From the Clubhouse: Are we bothered about etiquette?
On this week’s From the Clubhouse, a podcast from National Club Golfer, Steve Carroll and Tom Irwin take a deep dive into golf course etiquette.
What is good etiquette? What is and isn’t acceptable on the golf course? And should we draw up a list of hard and fast rules that every golfer should abide by – rather than just asking, and hoping, people do the right thing?
Tom and Steve set out their positions on care of the course, causing distractions, pace of play, looking your best, and when you should provide help to your playing partners, as they develop their NCG etiquette Code of Conduct. They debate practice swings, pitch marks, and line of sight, fellow players, marks on the green, and etiquette rules.
How can you not give it a listen?
What do you think? Do you agree with our views on golf course etiquette? Lets us know how you feel with a tweet.
What do you think about etiquette in golf? Has it settled in yet or does it leave you feeling frustrated? Let me know how you feel with a tweet.
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
