Golf Etiquette for Beginners: 9 Rules to Master the Course in 2026

Stepping onto a golf course for the first time can feel more intimidating than the first swing. You’re worried about looking out of place, breaking an unwritten rule, or slowing everyone down. The fear of getting the golf etiquette for beginners wrong is real and can overshadow the fun of the game.

Golf etiquette is the set of unwritten rules and social norms that govern player behavior on the golf course, ensuring safety, respect for fellow players, and care for the course itself. For new players, mastering basic manners is even more important than a perfect swing, as it prevents slow play and creates a positive experience for everyone.

This guide, built on established best practices and real-world course experience, demystifies golf etiquette. You will discover the nine essential rules that let you step onto any course with confidence. By the end, you’ll know how to act like you belong—even if you’re just starting out.

What Is Golf Etiquette and Why Does It Matter for Beginners?

Golf etiquette isn’t a stuffy, complex rulebook designed to exclude newcomers. Think of it as the shared language of the golf course, a set of social norms that ensure the game is enjoyable, safe, and fair for everyone. At its core, golf etiquette revolves around three simple ideas: respect for other players, respect for the course itself, and maintaining a good pace of play. For a beginner, understanding this is more critical than knowing the formal official rules of golf enforced by bodies like the USGA. Why? Because good etiquette shows you’re a considerate player, which is valued far more than a low score. Mastering these basics removes the anxiety of not knowing what to do, allowing you to relax and focus on learning the game. It ensures you won’t be the cause of slow play, protects the beautifully manicured course from unintended damage, and guarantees you’ll be welcomed back.

The 9 Essential Golf Etiquette Rules for Beginners

The journey to becoming a confident golfer starts before your first swing. It begins with understanding the core principles that make the game enjoyable for everyone. The following nine rules are your essential guide to on-course conduct. They are not just about following rules; they are about showing respect and becoming a part of the golfing community. By mastering these simple actions, from arriving on time to raking a bunker, you demonstrate your commitment to the traditions and spirit of the game.

1. Arrive Early & Respect Tee Times

Pin this essential pre-round checklist to your “Golf Tips” board!

Your round begins the moment you book your tee time. Respecting that reservation is the first, and one of the most important, signs of good etiquette. Arriving late creates a stressful domino effect, not just for you but for your group and every group scheduled behind you. Giving yourself ample time allows for a calm, organized start, which sets a positive tone for the entire day.

What You Need

• Your booked tee time confirmation.
• Payment method for green fees and a potential cart rental.
• A quality golf glove for your lead hand.
• A simple scorecard holder to keep your card dry and neat.

What To Do

1. Arrive at the course at least 30 minutes before your scheduled tee time.
2. Check-in immediately at the pro shop to pay your fees and get any special instructions for the day (e.g., “cart path only rule“).
3. Use the extra time to change shoes, visit the driving range for a quick warm-up, or practice on the putting green.
4. Be at the first tee box 5-10 minutes before your tee time, ready to play.

Pro-Tip: Ask the starter at the tee or pro shop staff about the course’s expected pace of play (e.g., 4 hours 15 minutes). This shows you’re a considerate player and helps you gauge your speed throughout the round.

2. Dress the Part: Understand the Course Dress Code

Save this golf dress code guide so you always look the part!

One of the biggest sources of anxiety for a first time golfer what to wear. While dress codes can vary, especially between public and private courses, following a standard guideline ensures you’ll never feel out of place. Proper golf attire shows respect for the game’s traditions and the specific rules of the club.

What You Need

• For Men: A collared shirt (polo style is standard), and golf slacks or shorts (no denim, cargo shorts, or gym shorts).
• For Women: A collared shirt (sleeveless is often okay), and golf shorts, a skort, or a skirt of appropriate length.
• Footwear: Golf shoes (spikeless are most common and versatile) are highly recommended. Clean sneakers are sometimes acceptable at casual courses.

What To Do

1. Plan your outfit before you go. When in doubt, choose the more conservative option.
2. Avoid t-shirts, tank tops, jeans, sweatpants, and athletic shorts at all costs.
3. Tuck in your polo shirt for a polished look; this is often a requirement at private clubs.
4. If you’re unsure, call the pro shop ahead of time or check the course’s website for their specific dress code requirements.

Pro-Tip: Many modern golf apparel brands offer stylish clothing made from technical, moisture-wicking fabrics. Investing in one or two good golf polos is a smart move for comfort and compliance. They look great both on and off the course.

3. Maintain Pace of Play & Practice ‘Ready Golf’

Don’t be a slow player! Pin these ‘Ready Golf’ tips to speed up your game.

If there is one rule to rule them all, it’s this: avoid slow play. Nothing is more disruptive on a golf course than a group that cannot maintain the proper pace of play. The primary solution, officially endorsed by the USGA, is to practice Ready Golf. This simple concept prioritizes efficiency over traditional, rigid turn-taking.

What You Need

• A mental clock to be mindful of your time.
• A lightweight carry bag if you’re walking, making it easier to move quickly.
• A GPS watch or rangefinder to get your yardage quickly.

What To Do

1. Observe the golden rule: Always try to keep up with the group in front of you, not just ahead of the group behind you.
2. Practice “Ready Golf”: This means if you are ready to hit and it is safe to do so, you can play your shot even if you aren’t “away” (farthest from the hole).
3. While waiting for others to play, plan your next shot. Determine your yardage and select your club.
4. Limit your search for a lost ball to the official 3-minute search time. After 3 minutes, take a penalty and drop a new ball.
5. If you are consistently waiting on the group in front, that’s okay. If the hole in front of your group is wide open and you are holding up the group behind, let them play through.

Pro-Tip: If you’re having a tough hole (we all do!), don’t feel you have to hole out every shot. If you’ve hit 8 or more shots, it’s perfectly acceptable to pick up your ball, put it in your pocket, and move to the next hole to maintain the pace of play. This is the ultimate sign of a savvy, considerate player.

4. Respect the Course: Repair Divots & Ball Marks

Be a class act. Pin this guide on how to repair the course like a pro.

A core tenet of golf is to leave the course in the same or better condition than you found it. The two most common forms of damage you’ll create are divots on the fairway and ball marks on the green. Knowing how to correctly repair ball marks and replace divots is a non-negotiable skill that shows respect for the course and for the players who come after you.

What You Need

• A proper divot repair tool (the two-pronged fork is standard).
• On some courses, a bottle of sand/seed mix attached to the golf cart.

What To Do

1. Identify a ball mark: When your ball lands on the soft putting green, it will leave a small crater. Repair yours and one other you see.
2. Correctly Repair the Ball Mark: Insert your tool on the outside edge of the mark. Gently push the surrounding turf inward toward the center. Do this from all sides. DO NOT lift up from the bottom, as this kills the grass roots. Gently tap the repaired spot with your putter to smooth it out.
3. Identify a divot: When you take a swing on the fairway, you may scrape up a piece of turf. This is a divot.
4. Replace Divots: If you take a solid piece of turf, simply pick it up, place it back in the hole like a puzzle piece, and press down firmly with your foot. If the divot explodes, use the sand/seed mix from your cart (if provided) to fill the hole.

Pro-Tip: According to golf course superintendent recommendations, a ball mark repaired within 10 minutes recovers fully in 24 hours. An unrepaired mark can take over three weeks to heal. Your small action has a huge impact.

5. Play Safely: Know When to Yell ‘Fore!’

Safety first! Pin this guide on the most important word in golf.

Golf swing safety is paramount, and there is no rule more critical to player safety than this one. As a beginner, your shots will inevitably go offline. If there is even a small chance your ball could land near another person, you have an absolute responsibility to warn them. The universally recognized warning cry in golf is “Fore!”

What You Need

• A loud voice.
• Situational awareness of where other golfers are on the course.
• High-visibility golf balls can make it easier to track your shot.

What To Do

1. Identify the danger: The moment you realize your golf ball might be heading towards another person—whether on your hole, a neighboring fairway, or near a maintenance worker—you must act.
2. Yell “FORE!” as loudly as you can. There is no other word. Don’t be shy or embarrassed.
3. If you hear someone else yell “Fore!”, don’t look up to find the ball. Immediately duck and cover your head and neck with your arms.
4. Before you swing, always do a quick check to ensure your playing partners are a safe distance away and that the group ahead is out of your range.

Pro-Tip: If you hit a shot towards other players, it’s considered good sportsmanship to walk over and apologize after they have completed their shots, even if the ball didn’t land close to them. This simple gesture shows respect and awareness.

6. Observe Silence & Stillness During Swings

Shhh! Pin this simple rule to show respect on the course.

A golf swing requires intense concentration. Any sudden noise or movement can be extremely distracting and negatively impact a player’s shot. When a player in your group is addressing their ball and preparing to swing, it’s your job to create a quiet zone by being quiet and still.

What You Need

• Your phone set to silent or vibrate mode.
• Awareness of who is about to hit their shot.

What To Do

1. Observe who is preparing to swing or putt. Once they begin their pre-shot routine, all talking should stop.
2. Stand still and quiet while they are swinging. Do not move around, jingle things in your pocket, or pull a club from your bag.
3. Position yourself out of the player’s direct line of sight—stand off to the side and slightly behind them, never directly behind them or behind the hole.
4. Keep your phone on silent. If you must take a call, move far away from all players. Never play music from a speaker unless your entire group has agreed to it and there are no other groups nearby.

Pro-Tip: Be aware of your shadow. On a sunny day, your shadow moving across the player’s line of putt or their ball can be just as distracting as noise. This is an advanced etiquette move that shows true professional conduct.

7. Understand On-Green Etiquette: Lines, Marks, & the Pin

The green has its own rules. Pin this guide to master them!

The putting green is like the sacred ground of each golf hole. It has its own unique set of rules designed to protect the delicate surface and ensure fairness for every player. Knowing how to mark your ball, avoid a player’s line of putt, and properly handle the flagstick (pin) are key etiquette skills.

What You Need

• A ball marker (a small, flat object like a coin or a dedicated marker).
• Awareness of where everyone’s ball is on the green.

What To Do

1. Mark Your Ball: When you reach the green, walk to your ball and place your marker directly behind it before picking it up to clean it. This gets your ball out of other players’ way.
2. Avoid the Line: The “line of putt” is the imaginary path the ball will take to the hole. Never step on another player’s line. Walk around it. This is a huge sign of respect.
3. Handle the Flagstick (Pin): The player whose ball is farthest from the hole putts first. Under the new rules, you can leave the flagstick in or take it out. If you take it out, lay it gently on the green off to the side. The first person to finish the hole should be ready to put the pin back in after the last player has putted.
4. Watch Your Feet: When taking the flagstick out or placing it down, be careful not to damage the edge of the cup.

Pro-Tip: Be mindful not only of the line of putt but also of “the through line”—the area a few feet past the hole where a player’s ball might roll if they miss. Avoid standing there as well. Also, place your golf bag or push cart off the green, never on it.

8. Master Bunker Etiquette: Rake It Right

Leave no trace! Pin this quick guide to perfect bunker raking.

Landing in a sand bunker is a challenge, but knowing how to play from it—and what to do after—is a mark of a good golfer. The most important rule of hazards and bunkers is to leave it fair for the next person. That means knowing how to rake the bunker properly to erase all signs of your visit.

What You Need

• A sand wedge (typically marked with an ‘S’ or ’56’ degrees).
• The rake provided near the bunker.

What To Do

1. Enter and Exit Correctly: Find the lowest point of the bunker to walk in and out. Don’t try to walk up or down the steep, high faces, as this can damage them.
2. Play Your Shot: Remember the rules: you cannot let your club touch the sand before you make your swing (this is called grounding the club and results in a penalty).
3. Rake All Traces: After your shot, pick up the rake and smooth over your footprints, the spot where your ball was, and the mark from your swing. The goal is to leave the bunker in better condition than you found it.
4. Place the Rake: Look at how other rakes are placed. Some courses want them in the bunker, others want them out. If unsure, leaving it outside the bunker parallel to the fairway is a safe bet.

Pro-Tip: When you rake, try to push sand back up toward the faces of the bunker. Over time, shots and rain push sand down to the flat areas, leaving the faces thin and bare. A gentle push of sand back up the slopes is a high-level etiquette move praised by any golf course superintendent.

9. Know Who Plays Next: Understanding ‘Honors’ and ‘Away’

Who hits first? Pin this simple guide to order of play in golf.

Traditional golf has a structured order of play. On the tee box, this is called having “Honors,” and on the rest of the hole, it’s determined by who is “away.” However, it’s crucial for beginners to understand how this tradition interacts with the modern priority: Ready Golf.

What You Need

• Your scorecard to know the scores from the previous hole.
• A way to randomly determine honors on the first tee (e.g., flipping a tee).

What To Do

1. On the First Tee: Since no one has a score yet, honors are usually decided randomly. A common way is to toss a tee in the air and see who it points to when it lands.
2. On All Other Tees (“Honors”): The person with the lowest score on the previous hole earns the “honors on the tee” of teeing off first. The person with the second-best score goes next, and so on.
3. Everywhere Else (“Away”): From the fairway to the green, the general rule is that the player whose ball is farthest from the hole (the “away player“) plays first.
4. Remember the Most Important Rule: While “honors” and “away” are the traditional rules, the modern emphasis is on Ready Golf (Rule #3). If the person with honors isn’t ready and you are, it’s usually fine to go ahead to save time. Just make sure it’s safe and give them a heads-up!

Pro-Tip: In a casual round, don’t get too hung up on honors. The #1 priority is always to keep up with the group in front. Playing Ready Golf is almost always preferred over waiting strictly for honors. This shows you prioritize the flow of the game, a key trait of an experienced player.

Key Takeaways

• Pace is Paramount: Your primary goal is to keep up with the group in front of you. Always practice Ready Golf to avoid slow play.

• Leave the Course Better Than You Found It: Always repair ball marks on the green, replace divots in the fairway, and rake the bunker after your shot.

• Silence is Golden: When another player begins their swing or putting routine, stop talking, stand still, and stay out of their line of sight.

• Safety First, Always: If your ball is heading toward anyone, yell ‘Fore!’ loudly and without hesitation. It’s not a suggestion; it’s a critical safety rule.

• Know Where to Stand (and Where Not to): Never walk in another player’s line of putt on the green. Keep your bag and cart off the greens and tee boxes.

• When in Doubt, Ask: The golf community is generally welcoming. If you’re unsure about a rule or what to do, just ask your playing partners. They’d rather help you than see etiquette broken.

People Also Ask About Golf Etiquette for Beginners

What is ‘Ready Golf’?

‘Ready Golf’ is a set of guidelines where players hit when they are ready, rather than strictly following the traditional “farthest from the hole plays first” rule. This is the most effective way to improve the pace of play. It includes hitting your shot if it’s safe and you’re ready before a playing partner, preparing for your shot while others hit, and putting continuously when you are close to the hole.

What are the 5 basic rules of golf etiquette?

The five most critical rules are: 1. Maintain a good pace of play. 2. Be quiet and still when others are hitting. 3. Take care of the course by repairing divots and raking bunkers. 4. Yell ‘Fore!’ for any errant shot. 5. Understand on-green etiquette like not stepping in another’s line. Mastering these five areas will ensure you are a respectful and welcome playing partner on any course.

How do you repair a ball mark correctly?

You repair a ball mark by pushing the surrounding turf inward towards the center, not by lifting from the bottom. Use a divot tool to gently push the sides of the mark in from all angles. This action helps the grass roots reconnect and heal quickly. Lifting from the bottom tears the roots and kills the grass, leaving a brown spot for weeks.

Is it okay to play music on a golf course?

It depends, but you should always be extremely considerate. If you are playing alone or with friends who all agree, using a small Bluetooth speaker at a very low volume may be acceptable at some casual courses. However, the sound should never be audible to other groups. Never play music during a tournament or at a traditional private club. When in doubt, use headphones.

What should a beginner do if they are playing too slow?

If you are playing too slow, the best solution is to pick up your ball and move to the next shot or hole. It is far better to skip a few shots or a hole to keep up with the group in front than to hold up the entire course. You can also let the group behind you play through when there is an open hole ahead of you.

Where do you stand when someone is putting?

You should stand still and out of the putter’s direct line of sight. The safest place is off to the side, several feet away, where your shadow doesn’t cross their line. Never stand directly behind the player or directly behind the hole on their line of putt, as this is highly distracting.

What is the 3-minute search rule for lost balls?

According to the official Rules of Golf, you have a maximum of three minutes to search for a lost ball. The search time begins when you or your group starts looking for it. If you cannot find your ball within three minutes, it is considered lost, and you must take a penalty and play a new ball according to the rules.

How do you let a faster group play through?

To let a group play through, have your group stand off to the side of the fairway or green and signal for them to go ahead. The best time to do this is when you have just finished a hole and are waiting to tee off on the next, and the group behind is already waiting. Wait for them to be completely out of range before you resume play.

Do you have to take the flagstick out?

No, under the current Rules of Golf, you are allowed to leave the flagstick in the hole while you are putting. This rule was changed in 2019 to help speed up play. It is your choice to leave it in or take it out. If another player asks for it to be removed or tended, you should accommodate their request.

What is the ‘holy trinity’ of golf etiquette?

The unofficial ‘holy trinity’ of golf etiquette is: 1. Be respectful of other players. 2. Be respectful of the golf course. 3. Don’t be slow. Everything else in golf etiquette generally falls under one of these three guiding principles. If you focus on being considerate, caring for the course, and playing at a reasonable speed, you will be fine.

Final Thoughts on Mastering Golf Etiquette

Mastering golf etiquette for beginners isn’t about achieving perfection on day one. It’s about demonstrating consideration. It’s understanding that your actions on the course impact everyone’s experience, from the players in your group to the grounds crew who maintain it. The rules outlined here are not meant to intimidate you; they are meant to empower you.

By focusing on the ‘holy trinity’—respect for players, respect for the course, and a good pace of play—you will quickly earn the respect of other golfers. Good etiquette is the fastest way to feel comfortable and confident on the course. It allows you to stop worrying about what you should be doing and start enjoying the great game of golf.

What’s the one piece of golf etiquette you wish you knew when you first started? Share your experience in the comments below

Last update on 2026-02-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API