Silence is golden. Certainly when it comes to taking a golf shot anyway. But while there are some players can’t pull the clubhead back even if a few birds are tweeting, others wouldn’t give a shouting match a second thought.
What is the etiquette gold standard for when to talk on a golf course? When is it fine to engage in conversation, and when is it better to err on the side of caution and tighten your lips?
Whether you’re an experienced golfer, or brand new to the game, here’s a brief outline of what to do when it comes to chatting on the golf course…
Golf etiquette and talking: What’s the best way to behave on the golf course?
When should you be quiet?
It’s not difficult. You need to be quiet at any point where a player needs to concentrate. This is obviously when they are getting ready to hit.
Don’t talk when one of your playing partners gets into their set up, their stance, or if they’re having a practice swing. This is the time they want to focus.
The same clearly applies when you reach the putting green but there are other times when you need to show some respect for your fellow players.
Who hasn’t moaned about a foghorn who is all but yelling on another fairway? When we are passing other players on the course, it’s good to be mindful of noise levels.
And while it might feel like match play tactical gold to jangle your keys in your pocket at an important point, it’s absolutely forbidden in the context of good etiquette.
Want to take a call on the course? Many clubs will frown on this – unless it’s an emergency – and while the Rules of Golf make no distinction for those who get their cell phones out it doesn’t take a genius to realise that a ring tone sounding out during a backswing is going to cause a massive problem.
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No one’s asking you to be a monk. A golf course isn’t a church. It doesn’t require a vow of silence. Just a bit of common sense and everyone will get along nicely.
When is it fine to talk?
If you’re bursting for a bit of chat, or if keeping schtum left you halfway through a story you were desperate to finish, then it’s fine to talk once everyone in your group has taken their shots.
That’s particularly the case on the tee, where you’ll all be close together and any sudden noises can cause more carnage than if you’re spread out across a hole.
Talk, but don’t shout, as you’re walking between shots or if you’re hanging around and waiting for a group to clear the green. Once you’re off the course, though, anything goes!
Is complete silence always necessary?
You don’t need to hold your breath! Just be watchful, considerate, and the chat will flow naturally at the right times.
What do the Rules of Golf say about golf etiquette and talking?
Can’t stop being a chatterbox? There are provisions in the Rules of Golf to try and curb those who won’t keep the volume down.
Rule 1.2a highlights the conduct expected of golfers on the course and “not distracting the play of another player” is a key part.
There is no penalty for failing to act in this way, except club committees can disqualify a player they deem to have committed serious misconduct.
Does a bit of chatter count? A clarification says you can be shown the door if you’re “deliberately distracting players while they are making strokes”.
Better to keep it down rather than risk getting an early bath in the competition.
Why does it matter?
We all want to play our best and we’ve got a better chance of that if we’re not being distracted or interrupted while we’re trying to play.
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We go through the process of hitting the ball for a tiny fraction of the four hours or so we’re out on the course. It’s not a big hardship to keep the volume down for that small period where we’re taking shots.
Now have your say
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