How Well Do You Know the Etiquette of Golf?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
How Well Do You Know the Etiquette of Golf?
Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

The sport of golf is defined as much by the etiquette of the game as it is by the actual shooting and putting. But, do you know all of the little details of golf etiquette? Could you pass this quiz that goes through all of those details? Why not give it a shot?

Since the beginning of modern golf in the 19th century, the sport has had a set of formal rules that make the game flow and work. However, it's the informal rules which have developed over the years that really define the game for everyone to enjoy. After all, golf etiquette keeps everyone on the course safe and helps protect the equipment as well as the course. If the etiquette of golf did not exist, the sport would not be the same because there would be no universal language for the different groups playing to adhere to.

Are you an expert on everything golf, though, including golf etiquette? Do you know all of the little details that allow the game to flow smoothly each day for everyone playing? If you think you really are a golf expert, then take this challenging quiz and put that knowledge to the ultimate test!

Why do you follow golf etiquette?
To be superior
To make the game more adventurous
To slow the game down
There are no referees.
Golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century. However, influence for the game came from Holland and Belgium.
What do you scream if your ball is going to hit someone?
Hit
Fore
Originally, golf was played with pebbles as golf balls. The pebbles were knocked around with clubs made from sticks.
Watch out
Duck
Never cross a player's what?
Ball path
When golf popped up in Scotland, natural courses were used from everyday environments. Courses included natural sand dunes and fields with holes dug into the ground.
Goodwill
Thought
Clubs

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Don't do what when someone is hitting?
Look around
Stand behind them
Plan your shot
Speak to them
The holes in the ground are what make golf unique from other games with a stick and ball. That's why the game can't be compared directly with kolven, which was one of its influences.
What else shouldn't you do when someone is hitting?
Distract them
The sport of golf was introduced to England by King Charles I. Charles was also the king of Scotland and Ireland at the time.
Stay still
Plan your next shot
Stand away from their club
Never do what on the golf course?
Ride in your cart
Carry two golf clubs
Yell
The name "caddie" came from Mary Queen of Scots. The term originally meant helpers from the French Army.
Look for your golf ball

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What should you wear?
Tank top
Collared shirt
The Leith golf course in Scotland hosted the first-ever international tournament. The tournament was played between golfers from Scotland and England.
T-shirt
Long sleeve
What should you NOT wear?
Khaki pants
A visor
Shorts
Blue jeans
Leith was also home to the first golf club. It was known as the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith.
Keep what up?
Golf cart maintenance
Pace of play
The Gentlemen Golfers of Leith hosted an annual tournament. The winner of the tournament received a silver golf club.
Ball spin
Ball distance

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What do you always accept if someone offers it?
A cocktail
The Gentlemen Golfers of Leith also drafted a set of rules. The rules were primarily drafted by Duncan Forbes.
A golf ball
A golf club
A caddie
What should you do with the sand when you exit a bunker?
Refill it with a new bag
Take some with you
Wet it
Rake it back
In 1759, stroke play began in golf. Not long after that, the standard 18-hole course became popular.
Replace what at the hole?
Your ball
Your clubs
Flagpole
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews did a lot to promote golf in the 19th century. This included a publication of rules for the sport.
Your cart

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What determines who tees off first in the honors system?
Lowest score
The Golf Club at St. Andrews also held the first women's golf club. It was established in 1895.
Highest score
Most balls used
Last name
What determines who hits first after teeing off?
First person to tee off
The closest ball to the hole
The furthest ball from the hole
Old golf clubs were handcrafted for the players. This made the clubs quite expensive.
Last person to tee off
Never drive your golf cart on what?
Pavement
Greens
The first golf club outside Scotland was formed in England. It was called the Royal Blackheath.
Paths
Dirt

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Where should you leave your cart while teeing off?
Dirt
Near the last hole
On the teeing ground
Pavement
Thanks to the British Empire, the game of golf spread around the world. During the 19th century, courses popped up in countries as far as India and China.
What should you do while someone is shooting to speed up the pace?
Plan your next shot
The first major championship was played in 1860. The game was played at the Prestwick Golf Club.
Drive the golf cart forward
Start walking to your ball
Chase their ball when it's hit
When should you write down your score?
While putting
While finding your ball
While teeing off
After moving on from the green
One of the earliest winners of the major championship during its first decade was Old Tom Morris. He won the event in 1862, 1864 and 1867.

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Before starting your game, bring plenty of what?
Gas
Balls
The son of Old Tom Morris, also called Tom Morris, won the event four times in a row. His first win came in 1869.
Sand
Grass seed
What else should you bring plenty of before starting your game?
Sunscreen
Sodas
Tees
The earliest golfers made a living by betting against their opponents. They also had to pay their caddie, of course.
Air for the golf cart tires
How do you find your golf ball after teeing off?
Chase it
Know the brand and look
The Augusta National Golf Club is a course and club located in Augusta, Georgia. It is one of the four major tournaments played today.
Binoculars​
Ball finding device

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If you exit your cart on the course, bring what?
A bag of balls
A ball finder
A cellphone
The clubs you need
The Augusta National was started by Bobby Jones, an amateur golfer. The first tournament was played there in 1934, known as the Masters Tournament.
You should help your opponent do what?
Spot their ball
The lowest score ever shot at the Masters was a 63. This score was shot by Nick Price in 1986.
Tee off
Put
Carry their clubs
Don't spend more than how much time looking for a golf ball?
5 minutes
No player has more wins at the Masters Tournament than Jack Nicklaus, who has six. The next closest golfer has four.
15 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes

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Always look for what when teeing off?
Players on the field
Jack Nicklaus also has the most major wins of any golfer ever. He finished his career with 18 wins.
Your golf cart
Your last hole
The end of the course
Where should you park your cart when playing the green?
Nearest the previous tee
Nearest the next tee
Tiger Woods has the second most majors. His first major was in 1997 at the Masters.
On the previous tee
At the clubhouse
When playing a hole, you should NOT do what?
Tee off
Put
Look for your ball
Take a practice stroke
Tiger Woods also has the second most PGA Tour wins with 79. In fact, his rookie season he was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

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Do NOT seek advice from who?
Caddie
Players in other groups
Sam Snead is first all time with PGA Tour wins. He finished his career with 82 wins.
Players in your group
Reference map
You should tell your opponent what information if they ask while playing?
How far your ball went
Who is playing the hole behind you
Stroke count
Sam Snead never won a U.S. Open. It was the only major tournament he never won.
Where to find a caddie
If players can't determine which ball is furthest from the hole, who decides?
The group
Sam Snead's nickname was "Slammin' Sammy" because of his driving distance. Many fans believe he had the best swing ever.
The field ranger
The caddies
A coin flip

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When should a player take their shot on a provisional ball?
Right after hitting their first ball
After their opponent finishes the hole
After their opponent takes their​ first stroke
Bobby Jones is the only golfer to achieve a Grand Slam in a single year. He accomplished this in 1930.
When their opponent is on the next hole
What happens to a ball that falls off a tee without a player touching it?
One stroke counted
Two strokes counted
Move to the next hole
It's replaced.
A career Grand Slam is when a golfer wins all of the major tournaments at least once during their career. The first golfer to accomplish this was Gene Sarazen.
What should you do to divots you leave in the ground?
Refill them
Only five golfers have ever achieved a career Grand Slam. The last golfer to do this was Tiger Woods.
Dig them out
Ignore them
Tell the park ranger

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Don't stand in the way of another player's what?
Caddie
Stroke path
Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy are tied for the lowest score at the U.S. Open. Both players shot 16 under par during two different tournaments.
Bathroom break
Binoculars​
Always enter a bunker from where?
The left
The right
The lowest side
The PGA Championship was first played in 1916. That year the tournament was held at the Siwanoy Country Club in New York.
The highest side
You Got:
/35
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