Unethical golfers can affect all five senses: They cast shadows over your ball when you're trying to hit; they're loud when the foursome next to them is trying to tee off; they leave behind a trail of divots that can affect your swing and the way you play the hole; they reek of booze from having one too many on the course, and, boy, do they leave a bad taste in your mouth.
Mike Ryan, the PGA professional at Derryfield Country Club in Manchester, believes that a lot of this stems from a lack of education and from watching the pros on television.
For aspiring golfers, learning the rules is challenging, especially for those who want to simply walk onto the course and figure out the sport as they go. Many golf professionals in the area learned golf through early jobs as caddies. Nowadays, with the lack of caddying opportunities, the pros are leading etiquette classes in order to help those who are new to the game.
Todd McKittrick, the head golf professional at Manchester Country Club, said one of the most important rules he teaches is one he broke during his early years at the links.
On a private course, players typically need to have a membership and are required to abide by a dress code. On a public course, all golfers are welcome to play and there is not such a strict dress code (though your nicest pair of Doc Martens or high heels might not be the best choice).
There are safety tips and guidelines for pace of play, or how quickly your group should be moving through the course.
According to McKitterick, there is an unwritten rule of etiquette that even "experienced" golfers seem to forget: Make sure you know what you're talking about.
Etiquette changes a bit based on whether a course is public or private. McKitterick, who works at a private course, said the course breeds a different set of responsibilities.
The pros said that what makes golf different from other sports is that not only are there rules for respecting the course and the players playing behind you, but there's more emphasis on respect for yourself as a player.