[Mortal1]

If you decide you want to play golf then please do not depend on your friends to educate you on golf course etiquette. All "golfers" understand a beginners trepidation when playing their sport, pastime or just something to do. While executive etiquette might vary a small bit from legitimate (aka:championship)courses the individuals actions on the course vary little.

Mulligans: not anywhere near a legit golf term. Many folks think they are perfectly within the code of etiquette to hit an extra tee shot or two from the teeing ground. Not true...especially if there is a group behind you. If you can see your tee shot(no matter how poor it may be)you play it(unless in the brush or water). If you tee up another and get(heaven forbid a hole-in-one)using the second tee shot it's really a 3, not a one. In fact if you hit more than one tee shot you are hitting your 3rd shot from the tee. If it went in the bushes or water then just drop another where you think it went into the "stuff" and call it your second shot(no it's not legal, but it's more like real golf).

Pick up your feet on the greens please. Thank you. Rake your bunkers, fix your pitch marks(when your ball makes a mark on the green). Put sand in your divots...not the divot...it doesn't grow.

Be ready to play.

You are allowed to drive up to any tee when groups are already there unless someone in that group is on the tee and getting ready to hit. You are not "pushing" the group in front by doing so.

You need to have music...use headphones. It's golf...not your car or house. Be considerate.

Don't stand behind me when I'm hitting. I don't care if you can't see where my shot goes....that's my job. If I need help seeing the ball I will ask for it.

CAP card: it only gives the person it's issued to the right to go to their ball(not their passenger unless they to have a CAP). If in doubt of the following just check the rules(yes I know there are those of you who are special and it doesn't apply...). Stay 30 feet(yes it's 30)from the green, bunkers and tees(when the golf cart path doesn't come that close). Please stop driving on the grass edges near the cart path. The path is plenty wide enough and if you have to drive around a cart do it on the non-course side if possible.

Stop taking turns when putting. It's SLOW. It's ready golf. When you are ready...go. The person farthest from the hole goes first(if all of you approach your balls at about the same time). That is an actual USGA golf rule. Yes, per etiquette you shouldn't step or walk in someone else's line of putting, but with the elderly(me included)that is truly impossible.

Please stop telling the new golfers what the etiquette is unless you have researched it first. Many of you are incorrect and just screw thing up.

From a 59 year golfer with many years competing as an amateur, professional greens mower, pin setter and all around golf geek.

Feel free to question my information. I'll be happy to apologize if I'm wrong or gladly set you straight if you are wrong.

Oh, and bouncing a golf ball and looking at its rebound height to determine if it's good or not is bogus. Balls come with various density innards and covers for different swings speeds. LUCK!