ETIQUETTE
Members of the VLGC are expected to conform to the rules, have respect for the etiquette of golf, and abide by the following guidelines when playing their games.

GENERAL ETIQUETTE

  • Turn off cell phones. Electronic devices are not permitted during competitive events and are strongly

  • discouraged during play since using them may be distracting to others.

  • Carry only a maximum of 14 clubs in your bag - know how far a ball goes with each club.

  • Mark your ball so it can be easily identified and avoid a penalty for hitting the wrong ball.

  • Move a ball out of areas marked “ground under repair”. No penalty.

  • Keep both pull and power carts off tee boxes, out of sand traps and from the edge of greens.

  • Keep power carts on paths or in the rough where possible and stay out of roped off and wet areas to minimize course damage. Drive safely.

  • Abide by directional signs and the requests of golf course staff.

  • Keep pace with the group ahead, not ahead of the group behind.

  • Allow faster groups to play through.

  • Abide by the dress code (golf shirts should have a collar and/or sleeves; no tank tops; shorts should be no higher than 4 inches above the knee).

  • Wear only allowable soft spike golf shoes or similar footwear (runners).

  • Be encouraging to your playing partners.

  • Dispose of litter in trash containers.

  • Warn others by shouting “fore” if you or a member of your group loses sight of a shot. Protect yourself if you hear “fore” shouted from an adjacent fairway.

 ON THE TEEING AREA (Tee box)

  • Be ready to play when called to the tee.

  • Complete warm up exercises before stepping into the teeing area.

  • Limit practice and stroke to 40 seconds .

  • Place the ball between the tee markers or within two club lengths back.

  • Remain quiet and still while golfers are making their shots.

  • Stand clear of a golfer making a swing such as directly behind or in the eye-line.

  • Tee off only when the group in front is safely out of range.

  • Replace/repair divots (from practice swings as well).

  • Clean the teeing area of broken tees.

  • Keep pull carts and golf bags off the teeing area.

IN THE GENERAL AREA ( Fairway)

  • Plan ahead by deciding the next club selection and strategy while moving to the ball or waiting for others to hit.

  • Limit conversation length since excessive chatting could impede pace of play or distract playing partners.

  • Give a player making a shot plenty of room to ensure safety.

  • Limit practice and stroke to 40 seconds.

  • Drive the power cart to the first ball, if the partner sharing a cart has hit to the opposite side of the fairway, then drop off that player and go to the second ball. After both players hit, meet up farther down the fairway.

  • Take a couple of clubs when walking from the cart to the ball. Choosing only one club, then returning to retrieve a different club wastes time.

  • Assist fellow players by watching where their ball goes to avoid lost balls.

  • Hit a provisional ball to save time if there is a chance a ball may be lost or out of bounds.

  • Minimize the time spent looking for a lost ball ( 3 min.) and/or allow the group behind to play through.

  • Rake sand traps and place rakes outside of the bunkers

  • Replace/repair divots.

 ON THE PUTTING GREEN

  • Park both pull and power carts on the cart paths at the side or back of the green, in the direction of the next tee, before putting.

  • Observe and respect all marked areas around the green.

  • Repair your own ball mark and one other.

  • Avoid stepping in someone else’s putting line.

  • If the flagstick is remove, lay the flagstick on the green away from the putting area.

  • Avoid standing in a place that causes a shadow to be in another player’s putting line.

  • Plan the putt while waiting your turn by judging the speed and the break of the putt.

  • Putt first if your ball if farthest from the flag, whether off or on the green.

  • Continue putting until holed out or “mark” the ball. Continuous putting speeds play. Conceded putts (gimmies) are not allowed in stroke play competition.

  • Remove the ball from the cup immediately after putting out.

  • Use a ball pick-up device or hand to remove the ball from the cup, not the putter head which could damage the lip of the hole.

  • Record your score at the next tee.

 EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND YOU
Maintenance equipment and workers have the right-of-way.  If you encounter staff cutting a green and changing the flagstick location – be patient.  Do not hit onto the green if the flagstick is out.   For greens, fairways, sand traps, and irrigation repairs – the equipment operator will stop the machine and wait for your shot.  If there seems to be confusion, the worker will wave for play to continue or move away from the area.  Golfers may be held responsible for any personal injury or damage to equipment or property (City owned or privately owned) as a result of not adhering to these safety procedures.

 AUTHORITY
Volunteer Player Assistants (Marshalls) are available to assist with golf etiquette and safety awareness.  Player Assistants and golf course staff have the authority to enforce golf etiquette, facility policies, and procedures.