There are certain things you hear on the golf course that irritate you disproportionately, whether it’s a cliche, a comment at the wrong time or something that breaches golf’s rules. Here’s what not to say to your playing partners on the fairways…
Anything by way of instruction
Rule 10.2 makes clear that asking for, or giving, advice during a round is a two-shot penalty in strokeplay or the loss of the hole in match play.
“What club did you take?”
Asking someone this is defined as seeking advice so should incur a penalty under Rule 10.2, although in most competitions players will ignore this. If you really want to know what club someone used, either look at it in their hand, or you can look at their bag and see which club is missing. However be careful doing the latter, for if you touch their clubs in so doing, this is also a penalty, as the rules makes clear:
“During a round, a player must not: touch another player’s equipment to learn information that would be advice if given by or asked of the other player (such as touching the other player’s clubs or bag to see what club is being used.)”
Praising shots that the player who made them would consider mediocre or standard
What is a good shot for a 24-handicapper would not necessarily be so for a single-figure golfer. So make sure if you praise a playing partner’s shot, it is one they would be pleased with themselves. Otherwise it may come across as patronising. Or just plain odd.
Long rants about your own poor play
Players want to enjoy their own round, not hear all about how you are not enjoying yours. You might be ruining your day, but don’t risk ruining someone else’s. Suffer in silence.
‘I wasn’t looking, apologies’
Put your phone away and watch your playing partners’ shots – it really is that simple. There’s no excuse for not having at least a rough idea of where your companions’ shots have gone, unless you’re staring directly into the sun.
Don’t use your mobile phone when your playing partner is hitting a shot
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
Trite, well-known phrases at every opportunity
We’ve all heard well-known phrases such as ‘never up, never in’ for a putt that ends up short. Or ‘dead sheep’ (as in still ewe), when it is still you who is furthest away on the green after making a putt. This may…
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