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Featured
Instruction Etiquette
From Tee to Green hether you are a seasoned veteran or
someone who has just taken up the game of
golf, proper etiquette is something that
can make your round more enjoyable and
keep up the pace of play. Most etiquette
mistakes are innocent and unintentional
but when they are made it can tend to
disrupt a player's concentration. Let's
look at a few helpful things to know
beginning with the tee box and moving on
to the green. On the tee The first issue that is not always
clear to beginning golfers is the actual
definition of the teeing ground. The
teeing ground is defined as a rectangular
area that is two club lengths in depth.
The tee markers themselves define the
front of the teeing ground and a player
may tee the ball anywhere within an
imaginary rectangle two club lengths back
from the tee markers. You may also stand
outside the teeing ground to play a ball
within this area. Another confusing topic on the tee box
can be the dilemma of where to stand while
another player is hitting. A good player
will cringe if someone stands behind him
when he is about to play his tee shot. He
will probably step away from the shot and
ask the person to move which causes some
awkwardness and delays play. If possible,
you should always try to stand a few yards
away from the person teeing off and make
sure that you are not in his peripheral
vision. Pace of play in the Fairway Once the tee shots have been hit it is
important to be aware of the order of
play. Most players know that the player
furthest from the hole plays first. The
key to keeping the pace of play in good
shape is to walk to your ball before it is
your turn to hit and assess your shot.
Choose your club, check your lie and be
ready to swing away when your turn comes.
Five hour rounds can spoil the day's
enjoyment. Being ready to play when it is
your turn is the number one way that you
can keep the pace pleasant for
everyone. On the Green With respect to etiquette, always be
aware of the position of the other players
in your group. Notice where their golf
balls are lying so that you can avoid
walking through the line of their putts.
As an added bonus you should also avoid
walking on an extension of their putting
line which continues a few feet past the
hole. In this way, if a player misses her
putt then the line of her second putt will
be free of spike marks. It was a violation
of this code that got Michelle Wie's dad
into some hot water during the Womens' U.
S. Open. Remember, a player may repair
ball marks on the green but may not repair
spike marks. Another rule that it is
helpful to know is that sand may be
brushed off the line of a putt if the sand
is on the green but it may not be brushed
off of the fringe. Being aware of golf's etiquette and
rules is the responsibility of all
players. When good etiquette is shown and
the rules are followed it makes the game
more fun for all involved and that is
really the bottom line. Study up on the
rule book and feel free to contact your
professional if you have any questions on
these topics. |
