The Drive

Every sport has rules, but the game of golf is one of the few that has written laws of etiquette governing how players should interact with each other and their surroundings. The United States Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews in Scotland mandate that no one should move, talk or stand close to, or directly behind the ball or the hole when a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke. Also, if a group fails to keep its place on the course and falls more than one clear hole behind the players in front, they should invite the following group to pass. To maintain the integrity and playability of the course players should smooth over footprints in bunkers, replace divots in fairways and repair spike marks on greens. These and other guidelines of common courtesy are in place to ensure that everyone - duffers and pro-level players alike - can participate in a challenging and enjoyable game.