Golf manners and etiquette are some of the most important skills a golfer can have. Plenty of business deals have been conducted on the golf course, and of course you don’t want to make an obvious etiquette mistake in a high-stakes golf tournament. Many beginners are intimidated by this thought of trying to go play golf without really having their golf etiquette mastered. It can be stressful going to golf with more experienced players and worried about doing something wrong. But don’t worry, it is not that hard! By the end of this post, you will know the fastest and easiest tips to getting your golf course manners headed in the right direction.

TIP #1: Introductions! If you don’t know who you’re playing with, introduce yourself on the first tee! Be friendly and be the first to introduce yourself to your playing partners. Eye contact, a firm handshake and a smile can be some simple steps to start the round off on the right track. You would think that this is obvious, but some people do not know how to properly introduce themselves. You’re going to be with these people for 18 holes, you might as well get to know them!

TIP #2: Keep up with pace of play! Pace of play for 18 holes is generally about 4 1/2 hours. If you’re a beginner, don’t worry about hitting more shots and being slower. Most of the time, slow play is caused by a slow pre-shot routine, not by the amount of shots hit on the hole. Visualize your shot, take 1-2 practice swings, step up and hit it! This should take at most 30-45 seconds. If you do this and keep a good pace walking to your ball, you should have no problem finishing your round in those 4 1/l2 hours. Remember, while we’re still young!

TIP #3: Be conscious of other players! Talking loudly or rummaging through your golf bag while someone is swinging probably is not the best idea. Be courteous as you would like others to be courteous to you.

TIP #4: Fix ball marks and divots. Carrying a bottle sand with you or having one in your cart is always a good habit to have. Filling your divot in the fairway will help the grass grow back faster and will ensure no one else’s ball will roll into it. Also, fixing ball marks on the green is super important! It takes 5 seconds to fix a ball mark, and it already starts to heal. But, once it is left unfixed, it takes 2 weeks for the scar to heal. A general rule of thumb is to left the golf course in better condition than you found it, so fix a few more of each if you happen to find them.

TIP #5: Get the flag when you finish first! If you sink that birdie putt or are the first to tap in, don’t forget the flag. It is good manners for whoever finishes out the hole first to put the flag back in when the hole is finished.

Shannon Milliken (my teammate) posing after tending the flag with her group!

My team and I traveled to Goodyear, Arizona this past weekend to compete in the Western New Mexico Invitational at the Golf Club of Estrella.

In the opening round we carded a 309 to get us tied for 11th in the field of 13 teams. This 309 was a season best for us, so we were pretty excited going into the final round. Senior Brittany O’Bryant shot a 72 the first day, going into the final round tied for 5th place.

The second round proved to be a challenge, with the 102 degree heat beating down on us all day. We finished the second round with a collective score of 305, our lowest round ever since 2016! This was a huge victory for us; we had all been working super hard and now it was finally starting to pay off. We ended up shooting low enough to solo 11th place in the tournament.

Our next tournament is at the end of October at Sonoma State’s Invitational, and after that we will cap our season off at San Marcos’s invitational Halloween weekend.

CSU San Marcos won the tournament with an impressive score of one under par.

If you are ever traveling to Arizona, I would highly recommend this course. The sunrises and sunsets are absolutely spectacular, and the layout of the course is very different from the traditional California courses my team and I usually play. Click this link to see more pictures and learn more about Golf Club of Estrella!

To all you aspiring college golfers out there: Go Big!! Traveling on a college team is so fun and such a rewarding experience. I have traveled to so many places and met so many people that I would have not met if I had not been on the Chico State Team. My teammates are my family and I know they will be my lifelong friends. Work hard and your time and dedication will pay off in ways you would never expect (sometimes in the form of free pretzels and peanuts on airplane rides).