Important Golf Tips, Etiquette Rules & Ready Golf
BALL MARKS - Before you start lining up your putt, remember that your perfect shot also left a ball mark. If this mark is not repaired, or is repaired incorrectly, it can scar the green for weeks. Please carry a repair tool and always take pleasure in repairing the ball marks you make.
REPAIRING DIVOTS - A simple way of caring for the course, that can have immediate and long-term benefits for playability, is to sand your divots. Not only can an un-repaired divot leave a bumpy surface they also provide and opportunity for weeds to invade.
BUNKERS - Sand bunkers were never meant to be a day at the beach, but there is no reason to make them any more difficult. Please rake your footprints and any other disturbances we create in the sand is basic sand etiquette.
GOLF CARTS - It is important to know that golf carts can make golf more accessible and can damage the course if not properly used. Please avoid abrupt starts, stops and turns that can damage grass. Steer clear of waterlogged or puddled surfaces or extremely dry grass that is showing signs of tire traffic. Be sure to adhere and respect any specific cart policies and traffic control signs.
Rules Of Etiquette
1. Silence cell phones.
2. Play ready golf. Do not wait to determine who is away or has the honors.
3. Assist players who have special needs, when appropriate.
4. Be still and remain silent during a fellow player’s pre-shot routine and subsequent shot.
5. Do not stand behind a player who is preparing to make a stroke, or anywhere on their line.
6. Mark your ball on the green if there’s a chance another player’s ball may hit yours. It’s a two-stroke penalty to the player who putted.
7. Repair any damage you cause to the course; sand divots and repair ball marks.
8. Maximum stroke is double par: if you are asked to pick up your ball and move on to the next hole because of slow play, your foursome should indicate "PU" for that hole and give each player a score of double par.
9. If a possible rule infraction is noticed, inform a fellow player with kindness. To those receiving the information, please be aware that information is meant to be helpful.
SIX RULES OF READY GOLF
1. Play ready golf. Do not wait to determine who is away or has the honors.
2. Keep moving. Refrain from personal conversations at the tee box or putting green.
3. Pick up the ball when you are 11-inches from the hole. It’s a “gimmie,” except in Low Putts or Club Tournament play. Add one stroke to your score.
4. Proceed immediately to the next tee after last player has putted. Score and replace clubs at the next tee box.
5. Take 2 or 3 clubs and an extra ball with you to your ball in the fairway when playing “cart path only.” If you are in a threesome, please help the member in the second cart.
6. Allow shorter hitters to hit first when waiting on the foursome ahead of you.
Please avoid a warning of slow play by practicing the rules of ready golf as a courtesy to your fellow members. The Marshall may issue a warning to speed-up play if there is one-and-a-half holes open in front of your foursome. Example of one-and-a-half holes defined as follows: You reach hole #4 – it is open – and the foursome on #5 have hit their second shot. Your foursome will be given the opportunity to catch up by the next hole of play. However, failure to increase speed of play will result in your foursome being asked to pick up your balls and proceed to the next tee. Each player will take the maximum strokes for that hole.
