, once you're well past double bogey, it's fine to pick up and move on. In a Stableford round it's encouraged.
- Leave the green promptly and mark your scores on the next tee, not beside the hole.
Caring for the course
- Repair your pitch mark on the green, the small dent your ball makes when it lands. Use a pitch repair tool or tee to push the edges in, then tap it flat.
- Replace or fill your divots on the fairway. Many courses provide sand and seed mix on carts or by the tees.
- Rake the bunker after you play out, including your footprints, and leave the rake where the course asks you to.
- Follow buggy rules. Keep carts off greens and tees, use paths where asked, and obey any signs.
On the green
- Mind the lines. Don't stand on or walk across another player's putting line, the path their ball will take to the hole. Step over it or walk around.
A few more green manners worth knowing:
- Stay still and quiet when someone is putting, and keep your shadow off their line.
- Mark your ball with a coin or marker if it might be in someone's way.
- Look after the flagstick. Since 2019 you can putt with it in, so ask your group what they prefer, and lay it down gently off the green if it's out.
- Don't lean on your putter on the green. It can leave a dent.
A quick checklist
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Group ahead in range | Wait |
| Ball heading towards people | Shout "fore!" |
| Your turn coming up | Have your club and line ready |
| Faster group waiting behind | Wave them through |
| Ball lands on the green | Repair the pitch mark |
| Leaving a bunker | Rake it |
| Walking on the green | Avoid putting lines |
Dress codes and phones
Dress codes vary a lot. Many clubs ask for collared shirts and no denim, and some pay-and-play courses don't mind at all. Check the course website before you go. Keep your phone on silent, and take calls well away from anyone who is playing.
Try it in Mashy
Mashy is a gentle way to learn the rhythm of a round before you get to the course: tee, approach, chip, putt, next hole. A 9-hole round only takes a few minutes, so you can get used to reading greens and choosing clubs without anyone waiting behind you. When you're ready to play with friends, invite them to the Clubhouse and compare scores on the daily course. For more first-round help, see golf terms glossary for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important rule of golf etiquette?
Safety comes first. Never hit until the group ahead is well out of range, stand clear when others swing, and shout fore loudly if your ball heads towards anyone. After safety, keeping up a good pace of play is what other golfers notice most.
How long should a round of golf take?
It depends on the course and how busy it is, but many courses aim for roughly four hours or a little more for 18 holes in a group of four, and around two hours for nine. Keeping up with the group in front matters more than the exact time.
What is ready golf?
Ready golf means whoever is ready and able to play safely hits first, rather than waiting strictly for the player furthest from the hole. The Rules encourage it in stroke play to speed things up. In match play the order of play matters more, so agree with your opponent first.
Do you have to rake a bunker in golf?
Yes, it's expected. After playing out of a bunker, rake over your footprints and the mark from your shot so the next player doesn't find their ball in a hole. Leave the rake where the course asks, which is often outside the bunker.
Is it rude to walk on someone's putting line?
Yes. Footprints on the line can knock a putt off course, so step over or walk around another player's line between their ball and the hole. It's one of the most noticed bits of green etiquette, and easy to get right once you know.