Golf Green Etiquette – Be Aware of These 8 Crucial Rules!

As a beginner, I never fully understood golf green etiquette. To me, it seemed like the rules of the rest of the course applied equally to the putting green. However, there are some specific and perhaps unknown rules that you need to obey while on the green.

1. Repair Ball Marks

When you hit a lovely iron shot onto the green, it can be so exciting that we forget that this shot can often leave a pitch mark on the green. This is when a small divot is made as your ball has hit the green.

Sometimes, beginners won’t know that this has happened as their ball may have landed far from the divot. I would advise you to watch your whole shot, and see where it landed on the green so that you have a rough idea of where there may be a ball mark. Not repairing this mark is bad golf etiquette.

If you find that you have made a mark, then you can fix it using a pitch fork. Here is how:

• You should insert the pitch fork in the green, at the back of the divot – i.e. in the direction that the ball travelled. 
• Then, lift the grass gently so that the hole becomes flatter. 
• After, you can use your foot to press down on the divot so that there isn’t any unevenness on the green.

Doing this is a simple yet vital part of putting green etiquette, and it ensures that the green is flat and in good condition for other users.

2. Stepping on Someone’s Putting Line

This concept can often be hard for beginners to understand – why does it matter if I step on someone’s invisible putting line.

The truth is, there are some cases where stepping on the grass where someone will put may lead to their shot being displaced as they hadn’t adjusted for this change. It would be really gutting if that was the put for a birdie!

Therefore, when on the green, be aware of the line that people will likely be putting on, and try to step over this line at the very least. Make sure you take into account markers as well as balls.

If you want to be extra careful, walk around the edge of the green and entirely avoid other people’s putting lines.

3. Leave Bags and Carts off the Green

This is pretty self-explanatory, and most beginners do know this rule exists.

Whenever you get to a green, leave your bag on the edge. This will avoid the legs of your bag, or the wheels of your cart/trolley damaging the fragile green. 

When people constantly make marks on the green, it can be very hard for the maintenance staff to repair the displacement on the green, and this can negatively impact people’s putting and chipping.

A bonus tip for this rule would be to place your bag in the direction of the next hole, and then take any clubs that you may need out. Then, once you have finished the whole, you can pick up your bag and move on more quickly.

4. Mark your Ball

This obviously doesn’t apply if you are playing alone.

If you are playing with other people, however, you should always mark your ball with a ball marker when you are on the green. You can also use a coin, which does the same thing. Place your marker directly behind the ball, and when it comes to taking your shot, place the ball back in front of the marker before removing it.

The purpose of this is to avoid the ricochet of balls if they hit eachother, which can mess up the scores in an unfair way. 

I like to mark my ball even if its not in the line of another person’s putt, as sometimes people can be extremely inaccurate while putting. Therefore, to be extra sure, I like to mark my ball whenever its on the green so that my shot is never affected.

Marking your ball also leads into another golf green etiquette rule: aligning your shot.

5. Aligning your Shot Correctly

As the green doesn’t have any loose leaves or divots, it can be difficult to find something to help with your aim. This is why most balls have a line or logo that can help you with the direction of your putt.

However, you shouldn’t just pick up your ball and rotate it so that it is in the right direction, as this may count as cheating if you do not put it back in the same place.

Instead, once you have placed your marker behind the ball, crouch down and analyse the lie of the green – i.e. how it slopes in all directions. Once you have an idea of the shot that you will play, place your ball back in front of your marker, with the line facing in the direction that you want to hit. Then, pick the marker back up and line up with the line on the ball.

This process will help you to align your putts much more effectively, while also following proper golf etiquette on the green.

6. Be Quiet

As is the case with most unwritten rules in golf, being quiet while someone is taking their shot is vital for being fair and considerate on the course.

This is especially true while putting. Putting requires extra concentration as we actively think about direction and speed – compared to most shots which are almost automatic.

Therefore, when someone is putting, staying quiet will help them to concentrate on these two aspects of their swing so that they can putt more effectively.

This rule doesn’t only apply to when you are putting with teammates, it also applies if you are walking past someone who is putting on another hole.

7. Don’t Cast Shadows

This may seem quite niche and insignificant, but casting shadows on the green can be annoying for the following reasons:

• It may affect people’s ability to read the lie of the green.
• It may distract them or put them off.
• It may prevent them from being able to see the line on the ball, and they may line up wrong.

So, be aware of whether you may be causing a shadow, and move to a place where your shadow won’t affect someone for any of the above reasons.

8. Move Quickly

When the golf course gets busy, you may be in situations where people are either:

• Waiting at the tee box for you to finish the hole.
• Playing the hole at the same time as you where the hole is long.
  • They may be teeing off while you are putting
  • They might be waiting to take their fairway shots.

When this is the case, it is vital that you move quickly.

Try to line your shot up while you wait for your teammate to take theirs, and vice versa. This way, you can take your shot immediately after each other. 

Additionally, don’t linger around the green for longer than necessary. Once you have finished, move on, and give the thumbs up for the group behind you to play.

If you are moving too slowly, you must allow the group behind to pass through.

Summary

Overall, there is more green etiquette than beginners may believe. It is important to be aware of these rules so that everyone can putt more effectively.