Golf etiquette and pace of play

The big three

Everything else in this chapter is a detail of one of those three.

Honors vs. ready golf

Honors

The honor is who tees off first. Under the Rules of Golf, in stroke play the player with the lowest score on the last hole tees off first on the next one, then the next lowest, and so on. On the first tee, the group decides however it wants, like flipping a coin.

After everyone tees off, the player farthest from the hole normally plays next.

Ready golf

Ready golf means whoever is ready, hits, as long as it's safe. The Rules of Golf say players are "allowed and encouraged" to play out of turn in stroke play, as long as they do it safely and don't distract anyone. That's in Rule 6.4b.

Ready golf looks like this:

• Big Mike is still looking for his glove? Rhonda is ready, so she tees off.
• Dale has a 2-foot putt? He taps it in instead of marking it and waiting.
• Your ball is closest to the cart? Hit while your partner walks to theirs.

One courtesy: if the player whose turn it really is wants to go first, let them.

In match play, order matters more, because playing out of turn can let your opponent make you replay a shot. Match play is explained in How to keep score in golf and Scrambles, best ball and other formats.

Where to stand and when to be quiet

When someone else is hitting:

• Stand off to the side, out of their line, and a few steps away. Never stand directly behind them or in front of them.
• Never stand ahead of the ball. If it goes sideways, you don't want to be there.
• Be still and quiet. No talking, no rattling clubs, no rustling the snack bag.
• Watch the ball. If it goes into the trees, the group finds it faster when four people saw where it went.

On the green:

• Don't step on anybody's line. The line is the path from their ball to the hole. Walk around it.
• Mind your shadow. Don't let it fall across someone's line while they putt.
• Mark your ball if it's in someone's way. Put a coin or ball marker behind the ball, then pick it up.

Yelling "fore"

If your ball is heading anywhere near another person, yell "FORE!" right away. Loud. Point the direction it's going if you can.

If you hear "fore," don't look up to find the ball. Cover your head with your arms and duck.

There's no penalty for yelling fore too often. There's a big problem if you don't yell it at all.

Take care of the course

The Rules of Golf say players should take care of the course, including repairing damage, filling or replacing divots, and smoothing bunkers. Here's how.

Ball marks on the green

When a ball lands on the green, it often leaves a small dent called a ball mark (or pitch mark).

1. Use a divot tool (a small two-pronged tool) or a tee.
2. Push it in at the edge of the dent and gently pull the grass toward the middle. Go around the edge.
3. Don't lift up from the bottom. That tears the roots.
4. Tap it flat with your putter.

Fix yours, and one more. The green will thank you.

Divots

A divot is the chunk of grass that comes up after a shot on the fairway.

• If the course gives you a sand bottle (often on the cart), fill the hole with sand and smooth it with your foot.
• If not, find the chunk of grass, put it back in the hole, and press it down.

Some courses want divots filled with sand and some want them replaced. Look for a sign or ask in the pro shop.

Bunkers

1. Walk in from the low side, close to your ball. Don't climb down the steep face.
2. Hit your shot.
3. Rake your footprints and the spot where your ball was. Walk out the way you came in, raking as you go.
4. Leave the rake where the course wants it. Some courses want rakes inside the bunker and some want them outside. Follow the local practice.

The flagstick

Since the Rules changed in 2019, you can putt with the flagstick in the hole. If your ball hits it, there's no penalty. You play it as it lies, and if it drops in, it counts.

Your group can choose:

• Leave it in. This is the fastest, and lots of groups do it for everyone.
• Take it out. Lay it down gently off the green, away from everyone's line.
• Tend it. Someone holds it and pulls it out once the putt is on its way.

Just decide before you putt. If the flagstick is left in, nobody can pull it out while your ball is rolling to keep it from hitting the stick.

When the group is done, the last player to finish puts the flagstick back in.

Cart etiquette

Cart path only

If the course says "cart path only," keep the cart on the paved path the whole time. Usually that's because the ground is wet. Take two or three clubs with you to your ball so you don't have to walk back.

The 90-degree rule

Under the 90-degree rule, you drive on the cart path until you're even with your ball. Then you turn straight out onto the fairway, drive to your ball, hit, and drive straight back to the path.

Courses set their own cart rules, sometimes day by day. Look for signs at the first tee, on the cart, or at the start of each hole.

Other cart rules

• Stay away from greens and tees. Most courses mark the line with ropes, stakes or signs. Don't drive past them.
• Park on the side of the green toward the next tee. That way you finish, walk to the cart and go. You don't have to cross in front of the green.
• Drop your partner off, then go to your ball. Don't both sit and watch one shot.

Letting a faster group play through

If the group behind you is waiting on every shot, and there's an open hole in front of you, let them play through.

1. Wait for a good spot, like the tee of a par 3 or after you've all hit your tee shots.
2. Wave them on.
3. Step to the side and wait quietly while they hit.
4. Then go back to playing.

It costs you five minutes. It saves both groups a miserable afternoon.

If you're the faster group, wait to be waved through. Don't hit into the group in front of you to "send a message."

Pace of play

The 40-second shot

The Rules of Golf recommend making each stroke in no more than 40 seconds once you're able to play, and usually faster. That clock starts when it's your turn and the coast is clear, not when you first get to your ball.

How long should a round take?

There's no single official number. Many courses aim for somewhere around 4 to 4½ hours for 18 holes, and about half that for 9. Ask the starter what this course expects.

The best rule: keep up with the group in front of you. If there's an open hole ahead of you, you're behind.

Easy ways to play faster

Pick up and move on

When a hole goes sideways, pick up. Many groups use a max score, like double par. That keeps one bad hole from taking ten minutes. How to write that down, and how it works for a handicap, is in How to keep score in golf.

The 8 has its own post, too: What's a snowman in golf?

Searching for a ball

The Rules of Golf give you 3 minutes to look for a lost ball. After that, it's lost. If you think you might not find it, hit a provisional ball before you go looking. That saves a long walk back.

How the Pete Scorecard helps

The Pete Scorecard runs in your phone's browser. No download, and no account needed to keep score. Keeping score with it is quick, which helps your pace.

What it does

• Par is already filled in, so a par is one tap.
• Up to 4 players on one phone. One person keeps everyone's score at the next tee.
• Play together (free account). Everyone scores on their own phone and sees the whole group live, so nobody has to read scores out loud.
• Works with no signal, so you're not standing on the tee waiting for the app to load. Add it to your Home Screen like an app.
• Fix a score after the round, so you don't have to sort it out on the green.

What it doesn't do

• It doesn't track pace or time your round.
• It doesn't book tee times with courses.

Golf etiquette FAQ

What is ready golf?

Whoever is ready plays, as long as it's safe, instead of waiting for the player farthest away. The Rules of Golf encourage it in stroke play.

Can you putt with the flagstick in?

Yes. Since 2019, there's no penalty if your putt hits the flagstick while it's in the hole.

What should I do if I hear "fore"?

Cover your head with your arms and turn away. Don't look up for the ball.

How do you fix a ball mark?

Push a divot tool or tee in at the edge, gently pull the grass toward the middle, go around the mark, then tap it flat.

What does "cart path only" mean?

Keep the cart on the paved path the whole round. Take a few clubs with you to your ball.

What is the 90-degree rule in golf?

Drive on the path until you're even with your ball, turn straight out to it, then drive straight back to the path.

How long should a round of golf take?

It depends on the course. Many aim for around 4 to 4½ hours for 18. Ask the starter for their target, and keep up with the group in front of you.

More from Pete's Blog: Scrambles, best ball and other formats · How is a golf course laid out? · What's a good golf score? · How to keep score in golf · Skins and Nassau, explained · How far should you hit each club? · How is a golf handicap calculated? · What's a snowman in golf?

IF YOU KNOW, YOU GOLF.