Look, nobody handed you a rulebook on your first day at the course. And yet somehow, you’re supposed to magically know that you don’t walk through someone’s putting line or that your phone should be on silent. I learned most of these the hard way—through death stares from playing partners and one particularly memorable incident involving a golf cart and a water hazard.

Whether you’re brand new to the game or just want to make sure you’re not that guy, here are 15 unwritten rules of golf etiquette that’ll keep you in everyone’s good graces.

2. Repair Your Ball Marks on the Green

When your ball lands on the green from any height, it leaves a little crater. Fix it. It takes five seconds with a divot tool, and the greenskeeper will mentally send you a thank-you note.

Pro move: fix your mark and one other you find nearby. Karma is real in golf.

3. Replace Your Divots

Same energy as ball marks, but for the fairway. When you take a chunk of earth with your iron shot (or in my case, attempt a chunk while completely whiffing), put it back. Some courses have sand/seed mix on the carts—use it if the divot is beyond saving.

4. Don’t Walk Through Someone’s Putting Line

Imagine an invisible line between your playing partner’s ball and the hole. Now imagine that line is made of sacred, untouchable golf gods. Walk around it. Always.

I once saw a new player casually stroll right through someone’s line on the 18th green of a club championship. The look he received could have curdled milk at twenty paces.

5. Stand in the Right Place During Someone’s Swing

This is basic golf rules for beginners that many forget. When someone is hitting:

• Don’t stand directly behind them (in their eye line)
• Don’t stand directly across from them
• Stay still and quiet
• The ideal spot is off to the side, slightly behind

Moving during someone’s backswing is basically a declaration of war.

6. Silence Your Phone (Or Better Yet, Leave It in the Bag)

Nothing says “I don’t respect this round” like a phone blaring during someone’s swing. Put it on silent. Better yet, put it on Do Not Disturb. The office can wait four hours.

True story: a guy’s phone rang mid-swing on a par 3 with water. You can guess where his ball ended up. The phone nearly followed it.

7. Let Faster Groups Play Through

If there’s open space ahead of you and a group breathing down your neck, wave them through. It’s not an admission of defeat—it’s just good golf course etiquette.

The best time to do this is at a par 3 tee box. Let them hit, let them go, and enjoy your round at your own pace without the pressure.

8. Rake the Bunker After You’re Done

Found the sand? Welcome to the beach. Now here’s the deal: when you’re done flailing around in there, grab the rake and smooth out your destruction. Enter from the low side, rake as you exit, and leave it better than you found it.

Nobody wants to find your size-11 footprint right where their ball landed.

9. Follow Cart Rules

Every course has cart rules, and they exist for a reason (usually because someone did something monumentally stupid). Common ones:

• Cart path only: Stay on the path, walk to your ball
• 90-degree rule: Drive on the path, turn 90° to your ball, return to the path
• Stay off tees and greens: This should be obvious, but I’ve seen things

I once watched a guy drive a cart straight through a bunker to “save time.” He did not save time. He spent the next 20 minutes explaining himself to the marshal.

10. Be Ready on the Tee Box

When it’s your hole to tee off, be ready. Don’t be the person who waits until everyone else has hit to start looking for their glove, then their tee, then debates which club to use while everyone waits.

Get your routine down. Be efficient. Your playing partners will appreciate it.

11. Don’t Give Unsolicited Swing Advice

Unless someone explicitly asks “what am I doing wrong,” keep your swing tips to yourself. Everyone thinks they’re a swing coach after watching a few YouTube videos. Trust me, your buddy doesn’t want to hear about his takeaway when he’s already 15 over.

Exception: if they’re about to hurt themselves or others, say something.

12. Keep Your Temper in Check

We’ve all hit bad shots. Many bad shots. But throwing clubs, cursing loudly, or slamming your putter into the green isn’t a good look. Take a breath. Golf is hard. That’s literally why we play it.

A quiet “dang it” is fine. A driver launched into a pond is not.

13. Honor the Dress Code

Most courses have one. Check before you go. Generally: collared shirt, no jeans, no metal spikes. Some courses are more relaxed, some are stricter. When in doubt, err on the side of looking like you belong there.

Showing up in a tank top and flip-flops might work at a beach bar, but the starter will send you home.

14. Be a Good Partner When Someone’s Struggling

If your playing partner is having a rough day (and we all have them), don’t pile on. Offer encouragement or just stay neutral. Nobody needs commentary on their seventh shot out of the trees.

A simple “tough break” and moving on is the classy play. If you’re looking to help their game long-term, maybe suggest they check out some golf balls designed for high handicappers—can make a real difference.

15. Say Thank You to the Staff

The starter, the cart attendants, the folks in the pro shop—they’re there to help you have a good time. Acknowledge them. A simple thanks goes a long way, and tipping the cart staff when appropriate is always appreciated.

The Golden Rule of Golf Etiquette

Here’s the thing about golf etiquette: most of it boils down to the golden rule. Be considerate. Be aware of others. Leave the course better than you found it.

Golf has been around for centuries, and these unwritten rules exist because they make the game more enjoyable for everyone. You don’t have to be perfect—I’m certainly not—but being mindful of these 15 rules will make you the kind of playing partner people actually want to play with again.

Now get out there, keep up the pace, and may your divots always be replaced.