Golf is a very dignified game of rules, manners and etiquette, and it’s quite important to know the basics of golfing etiquette before you play golf for the first time.

Whether you are playing alone, in a twosome or a foursome, the first rule of golfing etiquette is that you must always wait your turn. You must stay aware of the group on the next hole and wait until they are well ahead of you before hitting your ball.

Golfing etiquette also means that it is never correct to “hurry” the group in front of you. If you are playing with others, wait for your turn to hit the ball; never hit at the same time as another player.

While you are waiting for your turn to play, go to your ball and determine which golf club you will need to use and how you are going to hit the golf ball with it. This is called “ready golf” and keeps the game moving along, but don’t rush everybody, just be ready for your turn to play.

Another useful piece of golfing etiquette, especially for novices is ‘playing through’. For example, if your team is holding up the players behind you, perhaps because you are playing consistently over par or taking a long time to choose your club, let them play through. You would simply wave them through, or if they are not far away from you, just ask them if they would like to play through. You will never make enemies by doing this!

When someone is making a shot, you should be standing behind them and you shouldn’t make any noise! It is so distracting to be about to to tee off and just as you pull back, someone decides to jingle coins in their pocket or noisily unwrap a sweet.

Replacing divots. Let’s say you are on the fairway and you strike the ball a bit thick and a clod of earth and grass goes flying, golfing etiquette says that you ought to replace it. On some courses you just put the clod back and step on it to keep it down, but on most courses, there is a sand/seed mixture on the course to put into the divot. Also, if your ball makes a deep impression when it lands on the green, you should use your divot tool to repair it.

As soon as you have finished a hole, replace the flag and leave the green as quickly as possible so that the next players can play that hole. Add up your score and write it on the scorecard as soon as you get back to your trolley.

For sure, there is much more to golfing etiquette than this, but these basic rules of golfing etiquette will enable you to get around the course without upsetting anyone. If we all uphold golfing etiquette we will keep the game nice and friendly, or not?