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Ask Mr. Golf Etiquette Archives
by Mr. Golf Etiquette
(Copyright 2001)
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
My 13-year old son has a junior pass at our local public course. As part of the junior program
there, a questionnaire was sent to each junior pass holder, which included an quiz covering rules
of play and etiquette. A perfect score on the quiz entitles the pass holder to a $25 refund on
the pass fee.
A question was asked regarding etiquette on the green, which I felt was subject to various
interpretations. The true/false question states that, "a player must wait for his opponent or
partner who is "out" to putt before he can line up his putt." I feel the answer is false, as
long as you are not in the line of sight or impeding the opponent in his effort to make his putt.
My son was also instructed by the Illinois Junior Golf Association, which he joined this
year, that players should save time and speed the pace of play by lining up their putts while
others were putting, as long as they were not interfering with the one actively putting.
What is the official standard of etiquette in this situation???
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Tom Booth
A.Dear Tom,
Thanks for sending your question. The rule about who putts first, and the etiquette displayed
to that golfer can sometimes come into conflict with the issues of speedy play. Certainly, as
you say, as long as you are not interfering with a putting golfer lining up a shot, or actually
putting, there is nothing wrong with lining up your putt in a way that saves time.
I think the real problem is that a question such as that should not be presented in a
true/false fashion. It is open to interpretation and variation according to circumstances, as
you have indicated.
This is a good opportunity to show your son how in real life, grown-ups can sometimes get it
wrong, even when they are trying really hard. But even leaving real life aside for a moment,
it's especially true in golf!
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
Hi!
My daughter (age 11) & I have just started golfing. We have been spending a lot of time of
the driving range, getting our shots down.
1. Quite often, we find "abandoned" balls on the driving range - no one is anywhere near &
no clubs are parked in the vicinity. It's usually when there's a tournament going on & it
appears someone warmed up & then left. Is it an etiquette breach to use abandoned balls?
2. We live in Texas (it's hot) and my daughter likes to hit balls in the evening. We go
to the golf course on the military base. She only lets me hit 3 balls (that's another story) &
then I'm supposed to watch her hit the remainder of a large bucket of balls. When I get tired
of watching her, I pick up the ball buckets (the range is usually a mess, with buckets thrown
all over) & stack them by the ball machine to give myself something to do & to help the golf
course personnel.
Am I going to mark my daughter as a person with an uncouth mother if I continue to do this?
Thanks for your response if you have time!
Have a Great Day!
Mary Goodrich
A.Hi Mary,
Thanks for sending your note to Mr. Golf Etiquette. And, just in case no one in Texas has
said it yet, welcome to the great game of golf! You probably know this, but Texas has produced
some of the greatest golfers in history (including, but not limited to Ben Hogan and Byron
Nelson).
To answer your first question, no, it is not a problem to use the balls that have been
abandoned by other golfers. Mr. Golf Etiquette knows from personal experience that sometimes
finding an abandoned bucket of balls is the only good thing that happens all day at the golf
course. So enjoy those little nuggets and appreciate being in the right place at the right time.
Sounds like your daughter thinks of the driving range the same way mine does. It's a chance
to say, "Watch me!"
But meanwhile, no one will think you uncouth for tidying up the range -- except your
daughter. But it's her job to think that whatever her Mom is doing is weird (or as Mr. Golf
Etiquette's 14-year old daughter says, "pitiful"). It only gets worse as she gets older. There's
nothing you can do about that one.
But, overall it sounds like you will be a great addition to the game of golf. If you are
the kind of person who is not embarrassed to bend over and pick up empty buckets, you will
certainly replace divots and repair ball marks. Enjoy!
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
Is it a breach of etiquette to remove your ball from the hole with your putter?
Dave
A.Dear Dave,
Yes it is definitely a breach of etiquette to pull the ball from the hole using the head of
your putter. There is a high likelihood that you will damage the hole and make it more difficult
for those behind you to putt. That is one of those practices that looks cool when it is being
done, but it is very bad form.
The only exception to the rule is if you are over 90 years old and you have one of those
suction things on the end of your grip to take the ball out because you cannot bend over and
pick it up - and everyone in your group is older than you so they can't get it for you.
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
I am trying to discover the technical rules of playing honors golf. As in, who goes first off
the tee, what happens when there is a tie, etc.
Can you help?
Thanks,
jon unger brandt
A.Dear Jon,
This is an easy one. Read Rule 10. It isn't too technical. On the first tee the first
player is drawn by lots, from then on, the farthest one away hits, on subsequent tees the one
with the lowest score hits first. If there is a tie on a hole, you go back to the one who had
honors on the previous hole.
It is a good idea to review the rules at the beginning of each season - it's amazing what
you'll find in there!
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
More of a rules question for Mr. G-E. Does the ball retriever count against my club limit or
is my friend pulling my leg?
Jason
A.Dear Jason,
Rule 4-1 defines a club as an implement that is designed to be used for striking the ball.
Rule 4-1(a) further states that a club is composed of a shaft and a head. So when Rule 4-4
claims that a golfer is limited to 14 clubs, Mr. Golf Etiquette is reasonably sure that your
ball retriever is not included.
Now, if you are using one of those new-fangled, $600.00 ball retrievers that was designed to
retrieve that ball from 20 yards farther down the middle of the fairway, then perhaps your
friend has a point. Otherwise, he is taking you for a proverbial ride.
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
Situation #1: Player A's ball is just outside of player B's ball on the putting surface,
basically right next to each other. When player A addresses his ball, he is standing on the
spot (marker) of player B. How do you proceed? It is not fair for player A to stand awkward to
avoid player B's spot. It is not fair to give player B the honor because he (B) has earned the
position to watch how player A's put breaks (which actually is against the rules).
Situation #2: Where is the best place to stand on the tee box w/o distracting the player
ready to hit? I have never been criticized for this, but that doesn't mean I haven't been in
the wrong.
Rule question: Isn't an alignment aid a violation of the rules, so long as you consciously
know you are doing it? Example: Casually dropping a club near your address position. Sure it's
just a club on the ground, no violation, but because it was strategically put there to assist
you in bettering your next shot.... Rule violation! CORRECT?????
Thank you for the hat!!!!! (May Winner of the Golf Etiquette Game)
T. J. Barresi
A.Dear T.J.,
First off, Mr. Golf Etiquette is glad you liked the hat. Wear it in good health and with lots
of birdies. Now...
Situation #1 is covered in Rule 10-1 (c) and 1-2 (c) depending on whether you are playing
match or stroke play. But, basically you can play out of turn to accommodate a situation like
you describe, but you may not play out of turn in order to get a strategic advantage. By the
way, your rules question is basically correct for the same reason.
Situation #2 is answered by saying the best place to stand during a shot (tee shot or
elsewhere) is out of peripheral vision of the hitter. If you stand directly behind the hitter,
make sure you are far enough back that the hitter will not be concerned about you on the
backswing. If you stand directly in front of the hitter, or to the front/right (assuming a
right-handed hitter), then be sure you are out of the sight range of the hitter and be perfectly
still.
Sometimes, depending on the pace of play, you may be approaching the tee when someone is
hitting and you may be out of position to properly stand. If that happens, just be sure that
you STOP and become "invisible."
Best of luck and thanks again for writing.
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
If a ball is plugged (e.g. half submerged in the ground due to heavy rain) on the fairway,
are you allowed to physically move the ball?
Thanks
Peter Joburns
A.Dear Peter,
The answer to your question is found in Rule 25-2. A ball embedded in its own pitch mark in
any closely mown area, may be lifted, cleaned and dropped without penalty. There may be some
room for interpretation if the ball is embedded within the rough area, but the rule covers
situations "through the green," which, typically, even includes the rough.
All the best, and thanks for writing to Mr. Golf Etiquette
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
I am seeking the correct definition of the term "Links" when applied to a traditional seaside
golf course. I have read that it may refer to the area of land between the beach and cultivated
land. Any ideas as to the origin?
I was attracted to your site by a web search looking for 'links' for links (isn't web speak
confusing) and stumbled across you site concerning the origin of Fore'. I shall in future
refrain from SHOUTING except on the links of course.
Look forward to hearing from you,
P. Martin
A.Dear Mr. Martin,
Thanks for stopping by the site and for bringing your question. Yes, the term links is an
old one that derives from "links land" which is a description of the land that "links" the sea
to the terra firma.
If you look in the Oxford English Dictionary you will see that one of the very first
definitions of "links" that they give is: "Rising ground; comparatively level, or gently
undulating sandy ground, near the seashore covered with turf and coarse grass." The OED
documents the first written use of the term in that context in the year 931.
So the origin of the term links probably pre-dates its association with golf, and was merely
used to describe the land. The game came along later and was played out on the links.
Mr. Golf Etiquette loves the origins of words - especially those related to golf. He hopes
that helps with your query and, once again, appreciates you stopping by with your question.
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
Just found your website - it's great!! The reason for my e-mail is to find out the proper
way to keep score on a golf scorecard. I'm new to the game but I understand that, for example,
if you record a birdie on a hole you should circle the number on the card to indicate the birdie.
Likewise there are indicators for eagles, bogeys etc.
I've searched the web but have been unable to find a site that lays out these simple
protocols. Can you help??
- or point me to a website where I can find this info.
Thanks
Robert D. Grace
A.Hi Robert,
Mr. Golf Etiquette does not know of a particular web site that formalizes the indicators you
request. But it is not really an important issue. Those indicators have nothing to do with the
actual score, really. They just provide a way to see at a glance what you have done.
Some folks just like to circle their birdies, put a square around eagles, etc. Therefore,
you are free to use whatever notations you like, as long as they are clear to you.
By the way, the most important thing is to GET the birdies -- don't worry about how they are
indicated on the scorecard.
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
I have a question. I play with people who aren't aware of many of the rules of golf. However,
one that particularly rankles me is when someone walks across my line while on the green. I've
refrained from yelling at them, or tripping them. Even when I've told them politely that they've
walked across my line and have asked them not to do so again, they still do it.
Do you have suggestions for handling this?
Don
A.Dear Don,
For some reason, there are some people who just don't seem to get this one. It seems that
either they don't pay enough attention, or they just don't want to be told what to do. Perhaps
it would help if, while politely explaining what they have done, explain why that is a problem. If you politely say, "You have walked across my line," they may look at you and wonder why you have pointed out the obvious.
If, however, you say, "You have walked across my line, and that is a problem because it may
affect my putt, and it is rude and distracting and shows a lack of respect for the effort I am
about to put forth to sink this bad boy," they will realize there are specific reasons why you
don't want them to do that.
If you explain it to them that way and they still do it, well, there comes a time when you
have to ask yourself why you are playing with those people. To you the rules and the etiquette
are important. To them they aren't. Perhaps you could get teamed up with some others who
appreciate the game the way you do.
Mr. Golf Etiquette used to play with a guy who just turned out to be no fun on the course.
He talked about each shot before he took it, he talked about each shot after he took it and then
on the way home in the car he talked about every shot again -- sometimes forgetting how the shot
really went. Eventually, Mr. Golf Etiquette had to find other people with whom he could play
and enjoy the game.
Mr. Golf Etiquette regrets that there isn't a better answer.
Q.Greetings Mr. Golf Etiquette,
I have tried to find rules/etiquette relating to the 'right of way' for golfers from other
groups hitting a ball into the fairway that you are playing on when the ball is not OB.
It was my understanding that, if this is done by the group ahead, then you should yield and
allow them to play.
If this was done by the group behind you, they should yield right of way and wait for your
shot. Is there an official and/or accepted practice for these situations?
Bob
A.Dear Bob,
Mr. Golf Etiquette is not aware of an official rule on the topic that you have addressed, but
he has always approached it the way you have described. It is sometimes hard to communicate
with people far down a fairway, so using hand gestures can be helpful, provided the hand
gestures are not the kind that start fights.
The important thing is to use common sense and be sure you are not going to do anything that
injures a golfer down the line.
If someone in a group ahead of yours hits into your fairway (presuming the fairways are
parallel), it makes sense to let them hit first so they can maintain a reasonable spread between
the groups. If someone behind your group hits into your fairway, it makes sense for you to hit
first for the same reason.
However, there could be so many variations and circumstances that could affect the situation,
that there could be no hard and fast rule other than to use good judgment and let safety dictate.
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
Is it improper to run on the fairway? During a three lady scramble, one person hit over a
steep bank into a wooded area, so while she was getting her golf cart, and the other was
retrieving her ball, I jogged to the place the ball went out. When she caught up with me, she
said I should never run on the golf course.
Thanks,
Carol
A.Hi Carol,
Mr. Golf Etiquette thinks the person who told you not to run under those circumstances,
perhaps, overreacted a bit. Are there NO circumstances under which someone can run? What about
an emergency? Mr. Golf Etiquette thinks that if that person who told you not to run were
suffering from a heart attack, she would rethink her admonition about "never running" on the golf
course.
Of course, it is not good etiquette to run around the course. But if you are jogging to see
where a ball went out, so you can help maintain the proper pace of play, and not let your group
fall behind, Mr. Golf Etiquette thinks your efforts can be applauded. Rules are important, but
the rigid enforcement of rules is not a virtue.
Thanks for being a great golfer and helping your group.
Q.Dear Mr. Golf Etiquette,
I hope I'm not taking up too much of your time. This is my 3rd letter since I found your web
page. And I appreciate your responses.
Our ladies' division at the golf club has a match play tournament in flights with elimination.
The first round is usually played on Ladies' Day and second and third rounds on days that are
convenient for both players. Since some of the ladies still work, the rules have always been to
accommodate those women on the weekends (even though we have restricted times on the weekends).
One pair could not get together to play since one wanted to play it on the weekend and the
other could not. One lady had to default. She brought this matter up at meeting saying it was
unfair.
My question is: Would it be permissible for them to have played the round in 2 nine hole
matches late in the afternoon. After all it doesn't effect anyone but the 2 of them. When I
brought up this suggestion I was "shot down" saying this was not permitted in golf.
May I have your input on this situation?
Thank You
Claudia
A.Hi Claudia,
Well, Mr. Golf Etiquette has to say, in response to this question, that he tends to side with
the club. They make the rules, and even though the players may be willing to work out a
different schedule, their match would be considerably different than that of the other players
in the tournament.
In a way, this is an interesting variation of the Casey Martin decision, with which Mr. Golf
Etiquette agreed with the dissent. The match is played in 18 holes for everyone, and each has
to play the match under the same conditions or it loses its meaning. Sometimes in life there
are disappointments that we just have to bear, and for which there is no appeal.
Mr. Golf Etiquette hopes you aren't too disappointed with this take on it, but he thinks
that is the right decision to maintain the integrity of the entire match.
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