Here we are in another Las Vegas golf season with the temperatures over 105 degrees. The high temps make it a little tough to finish 18 and I am not complaining. I feel very fortunate to still be able to play.
I would like to reflect a little on golf course etiquette. In the last thirty years it seems to me the rules of the game and the courtesy has really dropped. I don’t know why and maybe no one has bothered to educate the beginner golfers. I would like to point out a few things that I think would make it more enjoyable for all players on the course. Sometimes our foursome might get carried away and we forget to keep our voices down. Sound really carries on the course and we must remember that there are other players that are trying to hit shots.
Speed of play is always very important. It is not necessary to be on the course for 5 hours or more. A good round of golf can and should be played in 4 to 41/2 hours. Be ready to hit your shot when it is your turn to play. I see a lot of guys that will sit in the cart while their buddy hits only to drive another 10 or 15 yards to their ball. Go to your ball and at least get an idea what you are going to do when it is your turn. You can also speed up play by putting out, if you are only a foot or so from the hole and not in any ones line . Do not waste time by marking the ball and going through all the motions of the pros. We can all take a lesson from our new golfing sensation, Rory McElroy. He does not waste a lot of putting or hitting his shots. A breath of fresh air! When you finish the hole and get to your carts, go to the next hole to mark scores or at least pull away from the green to allow the next group to hit their shots to the green.
And if you find yourself a hole or two behind, make every effort to catch up to the group in front of you. If you get in trouble and cannot catch up, there is nothing wrong with letting the group behind you to play through. I like to carry this to the streets that we drive. If you want to drive slowly, move to the right lane and let others drive through.
A rule of etiquette that bothers me most involves sand bunkers. Those rakes, weather in the bunker or out, depending on the course, are there for you to use when you hit a shot or shots out of the bunker. Rake you divot or divots and footprints so the next golfer does not end up in them. I cannot believe how many golfers hit their shots out of the bunkers and move right on the geen without raking the traps. This practice can also be used in the fairways; try and replace your divots in the grass, either by replacing it with the grass or with the sand jar on the cart. It’s aggravating to hit a decent shot in the fairway and have it end in someone’s divot!
Just one more important thought: Weather playing a Muni course or an expensive resort destination, it does not get any better than being on the course. We should all do our very best to care for the course we are playing and for the sport we love. Just because we pay a green fee does not give us the right to disrespect the course or the game. With that said and hoping not to offend anyone I want to say, God
Bless you all and wishing you many healthy years of golfing enjoyment.
Lou Cangey
Vegas Golf Inc.
VegasGolfPros.com
Golf..A 4 letter word.
