Etiquette 101
What does it mean to have golf etiquette? It is an expectation that people have respect for other golfers and the golf course. Nothing is more irritating to me when I’m playing golf, than to see someone who considers themself as a “golfer” but make no attempt towards acting with consideration for others.
I can deal with slow play, you never know if you the group(s) in front of you are struggling, maybe some beginning golfers…that at some point in time we all were. But there is no excuse for players to ignorantly not replace those large divots that they slash out of the fairway, take a few seconds to rake their footprints in a bunker, or to simply bend over and repair a ball mark or two on the greens. Neglecting to repair the damage that you’ve made is inexplicable.
In my years as a golf professional, I have played countless rounds of golf, and with a variety of different golfers. Invariably the person in the group who is the first, and most vocal, to complain about these lapses in action of other golfers are also the ones who are also the culprits who are committing the same faults. I have actually witnessed someone who was walking out of a bunker and very obviously changed their stride to step over the rake laying on the ground, with no intention of picking up the rake and smoothing out the sand for the groups behind us. I made a comment from the far side of the green, which fell on deaf ears, and went over and raked the bunker myself once our group was done putting. Returning back to the cart it was apparent on the face of my playing companion that they were now aware of their fault, and nothing else needed to be said.
I just ask that everyone start being more aware of what they are doing. By helping to do your part, you will be helping to take care of these beautiful pieces of property that we are lucky enough to play a great game on. Secondly, other golfers will not likely come over and say “thank you”, but you can know that your actions are making the day of the players behind you a bit more enjoyable.