Last week I asked what was more important, golf etiquette or the rules of the game.  I mentioned that I don’t care if someone bends the rules a bit, but how I would rather they show a little respect for the game as well as its other players.  But that only led me to another question – who should teach the rules of etiquette to new golfers?

Personally, it was my friends who taught them to me as they taught me the game itself.  Some they would tell me ahead of time.  Others they would correct as I was making the mistake.  Let’s face it, there are an awful lot of etiquette rules.  But if you really think about it, they all kind of come down to common sense, keeping up with the pace of play and respect for others on the course.  If you know the basics of the game, then the etiquette part should come much easier.

But again, who should be teaching these rules?  Is it the responsibility of the player?  Should they be researching these rules themselves?  What do they do, get a copy of this?  Or maybe spend a few bucks extra to get this instead? Well, I guess if that’s what it takes.

Seriously though, should it be the responsibility of each individual course to explain the rules of etiquette?  Should the pro-shop attendants or the course pro be there to explain the rules.  Or maybe something as simple as a handout along with the scorecard before you leave the pro shop?  Not every course has ranger, a pro, or much of a staff for that matter.  So they simply don’t have the ability or resources to try to enforce the etiquette rules.  So who then is responsible?  Well, quite simply.., we are.

We can’t expect the courses to take on the responsibility of teaching the unwritten rules of the game…or even the written rules for that matter.  And we sure can’t count on people buying books.  So the responsibility falls on us as golfers.  If we are teaching the game to newbies, it’s our job to explain these unwritten rules.  If we’re playing with someone who is unclear, it’s our job to fix that.  If we don’t do it, then who will?  And we can’t just assume people already know.  And we can’t release them onto a course without anyone having confirmed they know said rules or is there to assist them along the way.

But to put it simply, I just don’t want to be stuck behind a group like the one described in my last round.

Swing ’til you’re happy!