When you think about it, golf is one of the most well -mannered sports in the world. Nobody is ever going to see Tiger Woods hipcheck one of his opponents on the fifth hole. Greg Norman probably never ran after anyone with his club held over his head. Nobody gets called any variety of body part or farm animal just as they bend their head to tee up. The game is quiet, almost tranquil, without the finger pointing, name calling or chair swinging of other sports. Even for the beginning golfer, learning golf etiquette is just as important as learning the other rules and scoring is.

One of the most basic etiquette rules begins before you even tee up that very first shot. Find out about the dress code of the course that you are playing at, and try to adhere to it as closely as possible. Make sure that you know what kind of shoes you should be wearing cleated or not. If you are using a golf cart, make sure that you park far enough away that you will not impede other golfers, or better yet, walk the course.  Next, you should know that during each player’s tee shot, there is no talking to allow for supreme concentration.  Don’t stand in someone’s line of vision, and leave your cell phone at the clubhouse or set it to vibrate.

Pay attention to the game, even when it is not your turn, and be ready to play when it is your turn. Nobody wants to have to keep reminding an adult that it is their turn, nor do they want to stand around and wait while you get yourself situated and ready to go. You should be lining up your next shot, going over what you would like to do before you ever walk up to the tee.
Know who will play first, and the subsequent order thereafter for each hole. In most cases, the first player on a new hole is the one who had the lowest score on the last one. Of course, if there is a tie, then whoever had the lowest on the previous hole to that one is first.

Make sure that you know where everybody is, including all others who might be on the course around you. Not only do you have to see where your own group is, take a look around before rearing back and taking your swing. Also, be aware of the speed with which your group is playing. Are the folks behind you ready to declare war on you? If you are playing at a slightly slower speed than the group behind you, invite them to go ahead and play through to avoid holding them up unduly. In the same respect, if you find that you are behind a slower group, and they have not invited you to play through, then you should remain calm and polite without any semblance of trying to rush or hurry them.

And finally, do not tear up the course without making an effort at repairing the divots. Do not leave trash behind, nor allow any member of your group to do so. Be a responsible golfer.

If price is not an issue, you can specify each individual part of your club, ending up with a custom built set. Of course, there is a cheaper option to this concept as well, buying each part yourself and putting the club together yourself, one of the cheapest ways for the average golfer to end up with custom made clubs. If building your own does not sound like something you are interested in, and you cannot afford the custom built option, you can buy readymade clubs which will suit you well, that is, if you make sure that you have them properly fitted.

The first step to getting properly fitted golf clubs should be to consult a professional. Check with the golf pro at the course you play most often if there is one. If not, check online for where the nearest Professional Golfer’s Association is located and check with them for advice. (Be aware that in most cases, club fitting is not free nor is it usually cheap, so check to see if it is in your price range.)

The shaft length of your club will not be determined simply by your height. Tall players might have shorter arms, or shorter players might have longer arms, or the actual golf stance that you take before your swing might change your needs dramatically. In these cases, a fitting might actually be the only way to properly fit your clubs, despite the expense.

Your grip size is determined by your hand size, as well as the faults that you would like to correct with your swing. If you are a slicer, smaller clubs will make you work your hands faster. If you hook the ball, instead, bigger grips will slow down your hand action, reducing the amount of the hook. Grips come in different types of materials as well as the various sizes, which material you use should be determined by how often you play, the weather conditions that you play in most frequently and what kind of work you want to put into maintaining these grips. Leather for instance, is expensive and requires a lot of effort to maintain. All-rubber is better for the beginner through intermediate players, is easy on the hands and can be changed whenever necessary. (It is recommended that your rubber grips be changed at least once a year if you play once per week or more.)

Fitting your clubs should be a fairly lengthy process. You do not want to just walk in and grab the first golf clubs that you find. This is an investment, even if you plan to upgrade within the next year or so, so make sure that they fit you well.

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What you wear to play a round of golf will depend on where you go. The more exclusive the club you go to, the more restrictive the dress code will be. Some clubs will only allow certain types of shoes, for instance, while others will only allow certain colors to be worn. It is well worth your time to know the rules of your club before you even load your clubs to avoid either looking foolish or being turned away for having on improper attire. For the public courses, the dress codes are usually a little more lenient.

In the old days, the uniform of the golfer was stiff and itchy wool, year round, with very little breathability and ease of movement. And, back then, it was even worse for the few women that played the game; they were forced to wear full skirts, blouses right up to their chins and big hats. No wonder golf took so long to catch on with the general public! Now, there are better materials, with better breathability and comfort. Closer cut clothing allows for better range of movement, and better overall swing.

Golf can be expensive enough without adding the clothing into the mix. Do not get caught up in dressing a certain way if it is really not necessary to do so. If there is not a rule in place forcing you to do so, do not feel compelled to buy a lot of “golf pants” or other related wear. Pay attention to the other golfers and get a general idea of what everybody is wearing. This will give you an idea of what is acceptable and standard at this course. Wear the clothing that fits your body, your budget and your personal tastes. Keep in mind several things however:

1) Cotton is one of the best materials for summer month play. It is breathable, soft and will protect against chafing, while allowing for sweat evaporation.

2) Lighter colors reflect more of the sun’s light, thus keeping you cooler as well.

3) If you can afford it, there are tops that are treated to block the sun’s rays as well as to discourage flying pests.

4) Keep fit in mind as well: too tight and you will not be comfortable, and risk skin breakdown. Too loose and you might impede your own play.

Wear what looks good, fits well and makes you feel like a golfer.

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