Golf tips
Short, practical tips to play sharper, fitter, and with more fun, for every level and every season.
Booking a tee time and arriving at an unfamiliar course: step by step
What to ask when booking, how early to arrive, what happens at the desk, and how to play a course you have never seen. The complete run-through.
Read the tipWhat is a flight? Who you play with, how groups are set and how it works
You book a tee time and get grouped with three strangers. What a flight is, how grouping works, who plays when, and how to turn a nervous moment into an enjoyable round.
Read the tipTeeing off: tee height, types of tee and the rules of the teeing area
The teeing area is larger than you think and the rules are more precise than you think. Which tee height suits which club, what you may alter, and what teeing off from outside costs.
Read the tipThe caddie and the rules: what is allowed, what is not, and what you are responsible for
A caddie carries more than your bag: they may advise, rake and lift your ball on the green. But there are limits, and you take the penalty when they cross them. The rules laid out.
Read the tipMarking your golf ball: the mark on the ball and the coin on the green
Marking means two things in golf: putting an identifying mark on your ball, and marking its position on the green before lifting it. Both matter more than they look.
Read the tipThe provisional ball: when and how to hit a second ball?
An explanation of the provisional ball rule: how to announce it correctly and why it is essential for keeping play moving on the golf course.
Read the tipRake etiquette: raking bunkers like a pro
A guide to the correct technique for raking bunkers and the discussion about the best place to leave the rake.
Read the tipThe universal alarm signal: when do you shout "Fore"?
A guide to course safety in golf, with instructions on when to shout "Fore" and where to stand safely while another player is hitting.
Read the tipThe basic rules for hazards: procedures in bunker and water
An overview of the official procedures and rules for golfers when a ball ends up in a bunker or water hazard.
Read the tipThe pitchmark and the divot: the science behind course care
A scientific look at why correctly repairing pitchmarks and divots is essential for the health and playability of the golf course.
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