Elevate Your Game - Tip of the Week

Tip of the Week

Tip of the Week -- May 11, 2025

 

Here are some key golf cart etiquette rules to follow:

 

  • Stay off par-3 holes: Many golf courses prohibit carts on the fairway of par-3 holes to protect the turf.
  • Follow cart path rules: Some courses enforce a "cart path only" rule, meaning carts must stay on designated paths at all times.
  • Respect signage: Pay attention to signs that indicate restricted areas, such as near greens, bunkers, and water hazards.
  • Avoid sharp turns and sudden stops: These can damage the turf and create ruts in wet areas.
  • Keep a safe distance: Stay at least 30 feet away from greens and tee boxes unless on a designated path.
  • Be mindful of other players: Avoid driving in front of someone preparing to take a shot.
  • Follow the 90-degree rule: If allowed on fairways, drive at a right angle from the cart path to your ball to minimize turf damage.

These rules help maintain the course and ensure a smooth experience for all golfers. 

 

Tip of the Week -- May 4, 2025

 

Golf scoring can seem a bit tricky at first,

but once you understand the basics, it becomes second nature.

Here’s a breakdown:

Basic Golf Scoring Terms

  • Par: The expected number of strokes a skilled golfer should take to complete a hole. Courses typically have holes rated as par-3, par-4, or par-5.
  • Birdie: Completing a hole one stroke under par (e.g., finishing a par-4 in three strokes).
  • Eagle: Completing a hole two strokes under par (e.g., finishing a par-5 in three strokes).
  • Bogey: Completing a hole one stroke over par (e.g., finishing a par-4 in five strokes).
  • Double Bogey: Two strokes over par.
  • Triple Bogey: Three strokes over par.

Counting Penalties

Penalties add strokes to your score and can significantly impact your round:

  • Water Hazard: If your ball lands in a water hazard, you take a one-stroke penalty and drop the ball at the designated drop zone or where it last crossed into the hazard.
  • Lost Ball: If you can’t find your ball within three minutes, you must take a one-stroke penalty and replay the shot from the original position.
  • Out of Bounds (OB): If your ball goes out of bounds, you take a one-stroke penalty and replay the shot from the original position.
  • Unplayable Lie: If your ball is in an unplayable position (e.g., deep rough or under a tree), you can take a one-stroke penalty and drop the ball within two club lengths or return to the original spot.
  • Whiff: If you swing and miss the ball completely, it still counts as a stroke.

 

Tip of the Week -- April 27, 2025

When you reveal to someone that you are a golfer,

the first question that they will usually ask is…

What’s your handicap?

 

Here’s what you need to know about a golf handicap.

WHAT IS A GOLF HANDICAP?

A golf handicap or handicap index is a numerical score that measures a golfer's playing ability. In the United States, the United States Golf Association (USGA) oversees the calculation and evaluation of golf handicaps. Handicaps help level the playing field and allow players of different skill levels to compete fairly against one another. The handicap system enables golfers of all abilities to play together and have a good time.

A golf handicap represents the number of strokes a player is expected to take above or below the course's par score. The higher the handicap, the more strokes a player is allowed to subtract from their actual score to determine their net score. A lower handicap indicates a more skilled golfer who is expected to have a lower net score.

 

DO YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR GOLF HANDICAP?

Do you need to have a golf handicap to play a round of golf? Definitely not. In fact, when you first start playing, you won’t have a handicap at all. If you’re a casual player and you don’t really care about keeping score, you don’t necessarily need to worry about your handicap. 

However, calculating your handicap is fairly straightforward, and it’s handy to know if you ever play with a group of mixed-level players because it levels out the scoring at the end of the round. Additionally, your handicap is a great way to mark your progress as a golfer. You can enjoy watching that number go down as you improve as a golfer.

WHAT IS A GOOD GOLF HANDICAP FOR BEGINNERS?

A “good” handicap is fairly relative for beginner golfers. Before we can answer that, however, you need to understand the categories of golf handicaps: low, medium, and high.

  • Low handicap: 0–10
  • Mid-Handicap: 11–18
  • High handicap: 19+

A good handicap for a beginner would be anything under 20, but that’s certainly not the norm. It's not uncommon for beginners to have handicap indexes in the range of 20 to 36 or higher. However, your handicap can vary greatly depending on your progress, dedication, and how much time you invest in learning and playing the game.

 

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM GOLF HANDICAP?

A recent change in the USGA handicap index system makes this question a bit difficult to answer. Before 2020, the maximum handicap index was 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women. However, the rules changed to establish 54.0 as the maximum handicap for all players, regardless of gender. These rules were updated to make golf more inclusive and accessible to players of all levels while also incentivizing players to calculate their handicap index.

Source: https://stix.golf/blogs/rough-thoughts/golf-handicap-explained-a-beginner-s-guide

 

Know Before You Go (to the golf course)