Putting Etiquette

[Focker Singh]

I think of all the different etiquettes in golf, I find people violate the most etiquette on the putting greens. In no particular order, here is my list of "beefs" when I play. Feel free to add to my list if you want. :nono:

1. Unfixed ball marks
2. Playing partners, moving or talking while you're at address with your putt.
3. Playing partners making a shadow in your putting line.
4. Playing partners who walk or step on your line.
5. Playing partners who stand right behind the hole.
6. Playing partners who practice putting while you're about to putt.

Now with this said, I don't think any of my friends will want to play with me ever again...:D

[Jaydog]

yeah..especially if you do half of the things on your own list. ;)

you just have to remind your friends; i'm sure they just don't realize sometimes.

[EDSGolf]

It all depends with what caliber players you play with, golfers that play often or have decent handicaps tend to not break the rules on your list, but it does sometimes happen........and it honestly does bother me too.

[noback]

1. Unfixed ball marks - my personal rule is fix 3 for every one I make. If I dont hit the green fix 3:D
2. Playing partners, moving or talking while at address. As long as its behind me and no noise being being, do what u want. Talking is just rude.
3. Playing partners making a shadow in your putting line. Easy enough, just tell them nicely you need the shadow gone before you putt. They wont do it again.
4. Playing partners who walk or step on your line. Same as above
5. Playing partners who stand right behind the hole. Dont do it.:nono:
6. Playing partners who practice putting while you're about to putt. Again as long as I dont see or hear it, do what you want.:rolleyes:

I would also add
7. Pulling the ball out of the hole with the putter head. DONT do it. :nono: That's how the holes get ruined. :mad:
8. Moving the little flag on the flag Stick! If the hole is in front, leave it low. If it's in back leave it high. I wish more courses would adopt the 3 clolour flag sytem. Red = front pin placement, white = middle and blue = back.:)

These are etiquette rules that one has to learn form better players and players who have played before. So when you go and someon doesn 't know, if you just tell them in a friendly manner, they usually pick it up and then they will pass it along too.:cool:

[Ems]

Even though I'm a beginner at golf, I'm aware of and try not to do any of the above because my bf is pretty strict on these things. I hope I haven't broken any of the rules by accident though I won't be surprised if I have.

9. This isn't really a beef, but sometimes it's better to play ready ball than to play the person closest to the hole first.

[noback]

I hope I haven't broken any of the rules by accident though I won't be surprised if I have. That's the beauty of golf. You learn as you go. When you play with other people (especially better players) who might have played in OVGA/OGA or club tournaments, always take note on some of their etiquette. I have learned over the years of playing in some of these OVGA events, what to do, where to stand, when to talk and when to shut up. Mind sometimes it's great to get under someone's skin when need be.:D

The whole idea is that you wont know these etiquette rules unless you are told. Once told, tell a friend.:p

[Ego Woods]

8. Moving the little flag on the flag Stick! If the hole is in front, leave it low. If it's in back leave it high. I wish more courses would adopt the 3 clolour flag sytem. Red = front pin placement, white = middle and blue = back.:)

So Ottawa golf courses don't adopt it too much do they? kekeke.....kekeke

[Queen of the Beach]

I think of all the different etiquettes in golf, I find people violate the most etiquette on the putting greens. In no particular order, here is my list of "beefs" when I play. Feel free to add to my list if you want. :nono:

1. Unfixed ball marks
2. Playing partners, moving or talking while you're at address with your putt.
3. Playing partners making a shadow in your putting line.
4. Playing partners who walk or step on your line.
5. Playing partners who stand right behind the hole.
6. Playing partners who practice putting while you're about to putt.

Now with this said, I don't think any of my friends will want to play with me ever again...:D

I want to add one more too. Not sure if it is etiquette or just me?
I think the person who takes out the flag stick should make sure they put it down at the edge of the green or off the green.
I'm a beginner and sometimes I miscalculate my putt and it powers through the hole. One time I hit the flag stick because it was 5 feet from the hole at the other end of my putt. :p

[Focker Singh]

I want to add one more too. Not sure if it is etiquette or just me?
I think the person who takes out the flag stick should make sure they put it down at the edge of the green or off the green.
I'm a beginner and sometimes I miscalculate my putt and it powers through the hole. One time I hit the flag stick because it was 5 feet from the hole at the other end of my putt. :p
Good point, also, the flag itself can damage the green. I sometimes see people drop the flag and it leaves a dent in the green too. Plus, if your ball hits the flag there's a breach of rule 17-3. You incurr a 2 stroke penalty if your ball hits the flagstick after its removed from the hole. hahaha...

[Shadow]

I want to add one more too. Not sure if it is etiquette or just me?
I think the person who takes out the flag stick should make sure they put it down at the edge of the green or off the green.
I'm a beginner and sometimes I miscalculate my putt and it powers through the hole. One time I hit the flag stick because it was 5 feet from the hole at the other end of my putt. :p It is not only poor etiquette to place the flag on the line of the person putting, where it can be a distraction, if you hit the flagstick as you did, you are penalized 2 shots.

In our group I have suggested that the first person to hole out is the person responsible to put the flag back in, unless they are the score marker, then the second person to hole out does it. How often is this job left for the golfer who putts last? Lower handicapped players are notorious for doing this.

[Ego Woods]

I want to add one more too. Not sure if it is etiquette or just me?
I think the person who takes out the flag stick should make sure they put it down at the edge of the green or off the green.
I'm a beginner and sometimes I miscalculate my putt and it powers through the hole. One time I hit the flag stick because it was 5 feet from the hole at the other end of my putt. :p
It's understandable if the playing partner who removed the flag from the hole was a beginner and didn't realize that the flag should be put off to the side, but it's more annoying when it's a player whose been golfing for awhile. I had this friend who took out the flagstick from the hole and left it like 3-5 ft from the hole, twice in one round!...had to chastize him for doing that..he's been golfing for like 6 years and and is like a 10-11 handicap...so u think he should know some etiquette by now!...I know it's the putter's responsibility not to hit the flagstick, but somebody should honestly also use that flagstick and whack the guy that put it down there in the first place....:nono:

[haribo]

When it comes to etiquette I noticed over the years one thing. It seems to me that beginners know more about what to do and not to do on the green (or anywhere else on the course for that matter) than people who play for years. They also don't hesitate to ask if they are unsure.

Frankly, if a starter would give me the choice to join a group of "experienced" golfers or a flight of beginners ... I'll gladly choose the beginners.

haribo

[laxgolf]

People spitting sunflower seed shells on the putting green. That drives me absolutely nuts. It's gross. I didn't realize that the putting green can be used as a trash can.

[Ego Woods]

When it comes to etiquette I noticed over the years one thing. It seems to me that beginners know more about what to do and not to do on the green (or anywhere else on the course for that matter) than people who play for years. They also don't hesitate to ask if they are unsure.

Frankly, if a starter would give me the choice to join a group of "experienced" golfers or a flight of beginners ... I'll gladly choose the beginners.

haribo
Must be me, but I find that most beginners don't know etiquette on the greens at all.....or am I playing with the wrong beginners?

There was one time when a beginner I was playing with drove a cart partially over the green!!! :hush:

[haribo]

Must be me, but I find that most beginners don't know etiquette on the greens at all.....or am I playing with the wrong beginners?

There was one time when a beginner I was playing with drove a cart partially over the green!!! :hush:

Maybe I just got lucky. On the other hand beginner's have the tendancy to tell you upfront they are beginner's and won't mind advice that helps them to get around the course.

Don't get me wrong I don't mean to sound like an arrogant guy who's an experienced golfer. By no means. I won't give anybody swing advice and certainly not on the course while playing. As long as I'm not a Pro and get paid for my knowledge of the golf swing I don't have any business to do so. I don't even care if somebody plays by the rules. I do ... but that doesn't mean somebody I'm playing with can't take a mulligan or whatever if he/she pleases. It's their game/score not mine. I just try to be low key, pleasant and polite.

I do care about etiquette but I learned not to expect others to feel the same. Which means, if somebody for instance stands in my sight line on the tee box I will ask that person politely to move aside.

Anyway, it's all about fun. Some want to play a good round, other's just want to have a good time.

haribo

P.S.
I play a lot of "pricier" public or semi private courses. You tend to play there with better player's. You might want to consider that next time you book a tee time.

P.P.S.
Having said that I do like to play Don Valley as well. No push over of a course and really nice people.

[SW20 MR2]

We probably need to define what a beginner is. I wouldn't expect a first timer to know etiquette, however, someone that has been on the course a few times will probably begin to pickup a lot of the do's and don't's. It is these beginners to which haribo is likely referring. Like myself, they don't shoot great scores, but they basically know what to do while on the course.

[dks_34]

Along with all the other points made above I have one beef - when people look at the putt for 10 minutes. I have no problem if you want to look at a putt from every angle but even Tiger doesn't take that long. I could understand it if you were playing in a tournament (maybe..) but if you are just out for a casual round of golf - Putt the ball!

[Hoz-ay]

speaking of putting... is a player allowed to have 2 putters in their bag???

[Focker Singh]

I believe you're allowed any amount of putters in your bag but only 14 total clubs in the bag, so unless you have room to spare, why not? I might be wrong though, is there a rule about number of putters?

[SW20 MR2]

As long as it totals to 14 or less, you are okay.

[Hoz-ay]

cool... the 5 wood stays home then! :)

[countclub]

how about........ plumbobing only because ben crenshaw does it....some of these duffers have no idea how much time is wasted ,to look like a pro:hush:

[Grass Roots Tour]

[

Frankly, if a starter would give me the choice to join a group of "experienced" golfers or a flight of beginners ... I'll gladly choose the beginners.

haribo[/QUOTE]
You go ahead...I'll take the club pro out and the assistants for a good round and some skins.

[Grass Roots Tour]

People spitting sunflower seed shells on the putting green. That drives me absolutely nuts. It's gross. I didn't realize that the putting green can be used as a trash can.

THIS WILL GET YOU DISQUALIFIED FROM TOURNAMENT PLAY!!!!! And rightfully so. Why should anyone have to deal with your debris ANYWHERE on the golf course? If you can justify this somehow, feel free to email me ( so I can tear you a new one).

[Shadow]

how about........ plumbobing only because ben crenshaw does it....some of these duffers have no idea how much time is wasted ,to look like a pro:hush: Plum bobbing works, takes a second or two, and makes it easier to determine the break on a short putt if the golfer is not sure of the line, but as you inferred, some do it just to look sophisticated.

THIS WILL GET YOU DISQUALIFIED FROM TOURNAMENT PLAY!!!!! And rightfully so. Why should anyone have to deal with your debris ANYWHERE on the golf course? I have no problem with the penalty, but, if you are serious, what rule exists where a golfer would be DQ'd for spreading the seed shells?

[Grass Roots Tour]

I have no problem with the penalty, but, if you are serious, what rule exists where a golfer would be DQ'd for spreading the seed shells?[/QUOTE]
I currently don't have a rule book to quote the rule to you but I know its in there. I was playing a GLTour event when the president of the tour told the rules official to do his job and DQ the guy. :nono:

I assume he learned his lesson.

For those of you who can't read between the lines.......cigarette butts are as bad or worse an offense. I hate removing your butts from my line. Try to be more considerate of others, please.

[Kilroy]

There is nothing about players littering the course in the rules. The tour pres and was wrong to DQ the player. The rules official, if he was qualified, would have known that.

http://www.rcga.org/english/Rules/rules.asp
The issue of litter is not even mentioned in the ettiquite section.

[Grass Roots Tour]

http://www.rcga.org/english/Rules/rules.asp
The issue of litter is not even mentioned in the ettiquite section.[/QUOTE]

We should contact the rules committee at the RCGA and have this kind of thing addressed. Again, why should everyone behind you on the course deal with your debris? :nono:

[Ems]

Plum bobbing works, takes a second or two, and makes it easier to determine the break on a short putt if the golfer is not sure of the line, but as you inferred, some do it just to look sophisticated.
what's plum bobbing?

[Mule56]

what's plum bobbing?Ems,
I'm going to post a copy of some information on plum bobbing over in instruction. The author is not a big fan of plum bobbing because of the minimal effect and lack of understanding by most users.
Mule

[Zeuser]

I think of all the different etiquettes in golf, I find people violate the most etiquette on the putting greens. In no particular order, here is my list of "beefs" when I play. Feel free to add to my list if you want. :nono:

1. Unfixed ball marks
2. Playing partners, moving or talking while you're at address with your putt.
3. Playing partners making a shadow in your putting line.
4. Playing partners who walk or step on your line.
5. Playing partners who stand right behind the hole.
6. Playing partners who practice putting while you're about to putt.

Now with this said, I don't think any of my friends will want to play with me ever again...:D
1. As a noob, I'm still not sure how to use the tool. I'm afraid I'll ruin the green more if I do use it. But I will tap down with my putter on ball marks I see I can fix.
2. Usually doesn't happen with my partners
3. Every so often I have to tell my partners to move as they're making shadows on my line.
4. Had to warn one of my partners, only once, to stop and back up as he was about to cross my line. Never happened again afterwards.
5. I have no problem with this if he doesn't move.
6. Almost never happens. similar to #2 they know to freeze when someone's putting.

Rather than get frustrated, I politely ask them to stop doing whatever they're doing. If done correctly you usually only have to say it once. And since I'm a noob, and play with other noobs, I can understand they make mistakes every so often. So I polite request is the best way. No use in getting mad for etiquette violations, it doesn't make the round enjoyable for anyone.

[boo1]

What ticks me off is players standing RIGHT behind me to watch the line because they are on a similar line. Not only is it bothersome,it is illegal..one of the most broken rules I see out there.