Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club Rules of Etiquette

The rules of golf etiquette (as adopted by the USGA) have many very important aspects that helps keep the game enjoyable. These are related to the safety of golfers, to pace of play, and to maintaining the quality of the golf course.

Golf etiquette is an essential part of the game. And it's something that newcomers to the game often learn as they go - on the course, when playing with more experienced golfers.

If you are new to the game, or just need to brush up on your golf etiquette, here are some basic rules of the road that will help keep the game enjoyable for you and those around you.

Keep It Safe

• Do not swing your club until you know that others in your group are at a safe distance. Likewise, keep your distance when others are swinging. Be aware to steer clear of trouble.
• When practicing your swing, never swing in the direction of another player. There may be twigs or other matter in the grass that could fly up and injure a playing partner.
• Do not hit the ball until you are certain that the group ahead of you is out of range.
• If your ball appears headed toward another player or another group, give them a warning by yelling out, "Fore!" and pointing in their direction.
• Observe the safety suggestions posted in golf carts and drive carefully. Golf etiquette requires keeping your cart off the grass as much as possible.
• Never throw clubs in anger. In addition to being rude and childish, it could also be dangerous.
  
  

Maintain a Good Pace

• Keep the round moving by being prepared to hit your shot when it is your turn. You probably don't like waiting on other groups - don't make other groups wait on you.
• The player who is away hits first in a group. However, in friendly matches (as opposed to tournament play), this rule can be ignored in favor of "ready play" - players hit as they are ready. All players should agree to "ready play" before it is put into effect.
• Do not spend too much time looking for a lost ball, particularly if there is a group behind you ready to play. If you insist on taking the full five minutes allotted to look for lost balls, golf etiquette says wave up the group behind to allow them to play through.
• Always try to keep pace with the group ahead of you. If space opens in front of you, allow a faster group to play through.
• When two players in a cart hit to opposite sides of a hole, drive to first ball and drop off that player with his club, then drive to the second ball. After both players hit, meet up farther down the hole.
• When walking from your cart to your ball, take a couple clubs with you. Taking only one club, then having to return to the cart to retrieve a different club, is a huge time-waster.
• Always leave the putting green as soon as your group has finished putting.
  

Be Kind to the Course

• Always repair your divots – please use provided sand and seed mix.
• Always carefully repair ball marks on the greens using a divot repair tool. Insert the repair tool just outside the back of the divot hole. Push the back of the divot towards the center (not up) of the pit mark. Pull both sides of the ball mark into the center. This should close the hole. Gently tap the ball mark down with a putter to smooth the surface
• Enter and leave bunkers at the nearest level point and always rake sand traps after hitting to erase your footprints and damage to the area where your ball was. Leave the rake in the bunker.
• Never take a divot on a practice swing.

Golf Carts

Electric power carts are available for rent from the Golf Shop. No reservations are taken for carts. As part of the rental agreement, member/guest is responsible for following all rules pertaining to use of the power cart.

• Observe cart rules. Sometimes we will post "cart path only" signs; other times we will ask you to observe the "90-degree rule" (players may drive the carts at a 90-degree angle from the cart path to the ball and then back to the path). Please do as asked.
• Keep carts away from greens and hazards unless you have a handicap flag.
• No person under the age of eighteen (18) shall be permitted to drive any cart anywhere on Club property.
• No more than two (2) people are allowed on Club owned carts, including the driver.
• Privately owned power carts must be registered with the Club and trial fees will be assessed.
• Handcarts are provided by the Club and are available for use at no charge.
• Powered “Kangaroo” hand carts are allowed on the course but are to stay off of greens, collars, and teeing grounds.
  

And a Few More Golf Etiquette Hints

• Quiet, please! Never talk during another player's swing.
• Do not yell out following a shot. Even if boisterous behavior doesn't bother your playing partners, there are other people on the course who may be within earshot.
• Be aware of your shadow on the putting green. Don't stand in a place that causes your shadow to be cast across another player or that player's putting line.
• Never walk through a playing partner's putting line. Your footprints might alter the path of a partner's putt. Step over the putting line, or walk around (behind) the partner's ball.
  

Golf Course Rules and Information

• Pace of Play: All players are expected to complete their round in four hours or less. It is the responsibility of each group to keep pace with the group ahead. If your group falls one complete hole behind the group ahead, you are required to allow the faster group to play through. A course marshal has the authority to keep play moving at the proper pace for the benefit and enjoyment of all players.
• Foursomes have priority on the course. Groups of less than four players should not expect to play through foursomes, however, if holes are open, foursomes are encouraged to allow faster groups to play through. A single player has no standing and should give way to a match of any kind.
• Twosomes and singles shall be grouped together with other players and allowed to play alone only at the discretion of the Pro Shop.
• Groups of five or more players shall be permitted only at the discretion of the Golf Shop.
• Play may be authorized to start from the 10th tee only when directed to do so by the Golf Shop.
• Yardage markers are indicated on the cart paths and Kirby markers are located on either side of the fairway at 25-yard increments starting at 225 yards. All yardages are to the center of the green.
• Any non-golf activity such as jogging, walking, bicycling, etc. is prohibited during normal course hours.
• Pets, whether or not on a leash, are not allowed on the course at any time.

Practice Facilities

• Driving range: balls are provided for use on the range only. Do not take/use range balls on to the golf course.
• Practice hole: you may use your own golf balls or obtain a “shag bag” from the Golf Shop. Players using the practice hole should replace all divots with sand/seed mix, repair ball marks on the green, and pick up practice balls.
• Please limit your time to thirty minutes when others are waiting.
• Practice Putting Green: putting only—no chipping.