Golf Etiquette: Where To Stand
WHERE TO STAND ON THE GOLF COURSE
Knowing where to stand at all times on a golf course is a lot more difficult than it seems, especially when you’re new to the game. With multiple golfers in your group, tee box rules, putting lines, etc. it’s definitely an area of etiquette that needs your full awareness. I’m going to help you out by explaining the proper places to stand when others are up to play.
Tee Box
The best place to stand is facing the golfer 10 or more feet away while staying behind the golf ball. Standing in this area takes away the chance of getting hit by the ball or the club, and the golfer hitting will not be distracted by you. Places not to stand include anywhere in front of the ball, behind the player because they can’t see you, and in-line with the target behind the golfer. The goal is to prevent yourself from injury or distracting the golfer.
Fairway and Rough
In the fairway and rough, there’s a little more leeway. If you can, always go to your ball and get ready to hit. Sometimes this means you will be ahead of the golfer hitting. However, much of the time, you’ll be far enough away that you aren’t in danger. If you’re reasonably close to the golfer, just pay attention when they’re hitting.
On the Green
This is a tough area for many reasons. One, you want to stay out of everyone’s way. Two, you need to walk around the green to read your putt. It’s a balancing act to get it done correctly. I highly recommend reading your putt while others are putting to speed up your pace of play. When others are putting, you should stand in an area where they can’t see you. Most of the time this will either be facing or behind the golfer. Just give them enough space to not feel crowded.
The Golfer’s Line
An important area to note is the golfer’s line. This is most common on the green. The golfer’s line is from the ball to the hole, and it extends through the cup and away from the ball. If you stand in-line with the golfer, either in front of or behind, you are not using proper etiquette. It’s very easy to be distracted if someone is in your line because any movement can be easily seen.
It’s also important to note that you shouldn’t walk in someone’s line on the green. This line extends past the hole too. When considering where to walk, you have to think about where someone’s putt would go past the hole if it didn’t go in. It’s not encouraged to walk in this area as you will leave fresh footprints for their ball to roll into.
Learning proper etiquette on the course is certainly not easy, but with some common sense and self-awareness you will become better. If you have any questions about this, just ask other golfers in your group questions or watch more experienced golfers go about navigating around a golf course. Hopefully, this will make you more confident on where to stand when you’re playing.
Rules: What To Do When Your Ball Moves
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR BALL MOVES
Think back for a few seconds about a situation when you were about to hit a shot and you looked down only to see your ball move. Oh, no! Not sure what to do, you freeze for a second or two, right? What just happened? Did the ball move on its own? Did you cause it to move? This situation will make most golfers feel awkward and question what happened. Today, I’m going to make you confident on how to procede when this happens and help you so you don’t compound this little conundrum by getting an extra penalty shot assessed, or, even worse, getting disqualified.
There are two ways your ball can move. One, it can move on its own. Two, you can be deemed to have caused it to move. Sometimes there is a gray area where it’s questionable if a player caused the ball to move. Usually, if the player is not certain they didn’t cause the ball to move and there is some doubt, the player takes on the responsibility of causing the ball to move and is assessed a penalty shot.
Here’s how to procede when your ball moves. First, the good news. If your ball moves and you haven’t addressed your ball or didn’t directly cause your ball to move there is no penalty. And, to the surprise of many, you play the ball where it lies. Do not move the ball back to its original position. If you do, you’ll be assessed a penalty.
All news can’t be good, right? If you are deemed to have caused your ball to move you are penalized one shot and must replace the ball to it’s original spot. This scenario can happen at any time. You walk up to your ball, address it with the club, and your ball moves or shifts a little bit. Unfortunately, this is a penalty. It’s happened to me and I’ve had to call it on myself. It’s not fun, but it’s part of the game. Just be very careful when addressing the ball.
The bigger problem can come if you cause your ball to move and don’t replace it to its original place. In this case, you’re assessed an extra penalty shot for playing a ball in the wrong position. I remember this happening to Davis Love III a few years back when he accidentally hit his ball on a practice stroke for a putt. He didn’t replace it, signed for a one-shot penalty, realized it should’ve been two and was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. Pretty severe, but it’s the rules.
In the future, I’d recommend taking practice swings at least a couple of feet away from the ball. When you address the ball, place the club away from the ball about a half an inch. If your club gets to close it can cause the ball to move. When it’s really windy, I would recommend not grounding your putter on the greens, something Jack Nicklaus did for every putt. If you haven’t grounded your club, you haven’t officially addressed the ball so there’s no penalty if your ball moves.
I do have some more good news to end. When you accidentally knock your ball off the tee, which we’ve all done countless times, there is no penalty. I repeat, no penalty. One of the best rules of the game.
About
KYLE VOSKA, PGA PROFESSIONAL
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from St. Michael’s, St. Xavier, and Miami University. After graduating from Miami with a Finance degree, I moved to Florida to pursue my professional golf dreams. After a few successful years and a couple of difficult years, I stopped playing full-time. After a year of caddying on the LPGA Tour for Young Jo, Kim Williams, and Angela Stanford, I moved back home to Cincinnati. Currently, I live near Sharonville with my lovely wife, Lindsay, our kids, Maclin and Ellie, and our dog, Nora.
Teaching golf for over a year in Florida and having taken and watched many lessons from PGA Certified Master Teaching Professional Carl Rabito, becoming a golf instructor was something I really wanted to do. Fortunately, I was able to find a home at Sharon Woods Golf Course in Cincinnati, my old home from the 90′s, to further this new career path. As I enter my 6th season as a golf professional, I’m excited how my role is taking shape. I assist in managing and supervising a staff of nearly 40 while teaching golf lessons to over a 100 students. Hopefully, someday I’ll have the opportunity to mentor some future golf professionals like myself.
Email: kvoska@hotmail.com
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- PGA Member – June, 2009
- 2008 PGA National Assistants Champion
- 43 Professional Tournament Victories
- 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Section Player-of-the-Year
- 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Southwest Chapter Player-of-the-Year
- 2009 Cincinnati Chapter Match Play Champion
- 2009 Southern Ohio PGA Assistant’s Champion
- 2001 and 2010 Southern Ohio PGA Open Champion
- 2000 PGA Buick Open Contestant
- 1998 Miami Athlete-of-the-Year
- 2-Time NCAA Division I All-American
- Mid-American Conference Sportsman and Player-of-the Year (1998)
- 2-Time Cincinnati Met Amateur Champion (1997, 1998)
- Cincinnati Met Amateur Medalist and Runner-Up (1996)
- NCAA low scoring average on Par 3′s (2.91) in 1998
- Low competitive round – 62 (3 times): Four Bridges CC (’01), Oasis CC (’09), and Juniper Hills GC (’02)
- Low non-competitive round – 61: Browns Run CC – White tees
- Won a 54-hole Developmental Players Tour event by 9 shots shooting 19 under par with no bogies (64,64,69)
- 4 career Holes-in-One and 3 career double eagles
MY PGA MENTORS:
Tom Bach – Head Professional at Sharon Woods Golf Course
George Long – Kenwood CC PGA Professional/Head Pro at The Mill Course (17 Years)
Carl Rabito – PGA Certified Master Teaching Professional (Top 100 Instructor)
Mike Bender – 2009 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Craig Shankland – 2001 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Jim Suttie, Ph.D - 2000 PGA National Teacher-of-the-Year (Top 100)
Bill Madonna – Bill Madonna Golf Academy (Top 100)
Andrew Park – The David Leadbetter Golf Academy
Chris Toulson – Jim McLean Golf School at Doral
As you can see, I’ve been very fortunate to have learned from some of the best PGA Professionals in the country. I feel privileged to pass on the wealth of knowledge I’ve gained from spending time with these great gentlemen.
