Written by: Bennett Samowich
Let's keep the good times rolling! Because our Par-3 course and League are all about fast, fun golf, a little awareness goes a long way. These tips are not just rules, they are the spirit of our league, ensuring everyone enjoys a smooth, safe, and stress-free round.
Pace and Readiness
This is about keeping momentum and avoiding unnecessary delays.
1. Walk with Purpose
Be Ready: Walk immediately to your ball and assess your shot while your partners are playing. Have your club and yardage ready when it's your turn.
Don't Linger: Wait until the green is clear, but be moving toward the tee box before the group in front of you has finished.
2. Tee Box Efficiency
Tee Up While Others Play: Get your ball on the tee and check your alignment while your partner is taking their final practice swing or address.
Don't Hunt for Tees: Don't dig through your bag for tees, balls, or gloves when it's your turn to hit. Have your gear in your hand.
3. Continuous Putting
Keep Putting (If Safe): If you are closer to the hole and can finish out safely without bothering a partner's putt, go ahead and tap it in (Ready Golf).
Don't Mark Everything: For short putts (gimme range), don't mark and wait. Tap it in to clear the area and maintain flow.
Green Preservation
This is where we save the turf (and your sanity on future putts!).
4. Ball Mark Repair
(click here to see article on repairing ball marks)
Fix It Right (Push & Pinch): Immediately fix your ball mark, plus one extra, using the proper technique (pushing the edges in toward the center).
Don't Pry: Never use your tool to pry the turf up. This tears the roots and leaves the green worse than before.
5. Parking Carts
Park Smart: Keep pull-carts or riding carts off the green and fringe. Park them strategically on the way to the next tee.
Don't Block the Path: Never leave a cart directly between the green and the next tee. Get the carts moving before putting.
6. Flagstick Care
Handle with Care: Place the flagstick gently on the edge of the green, away from the line of play.
Don't Throw or Drop: Never drop the flagstick onto the green, especially near the hole. It can cause dents and damage.
Safety and Courtesy
Respecting your fellow golfers and maintaining focus, especially on the green.
7. Line of Play Respect
Stay Clear: Stand well outside your partners' putting lines (the path their ball will travel to the hole) at all times.
Don't Tread: Never walk in the putting line of another player. A footprint or spike mark can easily deflect a putt.
8. Presence on the Green
Be Mindful: Be aware of where your shadow falls as the sun moves. Stand where your shadow does not fall across a partner's putting line.
Don't Distract: Never move, talk, or cast a shadow near or across the hole while a player is lining up or executing a putt.
9. Pre-Shot Routine
Keep it Brief: Practice swings are fine, but keep your pre-shot routine efficient to just one or two practice swings.
Don't Re-Aim Forever: Avoid endless waggles or taking excessive time to line up a shot. Trust your read and commit.
10. Yelling “Fore!”
Call Loudly: If your shot is heading anywhere near another person, yell "FORE!" as loud as you can, immediately.
Don't Assume: Never assume your ball will miss a person or that they can see it coming. Safety is the top priority.
11. Maintain Composure
Keep Your Cool: Bad shots happen to everyone. Take a breath, keep your mood light, and respect the social nature of the league.
Don’t Display Anger: Never throw a club, slam a club into the ground, or direct frustration at your playing partners, the course, or yourself in a dramatic way.
Course Care and Finish
Addressing other wear-and-tear areas and wrapping up the hole.
12. Tee Box Divots
Fill with Sand: Use the provided sand on the tee boxes to fill and level any divots you create, even small ones.
Don't Ignore It: Leaving an open divot on a tee box is an invitation for weeds and will make the teeing ground choppy and uneven.
13. Rake Bunkers
Rake When Done: When you leave a bunker, rake your footprints and any splash marks all the way to the edge before exiting.
Don't Leave Messes: Leave the rake inside the bunker, tines down where it can’t interfere with another player's shot on the approach.
14. Finishing the Hole
Move Off Immediately: As soon as everyone is finished putting, immediately walk to the next tee. Enter scores there.
Don't Congregate: Never tally scores, put away gear, or discuss the hole while standing on or beside the green.
Before we get to the correct technique, let's address the most common mistake: Prying up the soil.