The rules and etiquette you actually need
You don't need to memorise a rulebook to play your first round. Start with these.
One of the biggest barriers to getting into golf is thinking everyone else knows a hundred rules that you don't.
They don't.
Yes, golf has a long rulebook. But for your first round there are a few things that matter far more: safety, pace, and consideration for the people around you.
If you understand those three, you are far more prepared than you think.
Rule #1: nobody wants to get hit by a golf ball
Never hit if someone ahead of you is within a distance you could reasonably reach.
If you are not sure, wait.
Rule #2: keep the pace
Pace of play means keeping a reasonable rhythm so the group behind you is not constantly waiting.
That does not mean playing fast. It means being ready.
Do
- +Get ready while another player is taking their shot
- +Take a few clubs with you if you are away from the cart
- +Watch where your ball lands
- +Put a limit on how long you look for a lost ball
Don’t
- −Take five practice swings before every shot
- −Leave the cart far from where you are going next
- −Search for a ball forever
- −Walk back and forth more than you need to
Rule #3: ready golf
Traditionally there are rules about who plays first.
When you are starting out and not in competition, plenty of groups play ready golf: if you are ready and it is safe to hit, hit.
It keeps the game moving.
Always follow the course's instructions and your group's lead.
Rule #4: take care of the course
When your club takes out a chunk of grass, that is called a divot. Repair or replace the divot according to the course's instructions.
When your ball lands on the green it can leave a small dent called a pitch mark. Fix it.
If you go into a bunker: rake the sand when you are done.
It is basically the rule of leaving a space the way you would want to find it.
Rule #5: on the green, turn the volume down
When someone is putting:
- avoid talking
- don't move around unnecessarily
- avoid standing directly behind their line
- don't walk on the line between their ball and the hole when you can help it
You don't need to treat the green like a library. Just give everyone a few seconds to concentrate.
What about all the penalty rules?
You'll learn them.
Out of bounds. Water hazards. Drops. Lost balls. Unplayable lies. All of it matters.
But you don't need to have it down before you play for the first time.
If you are playing a casual round with people who know you are starting out, ask. Almost every golfer you know learned those rules exactly that way.
The secret rule: say you're new
One of the best things you can do before starting a round is say:
I'm just getting started, so tell me if I do something I'm not supposed to.
It takes an enormous amount of anxiety off the table. Most golfers will be happy to help.
Being a beginner doesn't break etiquette. Pretending you know when you don't makes everything harder.
Questions everyone asks
- Do I have to keep score?
- No. You can play your first round without worrying much about the number.
- Can I pick up my ball if I'm having a horrible hole?
- In a casual round, yes. Pick it up and move on to the next hole if you are holding up the group.
- What do I do if I lose a ball?
- Look for it briefly. If it does not turn up, play another one and carry on. When you are ready to play rounds under official rules, you can learn the proper procedure.
- What if the group behind me is playing much faster?
- Depending on the situation and the course, you can let them play through when it is safe and appropriate.
You don't need to know everything.
Be safe. Keep the pace. Take care of the course. Be considerate. Ask when you don't know.
That gets you surprisingly far.
Your next step
From zero to your first round.
A free beginner series built for Puerto Rico.