Honorable Mention:
By a former PGA Pro and lifelong lover of the game.
- You shall have no other golf gods before Me—especially not that YouTube guru.
- You shall not make for yourself a graven swing device (unless it actually works)… then lend it to your buddy.
- You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain on the tee box as your tee shot heads toward OB; whisper into your towel like a saint.
- Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy: six days for labor, one for marriage, and one (negotiated) for golf.
- Honor your Pro and your marshals, don’t slow play or hit multiple shots while others are waiting behind you. A ball retriever in a bag of clubs is a sure sign of ignorance.
- You shall not throw clubs; they are not the problem and it’s a hazard to other players. .
- You shall not offer swing advice unless asked (and even then, tread softly) and never to a golfer with a lower handicap than yours!
- You shall not steal: if it’s not your ball, don’t touch it—even if it’s a Pro V1 smiling at you and there is no one in sight.
- You shall not bear false witness—no foot-wedges, fluffing, or sandbagging in secret places.
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s putter, driver, laser, glove, or mystical pre-shot routine.
Honorable Mention:
Thou shalt not operate a golf cart in a reckless manner.
Thou shalt not talk or rustle around during another players backswing or putt. Gamesmanship shows your true metal.
Thou shalt not waste time looking for a 25 cent ball that has seen better days. But you should help your fellow golfer look for his ball.
Thou shalt not play winter rules in the summer.
Thou shalt not mark scores next to a green, do this at the next tee box.
Thou shall yell fore! Before the body hits the ground!
Thou shall repair ball marks on the greens and not just yours. Replace divots in the fairway.
Thou shalt not take multiple practice swings, endless waggles or hitches before shanking the ball anyway.
Thou shalt not make or answer calls on a cell phone while playing, unless you are a doctor.
Thou shalt not call a TV station while watching a golf broadcast to report a suspected rule infraction.
Thou shalt not “pencil whip” your competitor. Be honest about your score.
What really annoys you on the golf course? Let us know if we forgot any “commandments” we need to add.
Local Rules
- Mulligans are acts of grace, not rights of citizenship. And only on the first tee if agreed to.
- Rake the bunkers as you find them, rakes go back in the bunker; lies go back to the truth.
- Pace of play is next to godliness. A round of golf should not go beyond four hours.