Category
The Rules of Golf, handicaps, scoring formats and course etiquette in plain English.
In some countries, particularly the UK and Ireland, public footpaths and rights of way cross many golf courses. Walkers have a legal right to use them, and golfers need to share the course safely and…
The practice green is where golfers warm up, hone their putting stroke and settle nerves before a round. On a busy morning, it can be crowded. A few simple courtesies keep it pleasant and useful for…
Can you hit a few putts on the green you just finished? Can you chip a ball while waiting on a tee? Can you play the course before a competition on the same day? The rules on practice catch out many…
Golf has three main levels of penalty: one stroke, the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play or loss of the hole in match play) and disqualification. Knowing which applies in common situations…
Golf carts make the game accessible and can speed up play, but they can also damage the course, slow things down and cause accidents if used carelessly. Knowing cart etiquette keeps you safe…
Few things are more frustrating in golf than playing well and then being disqualified for a mistake you didn't know you'd made. Most disqualifications in club competitions come from a handful of…
Your Course Handicap tells you how many strokes you receive on a particular course. But in competitions, you often don't receive all of them. A handicap allowance, a percentage of your Course…
An invitation to play at a private golf club is a treat. You may get to play a course you couldn't otherwise access, with a host who's a member. But private clubs often have their own customs, and as…
Tipping in golf can be confusing. Should you tip the caddie, and how much? What about the person who loads your bag onto a cart or cleans your clubs? Customs vary enormously between countries and…
Golf etiquette doesn't stop at the 18th green. Many golf clubhouses, especially at traditional private clubs, have their own customs and rules covering dress, shoes, hats, phones and behaviour. They…
Since the rules changed to allow golfers to putt with the flagstick in the hole without penalty, golfers have debated whether it helps. Some always leave it in; others always take it out. The answer…
The Rules of Golf were modernised significantly in recent years, but many golfers still play by old rules, rules they half-remember, or rules that never existed. Some myths cost golfers penalty…
