Golf course etiquette - important rules of conduct

The main purpose of etiquette on the golf course is to ensure a smooth and fair game of golf, to ensure safety and to treat the golf course with care. Golf etiquette guidelines are set by the R&A of St. Andrews and the USGA in America. Failure to observe etiquette on the golf course is punished by most golf clubs with severe penalties, such as a course ban. Therefore, the "true spirit of the game" should always be observed, respected and acted upon in accordance with golf etiquette. Golf is predominantly played without a referee, so fair play and adherence to golf etiquette on the golf course require the correct behavior of every golfer. The following always applies: be sporting, polite, disciplined and considerate of the sport, yourself and other players. Under no circumstances may people be endangered with a club, golf ball or other objects. Test swings in the direction of people are prohibited and, of course, hitting a golf ball in the direction of a living being is even more so. However, if a ball is unintentionally hit in the direction of a person, the warning "Fore" must be called out immediately. To protect the golf course, divots that have been hit out must always be reset, pitch marks must be repaired and sand bunkers must always be properly raked after leaving them.