On the Golf Course Etiquette

ON THE COURSE ETIQUETTE

Manage Your MeetUp RSVP responsibly

• See MeetUp Etiquette under Education for more information.

Show Up Early

• Aim to arrive at least 20 – 30 minutes before your scheduled tee time to check-in, stretch, get loose, and hit some range balls.

Obey The Cart Path Rules

• Make sure you check with the golf shop or starter before driving all over the course.
• Cart Path Only usually happens with winter golf or when it’s really wet conditions to make sure the carts don’t tear up the course.
• Par 3 holes are always Cart Path Only; no exceptions.

Maintain Appropriate Pace of Play

• Worry about keeping pace with the group in front of you, not the one in back of you.
• If your group is out of pace by one hole, play faster or let the group behind you play through.
• Don’t be the group that slows down play – and have the ranger coming after you!

​

​

ON THE COURSE ETIQUETTE

PLAY READY GOLF Suggestions / Tips

​

• Managers at golf courses are frequently men. The majority of golfers are men. Many men think women golfers are slow players. Let’s help change that perception by playing Ready Golf.

​

• Ready Golf means being ready when it’s your time to hit – being prepared and not taking loads of time once it’s your turn to hit.

​

• When playing casually with friends, you can all agree to let the player who is ready to “go ahead and hit.”

​

• Don’t be the golfer at the cart looking at your phone who is not prepared when it is your turn to hit.

​

• First to the tee goes first – forget about “I made a birdie, I’m going first.”

​

​

​

​

​

ON THE COURSE ETIQUETTE

PLAY READY GOLF Suggestions / Tips – Continued

​

• Always carry an extra ball or two in your pocket.

​

• Shorter hitters tee off first. If the group in front of you is in reach for just one golfer, then it makes sense to let the shorter hitters go first which allows the group in front to move forward and out of reach of longer golfers.

​

• Hit a provisional ball if you think your ball may be lost or out of bounds.

​

• Hit your ball before helping another player search for their lost ball. Limit your search to no more than 3 minutes.

​

• Putt when you are ready. If you are 10 ft away, ready to putt and won’t impede on anyone’s line, it makes sense to play your putt if one of your partners is in the bunker or still lining their putt up.

​

​

​

ON THE COURSE ETIQUETTE

Maximum Score Per Hole (also known as Net Double Bogey)

​

Please play to either Net Double Bogey or Double Par per Hole depending below to keep Pace of Play.

• For members keeping a USGA GHIN Handicap Index and posting scores (non-tournament, recreational play only) -
• Play to Net Double Bogey (Par of the Hole + Number of handicap strokes for the hole + 2 strokes)
• Within two (2) strokes of Net Double Bogey and you are not on the green, pick up the golf ball and move on to the green to putt.
• If at Net Double Bogey for the hole and you have NOT putted out, pick up the golf ball and move on to the next hole.
• Record Net Double Bogey for the hole when posting your score to your USGA GHIN account.
• For members NOT keeping a USGA GHIN Handicap Index –
• Play to Double Par per Hole (Par 3, no more than a 6; Par 4, no more than an 8; Par 5, no more than a 10)
• Within two (2) strokes of Double Par for the hole and you are not on the green, pick up the golf ball and move on to the green to putt.
• If at Double Par for the hole and you have NOT putted out, pick up the golf ball and move on to the next hole.

​

ON THE COURSE ETIQUETTE

On the Course Maintenance

• Repair your ball marks on the greens.
• Replace or fill divots on the tee box or fairway.
• Rack sand bunkers to fix footprints or other imprints you made in it.

​

Golf Lessons

• Don’t be hesitant to take a lesson and get help with your golf swing problems, everyone has them!

​

ON THE COURSE ETIQUETTE