Golf course etiquette for beginners comes down to a few simple habits: be safe, keep pace, respect the other players and leave the course the way you found it. [1] That covers most of what you need to know on day one.
Etiquette matters because it keeps your first round from annoying the group behind you. A slow pace, a cart on the wrong path or an unrepaired divot can turn a relaxed round into a frustrating one for everyone. Good manners also make your playing partners more willing to help you learn the game.
This article walks through the areas where beginners most often slip up: pace of play, cart rules, caring for divots, bunkers and greens, and staying quiet while others hit. Each one comes with practical steps you can use on your first visit.
How fast should you play, and what do you do when you fall behind?
Keeping pace starts with being ready when your turn comes. Keeping pace is one of the basics of golf etiquette [1], and the easiest way to do it is to prepare while others play.
Be ready before your turn
Pick your club on the walk to your ball, not once you get there. While your partners are hitting, look at the lie, the distance and the wind, then choose your shot. When it is your turn, step up, take your stance and swing, rather than standing around deciding.
A golfer who has already decided gets the ball moving within seconds. Keep your ball marker and tee in your pocket so you are not hunting for them on the green or the tee.
Avoid slow play
Avoiding slow play is one of the core etiquette habits [2]. It matters because slow play holds up every group behind you. If you spend a long time searching for a ball that may be lost, the whole group behind you waits for no good reason. Give the ball a short search, then let the group behind you play through.
If you fall behind
If you are falling behind, let faster groups through rather than rushing or ignoring the pace. Rushing leads to poor swings, and ignoring the gap leaves a line of players waiting on you. Wave the faster group through at the next tee, then play at a steady pace for the rest of the hole.
Where should you stand, and when should you stay silent?
Stay silent while others hit, and stand where you won’t get in their way. Those two habits do more to earn respect on the course than almost anything else you do.
Keep quiet while others play
Once a partner is set up to hit, stop talking, stop walking and leave your bag alone. One of golf’s most basic traditions is that players should remain silent while others are preparing and executing their shots. [3]
Think of it as respect for the golfer over the ball. A voice or a footstep at the wrong moment can break their focus, so wait until the swing is finished before you chat or move. Save the small talk for the walk to the next shot.
Stand where you won’t interfere
Your spot is beside the player, not in front of or directly behind the ball. Stand on the side that keeps you out of their swing. For a right-handed golfer, stand on their right side; for a left-handed golfer, stand on their left. [4]
Here is how it looks in practice. If your partner is right-handed, stand a few steps back on their right, far enough that you are not in their peripheral view as they swing. Keep your feet still and your club on the ground until they have finished.
Keep your bag and cart out of the way
After you hit, move your bag and cart off the lines other players will take to the green. A bag dropped in the middle of the fairway can block a partner’s walk to their ball, and a cart parked in the path of an approach shot can cost the group time and patience.
Before you walk up, glance down the fairway and ask whether your gear sits on someone else’s route. If it does, pick it up and move it to the side. That small habit keeps your group moving and shows the players behind you that you are paying attention.
How do cart rules and caddies fit into your first round?
If a caddie is available, consider using one on your first round. A good caddie can make the round more enjoyable by giving you hints that might lower your score. [5]
Using a caddie
Caddies provide information on yardage, club selection, reading the greens and the layout of the course. [5] For example, instead of guessing how far it is to the flag, you can ask for the yardage and pick your club from there.
Caddie programs are an excellent way for young people to earn some money, learn more about the game, and shape their character. [5] If you are bringing a junior along, a caddie program can teach them the game while they earn money.
Follow the cart rules
Every course sets its own cart rules, so read the signs at the first tee and on the cart before you drive off. Keep the cart on the paths or in the marked areas the course requires. Stay off the grass unless the signs allow it.
Here is a simple habit: before you step off the cart, look for a path marker or a sign. If the cart path runs beside the fairway, stay on it, even when driving across the grass looks shorter.
Ask when you are unsure
If you are not sure where the cart goes, ask the starter or the pro shop staff before you head out. A quick question at the start saves a wrong turn and keeps your group moving. Most staff members would rather answer a question on the first tee than deal with a cart in the wrong spot later.
How do you care for divots, bunkers and greens?
Looking after the course mostly means undoing the damage your own shots leave behind. Good etiquette is mostly simple, and leaving the course the way you found it is one of its basic parts [1]. Divots, ball marks and bunkers are the three places where a new player can make the biggest difference.
Replacing divots
A divot is the chunk of turf your club takes out when you hit an iron. If it is still in one piece, pick it up, put it back in the hole, and press it down with your foot. If it has broken up, fill the hole with the sand and seed mix if the course provides it near the tee, then tap it level.
This takes almost no time, and it keeps the fairway smooth for the group behind you.
Repairing ball marks
When your ball lands on the green, it can leave a dent. Use a repair tool to lift the raised edges gently from the outside in, then tap the center flat with the bottom of your putter.
Do this while you are standing by the spot, before you putt. If you see a mark near your line, fix that one too.
Raking bunkers
Rake the bunker after you play, and leave the sand smooth for the next player. Step in from the low side rather than sliding down the steep face, so you do not wash the edge away.
Rake your footprints and the spot where your ball landed. Then set the rake down outside the bunker, not inside it, so the next player does not have to move it before hitting.
Tees and trash
Before you leave each tee box, pick up your tee and any broken pieces. Pick up any trash near the box and the cart area too, since those spots collect litter fast.
Do these small jobs on every hole and you will fit in without thinking about it.
What should you do before you tee off on your first round?
Before you hit your first shot, warm up briefly, introduce yourself to your group, and wait until the group ahead is out of range. Those three habits set the tone for the whole round.
Warming up before a round is one of the basics of golf etiquette [2]. You don’t need a long routine. A few easy swings with your driver and a handful of short shots get your body moving, so you start loose instead of tense.
Here is the order to follow once you arrive:
Warm up briefly. Take some easy practice swings, then hit a few balls on the range or chip a couple onto the practice green if your course has one. Stop while you still feel fresh. Walk to the first tee with your gear ready, so you aren’t digging through your bag while the group waits.
Introduce yourself to your playing partners. Say your name and tell them it’s your first round. Then ask how they like the pace and order of play. Some groups want to move briskly, while others like to chat between shots. Asking tells you what to expect and shows you want to fit in.
Watch the group ahead, then play when the way is clear. Keep an eye on where the group in front of you is standing. Don’t hit until they have moved well out of range and the fairway or green is empty. A ball landing near a group still on the fairway is the fastest way to make a bad first impression.
If the order of play is unclear, let your partners lead and follow their cue. Most of the time, watching how they handle the tee tells you everything you need to know.
What should you remember on the first tee?
Keep your pace, stay quiet during other players’ shots, and take care of the course. If you remember only one thing on the first tee, make it this: the group behind you is waiting, and every good habit on the course keeps the round moving for everyone. Hit when it is your turn, keep your bag and cart out of the way, and leave the course as you found it, with divots filled and bunkers raked.
Don’t be shy about asking questions early. Most players are glad to help a beginner, so ask your playing partners whatever you are unsure of, whether it’s the order of play or where to stand. Your next step is to read how to play golf for the first time, which walks you through a full first round from start to finish. For a closer look, read How to Play Golf for the First Time: A Beginner’s Walkthrough.