Last week in our blog, Austin wrote about how it is fun to golf with others. While it is very fun to golf with others and is something I enjoy very much, I have empathy with those who would rather not be paired up with strangers at the golf course. Sometimes, we all just want a relaxing solo round to ourselves or a nice round with the one friend we brought with us. Evening twilight rounds or really early morning tee times can still allow for this type of round, but most rounds played at busy times will likely not give you that luxury.
Golf courses have to pair people up to achieve a steady pace of play and to also ensure the maximum number of golfers can use the course on a given day. Since this is something you will likely experience at many golf courses you may play, I wanted to talk about some tips to help make your paired up round stress-free and fun!
Tip #1: Maintain Pace of Play
I think one of the biggest misconceptions I have seen related to pairing up is that people may not enjoy playing with you based on skill level. Many people do not want to play with strangers because they feel they are not good and do not want to interfere with a stranger’s round. From what I have seen working at the American Classic Golf Club and playing many other golf courses, people do not care how good you are. What they care about is how fast you play. It does not matter what you score and shooting a 110+ can still be enjoyable with any person, regardless of skill level, if you do not hinder pace of play and pick up when necessary. So, play fast and have a great round with players of all skill levels!
Tip #2: Play the Tee Boxes for Your Game
A good way to keep pace with any player is to play the tees that best fit your game. If you are paired with experienced golfers who decide to play from the back tees, do not feel like you have to play back there with them. Playing from forward tees will not only make your round more enjoyable but will also help keep your group moving.
Tip #3: Play One Ball
It can certainly be annoying getting grouped with somebody who constantly drops 2-3 balls onto the tee after their first tee shot. This not only slows the pace of play within your group and the course, but it can also hinder your playing partners rounds. Some people might not know they are not supposed to do that, so if you happen to get paired up with somebody who is constantly doing this, politely asking them to play one ball will likely get them to stop. If the course is not too busy and your group is on board, then by all means play an extra shot or two here and there but avoid doing this right out of the gate.
Tip #4: Don’t Show Off
For more experienced golfers, I think the easiest way to ruin a golf round with strangers is to show off. Constantly talking about how good you are and always looking to one-up you’re playing partners can make for an annoying round. Many people you may be paired up with are not looking for competition and did not show up to the course to watch how good you are. Play your game as you want to the best of your ability but avoid showing off to your playing partners!
Tip #5: Be Friendly
This is a good way to be in anything you do, but this is especially true in golf. Even if you are unhappy to be paired, there is no reason to be rude to your playing partners. There is no need to be ultra-social and outgoing, and it is totally fine to do your own thing on the course by yourself or with your one friend you came to the course with. Regardless, being friendly and somewhat social with your playing partners will make for a great round no matter who you are paired with.
I understand the pressures that can come with playing with strangers. I used to dread being paired up with strangers too, but now I enjoy it. Stick to these tips and keep an open mind, and who knows you may just meet some great people in the process!
-Sam Cresta, Assistant Golf Professional at American Classic GC
One of the most unique aspects about golf is that it is a sport that you can play alone or with other players. Sometimes it’s nice to get out and play a round by yourself to work on your game or to find peace in nature, but most times it’s much more enjoyable to play with friends and even people you don’t know. Golf was created with the intent of playing in groups, so I want to dive in with you on why golf is more fun when playing with others.
- Make New Friends
Whether you consider yourself a seasoned veteran on the course or you’re new to the area and game, golf is a great and easy way for you to meet new people. What’s awesome about this hobby is that you don’t have to be a good golfer to make a friend. There’s no doubt that one hopes to be paired up with someone who has a similar skill set, but in this instance, just being a nice person can lead to making a new friend.
At the end of the day, golfing is meant to be fun and you truly never know who you will meet at your tee time. Life is about networking, and playing golf during peak times is a perfect opportunity to do so.
- Never Ending Ways to Play
In basketball, you can play knockout or pig. With tennis, you can play doubles. For golf though, there’s endless ways to play and keep score. Of course there’s the traditional way of playing your own ball, but there’s several other types of formats that you can play to make your round more interesting.
You can play a scramble where you and your partner always pick the best shot between the two or group, alternate shot where you rotate between strokes, “Skins” is a format where the player with the lowest score on the hole wins the hole (a tie would carry over to the next hole putting two skins on the line and so on) or even by way of a point system where instead of counting strokes, you award points. Example: 3 points for a birdie, 2 points for a par, 1 point for a bogey, and 0 for anything worse. There’s several other ways to play, but when playing with others the options are limitless.
- It’s Good for the Soul
There’s no doubt that we all have those days where we just want to be left alone, but according to medical professionals, it’s healthier for us to socialize. Dr. Craig Sawchuk, a psychologist, says that “we are social animals by nature, so we tend to function better when we are in a community and being around others.”
Given the current state of our world, we are in the midst of some sad and depressing times. Even though we are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, it’s very healthy for people to interact and socialize together. Of course we have to at a distance to keep everyone safe, but it’s important to keep our brains sharp and our hearts happy. If you are feeling alone and in need of some company, going to the golf course and playing a round with someone may be exactly what you need.
-Austin Ebersole, Head Golf Professional at American Classic GC
In part 1 of our starter pack blog, we covered what equipment new golfers must have to get started in golf. This beginner golf “starter pack” included clubs, balls, and tees, and we talked about how these essential items can be acquired cheaply and quickly. Now that you have a general idea of the equipment needed to get started, getting out onto the course is within reach!
While the necessary equipment needed in golf is pretty straightforward and easy to acquire, it can still be challenging for new golfers who have never played before to smoothly transition into playing on public courses. Between the extensive etiquette rules, confusing golf rules, dress codes, and other golf nuances it can seem overwhelming trying to start. This can certainly be a lot to grasp, but it is really a lot simpler than it appears!
When looking to play on public golf courses, it is always best to call ahead and book a tee time (you can book online most places too) rather than just showing up. During the golf busy season, most courses will not be able to get you out without booking a tee time in advance. Golf courses make booking tee times a very simple process, and golf courses will allot four people per tee time slot. This means that each tee time will allow for a maximum of four people per group. Here at the American Classic we book our tee times in 10 minute increments, meaning that every 10 minutes a new group will tee off. This allows for each group to get out ahead of the group behind them, which helps the course flow smoothly. If you have a 9:00 tee time, it is best to get there at least 15 minutes early to ensure you can check in and get ready to start at 9:00. The goal is to tee off at 9:00, and showing up exactly at your scheduled tee time can make that nearly impossible. Late starts can hinder the pace of play on the course, so arriving early greatly helps the course! To book your tee time, simply call the course clubhouse or book online if your course offers it.
Now that you have booked your tee time and are ready to head to the course, let’s talk about some golf course etiquette rules that can apply to all public golf courses. To start, one of the most important etiquette rules to consider is pace of play. Pace of play relates to how long it takes to play your round, and how fast each group plays affects this. Since most courses will separate their tee times in 10 minute increments, it is important to aim to finish each hole in that allotted time. For example, if you are taking 15-20 minutes to finish one hole, you will hold up the groups behind you and hinder the flow of the course. Longer holes, like par 5’s and long par 4’s, will take some more time but these holes will also take the other groups longer as well. With that being said, you do not want to rush around the course and constantly stress over how fast you are playing. After all, golf is meant to be fun and relaxing, so finding a balance between keeping pace and rushing is crucial to your experience. Here are some tips to help you keep it moving without overstressing!
- Plan your next shot as you are moving towards your ball, not when you reach it
- Don’t be afraid to drop further along in the fairway or elsewhere if you lose a ball out of bounds
- Consider playing alternate game formats like a scramble
- Play “ready golf”- whoever is ready to go should hit no matter what
- Make sure to watch your ball all the way to the ground. This helps you find your ball quicker and can avoid unnecessary looking time
Continuing on with course etiquette, many superintendents and course grounds crew workers would be upset if golf course care was not mentioned. When playing on public golf courses, taking care of the course is very important. This mainly relates to fixing divots and the ground in which you play on. A divot is a piece of turf that is dug out of the course when playing a shot. If you have torn up some turf on a shot (this is normal and will happen) replacing the chunk that flew out can speed up the recovery process and also fill in the hole left in the turf. Many courses will also provide you with seeding/sand and ask you to fill the areas tore up to help the turf recover. 
The greens are the most delicate part of a golf course, so always be cautious and try not to damage them. Do not drive your golf cart on the greens! That may seem obvious, but I have seen some crazy things on the golf course. Fixing your ball marks/divots on the greens is also a crucial aspect of taking care of the course.
A final thing to consider regarding etiquette is the course dress code. Many courses will not allow clothing items like jeans or non-collared shirts, so make sure to ask before you head over. Here at the American Classic we are laid back about this and do not have a dress code, so feel free to wear whatever you are comfortable with when playing here!
Booking tee times, showing up early, keeping pace, and taking care of the course while playing will ensure a smooth and fun transition into golf! In the beginning, I would not stress over every little golf rule, and focus mainly on these etiquette basics while having fun with your friends on the course. Golf is a great game, and following these basics will make getting out onto the course stress-free!
-Sam Cresta, Assistant Golf Professional at American Classic Golf Club
Book A Tee Time For American Classic Here!