Golf etiquette, made simple

Many of my new students worry more about etiquette than about their swing. “What if I do something wrong on the course?” I understand the feeling — golf can look like a world full of unwritten rules. But here is the truth: golf etiquette is really just friendliness, written down. Once you know a handful of habits, you will feel at home on any course, anywhere.

Keep the game moving

Pace of play is the number one thing golfers care about. Nobody minds a beginner — everybody minds a slow group. The trick is simple: you do not need to play well, you just need to keep moving.

• Be ready to hit when it is your turn — think about your shot while others play theirs.
• Walk at a good pace between shots.
• If you are searching for a lost ball, do not search forever. Drop a new one and play on.
• If a faster group is waiting behind you, invite them to play through. A friendly wave is all it takes — and they will thank you for it.

That last one is a lovely moment, actually. Letting a group through is not admitting you are slow; it is showing you know the game.

Safety first, always

A golf ball flies fast and far, so this is the one rule that is never optional:

• Never swing or hit when people are ahead of you — wait until they are clearly out of range.
• Stand well away from anyone who is swinging, even on the practice range.
• If your ball flies toward other people, shout “Fore!” loudly. It is not embarrassing — it is the universal golf warning, and everyone appreciates it.

Leave the course beautiful

Golfers share the course with everyone who plays after them, so we all tidy up as we go. Three small habits:

• Replace your divots — put the piece of turf back where your club dug it out, or fill the mark with the sand mix on your buggy or trolley if the course provides it.
• Rake the bunker after your shot, so the next player finds smooth sand.
• Repair your pitch mark on the green — the little dent your ball makes when it lands. A pitch fork takes two seconds and keeps the greens perfect.

Greenkeepers notice players who do this. So do the members. It is the fastest way to be welcome anywhere.

Quiet moments on the green

The green is where golfers concentrate hardest, so it has its own gentle customs. Stand still and stay quiet while someone putts. Try not to walk on the line between another player’s ball and the hole — that invisible path matters to them. And keep your shadow off their line when the sun is low. None of this is complicated; it is simply giving each other a calm moment to putt.

What to wear

Dress codes vary from club to club, so when in doubt, check the club’s website. But smart-casual almost always works: a shirt with a collar, tidy trousers or shorts, and golf shoes or clean sports shoes. Pay-and-play courses tend to be relaxed; traditional clubs a little more formal. You do not need expensive clothes to look right on a golf course — neat and comfortable is the goal.

Two more small things: keep your phone on silent (a quiet call at the clubhouse is fine, a ringtone mid-swing is not), and remember that golf runs on honesty — you count your own strokes, you play the ball as it lies, and everyone trusts each other. That honesty is one of the most beautiful things about this game.

You will fit in faster than you think

Here is my favorite secret: golfers love beginners who show these small courtesies. Keep up, stay safe, fix your marks, and be friendly — and nobody will care one bit about your score. The etiquette is not a wall around golf; it is the welcome mat.

If you would like to practice all of this with someone by your side, that is exactly what my lessons are for — you can find my lesson prices here , and plenty of relaxed golf courses near Utrecht to try your new habits on.