Columnist
Dave Marrandette
Etiquette Before Golf
Golf is a game with a unique set of value. At its core is integrity. The game would not be the same without it. And around that framework originates all of the other qualities and characteristics that make the game so great. The foremost of these is etiquette. The etiquette of the game demands a civil and polite behavior among it participants while on the golf course. Those requirements are written on the first page of the rule book.
However, there is also an etiquette that is insisted upon before you arrive at the course. There is a certain polite and considerate behavior that is appreciated by the golf course and in turn all other golfers. It is a conduct that makes the game more enjoyable for everyone on the field of play that day. It is the protocol that is necessary before you hit your first tee shot. These actions are essential regardless of where you plan to tee it up. Here’s a few to consider.
Make a tee time; don’t just “show up” at a course and expect that the golf course staff will be able to accommodate you. It’s rude and presumptuous and definitely not in the spirit of the game. Have the common courtesy and decency to call ahead and make arrangements for your game.
Show up early for your tee time. It is uncultured golf behavior to walk into the Pro Shop precisely at your tee time. Your tee time is NOT the time you enter the Pro Shop or pull up to the bag drop. Your tee time IS when you hit your first shot from the first tee. A golfer who shows up late for a tee time is inconsiderate at best. Golf courses use the tee time system to maintain order. If you show up late, you create chaos.
Listen to what the Starter has to tell you before you play. A good Starter will not only get you to the first tee at the appropriate time but will also provide you with valuable information particular to that golf course. Knowing the rules of a course might prevent you from an embarrassing situation. If you’re riding in a cart, you’ll need to know where you are allowed to drive that cart and what areas are off limits. A Starter will also provide you with an education on yardage markers and hole locations.
Be ready when it’s your turn to go to the first tee. Go to the bathroom or get a snack or whatever else you have to do well in advance of your tee time. Don’t wait until the Starter tells you it’s your turn on the tee. He won’t want to wait for you – and neither will anyone else.
Just remember, proper etiquette is important before your round not just while you’re playing it.
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Golf Quotes
"Take me out to the golf course, take me out to the links, buy me some Pro V1s and Callaways, I don't care if I never come back.....Root, root,root for your Tee Time Friend, if he doesn't win it's a shame..... So it's a hole-in-one, two, three putts your out at the old golf game."-Golf Digest, August 2005
"Golf camaraderie, like that of astronauts and Antarctic explorers, is based on a common experience of transcendence; fat or thin, scratch or duffer, we have been somewhere where together where non golfers never go." - John Updike
For the game to reveal it's true glory, you need to be able to say to your partner, "Great Shot!" - Golf Digest, November 2005
"If you think it's hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball." -Jack Lemmon
"Golf is twenty percent mechanics and technique. The other eighty percent is philosophy, humor, tragedy, romance, melodrama, companionship, camaraderie, cussedness, and conversation." -Grantland Rice
"Always throw your clubs ahead of you. That way you don't have to waste energy going back to pick them up." -Tommy Bolt
Jack Nicklaus, on why he tees his ball so high: "Through years of experience I have found that air offers less resistance than dirt."
"I never pray to God to make a putt. I pray to God to help me react good if I miss a putt." -Chi Chi Rodriguez
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| Ask A Pro |
| Question 1: How can I stay hydrated in the really hot weather?
Answer: First, drink lots of water. Second, keep a damp wash cloth with you and use it after each hole. Some of the top golf courses will come around with a ice cold washcloth infused with mango or peppermint. Third, wear light clothes and a hat to shade the sun. Fourth, you may also want to bring a towel to sit on so you don't stick to the golf cart cushion and so you don't sweat.
Question 2: How do I protect myself from mosquitos? Answer: Before you get to the course spray yourself with bug spray. This way it has a chance to absorb. Be sure to bring the spray with you, you will need to reapply (recommend spray over lotions, it's easier and faster to apply). If you know the mosquitos are going to be bad, wear long sleeves and pants but make sure they are very light in fabric. You can also wear higher socks if you have pants on so your ankles don't get eaten alive.
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