The Importance of Golf Etiquette:

     • Safety of All Golfers
     • Maintain the Pace of Play
     • Maintain the Quality of the Golf Course

1. Distractions: When a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke, no one should move, talk or stand close to or directly behind the ball or the hole.
2. Ready Golf: Be ready to play when it is your turn.
(See “Ready Golf” Section Below)
3. Pace of Play: Keep pace with the group in front of you.
4. Delays: In the interest of all players, play without delay.
5. Groups: Pay attention to the group behind you.
6. Recording Scores: When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green. Mark your card on the next tee.
7. Sand Bunkers and Rakes: Before leaving a bunker, a player should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints. Rakes belong IN the bunker near the edge.
8. Divots and Ball Marks: A player should ensure that any divot hole made by her and any damage to the putting green made by a ball is carefully repaired.
9. Flagsticks: Properly replace flagstick in the hole before, leaving the putting green.
10. Practice swings: Players should avoid causing damage to the course, particularly the teeing grounds.
11. Golf Carts: To speed up play park on the side of the green nearest to the next tee.
12. Warnings: If your ball appears headed toward another player or group, give a warning by yelling out “FORE”.
13. Putting Lines: Never walk through a player’s putting line. Your footprints may alter the path of a player’s putt. Step over the putting line, or walk around the player’s ball.
14. Rules: Know the rules of golf. Play with honesty and integrity.

READY GOLF

Please read: Official Pace of Play guidelines.

Ready golf means thinking ahead. Be ready to play when it is your turn. The rules are designed to improve the pace of play, thereby making the golf game even more enjoyable and providing more golfers an opportunity to play. Ready golf applies everywhere on the golf course: from tees to greens.

Ready golf begins with your arrival at the course 20 minutes before your tee time. Report to the starter with your fees paid and cart loaded.

During Tournament Play, a player may not play out of turn without permission from the other players. This is especially important when playing in Match Play.

1) On the Tee:

     • Hit when ready: if the group ahead is clear. Short hitters may go first.
     • If the ball goes into the woods: all four players should know where the ball landed.
     • On deck: the next player should be out of the cart, club in one hand, ball and tee in the other.
     • Be Prepared: always have an extra ball ready and a tee and marker in your pocket.

2) Lost Balls or Out of Bounds:

     • Play a provisional ball: if you think the ball is lost or out of bounds (OB), then look for the ball.
     • Time Limit: you may look for a lost ball for 5 minutes.
     • Players should play any shot that is farther from the hole, than the lost ball, before helping to look for the lost ball.

3) Scoring:

     • On the next tee: complete your scorecard, when you are off the green.
     • Scoring discrepancies: should be politely addressed, for example, “Please review your score. We are not in agreement.”
     • Discrepancies: should be settled before scorecards are signed and submitted.
     • If a player signs for a lower score: they would be disqualified even after card is attested and submitted.

4) On the Fairway:

     • Go to your ball: as soon as possible. The only time a player should wait for others players, before going to their ball, is if it is not safe, due to another player’s position.
     • If your ball is past other players’ balls: if it is safe to do so, walk down the sides of the fairway to reach your ball, determine your club selection while waiting, move into the fairway, when it is safe to hit. This allows you to be close to your ball and ready to play, while others behind your can still make their shots.
     • Drivers of carts: should drop off their partners, let them choose their club/s and then drive to their own balls and get ready to play.
     • Take extra clubs: once you are closer to the ball, your lie may appear different. Carrying an extra club or two is preferable to using the wrong club to play a shot.
     • Exceptions to the rule that a player farthest from the pin should play first:
          • Players with the cart should hit first, if they reach their ball first and are ready to play, before players who are walking.
          • When a player hits, but is still farthest from the hole, the other players should hit, before that player, if they are ready and the original player is not ready for the next shot.
          • If a player is off the green, while others are on and is still farthest out after hitting again, play on the green should continue, until that player is ready to make the next shot.

5) On the Green:

     • Clubs and Carts: always place your clubs and cart between the flag and the cart path to the next hole. Pull carts may be placed close to the green, but not in front of the green.
     • Line up your putt: while others are putting.
     • Putt continuously: if the ball is not in another player’s line and if you do not have to spend a lot of time surveying the putt.
     • Marking the ball: if your ball is clean and playable, don’t mark the ball. It is not necessary to mark, if you are not in anyone’s way.

READY GOLF IS NOT RUSHED GOLF It means you are prepared in advance of your shot, so you can make a smooth, unhurried stroke when it is your turn to play.