The etiquette of golf
An image of the archetypal snooty golf club, where lifelong members turn their noses up at anyone with the wrong-coloured socks, is one that many people have in mind when they consider learning to play, writes James Hutchison.
It is true that there is a range of golf literature about etiquette: what to wear, how to act, what to say and what not to say — and the expectation of the social pressure involved puts some people off taking up the game.
Of course, there are a number of rules that everyone should follow, in the same way as there would be at a tennis club, but they needn’t be feared as a mysterious set of protocols that you are expected to know, yet no one will say what they are.
So rather than anxiously worrying about how to behave, consider how not to behave and you should be fine. An individual with whom I played once, for instance, managed to break nearly all the rules just by displaying a lack of respect.
What to avoid
The said golf novice arrived five minutes after his tee time, put on his shoes in the car park and appeared on the first tee wearing a pair of jeans, which is always a no-no. As he took eight practice swings and a hefty divot with each, some of the members began to frown at being kept waiting by a young man who did not seem to care for the game’s etiquette or the club.
Unmoved by the disapproving looks, he marched off towards his ball, dragging his trolley in the most direct route from the tee box, instead of following the carefully laid path.
Once he had reached the green, he took the opportunity to catch up with his friends, chatting loudly about the price of oil, mindless of the fact that others were trying to putt. Then, without marking his ball, he pulled his bag across the green, creating a line of unwelcome footprints between someone else’s ball and the hole.
His round continued in the same vein, as he regularly teed off before the group in front had cleared, and generally acted inconsiderately towards others.
Give a little respect
People will often form an opinion of what sort of golfer you are on the basis of your conduct at a club, rather than your ability to play the game.
Golf etiquette is about respect, and if you show enough of it to the greenkeepers, club members and other players, you will be regarded as a distinguished golfer, whether or not you can get the ball airborne.
