Good golf etiquette means playing safely, considering other people and leaving the course in good condition. You do not need to know every tradition before your first round. You do need to pay attention, follow the venue's instructions and ask when you are unsure.
Etiquette and formal Rules overlap, but they are not identical. A club's clothing policy, a considerate habit and a penalty under the Rules are different things.
Before the first shot
Arrive ready for the starting arrangements your course has given you. Find out which tees the group will use, how you are scoring and whether there are Local Rules or temporary restrictions to read.
Tell your playing partners that you are new. A simple question early is easier to answer than an uncertainty that grows over several holes.
Keep phones quiet and avoid unnecessary conversation when someone is preparing to play. Choose a place to stand where you are clear of the swing and the intended shot.
Safety comes before your turn
Do not hit while another group, staff member or bystander could be in range. Wait until it is safe rather than trying to calculate a narrowly acceptable gap.
If your ball heads towards people, shout a warning promptly; “fore” is the traditional warning. Follow the venue's emergency and weather instructions if play is suspended.
Be careful around practice swings too. A club can cause harm even when there is no ball on the ground.
Between shots: be organised and aware
Move towards your own next task when it is safe, and keep track of where your equipment is. Avoid leaving the whole group waiting while you search through a bag for a tee or glove.
Watch your group's position and listen to course staff. If your group is falling behind or another group needs to pass, ask how the venue wants that handled.
Ready golf in stroke play means playing out of turn safely and responsibly where appropriate. It is not permission to disregard safety, distract someone or apply the same approach automatically in a match.
Look after the fairway and rough
Follow local instructions for divots. Some courses want suitable turf replaced; others provide a filling mixture. The correct action depends on the course and conditions.
Use marked trolley and cart routes. Wet-weather restrictions can change from one visit to the next, so a route you used last time may not be permitted today.
Take litter with you and avoid unnecessary damage from bags, clubs or carts. Course care is something every player can contribute, regardless of score.
In a bunker
Once your play there is complete, smooth the disturbed sand according to the course's instructions and leave the rake where staff ask you to place it.
Bunker care is separate from what you may do before a shot. There are restrictions on testing sand and touching it with a club in specified situations. If you are unsure, consult the applicable Rule rather than treating ordinary etiquette advice as a complete bunker ruling.
On the putting green
Notice where other players' balls and intended putting lines are. Choose a considerate route and avoid distracting movement while someone is playing.
If you need to lift your ball, learn how to mark and replace it correctly. Repair ball marks using the method the course recommends; ask for a demonstration if you have not done it before.
Do not assume every putt can be picked up because it looks short. Concessions belong to match play, while regular stroke play has different requirements. Our match-play-versus-stroke-play guide explains the distinction.
Finish the hole and move on
Once the group has finished, leave the green and record scores somewhere that does not obstruct following players. Check you have collected clubs placed nearby.
At the end of the round, return rentals and leave shared equipment tidy. If something confused you, make a note and ask staff before your next visit.
A simple memory aid
Before each action, consider three questions: Is it safe? Will it distract or delay someone? Will it leave the course in good condition?
For packing and arrival, use the first-round checklist. For time planning, see nine-hole and eighteen-hole round duration.