Golf is built on precision, patience, and a shared responsibility for the course and the people playing it. The game evolved with a long list of customs designed to make every round safe, fair, and enjoyable, while preventing unnecessary damage to greens, fairways, and equipment. Following them signals respect for tradition, for the people maintaining the course, and for every player who will stand over a putt after you.

That respect shows up in a few unwritten standards every pro follows without being told, here are the 5 etiquette rules that quietly shape the game.

Repairing The Ball Mark 

A ball landing with speed creates a pitch mark that can change the roll of any putt that comes after it. Repairing the mark correctly lifts the turf inward from the edges, preserving the root structure rather than tearing it out. Serious golfers adopt a simple habit: fix the mark from your shot and one extra you notice nearby.

On the PGA Tour, players follow the same routine during practice rounds and competition, because smooth greens protect scoring conditions for the field. Jordan Spieth is one of the biggest names who takes this up.

The habit is quiet, quick, and expected among experienced players who understand the impact of surface quality.

No Club Throwing

Frustration can change a shot, but it should never change behaviour. A club is engineered equipment, and throwing it into the ground or toward trees risks damage to the clubhead, shaft, or the course itself. Players may set a club down firmly or drop it beside their bag, but forceful throwing is considered a breach of conduct. This expectation is passed down early.

Jack Nicklaus often recalled being told as a junior that one thrown club would end his golf at home, a lesson that shaped his approach to the game. Modern professionals follow the same standard, placing or handing off equipment without throwing.

Tip Your Caddie

When a round involves a caddie, tipping is considered part of the cost of the game. Their work goes beyond carrying a bag. A trained caddie knows yardages, green contours, wind patterns, and ideal landing zones specific to the course. 

They help players avoid mistakes and protect the pace of play by planning positions before the player arrives.

In general, if a golf pro wins a tournament, the caddy usually gets 10 percent of winnings. And when a player breaks the etiquette, the world of golf doesn't forget quickly. Just ask Matt Kuchar. Back in 2019, when he gave his caddie $5000 instead of the $130,000 from his $1.3 million, he quickly drew the golf world's ire!

Be Mindful of Your Golf Cart

Golf carts can create visible wear when driven repeatedly across the same lines, especially after rain or during soft conditions. The simplest way to reduce damage is to cross fairways at right angles, avoid driving near greens and tees, and respect any marked turf-protection zones.

Professional events restrict cart access for this reason, and where carts are permitted in qualifiers or pro-ams, officials direct traffic patterns to preserve the surface. Adopting the same approach spreads wear instead of creating a single track and keeps the course in better condition for the groups behind you.

Filling The Divots

On fairways, a divot left unfilled creates an uneven lie for the players behind you and exposes soil that quickly dries out. Most clubs provide sand-and-seed mix for repairing divots, allowing the turf to recover more quickly. Even if your shot takes only a shallow strip of grass, restoring it maintains consistency across the course. 

Professionals move with a rhythm: replace the divot if intact, or fill the cavity with sand and level it with a foot tap. It preserves the playing surface and reflects an understanding of how courses are maintained.

Share your go-to habit on the course in the comments.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar