Golf requires a lot of concentration. If you are trying to make a putt, or hit your tee shot into a narrow Fairway, it’s much more difficult if someone is laughing, rattling their clubs, or moving around the tee or green or talking on a cellular phone.

There are a few rules of etiquette that apply in all situations on the golf course and the practice area and there are other rules of etiquette that are particular to certain circumstances, especially on the green. Here, are some general rules of golf etiquette.

Safety
• Don’t take practice swings toward another person. Rocks, sticks, grass and other debris can fly up and hit them in the eye.
• Don’t swing your clubs when someone is walking around — and don’t walk around when someone is swinging golf clubs.

Quiet
• Quiet is required on the golf course. Golf requires concentration, and even if the people in your group aren’t bothered, there are other groups all around you. So keep you voice down.
• Walk, don’t run. Running is distracting and causes damage to the course. Walk quickly, but step lightly.

Pace of Play
As much as people enjoy playing the game, if golfers wait too long in between shots they may get impatient and lose their momentum. Here are some things you can do to maintain a good pace of play:
• Take only one practice swing for each shot, then hit the ball. (Remember: if you take 120 shots in a game and you take an extra 30 seconds for each one you will add an hour to the length of your golf game.)
• Plan your strategy before it’s your turn. Don’t wait to start thinking about what club you will use, whether to go over the water or lay up to it — be ready when it’s your turn.
• As you approach the green, determine where the next tee is located and leave your clubs (or park your cart) on that side of the green.
• When using a cart, if one player is on one side of the fairway and the other player on the opposite side, drop one player off at his or her ball with a choice of a few clubs, then drive to the next player’s ball and meet farther down the fairway.
• Keep up with the group ahead of you. As they leave the green you should be ready to hit up to it. Don’t worry about how far ahead you are of the group behind you, focus on staying a reasonable distance from the group ahead.

Hitting Into the Group Ahead of You
Minding your “Pace of Play” will help you stay with the group ahead and you won’t delay any groups behind you. Being careful to stay with the group ahead, you must also be careful not to be so close that you hit your ball into that group. Be sure all golfers are out of range before you hit.
Sometimes there are golfers who understandably get very impatient if a group is playing slowly ahead of them. However, it is never acceptable to try to speed up that group by hitting a ball at them to send them a “message.” If you are tired of waiting, walk ahead to their group and politely ask them to speed up play, but never hit into them.

“Playing Through”
Playing Through another group is one of the most difficult and contentious parts of golf. It is difficult because, often, there is an implication that the group who is “being played through” is guilty of slow play. If you’re going to ask another group to allow you to play through, do so in a courteous manner and at a convenient time in the round.

Tips regarding Playing Through:
• Be sure there is room for you to properly play through before you ask permission. There may be another group immediately ahead of the group you are asking, which is slowing them down as well.
• Be courteous and quick as you hit your shots in playing through. If you hit bad shots don’t take any Mulligans, just drop a ball near where yours was last seen and play on.
• If you are playing slowly (more than a hole between you and the group ahead of you) and you think the group behind might want to play through, invite them to do so. It might be convenient when you are on a green. Wave them up, stand aside and let them hit up to the green. As they are walking up to the green you can putt out. Then allow them to tee off before you on the next tee.
Play Ready Golf If Appropriate

If you are not playing golf in an actual tournament, or other sanctioned event, play “ready golf.” Ready golf means the golfer who is ready to hit can, even though he or she may not be farthest away from the hole. Just agree ahead with the others in your group to play ready golf when it makes sense.