A golfer’s refresher on etiquette and ‘ready play’

MEN'S GOLF LEAGUE

By Dave LaCascia

LW contributor

Since we are back to playing golf on our newly renamed Turtle Lake Golf Course, now is a good time to refresh ourselves on golf etiquette as is practiced everywhere golf is played.

Silence is golden. As a courtesy, do not move or make noise when a fellow player is up to tee off or putt. Stay quiet for the duration. Put your cell phone on silent mode or leave it behind.

Take your time—but not too much. Try to not take too long before you get on with it. Take 30 to 45 seconds to check your lie, select your club, plan your shot, take a practice swing, and then hit the ball.

Don’t lose your cool. If you find your sense of frustration rising while playing the game, take a few seconds to breathe and realize it’s not that bad. It’s a beautiful day, and you’re playing a game with friends—and that’s something to smile about.

Watch where you stand.

Do not walk in another player’s putting line. If you happen to be close enough, ask if you may mark a ball for your fellow player.

Respect the greens. Try to repair any damage caused by the ball landing or from the spikes on your shoes. It’s just the right thing to do. If you see another one, fix that one, too.

Be on time, and check in promptly. Lateness will affect everyone playing behind you. This is completely under your control and should not take place except for emergencies.

Don’t stand behind a player who is hitting. This applies to the tee box, fairways and on the greens.

Play “Ready Golf.” This does not always mean hit when you’re ready, but rather be ready when it’s your turn. When playing with friends or regular golf buddies, Ready Golf can mean hit if you’re ready, even if the individual who should be hitting is not or cannot and there is no safety issue. This is especially true on greens or when someone is searching for a ball.

Keep up the pace. Slow play is hated by every golfer. Don’t lag behind the group in front.

Ways to speed up play include

• Play Ready Golf (see above).

• Concede a short putt you know the golfer should make.

• Don’t use the most rearward tees if you’re not long hitters.

• Keep an eye on other players’ balls.

• Promptly leave the green and proceed to the next tee.

• If your group is lagging, but the next tee is open and the fairway is clear, the players who finish on the green should proceed to next hole and tee off.

Play safely. Make sure the area where your shot should land is clear. Let greens and fringes clear before hitting approach shots. Your playing partners should be scanning the fairway and adjacent rough for golfers who wander onto or toward your fairway while you or another golfer is teeing off or playing from the fairway onto the green.

FORE! Since we’ve all hit a bad shot, remember to yell “Fore!” and add “Right!” or “Left!” in congested areas. If you end up on an adjacent fairway, etiquette says the approaching golfers have the right of way on hitting.

Don't stand too close. Give your fellow golfer some space, or you might get hit.