Golf etiquette for beginners: pace of play, safety and looking after the course

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Most of golf's unwritten rules come down to three things: keep everyone safe, keep the game moving, and leave the course as you found it. Get those right and nobody on the course will mind that you are new, however many shots you take.

Safety first

Shout "fore!" loudly and straight away whenever your ball is heading towards anyone, even if you are not sure it will reach them. If you hear it, cover your head and turn away; do not look up to find the ball.
Never swing, even a practice swing, until you know nobody is close by. Check behind you as well as in front.
Wait until the group ahead is clearly out of range before hitting. If in doubt, wait.
On a buggy, follow the course's signs about where carts may go, and keep away from greens and tees.

Where to stand

Stand still and quiet while someone is playing, out of their line of sight, a little in front of and to the side of them, never directly behind the line of the shot. On the green, do not stand on or walk across another player's line, the path their ball will take to the hole. Do not cast a shadow across it either.

Pace of play

Slow play is the most common complaint at any club, and beginners can avoid it easily.

Be ready when it is your turn: pick a club and line up the shot while others are playing, as long as it is safe.
Many clubs and casual groups play ready golf, hitting when ready rather than strictly in order. Agree it at the start.
Limit the search for a lost ball. The rules allow three minutes; when friends are waiting, take a drop and carry on.
Pick up your ball on a hole you are struggling with, if you are not playing a competition. Nobody minds.
Leave the green promptly and mark your scorecard at the next tee, not on the green.
Keep pace with the group in front, not ahead of the group behind. If you fall a hole behind and the group behind is waiting, invite them to play through.

Repairing pitch marks

A ball landing on the green often leaves a small dent. Repair yours, and another if you have time, with a pitch mark repairer: push the tool in at the edge of the mark, ease the turf towards the centre from several sides, then tap it flat with your putter. Do not lever the middle upward, which tears the roots.

Divots

On the fairway, replace a divot (the chunk of turf your club lifts) and press it down, or fill the hole with the sand and seed mix if the course provides it. Courses differ, so follow local signs.

Bunkers

Enter and leave a bunker at the lowest point nearest your ball. After your shot, rake your footprints and the mark your club made, and leave the rake where the course asks, often in the bunker or just outside it.

Honours and order of play

On the first tee the order is often drawn or agreed. After that, the player with the lowest score on the previous hole has the honour and tees off first. Away from the tee, the player furthest from the hole usually plays next, unless you are playing ready golf.

On the green

Mark your ball with a coin or marker if it might be in someone's way.
Put bags and trolleys at the side of the green nearest the next tee, never on the green.
Handle the flagstick carefully, and lay it down off the putting line.
Do not walk off while someone is still putting.

Phones

Switch the phone to silent. A quick photo or a rangefinder app is fine at most courses; a call on the tee is not. Take calls well away from other players, and check whether the club has its own rules about phones in the clubhouse.

Dress codes

Dress codes vary more than anything else. Many private clubs expect collared shirts, tailored trousers or golf shorts, and golf shoes with soft spikes, and some forbid jeans and T-shirts. Municipal courses and driving ranges are often relaxed. Check the club's website before you go, and ask if you are unsure.

Being honest about being new

Tell your playing partners you are learning. People are generous with beginners who are safe, quick and tidy, and they will happily explain anything else as you go. What etiquette rule surprised you most when you started, or what do you still wonder about? Share your questions and stories in the comments.