Golf Etiquette Every Junior Golfer Should Know

The basic on-course courtesies that help a junior golfer fit in and be welcomed back.

Golf has more unwritten social rules than most junior sports, and knowing a few of the basics goes a long way toward a child feeling (and being) welcome on a course.

Pace of play matters more than most beginners realise: staying up with the group ahead, being ready to hit when it's your turn, and picking up a hole if things are taking too long are all normal, encouraged practice at junior level - most clubs would rather see a junior keep moving than agonise over a perfect shot.

On the green, the basics are simple: stay out of other players' putting lines, and repair your own ball marks (a tee or repair tool pressed in and folded over does the job) rather than leaving them for the next group.

Safety is the one rule that's non-negotiable at any age: never swing a club when someone is standing nearby, and always check no one is in range before hitting.

Most junior clinics - including Golf Australia's MyGolf program - build etiquette in from the very first sessions, so a child who's been through an introductory program will usually already have the basics down before their first real round.