On-Course Etiquette
Don't be that golfer. The unwritten rules, written down.
How to book a tee time, what to actually say to your caddie, cart rules, dress code, pace of play, who hits first — everything the regulars already know and assume you do too. Read this once before your first round and you'll belong on almost any course.
Range & course rules
Dress code · Pace of play
Before you go
Booking works differently depending on where you're going.
Public courses and premium clubs run on almost opposite systems — know which one you're walking into.
Public course or driving range
Call or walk in
Most public courses and ranges take phone bookings or simple walk-ins, especially on weekdays.
Carry an ID
A photo ID is usually enough to register your visit as a non-member.
Pay at the counter
Green fees, range balls, and equipment rental are settled directly at the pro shop.
Arrive 30 minutes early
Enough time to register, change shoes, and hit a few warm-up balls first.
Premium or member club
Find a member
Most premium clubs only let non-members in as a sponsored guest of someone who already belongs.
Confirm the policy
Guest fees, visit limits, and ID rules vary club to club — ask your host in advance.
Dress to their code
Premium clubs enforce dress codes strictly, often in the clubhouse as well as on the course.
Tip appropriately
Caddie and locker tips are customary, usually settled in cash at the end of the round.
Caddies, carts & trolleys
Who to ask, and what it'll cost you in patience.
Caddies are standard, not a luxury
At many clubs, especially in Asia, a walking caddie comes with almost every round — they'll carry your bag, suggest yardages and clubs, and read greens if you ask.
Tipping is customary
A tip beyond the listed caddie fee is expected, paid in cash directly to them at the end of the round.
Buggies need booking
Golf carts are available at most established courses, but often need to be requested ahead — especially on weekends.
Trolleys are the budget option
Pull or push trolleys are usually available to rent for walkers who'd rather skip the caddie or buggy fee.
On the range
Shared space, a few unwritten rules.
Mind your divot pattern
Hit from the same line each time, moving one ball-width over, instead of scattering shots across the mat.
Don't aim at the picker
Aiming balls at the person or vehicle collecting them is a safety issue, not a joke.
Keep advice to yourself
Unless someone asks, focus on your own swing — nobody signed up for unsolicited coaching.
Headphones over speakers
Music and calls are fine — through headphones. Nobody else opted in to hear them.
On the course
The honor system, mostly unwritten.
Ready golf, not strict order
In casual rounds, whoever's ready hits first — just don't walk in front of, or interrupt, someone mid-shot.
Fix what you disturb
Replace divots, repair pitch marks on the green, and rake bunkers from the low side on your way out.
Watch your line
Never step on another player's putting line — the path between their ball and the hole.
Call "Fore!"
If a shot is heading toward anyone, a loud "Fore!" is the universal warning — use it without hesitation.
Keep pace
Searching for a lost ball past a few minutes? Drop another and keep the group moving.
Carts stay off greens
Usually off tees too — check local signage for path-only zones at each course.
On the course or range
Collared shirts, golf shoes or flat soft-soled shoes, and trousers or tailored shorts. Most clubs draw the line at plain round-neck T-shirts and regular trainers.
In a premium clubhouse
Smart-casual is often required even off the course — many clubs restrict jeans and open sandals inside the clubhouse itself, not just on the fairway.