COURSE RULES & ETIQUETTE

Please take note of our course rules and good golf etiquette to make sure everyone has the best time on the course. It’s important to be mindful of the course rules to keep play moving and to respect the course to help maintain it’s beauty.

Course Rules

Golf Etiquette

COURSE RULES

#1 – Show up 10-20 minutes before tee time

#2 – No groups larger than 4 people

#3 – Abide by all course guidance for the day

#4 – Keep up the pace of play. Your pace will impact dozens of other groups

#5 – Please allow faster groups/players to play through

#6 – Keep carts out of tall grass & visibly wet areas

#7 – Keep carts at least 30’ away from greens

#8 – Keep up the pace of play. An average round should not take much longer than four hours

#9 – Please rake any sand bunkers you disturb

#10 – NYS law mandates that no outside alcohol is allowed!

GOOD GOLF ETIQUETTE

Show Up Early

This is one of the easiest things to do yet so many people still make this mistake every single time. Be sure to show up at least 20 minutes before your scheduled tee time. It’s bad for your game when you need to scramble from your car to the 1^st tee box.

Warm Up with Three Balls

You don’t need a bucket of balls to warm up on the practice green. Use your own 3 balls and don’t putt in the way of others.

Talk to Your Ball and Your Ball Only

There’s nothing worse than a buddy saying “don’t hit the water” when you are standing in the same spot and are well aware of the water. If you need self-assurance for hitting your own ball, that’s fine, just don’t presume others want to hear it.

Always Yell Fore

Always know where other players are on the course. If it is even remotely possible that your ball may hit someone, yell FORE loudly.

Be Careful Where You Walk

This is especially important on the green, where you should avoid walking in the potential line of a golfer’s putt. The slightest spike mark can knock the ball off line.

Playing Slow

Slow pace of play is probably the most frustrating thing not only for those in your group, but all others coming behind you. A good motto – if you are playing bad, make sure you play bad fast. And if you are a beginner, having the exact yardage to the hole is probably not the most important thing. Nobody wants to play a 5 or even 6 hour round.

Get Off the Phone

Turn off the technology as much as possible. If you need your phone, make sure it is in silent mode.

Obey the Course Cart Rules

Carts may seem to be the best invention ever when you are playing a long 18 holes. But respecting the course rules is important etiquette. Scatter where appropriate (i.e. don’t go in the same path as other carts when tracks are being left). When it’s wet conditions, keep to the fairways and avoid visibly wet areas.

Don’t Talk While Others are Hitting

Many people consider this the single most important rule of etiquette. When some is hitting, stay silent and avoid moving in their line of sight.

Moving or Standing Behind Someone on the Green

It is extremely distracting to have someone stand behind your line of sight when you are putting. And if that person is moving around, that is doubly distracting. If you want to get a read on his line, wait until he putts then rush over to see it. Watch your shadow as well to make sure it doesn’t interfere with the putter’s ability to see the hole or his line to the hole. Stand far enough way so as to not be a distraction.

Know the Rules

Establish the rules for the round before hitting off the first tee. What will the group do about a ball out of bounds? How far is the “gimme” putt? Establish those kinds of things before you begin.

Lost Ball Etiquette

As of 2019, the rule is 3 minutes…you have 3 minutes to find your ball MAX. After your hit, watch the ball until you can’t see it any longer so that you have a good idea where it is. But if you cannot find it in 3 minutes, take a drop and move on.

Ready Golf

One of the reasons golf takes so long is that most players aren’t playing ready golf. Ready golf is nothing more than being ready once it’s your turn to hit. Save honors golf (furthest one out) for tournaments or highly skilled players. Research shows that ready golf produces better results as it allows a golfer to stay in rhythm.