New to golf? Here’s how to avoid embarrassing yourself on the course

In golf, there are so many rules that it can be tough not to trip over them on the way to the first tee. Don’t walk in someone’s putting line. Don’t talk in someone’s backswing. Don’t drive the cart ahead of your playing partners.

Fortunately, knowing how to keep your cool on the green isn’t limited to those who’ve been putting since they were toddlers. There are some easy ways to avoid embarrassing yourself on the gold course. As an avid golf player and fan of 40-plus years, allow me to share seven tips (plus a few extra suggestions) of what I've learned along the way.

1. Don’t dress like someone you’re not

As with most things, it’s best to dress for your own comfort level on the course. But if you’re not sure what that means for you, there are some easy ways to blend in without feeling bland. That could mean avoiding the Rickie Fowler orange shorts in favor of something less loud. You'll also probably want to take a pass on the John Daly gear that looks like it might have been a set of curtains at a Holiday Inn.

Instead, play it safe with khaki pants or shorts as well as golf shirts from any number of clothing companies. Single color tops won’t make you stand out—and that’s a good thing.

• Get Nike Men’s Dry Victory Solid Golf Polo from Amazon starting at $23.99
• Get the Adidas Women’s ClimaLite Golf Shirt from Amazon starting at $17.99
• Get Under Armour Men’s Showdown Golf Pants from Dick’s Sporting Goods for $80
• Get Puma Women’s PWRSHAPE Golf Pants from Dick’s Sporting Goods for $80

2. Put the cell phone away

You will have playing partners that ignore this unwritten rule, but it's best not to be that person one who checks their email three times a hole.

If you must be in contact with someone for a legitimate reason, consider investing in a smart watch like an Apple Watch. This will help you sneak a peek at emails and texts while no one is looking and play it off like you are checking GPS distances for your next shot. (You can get an app to actually do that, too.)

Get the Apple Watch Series 5 from Amazon for $399

3. Give the green its due

On the course, divot tools are an invaluable resource to show your playing partners that you respect the course and the rules of etiquette in golf. Any time your ball makes an impression on the putting surface, use the divot tool to loosen the grass around the mark and then tamp it down with your putter so it looks perfectly smooth again.

As a general rule, fix your mark and one other that someone else neglected. If everyone did this, the green would be in much better condition—so if you can do your part, you should.

• Get the Kaveno Golf Divot Tool from Amazon for $9.99
• Get the Callaway 4-in-1 Divot Repair Tool from Amazon for $14.39

4. Bring some extra balls with you

How would you feel if you ran out of golf balls on the course? That nearly happened to Tiger Woods at the 2000 U.S. Open that he won by 15 shots. For Woods, he would have faced potentially numerous penalty strokes.

For you, it would just be the minor embarrassment of asking a playing partner to borrow a ball—but it's still better to have your own. Especially if you're riding a cart, there's no excuse for playing without that extra dozen balls in your golf bag. If you take a caddie, be nice to them and only bring half a dozen.

• Get TaylorMade TP5 Golf Ball Dozen from Amazon for $44.99
• Get Titlelist Golf Ball 6-Pack from Dick’s Sporting Goods for $29.99

5. Don't let rain ruin your game

If there is even a 5 percent chance of bad weather, always bring your waterproof gear. If it starts storming, you’ll want to have everything from a rain hat, rain gloves, rain pants, and a rain pullover. The brand FootJoy is the industry standard—it can be pricey, but the set I’ve owned for more than a decade is still in tip-top shape. When I break it out, I feel like I gain at least a couple of strokes on my competitors who are not as well equipped.

If you don’t want to shell out top dollar, there are more affordable options out there. The Weather Company and The Golf Warehouse’s in-house brand have great ratings at a lower cost than FootJoy. Just a reminder: Whatever you buy, it's a good idea to size up because your rain gear will be going over top your regular golf clothes.

• Shop Men’s and Women’s FootJoy Rain Gear at The Golf Warehouse starting at $125
• Shop The golf Warehouse and The Weather Company Rain Gear at The Golf Warehouse starting at $19.99

6. Bring a permanent marker

It often costs less than $2, but this writing implement is priceless for its ability to keep you from an awkward moment on the course. There is nothing more awkward than walking up to your golf ball and finding out that someone in your group is playing the same ball. Just put three dots, draw a circle around the circumference of the ball, or make some other distinguishable mark, and you'll easily know which ball is yours.

Get Sharpie Permanent Marker 2-Pack from Amazon for $1.49

7. Preview the course with a friend

Part of golf’s appeal is that it's a social sport. When first starting out, make a late-day tee time at a local public course and walk nine holes with someone you know well—so well that you won’t get embarrassed if you whiff a few shots in a row.

Also, walk with a pull cart if the course allows instead of a riding cart. You’ll spend more time talking with your friend and learning the ins and outs of what to do (and not do) than when you're in a foursome of people that you feel much less comfortable with, like your boss and co-workers.

Get the CaddyTek Caddycruiser Golf Cart from Amazon for $179.99

Don't forget these other etiquette rules of thumb

I'd be remiss if I didn't share these other tidbits of advice I've picked up that will help you avoid embarrassing yourself on the links.

• Go with the flow. If you don’t know typical golf customs like how to decide who tees off first on the opening hole (by tossing a tee in the air, by the way), just act like you understand exactly what everyone else is doing.
  
• Don’t take 10 practice swings, especially if the ball might not travel 10 yards.
• Don’t cheat. This sounds obvious, but make sure to count every single shot, especially when playing with co-workers or (gasp!) your boss. If they even think you might be cheating, that won’t play well back at the office.
  
• Keep your mouth clean. It’s easy to drop a four-letter word after duffing a shot, but that’s a reputation that will stick with you long beyond one round of golf. Same goes with throwing a club or other acts of unsportmanship-like behavior.
• Only bring up golf terminology that you're absolutely sure about using in proper context. If you say "nice flop shot" when someone was putting, you’ll look like a fool.
• Don’t pick up your ball on a short putt unless someone tells you to. If you're playing teams, that person has to be on the other team. Your partner can’t do it.
• If you think an errant shot could strike another golfer on the course, the rule of thumb is "better safe than sorry." When in doubt, yell “Fore!”
• Download the USGA’s Rules of Golf app to your phone. No one will quiz you on the difference between a red hazard stake and a white one, but brushing up on a few of the rules will help at least make you sound like you know what you are talking about. With so many rules, though, pick your spots on when you want to speak up. Or better yet, just whip out your phone (it’s OK if you’re checking it for the game) and reference the app.

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