Renting golf carts is quite useful on golf courses, especially if you have a hard time walking. By renting a golf cart, you do not have to buy it yourself, saving you money if you do not play a lot for a long time.
On the other hand, when you rent someone else’s golf cart, there are rules and renting etiquette that should be followed to keep all parties happy and not disgruntled.
One of these rules you need to follow is bringing back the rented golf cart on time, which saves staff a lot of trouble. Therefore, if you plan on renting a golf cart at your golf course, you may wonder: when do you have to bring back rented golf carts?
In this article, we will tell you exactly when you have to bring back rented golf carts to organize yourself well and keep everyone happy.
When Do You Have To Bring Back Rented Golf Carts?
When you need to bring back rented golf carts at the clubhouse depends on the closing time set by your golf course. Many times, the closing time for golf carts is somewhere between 6pm and 8pm. The staff will usually tell you the closing time when you rent a cart, or you can ask them.
Bringing rented golf carts back at the right time is proper golf etiquette and important in order to be respectful to the staff of your golf course.
Not bringing rented golf carts back in timely fashion is extremely frustrating for golf course employees, stretches their work hours for the same pay, and can make them less happy and enjoyable to be around when they provide you services you benefit from.
The fact of the matter is that many golf course employees need to be at work very early, and wake up even earlier to have breakfast, shower, and all the other essentials.
Some golf course employees need to wake up at 4am or 5am, so you can see why they would rather not be forced to wait 30-60 minutes after closing time because some people do not follow rules and do not bring their rented golf carts in time. Everyone deserves their sleep.
Rented golf carts need to be brought back before closing time, which is almost always later during the day. If it is sundown, or dark outside, it may already be closing time. Ask the golf course staff when closing time is if you do not know, but they will generally tell you.
Even if you did not complete all 18 holes of your round, if it is closing time, you need to bring the rented golf cart back. Those are the rules. Past closing time, if you can still see the ball, you can often still play golf, but you need to walk.
If you cannot see what you are shooting at, odds that you are late, and need to bring the golf cart back.
On the other hand, using light-up golf balls to tell staff you can still see the ball past dark is flat out disrespectful. If you could not see where a regular golf ball travels in the air, then it is time to go. Be mindful of the staff waiting on you to go home so that they can go home themselves.
If you wait to long to bring back your rented golf carts, staff may start to get anxious and wonder if the rented carts were broken or stolen.
Not returning golf carts before closing time is also a liability for the golf course. Someone running loose with a rented golf cart at night can accidentally injure or kill someone, and the golf course can be sued for it.
Many golf course staff also mention that the times they have left their carts outside, they woke up to them on 4 concrete blocks, with the battery stolen. Golfcart batteries are expensive. In some cases, the entire cards must have been loaded up on a trailer and stolen.
Therefore, do not blame golf course staff is they tell you they need the golf carts back before closing time. You would require the same thing if you were the business owner or the staff of the golf course.
If you thought clubhouse employees get to go home directly after you bring in the carts, and that they are impatient, you are wrong. After you bring in the rented golf carts, they need to clean them, park them, and plug in the chargers to recharge the carts overnight.
This process takes considerable time as well.
Many golf courses have a closing time to bring the golf carts somewhere between 7pm and 8pm. Assuming it takes 30-60 minutes to store all the rented golf carts and plug them in, staff may not leave the course before 8pm or 9pm!
Considering they often need to be up somewhere between 4am and 6am…they are not getting that much sleep or free time. Now, imagine how they will feel if you bring back your rented golf cart 30-60 minutes late… Odds are that you would be frustrated in their shoes as well.
Finally, some golf courses will charge you a fee for bringing in the cart late. Some of these penalties are monetary, like a 1$ fee per minute past closing time if you brought the cart back late.
Therefore, you should try to bring the rented golf cart back in time for closing time every time you play. If by some sort of random accident or issue, you bring the cart back late, you could tip the staff a little bit.
Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you have learned exactly when you should bring back rented golf carts on golf courses.
Did you know this proper golf cart renting etiquette? Do you find golf carts useful on a golf course? Let us know in the comments down below!
In the great game of golf, details are often what separates the winner of a tournament from the runner-ups. All around the world, professional golfers are trying to get every advantage possible over their opponents in order to increase their chances of winning.
However, it is possible to go overboard and use illegal methods to increase golfing performance. Those illegal methods including illegal golf clubs. Therefore, since illegal golf clubs are a rarely discussed topic, you may wonder: what makes a golf club illegal?
In this article, we will tell you exactly some of the elements that make a golf club illegal.
What Makes A Golf Club Illegal?
A golf club will be deemed illegal if it does not conform to USGA and R&A regulations. Illegal golf clubs have non-conform dimensions, volumes, shapes, coefficients of restitution, and more. Examples of illegal golf club include clubs longer than 48 inches, clubs with molded grips, a sanded club face, and more.
An illegal golf club is a golf club that does not respect the regulations created by the USGA & the R&A.
Down below are rulings concerning the different parts of the golf club in order to make it legal.
Golf Club Shaft
A regulated golf club characteristic is the geometry of the golf club. For starters, the length of the golf club shaft needs to be between 18 inches and 48 inches. This rule does not apply to putters.
The golf club shaft needs to be relatively straight along its length. If the shaft is too bent or not straight enough, it will be an illegal golf club.
A highly regulated element of golf clubs is called the Coefficient of Restitution (abbreviated COR). The coefficient of restitution determines how effective the golf club shaft is at transferring the energy stored in it when it bends back to the ball.
A higher coefficient of restitution means that the golf club will be more effective at transferring energy back to the golf ball. For example, a golf club with a COR = 0.75 will be more performant than a club with a COR = 0.60. The coefficient of restitution needs to remain within acceptable ranges to be deemed legal.
Golf Grips
When it comes to the golf grip, it needs to be straight and fixed to the shaft. It cannot incorporate any ridges or be molded in order to better fit hands or fingers.
The grip for all clubs except the putter must be circular in cross-section, except for the possibility of a straight, continuous, slightly raised rib along the full length of the grip, or a slightly indented spiral.
The putter’s grip can be noncircular in cross section, as long as the cross section has no concavity, is symmetrical, and stays relatively similar throughout the length of the grip.
For all clubs, the grip can be a bit tapered, but it should not have any bulges (marked convexity) or waists (significant concavity). The cross section of the grip, measured in any direction, cannot be larger than 1.75 inches.
For clubs other than the putter, the grip axis must coincide with the golf club’s shaft axis.
A putter golf club can have two grips installed if they are both circular in cross section and their axes coincide with the golf club shaft’s axis.
Golf Club Head
In general, the club head needs to have a plain shape, rigid, and all parts needs to be functional in nature, not decorative. A golf club head cannot have holes through the face, through the head, features only existing to meet dimensional requirements.
A golf club head also cannot have features extending in or out of the club head face, nor features that extend a lot above the top of the head. A golf club head also cannot have electronic or optical devices installed onto it.
An example of an illegal golf club is a golf club that has many little studs on the club face instead of grooves. These many tiny studs gave the golf ball an incredible amount of spin, giving players an unfair advantage in some situations.
An other element of a golf club that would make it illegal is if the golf club head has a volume that goes outside of the acceptable range. For example, a driver club head cannot be larger than 460 cubic centimeters.
If a driver club head is larger than 460 cubic centimeters, in order to gain more carry distance, it will be deemed illegal. Getting caught with one of these golf clubs in a professional setting will lead to penalties.
The golf club head needs to fit in a 5” x 5” x 5” box.
The sole to crown height of a golf club cannot exceed 2.8 inches, and the heel-to-toe length must be longer than the face-to-back distance. Without this, you would have an odd looking golf club that would not look much like a golf club anymore.
The angle between the golf club shaft and a vertical line coming out of the club head must be 10 or more degrees. The angle between the shaft and the club head, viewed from the toe of the head, must not be more than 10 degrees behind the club head nor more than 20 degrees in front of the club head.
The bottom of the golf club’s heel should be contained within a radius of 0.625 inches around the shaft’s center. This rule does not apply to putters.
The club head needs to be attached to the shaft in a specific way for the golf club to be legal for tournament use. The shaft needs to be attached to the heel of the club head through either a socket or single plain neck. This rule does not apply to putters, as the shaft can be attached anywhere to the head.
When it comes to Woods and Irons specifically, you cannot have cavities in the outline of the heel or toe of the club head that can be viewed from above. You also cannot have significant or multiple cavities in the outline of the back of the club head that can be viewed from above.
Still for Woods and Irons, you cannot have transparent material in the club head to make a non-conform feature become conform. You also cannot have features that extend beyond the outlines of the club head when viewed from above.
General Rules
Another thing to note is that if your golf club breaks during play, you can still use it. Furthermore, playing with more than 14 golf clubs in your bag is also illegal, and will get you severe score penalties if you are caught during a tournament.
On the other hand, if you purposely modify the characteristics of your golf club, be it by damaging it, making adjustments to the loft, and more, then you are no longer allowed to use that club for the remainder of the round.
Changing settings on your clubs is like having more than 14 golf clubs in your bag. However, if you change the setting back to its original configuration as quickly as possible, you can use the club again without penalty.
It is also illegal to use a golf club on which you apply a substance to modify how it performs when hitting the golf ball. You can still clean your club though.
There you go! After reading this article, you have discovered exactly some of the elements that can make a golf club illegal. If you are caught playing in a sanctioned and serious golf tournament using one of these clubs, you can expect some large penalties!
Would you ever risk using an illegal golf club? Have you before? Let us know in the comments down below!
In the game of golf, many people complain that the pace of play is not quick enough, so they resort to rules such as putting tap-in distances for “gimme” putts. However, the acceptable maximum tap-in distance for putts varies from person to person.
Therefore, if you would like to play golf with a tap-in rules for putting, you may wonder: what is the correct putting tap-in distance in golf?
In this article, we will tell you exactly what the correct and acceptable putting tap-in distances are in golf.
What Is The Correct Putting Tap-In Distance In Golf?
In professional golf, “gimme putts” do not exist, meaning you need to attempt every single putt; there is no correct putting tap-in distance in pro golf. However, in casual golf rounds, you can agree with your group on an acceptable putting tap-in distance; many groups choose a 1 to 5 feet tap-in distance.
In the game of golf, a “Gimme putt” is known as a putt that you automatically successfully hit into the hole, without actually hitting the ball.
Basically, if the golf ball is very close to the hole, and your opponents agree that you would successfully hit the ball in the hole almost every time, you can decide to not putt the ball and assume you putted the ball in the hole.
In some cases, there is an acceptable “putting tap-in distance” that determines how close the ball needs to be to the hole to automatically result in a “Gimme putt”.
What do official PGA Tour rulings have to say about the putting tap-in distance in golf? The answer may surprise you. In fact, “Gimme putts” do not exist in the PGA Tour.
In general, professional golfers have to take every single putt possible. This means that officially, there is not concept of “acceptable putting tap-in distance”.
However, in casual golf, like with friends, it is a complete other story. The correct tap-in distance for putting can exist, although what this distance is can vary. The truth about putting tap-in distance in casual golf is that it is up to you and your group to agree on rules everyone is fine with.
In general, golfing groups in casual golf like to use a 1 to 5 feet tap-in distance, meaning the ball needs to be within 1-5 feet of the hole to count as a “gimme putt”.
How large this acceptable putting tap-in distance can also depend on the average skill level of the group you are playing with. Very good golfers tend to have a tap-in distance from 0 to 1 feet, while weak golfers may favor a tap-in distance that hovers around 5 to 10 feet instead.
Some bad or beginner golfers will consider their golf hole a tap-in after they crossed the threshold of a triple bogey.
Other golf groups play with the putter rule, and other with the putter grips rule. Basically, if the ball is closer to the hole than a putter’s length or a putter’s length grip away respectively from the hole, the putt is a “gimme putt”.
Some parties use the “if you have to ask, you have to putt” rule. In simple terms, this rule states that if you are not sure the ball is close enough to be a gimme putt, then you have to attempt the putt normally. This is not the most black-and-white rule, but it is fast and can work well between friends.
Why Use Gimme Putts And Tap-In Distances In Golf?
Gimme putts with a rough tap-in distance in golf can speed up the pace of play greatly by not performing certain putts that were likely to go in the hole had they been played. However, if golfers measure the distance between hole and ball down to the inch, they may end up wasting a lot of the time that they saved.
Gimme putts can be great to speed up the pace of play in a round of golf. If you know you will make a putt successfully, then why even spend minutes setting up and taking the stroke?
You can save a lot of time on every hole for every player in your group by using gimme putts.
Using different gimme putt acceptable tap-in distances for the different levels of players in your group can also serve as an immediate, real-time handicap system to balance out the playing field a little.
In addition, if the putting green is in terrible condition, players may use a gimme putt because they would easily putt the ball in regular conditions. However, terrible putting green conditions can be really rough and feel unfair. A golf ball should not be bumping left and right on a putting green.
However, players need to make sure they do not spend too much time measuring the distance between the ball and the hole too accurately. It is better to roughly determine the distance and quickly decide whether the ball is close enough, for the sake of pace of play.
A great way to use gimme putts without wasting time is to use the “if you have to ask, you have to putt” rule. This casual golf rule states that if you have to ask whether the putt you need to make can be a gimme putt, then it cannot, and you have to putt normally.
This rule avoids you taking out the measuring tape and physically measuring the distance between the ball and the hole. Instead, you can just intuitively eye the ball-to-hole distance and instantly decide whether it is a gimme putt.
Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you have discovered what acceptable putting tap-in distances for “gimme” putts are in golf, depending on the rules you play by.
What is your acceptable putting tap-in distance that you play by? Do you use putting tap-in distances, or do you find it more fair to make every single putt, regardless of distance to the hole? Let us know in the comments down below!
Most golfers absolutely hate when they know the general area their golf ball landed in, but they cannot find the ball. Spending multiple minutes looking for a golf ball we know more or less the location of feels like a terrible waste of time.
What if there were a solution to these lost balls and all the time wasted? There is a solution, and it is called The Crowd Rule in golf. If you are tired of wasting time due to lost balls, you may wonder: What is The Crowd Rule In Golf?
In this article, we will tell you exactly what The Crowd Rule is in golf so that you can increase your pace of play and feel less frustration when out golfing with friends.
What Is The Crowd Rule In Golf?
In golf, The Crowd Rule allows you to place down a new ball in the same conditions as your lost ball if you and your group saw the general area the original ball landed in, but you do not want to waste time looking. This unofficial rule’s name comes from the idea that a crowd would eventually find your ball if you know roughly where it is.
Every golfer knows how frustrating it can be to be out with your friends playing golf, just to lose sight of the ball after it goes in a particular direction. You and your group all know the general area the ball landed in, but after a minute or two, you cannot seem to find it!
What are you supposed to do next? Keep looking 5 more minutes, holding up the group waiting behind you? Take a lost ball stroke penalty even though you know the ball is somewhere in a playable area, but you just cannot find it?
One great solution to this issues is The Crowd Rule.
The Crowd Rule is an unofficial house rule that allows you to save time, frustration, and speed up the pace of your play. The Crowd Rule is also sometimes called the Gallery Drop Rule. The Crowd Rule and the Gallery Drop Rule are the same thing.
Essentially, The Crowd Rule states that if you and your group know the general area your lost ball landed in, but you do not want to waste time looking for it, you can place down a new ball in the same conditions as where you think your lost ball is, without a stroke penalty.
The Crowd Rule essentially solves the issue of finding a needle in a haystack. Even if you know the needle (golf ball) is in a specific haystack (golf course area), it is still incredibly hard to find, and not worth your time looking for if you have another needle (golf ball) you can use instead.
The name of The Crowd Rule comes from the idea that if a crowd would eventually find your ball in the general area you know the ball is in, you can consider it to be found, and simply place down a new ball to act as the “found” ball.
Maybe you and your group of 4 golfers cannot instantly find your “lost” golf ball in the area you know the ball is in, but a crowd would quickly cover the entire area and find your ball.
Golfers around the world who are concerned with pace of play love to use “The Crowd Rule”. Many of these golfers claim that every casual golfer should use The Crowd Rule to give everyone a better, smoother experience on golf courses with a good pace of play.
The Crowd Rule offers an instant resolution to the search of a lost ball in an area you know the ball is located in.
Situations In Which To Use The Crowd Rule
There are many situations in which The Crowd Rule is a great element to incorporate into the way you play golf.
For example, some golf courses barely mow their rough, and the blades of grass are 3 or 4 inches tall. In such tall grass, the balls are gobbled up, and become very hard to locate, even if they are still playable balls that should not result in a stroke penalty.
In such a case, you could simply place a ball down in the general rough area where you know the ball is, if the group agrees.
Another situation in which The Crowd Rule really shines is if you are playing in autumn, and there are many leaves covering the fairway and rough. The fact is that golf balls can easily disappear among the leaves, and you cannot reasonably pick up every leaf to uncover your ball.
Instead, you can just use The Crowd Rule and place a new ball in the general area where you know your golf ball is located. Be honest with where you place your ball instead of trying to get closer to the golf hole and improving your lie unreasonably.
Finally, remember The Crowd Rule is an unofficial house that not everyone believes is acceptable, but some people love as it improves pace of play. Make sure you and your group agree on the rules to apply before you get in a situation where The Crowd Rule is applicable.
Ideally, find a full group of friends who like to play with the same rules as you, as that will give a good group synergy, and avoid having to arrive to common rulings grounds with every new group you play golf with.
Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you have discovered exactly what the Crowd Rule, or Gallery Drop Rule is. You also learned how the Crowd Rule can save you time and frustration as well as speed up your pace of play!
Do you plan on using The Crowd Rule from now on? Were you already using The Crowd Rule? Do you think The Crowd Rule has its place in casual golf? Let us know in the comments down below!
Golf rules are full of little technicalities that are difficult to wrap your head around sometimes. One of these rules is the Model Local Rule E-5, as described per the USGA. This rule, only used in lower levels of golf, states you can take a relief in certain conditions.
Therefore, if you are confused about Model Local Rule E-5, you may wonder: Can You Use The Fringe As The Nearest Fairway Edge For Model Local Rule E-5?
In this article, we will tell you exactly whether you can use the fringe as the nearest fairway edge for model local rule E-5.
Can You Use The Fringe As The Nearest Fairway Edge For Model Local Rule E-5?
Yes, you can use the fringe as the nearest fairway edge for Model Local Rule E-5, as the fringe is technically part of the fairway, and its turf height is shorter or equal to the fairway’s turf height. However, to use the fringe, you need to make sure you are not getting closer to the hole as you take relief.
Since 2019, Model Local Rule E-5 has been in effect for lower levels of golf, as per the USGA regulations. Model Local Rule E-5 states that you can take relief when you send the ball out of bounds or lose your ball, in exchange for 2 penalty strokes. You can read more information about Model Local Rule E-5 here.
Model Local Rule E-5 uses 2 elements: the ball reference point, and the fairway reference point.
The ball reference point is the point where your golf ball crossed the course boundary to go out of bounds or come to rest on the course.
The fairway reference point is a point you determine (in this article, we want to know if this point can be the fringe). The fairway reference point is the point of the fairway that is nearest to the ball reference point, but it cannot be closer to the golf hole than the ball reference point is.
As per the USGA rulings, the “fairway” is the section of a golf hole turf that is cut to fairway height or less. This means that the fringe is part of the fairway.
So, can you use the fringe as the nearest fairway reference point? The answer is generally yes, as the fringe turf height is smaller than fairway height. Furthermore, as we have written in a different article, the fringe is part of the fairway, which is a condition for the fairway reference point or fairway edge.
However, the fringe will not always contain a point that can serve as a nearest reference point, as you need to be close enough to the golf hole for that to be the case.
In fact, your nearest fairway reference point must be taken somewhere on the arc with the golf hole as the center, and the distance between the golf hole and the ball reference point as the radius.
This means that if you are too far from the hole, the radius will be too big for the fringe to contain a suitable fairway reference edge.
In other words, if the fringe lays somewhere on the arc with the golf hole as the center and with radius equal to the distance between the golf hole and the ball reference point, you can use the fringe as the fairway nearest edge reference point.
Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you have learned that you can use the fringe as the fairway edge considered in Model Local Rule E-5.
Did this article help you? Do you always use Model Local Rule E-5? Let us know in the comments down below!
Let us face it. Most people have not read the Rules of Golf. However, you may wonder if you can putt with clubs other than the putter.
Maybe your putter just broke, or it is on its last leg, and you want to know how to proceed in a breakage situation. Will you be allowed to use a driver instead of the broken putter? A wedge? An Iron? A wood?
In this article, we will tell you exactly what The Rules of Golf have to say about whether you can putt with clubs other than a putter.
Can You Putt With Clubs Other Than A Putter?
Yes, you are generally allowed to putt with any golf club, as per the Rules of Golf, including the driver. However, certain local golf courses may ban certain golf club types being used on the green, such as wedges, as they damage the delicate turf on the green.
Putting with a club other than the putter is generally not a smart idea, but it is usually permitted.
In fact, nothing in the Rules of Golf prohibit a player from putting with a club other than the putter. Yes, this means you can putt with a driver if you want to joke around or give your younger sibling an easier chance of winning. Call it an improvised real-time handicap.
However, there are certain specific situations in which putting with a club other than a putter is a smart idea.
Although the Rules of Golf permit putting with any club, local golf courses may have differing rules.
For example, you are technically allowed to chip off the green with a wedge, but that damages the turf with divots. Therefore, many golf courses will prohibit you from using wedges and other turf-damaging clubs on the golf green.
On such a golf course, you cannot putt with any golf club, just with those that do not damage the turf.
When Should You Putt With Clubs Other Than A Putter?
You should consider putting with clubs other than a putter only in 3 situations: 1) if your putter breaks; 2) if the hole is very far away from you, or uphill, and you think you might lack power; 3) if you want to lob the ball over an obstacle directly blocking your golf stroke line.
Although putting with a club other than a putter is generally the golf equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot, there are some viable use cases.
There are 3 general situations that warrant putting with a club other than the putter:
1) Your putter breaks or suddenly feels defective, even though you cannot visually see any damage.
2) The hole is very far away from you, making you doubt your ability to deliver enough power to the ball. This sense of lack of power is magnified if you are at the bottom of a slope.
3) There is an obstacle directly in the line between you and the golf hole. In these cases, lobbing the ball over the obstacle can save you strokes.
In the first case, if your putter breaks, then you have no choice butt to use a different club to putt. In these situations, make sure you favor a club with a flat club head face. Some people will even resort to the driver in such cases. You want a club that most closely emulates the putter.
In the second use case, if the golf hole is very far away from you or uphill, you may be afraid you cannot generate enough power with the putter to reach the hole. Some golfers may then decide to opt for a club with more carry distance.
Generally, this means swapping the putter for a short distance wedge or the shortest iron in the bag. However, you need to be wary of the lift and bounce these alternative clubs can give the ball.
By not using the putter, you are a bit setting yourself up for an approach shot rather than a shot to sink the ball in the hole. You are trading some accuracy and gentleness for more power and distance.
In the third and final situation, if there is an obstacle directly blocking your stroke line, then you may consider lobbing the ball over the obstacle. In many cases, a lob wedge will be favored for such a conundrum.
Lobbing the ball over an obstacle can save you one or more strokes, as you are giving the ball a direct path towards the hole.
By shooting the ball along the ground, unless the topology of the green allows for an adequately curved stroke line, you may need multiple putts to get the ball the same place it would otherwise with a single lob.
Lobbing the ball off the green with a wedge is technically allowed, but some golf courses will prohibit it, as it creates a divot in the turf. If your local golf course allows chipping off the green, you should still repair the divot created with a divot tool (like the Callaway 4-in-1), or risk others complaining about you.
Outside of the 3 situations described above, using a golf club other than the putter to putt is generally not a good idea. The putter is designed with a flat face to give you a true stroke without lift; use the putter for the situations it is designed for.
Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you know exactly what to do in case your putter breaks, or if you simply do not feel like using it.
You have learned that nothing in The Rules of Golf prevents you from putting with clubs other than the putter. However, you also now know that certain golf course house rules will prevent you from using clubs that damage greens, such as wedges, which create divots.
Finally, you learned the situations in which it can be beneficial to putt with clubs other than the putter.
Would you ever putt with a club other than the putter? Which club would you choose? Let us know in the comments down below!
Golf is a great sport that can really feel relaxing on a nice evening. However, for some people, dress codes are an annoyance.
If you are one of those people, you may wonder: do all golf courses have dress codes?
In this article, we will tell you exactly if all golf courses have dress codes.
Do All Golf Courses Have Dress Codes?
No, not all golf courses have dress codes. However, the wide majority of golf courses do have dress codes. Golf courses in small communities are the most likely to not have dress codes, but you still need to wear clothes. Indeed, no golf course will let you play naked.
Do all golf courses have dress codes? The truth is that for some people, dress codes should be a relic of the past. Some people cannot stand having to change their regular attire for a more business casual type of wear.
However, dress codes do make some people happy, such as the people who believe in the image of golf (elegance and classiness) needing to be conserved. For these people, ripped jeans and a tank top simply will not cut it.
Regardless of dress codes and the desire to conserve the elegant image of golf, everyone can wear piercings, tattoos, or colored hair on a golf course. It is extremely rare for a dress code to ban these forms of self-expression.
In addition, the dress codes can also reduce the appearance of differences in financial well-being between different people, leading to less friction. Everyone is dressed more or less the same.
Among the golf courses with dress codes, there are varying levels of control and strictness around what you can and cannot wear. This means that the dress code on one golf course can be significantly different from the dress code on another golf course.
The few golf courses that do not have dress codes are most likely found in small towns, communities and municipalities. Everyone who has lived in a small town knows that rules are more relaxed and people are more cordial and understanding with each other.
In small towns, people tend to live closer to nature and further away from social constructs like dress codes. These people typically just want to be left alone and leave others live their own lives when it comes to chastising, which enables golf courses with no or limited dress codes.
However, even in small community golf courses without dress codes, you still need to wear a shirt and bottoms. Fortunately for you, the shirt does not have to be collared. Basically, you cannot be naked. A small price to pay to play one of the greatest games on Earth.
If you are looking for a golf course without a dress code, you can try searching online or asking other golfers if they know any spots. Good luck.
How To Know If A Golf Course Has a Dress Code?
There are 4 ways to know if a golf course has a dress code: 1) checking on the golf course’s website; 2) giving the course staff a phone call to ask questions; 3) going to the course in person to see what others are wearing and ask questions; 4) asking golfers in your network.
There are many ways to know if a given golf course has a dress code.
The first method is to look directly on the website of the golf course. There is often a section on there describing what you can and cannot wear.
If the course’s website does not give you the information you need, the second method is to give the course’s staff a phone call. Getting information straight from the horse’s mouth, given by a human being, will be a fast and reliable way to get a good idea of the dress code.
Furthermore, if you have any questions about the dress code that were not addressed on the website, you can directly ask the staff some questions.
If the first two methods were not your thing, you can try the third. Visit the golf course in person before you even play to go play there. Physically being at the golf course will allow you to see what other people are wearing, and can give you inspiration for new outfits.
In addition, on site, you can directly ask the staff for more information about the dress code, and the human contact is always nice to have.
The final method you can use to figure out if a particular golf course has a dress code is to ask your network of friends. If you are an avid golfer, there is a good chance someone in your network has gone to the golf course you are interested in.
Ask them about the dress code, and they will likely remember the major points about it. Maybe you can even go play a round with them, and catch up if you have not met with them in a long time. It is refreshing to see old faces sometimes, after we diverge in different life paths.
If you are too lazy to find out if a golf course has a dress code or not, simply prepare for the worst. Wear the type of outfit you would wear at a golf course with a strict dress code. Wearing a single-colored collared shirt with khakis will get you through almost any dress code check.
You can learn more about what you are likely to be permitted and forbidden from wearing by dress code rules in our guide here.
Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you have learned that not all golf courses have dress codes, but most do.
Dress codes are a significant part of the tradition of conserving the elegant image of golf, so they are not going anywhere for a while, although they can feel constraining to some.
If you are looking for a golf course without a dress code, your best bet is to try golf courses located in small towns, communities, and municipalities.
Do you mind dress codes? Do you like dress codes? Let us know in the comments down below!
Golf is an amazing sport that you can play over decades and still get better at.
However, you may wonder just how good you actually are. The standard system for knowing how good you are at golf is the handicap system. Therefore, you may wonder: How do you calculate golf handicap?
In this article, we will tell you exactly how to calculate handicap in golf in the easiest method possible.
How To Calculate Golf Handicap?
To calculate your golf handicap, you need to play the equivalent of 3 to 20 rounds of 18-hole golf. With your most recent scorecards, you will need to apply the formulas to calculate handicap. Alternatively, you can use the free Sports Ruby Excel Handicap Calculator sheet to calculate your index.
The first step to calculating your golf handicaps is to play 3 to 20 rounds of 18-hole golf.
If you only play on a 9-hole golf course, you can combine your scores for 2 rounds into 1 round of 18-hole golf. You could also double your score for 9 holes to get a similar score to what you might get for 18 holes.
For each round of golf, make sure you keep track of the par numbers and your score for each golf hole. Make a note of how many golf rounds you will consider for the handicap calculation, as it is relevant for further steps.
In the next sections of this guide, you will find the different steps to calculating your golf handicaps.
Calculating Your Adjusted Gross Scores (AGS)
Next, you will need to get your adjusted gross scores (AGS). For each hole on each round of golf, adjust your scores according to the USGA guidelines. As of 2020, the guidelines stipulate the following rule:
“If for any hole of any round of golf, you required more strokes than the par + 2 strokes (double bogey), you will only count the (par + 2) strokes as your score for that hole.
Your adjusted score for any single golf hole is capped at double-bogeys.
E.g. If you required 10 strokes for a par 4 hole, you will fill adjust your score as if you scored (4+2) = 6 strokes for that hole (or double bogey).”
Following this rule, you need to adjust each and every score for each hole of each rounds of golf you consider in the handicap calculation. Not following this rule will result in an abnormally high handicap for you.
After adjusting each score for each hole, total the scores of individual holes for each round of golf to obtain your Adjusted Gross Scores (AGSs). You will have one AGS per round of golf.
In the past, the Equitable Stroke Control Chart (ESC) was used to determine how many strokes you count for your AGS (Adjusted Gross Score) score. Now, you just add 2 over par (double bogey) for all holes, regardless of the course rating.
Down below is a reminder of the now deprecated Equitable Stroke Control Chart (note: this table is not to be used anymore as of 2020).
Course Rating
Adjusted Gross Score Cap
0-9
(par + 2)
10-19
7
20-29
8
30-39
9
40+
10
18-Hole Equitable Stroke Control Chart
The next step is to calculate your score differentials based on your total adjusted scores.
Calculating Your Handicap Differentials
The number of handicap differentials you will consider in the golf handicap calculation depends on the number of golf rounds you consider. You will only keep the lowest differential(s) for the calculation, but the number of differentials considered can vary.
Down below, you can see a chart summarizing how many score differentials you will need to consider:
Number of Rounds Considered
Number of Handicap Differentials to Consider
3-6
1 lowest differential
7-8
2 lowest differentials
9-10
3 lowest differentials
11-12
4 lowest differentials
13-14
5 lowest differentials
15-16
6 lowest differentials
17
7 lowest differentials
18
8 lowest differentials
19
9 lowest differentials
20
10 lowest differentials
Number of Handicap Differentials to Consider VS Number of Rounds Considered
To calculate your handicap differentials, you will need 2 additional pieces of information: the course rating and the slope rating of every golf course you played on for the golf rounds considered.
The course rating and slope rating can be found online on your local golf course’s website or on the scoresheet. If not, you can ask the golf course staff in person for this information.
The course rating and slope rating are measurements of the difficulty of a given golf course.
The course rating is the expected number of strokes a scratch golfer would require to complete a given golf course.
The slope rating is the expected number of strokes and average golfer (including hobbyists) would require to complete a given golf course.
You can calculate a golf handicap differential with the following formula:
AGS is your Adjusted Gross Score for each round of golf. You will need to repeat this formula for each round of golf considered, swapping out the AGS, Course Rating, and Slope Rating accordingly.
If you always play at the same golf course, then your course rating and slope rating numbers will be the same every time you apply the formula.
For example, if one your AGS numbers is 90, the course rating is 71, and the slope rating is 115, you will get the following handicap differential:
Remember to repeat this calculation for each of your last 3-20 golf courses AGS scores.
Finally, only keep your x lowest handicap differentials, where x refers to the number in the chart up above. For example, if you considered 20 rounds of golf, you would only keep your 10 lowest handicap differentials.
Calculating Your Handicap Index
In this step, you will calculate your handicap index. This is the number golfers around the world like to brag about being as low as possible. It is also a good measurement of your improvement as a golfer throughout the years.
After having kept only your x lowest handicap differentials in the previous step, you can take a look at the formula to calculate the handicap index:
Handicap Index = (Sum of Handicap Differentials/Number of Differentials) * 0.96
where 0.96 is a constant number that never changes in this calculation
Make sure you only use the x lowest handicap differentials in the Handicap Index equation.
After you calculate your handicap index, always drop the final decimal digits until you only have 1 decimal left. Do not round up.
For example, if you considered 20 rounds of golf, only use the 10 lowest handicap differentials in the handicap index formula.
Continuing on this example, if you had a sum of differentials of 120, the handicap calculation would be:
Handicap Index = (120/10)*0.96 = 11.52 = 11.5 with decimal digits dropped
Calculating Your Course Handicap
The course handicap is the number of strokes you can deduct from your final score during your next round of golf if you play with the handicap system.
This allows players of different skill levels to compete against each other with the sense that anyone can win.
As of 2020, the formula for the course handicap is the following:
where par is the total par of the next golf course you play at
You will need to know the slope rating, course rating, and par number of the next golf course you play at to apply this formula.
As of 2020, the second hand of the equation, (Course Rating – Par), has been added to account for players starting from different tee boxes.
For example, starting from a tee further away from the hole might warrant a course rating of 70, while starting from closer to the hole might carry a course rating of 68. Starting closer to the holes would require less strokes to complete the golf course.
The numeric result you obtain for the course handicap is then rounded to nearest whole number.
For example, with a handicap index of 11.5, a course rating of 71, a par of 72, and a slope rating of 115, the calculation would be:
Course handicap is different for every golf course you play on because the course rating, slope rating, and par change.
With the course handicap finally calculated, you can deduct it from your final score to see who wins between you and your competitors.
For example, if you have a course handicap of 11 and your friend has one of 4, it means your friends is generally better at golf than you. However, you decide to apply course handicap to your scores for the next round.
After finishing 18 holes of golf, you have a score of 80, and your friend scores 76; your friend is 4 under your score. However, with scores adjusted for handicap, you each subtract your course handicap from your score, resulting in the following adjusted scores:
Your adjusted score = 80-11 = 69
Your friend’s adjusted score = 76-4 = 72
Since 69 is lower 72, you won against your friend, as the handicap system leveled the playing field to give you a chance to win.
What Is The Golf Handicap System?
The golf handicap system was popularized in the 20th century. It is a system that levels the playing field at the amateur level between players of varying skill. The golf handicap system allows weaker players to deduct strokes from their scores and allows for a feeling of equal chances of winning.
The golf handicap system was created in the 20th century in order to allow amateur golfers of different skill levels to be able to complete with each other. The golf handicap system deducts strokes from the scores of weaker players to level the playing field.
The system is also useful to avoid disappointments between golfers of different ages. For example, between two brothers, aged 15 and 8, chances are the 15 year old would win every time. However, with the handicap system, the playing field could be leveled, leaving the young one with more than perpetual tears.
Overall, the handicap system can make golf more fun for everyone in rounds of golf with low stakes.
Going up against an opponent who is leagues ahead of you skill wise can be demotivating, and obliterating a player who is much weaker than you does not feel fulfilling more some. The golf handicap system allows for a better suited challenge for multiple parties.
The golf handicap index is your expected number of strokes over the golf par.
Most people have a handicap index in the range of 15 to 25.
A negative handicap index means you are expected to shoot under par, based on your previous performances. Obtaining a negative handicap index is rare and a real feat in the sport of golf. Players with a negative handicap index are much better than most players.
In the lines down below, you can find an example of a golf handicap calculation. You can find this same example in the third sheet of our Free Excel Golf Handicap Calculator.
First, we gather 3-20 of our most recent golf scores for 18-hole rounds and adjust them to obtain our Adjusted Golf Scores (AGSs):
We then add up these 10 golf handicap differentials, which results in a sum of 159.7078607.
Next, we can calculate our handicap index:
Handicap Index = (Sum of Handicap Differentials/Number of Differentials) * 0.96
Handicap Index = (159.7078607/10) * 0.96 = 15.331 = 15.3 with decimal digits dropped
Finally, with our handicap index calculated, we can calculate our course handicap. The next golf course we will play at has a par of 72, a course rating of 65.9, and a slope rating of 113:
The golf handicap index system is a great system to level playing fields for golfers of different skill levels. The handicap system can make golf feel more competitive in all situations.
However, it is rare to see PGA Tour golfers make their handicap indexes publicly available. Therefore, you may wonder: do PGA Tour golfers use handicaps?
In this article, we will tell you exactly whether PGA Tour players use golf handicap indexes.
Do PGA Tour Golfers Use Handicaps?
No, PGA Tour golfers do not use handicaps, as the handicap index system is designed to level the playing field between amateurs of varying skill. The handicap system would be unfair in PGA tournaments, as the livelihoods and legacies of PGA Tour players depend on low scores.
People all around the world love to calculate their handicap index, but you rarely ever hear about PGA Tour player handicaps. What gives? Do PGA Tour golfers not have use handicap indexes?
The short answer is no, PGA Tour golfers do not use the handicap index, as it would be unfair to the more skilled players.
In reality, the golf handicap system is a mathematical artefact created to level the playing field between amateur golfers of varying skill levels. The handicap index system allows for these amateurs to enjoy a competitive round of golf with each other despite the skill gap.
The golf handicap index system is generally not used at the professional level, as the stakes are high. Would it make sense that the worst PGA Tour player could get a deduction of multiple strokes from his score, allowing him to win a tournament over other pros with smaller deductions?
In the PGA Tour, the winner of the tournament can make millions of dollars from a single win. At the professional level, players want a fair system based on merit and absolute scores, free of the handicap system meant to dissipate the effects of varying skill levels.
The livelihoods and legacies of PGA Tour players depend on their performances during tournaments, so it would not be fair that a lesser skilled player ends with a better outcome just because the handicap index system is in place.
Even though professional golfers do not use the handicap system in general, you can still estimate their handicap based on their scores. PGA Tour golfers would have a handicap index of around 5 if they actually kept track.
On the other hand, average people tend to have a handicap index between 15 and 25. The handicap tends to depend on experience, gender (due to the male body’s tendency to generate more power), knowledge of golf, and skill level.
There you go! After reading this article, you have discovered that PGA Tour golfers generally do not use golf handicap index systems, as those are reserved for amateurs.
What is your golf handicap index? Let us know in the comments down below!
Golf is an awesome game to play, but for some people, the frequent dress codes are a bother.
It is no secret that many golfers tend to wear collared shirts, but is that part of the dress code? Or simply part of personal choice? Can you wear a t-shirt? You may wonder: Do you need to wear a collared shirt in golf?
In this article, we will tell you exactly why you need or do not need to wear a collared shirt in golf.
Do You Need To Wear A Collared Shirt In Golf?
Yes, you generally need to wear a collared shirt when playing golf on a golf course that enforces a dress code. However, not all golf courses have dress codes, so there are places where you do not need to wear a collared shirt to play golf.
If you are playing golf on a course with a dress code, there is a high probability you need to wear a collared shirt. In fact, most golf courses with dress codes require people to wear collared shirts.
These dress code rules are meant to preserve the elegance and classiness associated with the game of golf. These dress codes also promote equality of standing, as no one can really wear incredibly expensive clothes.
However, it is understandable if dress codes annoy you, and you would rather not wear a collared shirt. Fortunately, some golf courses do not have dress codes.
Furthermore, you might get away playing golf without a collared shirt despite dress codes if the staff is feeling lenient, but it is not recommended. More than likely, you will receive warnings and potentially get kicked out. You might not even make it onto the golf course.
In the PGA Tour, collared shirts are also generally required, but there have been some instances of players getting away without them. For example, Tiger Woods once played with a red mock shirt, a shirt without a collar.
Conclusion
There you go! After reading this article, you have learned that wearing a collared shirt is generally required if your local golf course has a dress code.
Being on a dress code equipped golf course without a collared shirt can earn you some warnings, and even worse, potentially get you kicked off the course. T-shirts are generally not allowed on golf courses with a dress code.
Do you feel like taking your shirt off when you are out on the course on a warm and sunny summer day? Let us know in the comments down below!
