Sunnybank Golf Club

ETIQUETTE - COURTESY ON THE COURSE

Safety

Prior to playing a stroke or making a practice swing, the player should ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club, the ball or any stones, pebbles, twigs or the like which may be moved by the stroke or swing.

Consideration for Other Players

The player who has the honour should be allowed to play before his opponent or fellow competitor tees his ball. No one should move, talk or stand close to or directly behind the ball or the hole when a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke. No player should play until the players in front are out of range.

Priority on the Course

In the absence of special rules, two-ball matches should have precedence over and be entitled to pass any three or fourball match, which should invite them through. A single player has no standing and should give way to a match of any kind. Any match playing a whole round is entitled to pass a match playing a shorter round.

Care of the Course

Before leaving a bunker, a player should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by them.

Replace Divots; Repair Ball-Marks and Damage by Spikes

Through the green, a player should ensure that any turf cut or displaced by them is replaced at once and pressed down and that any damage to the putting green made by a ball is carefully repaired. On completion of the hole by all players in the group, damage to the putting green caused by golf shoe spikes should be repaired.

Players should ensure that, when putting down bags or the flagstick, no damage is done to the putting green and that neither they nor their caddies damage the hole by standing close to it, in handling the flagstick or in removing the ball from the hole. The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green. Players should not damage the putting green by leaning on their putters, particularly when removing the ball from the hole.

Golf Carts

Local notices regulating the movement of golf carts should be strictly observed.

Practice Swings

In taking practice swings, players should avoid causing damage to the course, particularly the tees, by removing divots.

Pace of Play

• Keep up with the group in front and not keep ahead of the group behid you
• Players should play at a good pace. In general, a group of four players should be able to play an 18-hole round of golf in about four hours.
• All players should move quickly to their ball between strokes.
• It is each group's responsibility to keep up with the group of players in front. If the group loses a clear hole and is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group.

Be Ready to Play

• Players should be ready to play as soon as it is their turn to play.
• On the putting green, putt out wherever possible.
• When playing on or near the putting green, players should leave their bags, buggies or motorised cart at the side of or behind the green in such a position that will enable quick movement off the green and towards the next tee.
• When the play of a hole has been completed and any damage to the green repaired (eg. pitch marks), all players should immediately leave the putting green.
• If a player believes his/her ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds, to save time, the player should declare and play a provisional ball.
• Players searching for a ball should signal the players in the group behind to play through as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not easily be found. They should not search for five minutes before doing so.
• Having allowed the group behind to play through, they should not continue play until that group has passed and is out of range.

Avoid Slow Play

• Mark your scorecard on the next tee while others are hitting off. Do not mark the scorecard on the putting green of the hole just completed.
• Keep practice swings to a minimum or eliminate them altogether.
• In Par, Stableford and Four-Ball events, players should pick up when they can no longer score on the hole.
• In stroke events the maximum score in our social club is 9, so players should pick up after they have had their 9th stroke. A circle is placed around the 9 if the score would have been greater than 9.
• Regularly check the length of time that your group has taken to play at various stages of a round to ensure a good pace is being maintained.

Players can be penalised for Slow Play in accordance with Rule of Golf 6-7.

Play with a thought for your fellow golfers - Don't be a tortoise!