The Ins and Outs of Golf Etiquette

Golf is perhaps the most famous sport associated directly with a brand of etiquette all its own. Drawing a lot of its players from the so-called upper classes, golf has a great appeal with the players within it because of a sort of unspoken code between the players that etiquette is one of the "rules" of the game. There are many subtle hints towards etiquette that we can see in the world of golf if we look, but what really drives the players is still the desire to win.

Why does golf have so many etiquette rules? Most of the rules of etiquette surrounding the game of golf lend to the prestige of the game. The rules keep players and courses safe, and keep the pace of the game steady. Most golfers learn the rules of etiquette as they play the game, but newbies can do well to know a little of the unwritten rules of golf before beginning the sport.

Most of the obvious etiquette rules, such as waiting until the previous player is done and out of the way before swinging your club, have to do with keeping everyone on the course safe. These obvious rules use common sense, and do not need discussion.