Here are the worst things amateurs do on the golf course

Golf is a game of decorum. For better or worse, the sport comes with a multitude of written – and unwritten – rules that are expected to be adhered to each time you tee it up. And some of these expectations can be difficult to grasp for novice players. Luckily, we assembled a group of experts to break some of it down.

So, what are the worst things amateurs do on the course? Our panel of GOLF Top 100 Teachers broke down their pet peeves. Watch the video above or read below for more.

Tony Ruggiero: Be ready to play. This one seems straight forward, but lots of inexperienced players struggle to grasp the concept. Whether it be watching their playing partners or not having their club selected, new golfers can struggle to put the “ready” in ready golf.

“Golfers in general spend tons of time doing other stuff, and they don’t start getting ready for their shot until it’s their turn to hit,” Ruggiero says. “And then they’ve wasted so much time.”

Lucas Wald: Stay off your cell phone. The golf course should be a place to unplug and enjoy the great outdoors. Turn it on silent and engage with your playing partners.

“Show some respect, watch the other person hit, say ‘Good shot,'” Wald says.

Michael Finney: Fix your divots. Any time you make a pitch mark on the green, the first thing you should do is fix the divot. There is no excuse for not taking care of the golf course.

“The ball hits on the front of the green and the ball rolls all the way to the back, so they ride their cart all the way to the back of the green and they come down and putt,” Finney says. “That’s why the ball marks don’t get fixed, because the ball mark is 50 feet away and they forget to walk down there and fix it.”

Joe Plecker: Be patient. Let’s face it, golf has a pace-of-play problem. But that is no excuse for hitting into the group in front of you. Besides being in poor taste, it’s also dangerous.

“We’re all trying to finish the round,” Plecker says. “Nobody is holding you up, so don’t hit into us.”

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