I’ve played with a lot of golfers who truly take the game of

golf seriously and a lot of golfers who don’t. It’s okay to

have fun out there, keeping in mind respect for other players

who do take it serious.

The tee box

Think of the tee box as a stage with a spotlight. Everybody

gets his or her turn to shine. Try to remain quiet and out of

the golfer’s view, including your shadow that may hinder the

golfer’s concentration at address. The best position to stand

when a player is addressing the golf ball would be to the other

side, opposite of his golfer’s arm extension. You should be

standing far enough back to see the club head and golf ball of

the player addressing the ball. By taking this position, you

would definitely be giving the player room to concentrate,

unless he can see your shadow or hear the chatter of your clubs

or talk. When you must stand behind or front of a golfer

addressing his or her shot, take a second to ask if it’s okay

and or are you far enough away. Act like a caddie when another

player is playing a shot. Watch the golf ball finish rolling

and mark the spot with a tree or bush. A lot of golfers do not

like to watch their ball land, if it’s a bad shot. By doing

this for your fellow golfer, it will help speed up play. Try to

refrain from yelling nice shot or great shot, when you’re around

another tee box or green. When you must tell a joke, wait until

it’s you’re stage.

The green

Around the green can be a little more complex for the new

golfer. Fix as many golf marks as you can, besides your own. A

lot of golfers do not fix their ball marks on approaches to the

green. Sometimes players get excited about their golf shot and

forget. Ask other player’s to help, if there is more than a

couple and your not holding up other players behind you.

There are typically four or three golf balls lying on the

green. The key goal here is not to walk on another’s players

line to the golf hole. When you find another player is further

back from the hole, you should mark your ball. When approaching

your golf ball, you have to be careful as to where you walk.

Another player’s line to the hole should not have a big

footprint to go over. Try stepping over the player’s line to

the hole, or go around carefully watching for other player’s

golf positions to the hole. When you’re not sure, because of a

marked ball. Ask your competitor where his ball is marked. When

another golfer is about to putt, stay still until he or she

takes their putting stroke, unless they give you the okay to

walk. When you must walk to where you want to go. Do not stop,

walk, stop, and walk again. It could be more distracting than a

continuous walk.

The golfer closer to the hole should tend the pin. Ask your

competitor if they need the stick tended. When tending the pin,

be careful not to cast a shadow over the player’s line. Also

keep the flag from waving in the wind by holding it against the

flagstick. Position yourself with both feet together away from

the hole. Bend the flagstick slightly if you have to keep your

feet out of another player’s line. When the shot is taken, pull

the pin so your competitor does not get penalized for hitting

the flagstick. When it’s someone else’s turn, ask if he or she

needs the pin tended. When you think you may need it tended,

ask someone to hold it for you.

The game of golf originated out of fun. There are those that

take it quite seriously. Follow most of these tips, and it

could be quite enjoyable, and you may not have a problem

finding a foursome to tee it up with.