Etiquette That Is Okay to 'Relax' on in the Field

Unhygienic Handshakes Immediately After Rounds Raise Concerns Over Green Damage
Drinking Alcohol After Hole-in-One Considered Tradition
Do Not Walk Through Line to Avoid Green Damage
Mobile Phones Prohibited: 'Too Harsh in the Digital Age'

Golf is a gentleman's sport. It offers healing as you walk the field amidst nature. There are no referees. Players follow the rules and etiquette themselves, playing for 4 to 5 hours. However, there are unnecessary golf etiquettes. Sometimes, excessive consideration for others leads to slow play. There are also foolish customs. These are golf etiquettes that should disappear from golf courses.

If golf etiquette is 'relaxed,' you can have a more enjoyable round.

After finishing a round, players shake hands with their playing partners on the green of the final 18th hole. One hand holds the putter, the other holds the flagstick. To show respect, they even take off their hats. During this process, clubs or other objects may be dropped on the green, damaging it. Some partners sweat excessively and wipe sweat from their faces with their hands before offering a handshake. This is unhygienic. It is better to greet each other with a bright smile and a slight bow without shaking hands.

The probability of an amateur golfer making a hole-in-one is 1 in 12,000. It happens about once every 3,000 rounds. It is that difficult. The tradition of drinking alcohol after a hole-in-one should also disappear. Players often share drinks not only with their partners but also with customers in the clubhouse. They even produce commemorative golf balls and hold special rounds to celebrate the hole-in-one. The financial burden is considerable. Excessive celebration culture should be eliminated. There is even a joke that says, "If you get one more hole-in-one, the pillar's root will be pulled out."

There is a green etiquette that says not to walk on your partner’s through line. Players tend to request others not to walk along the line opposite the cup from where they are standing. Weekend golfers rarely wear golf shoes with metal spikes. Walking on the through line does not damage the green. This etiquette is even less necessary in friendly play rather than tournament competitions. If the round is not score-focused, it is better to be lenient about stepping on the through line.

It is sometimes necessary to keep mobile phones away during the 5 hours of a round. This is to breathe with nature, not electromagnetic waves. However, in today’s digitalized world, this is not practical. As long as it does not disturb the partner’s play, mobile phones can be used on the course and in the clubhouse. However, frequent calls are not desirable. Use the phone only when necessary. Set the phone to vibrate and speak quietly during calls.

Golf is a sport with clear principles. The rule is to "play the ball as it lies." Shots are taken even when the lie is poor. Before the round, local rules are set to allow placing the ball if it lies in a fairway divot. The problem arises when the ball is embedded in rough or on a slope. This can be dangerous. It is not bad to agree mutually to take a no-penalty drop and play. If a partner opposes no-penalty relief, take a one-stroke penalty and receive relief confidently.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.