Golf Etiquette: Which Traditions Matter (and Which We Want to Throw Away)

Most of us here at Golf Swag grew up around the game of golf, but not everyone did. We’ve noticed that when we get paired with a random single out there, a lot of them started playing golf in the last five years without anyone more seasoned than themselves to show them the ropes or explain what to do and what not to do out there on the course. Here’s a guide to show you some of the most common golf etiquette notes and why they may or may not have a real implication.

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Golf Etiquette That Can Stay

• Repairing the golf course, i.e., filling your fairway divots with sand so the course grows back faster, using a Pitchfix to repair ball marks on the green, and raking a bunker after you’ve hit out of it is simple and doesn’t take too long to do (here’s a helpful video on how to actually do that).
• Yelling “FORE” if an errant golf shot is headed toward another group: Look, this one is important for a number of reasons (mostly safety), but the fact that we hear dudes hootin’ and hollerin’ about making a 5-foot putt to make a triple bogey and that same group is dead silent when they send a golf ball soaring toward another group is a wild conundrum. Someone should study it, seriously. 
• Pace of Play: Please, our wives want us back, and honestly, we’ve been out here so long I also want to be back.

Golf Etiquette That Can Go Away

• No music on the golf course It feels like this one is an old rule, but most country clubs still don’t allow music to be played while you’re golfing. As long as everyone in the group is okay with the chosen playlist and you can’t hear it three fairways over, let it rip my guy. Our customizable bluetooth speaker is great for keeping the sound close to you, whether on your bag or in your cart.
• Walking in someone’s line: *Please note: this only applies if you’re not playing for a stack of cash, in a tournament, or have a handicap below 5, when it may actually matter.* This bit of golf etiquette is a little outdated; the reason this used to be important is because back in the day, we used metal spikes in our golf shoes for traction, and it would severely mess with the smoothness of the greens when we walked on them. Thus, walking in someone’s line could really hinder the outcome of their putt. In today’s world, nearly all shoes use plastic spikes or are spikeless, so just pick up ya damn feet and it’ll all be okay.
• Dress Code: The history behind golf’s dress code is not cool. The whole “gentlemen’s game” BS is loaded with who can afford to play and who cannot. The requirements for collared shirts, sometimes pants, and certainly the laundry list of items you can’t wear are simply because rich folks didn’t want poor folks around their golf courses. It’s 2025, we’re all just people… wear what ya want.

At the end of the day, golf’s supposed to be fun. Fix the course when you can, yell “FORE” like you mean it, keep things moving, and don’t stress about whether your socks are “club appropriate.” If the old rules make the game less welcoming instead of more enjoyable, they’re not really doing their job anymore.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to golf etiquette, and every group has its own unspoken rules. What did we miss? Drop your best (or worst) etiquette takes in the comments, and if you’re the friend dragging your crew into the game, send this their way so they don’t have to learn it all the hard way.