Golf Rules & Etiquette

What you should or should not do on a golf course

Learn Golf the Right Way: Master Rules, Etiquette, and Confidence on the Course

Master the basics of the game with confidence—from how to play and what to wear to the unspoken rules that make golf respectful and enjoyable for everyone.

What you will learn

This course is designed to guide new golfers through the essential elements of golf, from understanding how the game works and what to wear, to playing safely and treating fellow players with respect. You’ll explore how to navigate the course, keep score, avoid penalties, and play at the right pace. Most importantly, you’ll discover the values that make golf unique—honesty, sportsmanship, and self-discipline.

See details below.

The Purpose of the Golf Swing

  • Parts of the course: tee box, fairway, rough, green, bunkers, hazards

  • Common terms: par, birdie, bogey, handicap, stroke

Basic rules of play

  • How to start a hole (teeing off)

  • Order of play

  • Stroke counting and how to keep score

Understanding Penalties & Drops

  • What causes penalty strokes

  • How and when to take a drop

  • Out of bounds vs. lost ball rules

Golf Club Etiquette

  • Knowing when and where to stand

  • Letting faster groups play through

  • Being quiet and respectful during others’ shots

Pace of play

  • How to play efficiently

  • Ready golf vs. honors golf

  • Tips to avoid slowing others down

On the Green

  • How to mark and clean your ball

  • Reading the green without disturbing others

  • Taking turns and avoiding footprints near the hole

  • What to bring from your bag

  • Where to place your trolley and clubs

Safety on the Course

  • Awareness of others before swinging

  • Yelling “Fore!”

  • Safe cart usage and movement

Golf Attire & Equipment Care

  • Proper golf attire for different types of courses

  • Cleaning clubs and balls

  • Respecting course property and raking bunkers

Respect for the game

  • Honesty in scoring

  • Respecting fellow players and the course

  • Understanding golf as a self-policing game of integrity