Learn to play the game by its rules

Golf is a game of elegance to put it lightly. The game is almost serene, but mostly very proud because of the meticulous impeccability of the players' behaviours. Golfers like to think of themselves as honourable. Therein lies the spirit of the game.

How important is it to know the official rules and your local club rules?

The rules of golf, and the decisions on the rules of golf are there to protect the integrity of the game. When you don't play by them, you are not playing golf!

Is it important to have an encyclopaedic memory for the rules? It absolutely is not important in my opinion to be a walking, talking rule book, but golf is a dignified game of rules and manners, and it's important to know the basics and practise them.

Many golfers break the rules because they have never learned them or choose to ignore them. However, if you play in an official competition you have a duty to the field to abide by the rules and to penalise yourself for any infraction.

The rules of etiquette are an important part of anyone's game. Have you ever wondered why they are stressed so much in the game of golf? There is just as much importance on the etiquette of golf as on the rules of play. Golf course etiquette is a discipline of respect for your playing partners, the golf course and the wonderful game of golf itself. It is well worth the effort to have a good knowledge of golf etiquette to enjoy the game in its true spirit.

Etiquette is stressed in golf more than in any other game one will ever participate in. There are some very important reasons for golfers to abide by the rules of etiquette; we are talking about rules for the safety of the golfer and the proverbial phrase we know as the ‘pace of play' and the care of the course.

Etiquette first

I wish I could say that this only applies to the newcomers, but I have noticed that there are plenty of golfers who have been around long enough to know the ‘rules of etiquette' but either don't know them or just choose to ignore them. They cannot be called golfers if they are not willing to abide by all the rules.

When you want to become a great golf player, you should know a few rules of the game. It is important to understand and follow the rules when you are out on the green so that there is no distraction or confusion with the other players. You want to look as professional as you can and that is why you need to study the golf rules so that you are ready to play.

Do yourself a favour and respect the local rules of the particular golf course where you're playing.

The more experienced players will find you a pain if you don't know the rules. Don't be afraid to ask your fellow players what the rule is when you have a question. As you learn little by little, you will find the infinite variety of the game of golf increasingly interesting and fascinating.