Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-03
ETIQUETTE OF GOLF.
Points That Should Be Observed by
Devotees of the Sport.

A golfer who can claim thorough knoWi-
edge of the fifty-odd rules of the game is
more of a rarity than most persons think
Compared with the thousands who are more
or less frequent competitors in golf matches
the number who actually know the detailed
regulations governing their sport are In
woeful minority. To become familiar with
the enormous mass of rulings and modifl-
cations of the ST. Andrews code seems task
few are willing to undertake. player
who owns up to ignorance of them con-
fesses to nothing unusual So long as his
opponent seems satisfied player is allowed
to follow the general principles of the game
without meeting any uncomfortable debate.
In fact, man who calls the turn on his
companion for some minor breach OF the
rules is usually regarded as crank.
Ignorance of the customs which have
grown up in connection with golf and which
have become so established as to be i'm
perative on all it's deyotees is not so eXcus-
able.
The etiquette of the game, though lacking
the force of rule, has become recognized at
every golf course, and a player who refuses
to observe it is marked man. The origin
of these customs is to be traced from the
necessity of having a definite understand
ing on certain points of play, to obviate the
annoyance and i'll feeling that would result
from their non-observance, especially on
crowded links. One of the first things de-
manded by golfers Is that no one should
play from the tee until the party in front
have played their second shots and are out
of range; nor play to the putting green TIL
those in front have holed out and moved
away. Safety as we'll as courtesy to those
ahead, demands a strict observance of this
rule whenever there is crowd playing.
There is also point of etiquette that golf
ers, especially beginners, will do well 10
remember. 1t is that after they have holed
out they should move off the green prompt
ly and not try their puts over again. There
is a great temptation after missing stroke
to try it over again, in the hope of better
success. When those behind are waiting 10
get on the green this is regarded as an act
of discourtesy. 1t is a frequent sight during
a tournament to see men standing near
hole, pencil and card In hand, reckoning
up their strokes. while others are waiting
to approach. Whatever counting of scores
is to be done should take place after the
green is clear. These little matters, per-
haps innocent in themselves, are incon-
venient to others, and often result in drag
ging out round beyond the pleasure point.
Still another thing demanded by golfing
customs is that no player, caddie or onlook-
er should move or talk during a stroke.
There is nothing upon which a golfer will
insist with more stress than this, yet the
gallery seldom sees the necessity of main
tanning silence, especially if composed
largely of women. Perhaps a player has
nerved himself for critical stroke-wind,
direction, roll and distance have all been
calCula ted to a nicely. Just as he Is about
to bring it off there is loud comment from
some one standing by. The effect is instan-
taneous. The tension is gone, and very
likely the stroke is a failure. Upon some
men, of course, this might have little influ-
ence, but, as a rule it is disastrous.
Again. few golfers can put well if their
attention Is distracted by some one moving
near the green. Good putting, like good
billiard playing, requires concentration. To
succeed, a man must have his whole atten-
ton centered upon his stroke A moving
object unconsciously catches the eye and
makes this difficult. Therefore, courtesy
demands that every one near the player
should remain silent and immovable while
he is making stroke.
A rule insisted upon with some ygor by
greens committees is that turf cut or dis
placed by a stroke must be put back at
once. If a player "cuts under" he takes
with the ball clump of turf, sometimes
of considerable size. If this is not put back
the hole forms a pocket for some subse-
quent players ball, and the result is a bad
lie and not infrequently language that is
also bad. A course where divots are not
replaced will soon resemble cornfield after
a cavalry charge. Like most of the other
rules of etiquette, it is designed for the
welfare of all, and for this reason 1t should
appeal to the good sense of every player.