When playing golf, you just don’t go to the club dressed in whatever clothing you like, play the golf with your friends, and go home whenever you want. It is more than that. In fact, there are many rules that you want to abide with if you don’t want to be denied entry into the club. You have to bring the proper golf etiquette not only for you to be allowed entry but for you to fit properly in the surroundings.

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While there has never been a survey of golfers to determine what percentage of golfers could be considered casual golfers, it has to be at least 50%. Why is that true?

A casual golfer is a person who golfs strictly for the fun of it. That doesn’t mean that the casual golfer doesn’t try to improve. Much to the contrary, they thrive on the great golf shots they make, hoping that they might make more great shots on a more consistent basis.

They may have a desire to improve to the point where they might compete on some level–perhaps company tournaments or even club tournaments. However, they completely enjoy golfing without competing. They might compete with themselves but seldom against other people.

Casual golf could be considered and subset of recreational golf. It is the lower skill levels of recreational golf.

While there is no official designation for casual golf, the following characteristics of casual golf certainly sets casual golfers apart from recreational golfers.

1. Casual golfers often don’t bother keeping score. If they do they seldom compare their scores with other times they’ve golfed on the same course. Most of the time they throw away the score card.

(Note: If they do have a great round, they keep the score card hoping that some day they might challenge that score.)

2. When they shank a shot, they take another shot and don’t bother counting the shanked shot. And, if they’re not keeping score, that don’t even think about it. Particularly if there is no one behind them that they will hold up because they take an extra shot.

3. Casual golfers don’t worry about whether their equipment is legal according to the USGA. They might even use collapsible and/or adjustable clubs such as the Divnick irons.

4. Casual golfers even play two or three or even four golf balls around the course when no one is behind them. They will play courses that have little traffic or at time when few other golfers are out on the course–such as in bad weather.

5. Casual golfers are heretics. They don’t worry much about the USGA rules–within reason. (They don’t hit the golf ball with a baseball bat or throw the golf ball around the course. They still use golf clubs and regular golf balls.) They might use tees on the fairway or in the rough so they can get a better shot at the ball.

They might improve their lies once in a while. They don’t worry if their golf ball moves while addressing the ball.

We hear so much about playing by the rules–and golfers should if they are competing. However, if you’re out just to have fun, and brag about an occasional great shot, then why worry about the rules.

Go out on the golf course to have fun and enjoy the scenery and fresh air!

The casual golfers (not a formally determined category of golfer) play for the fun of it. However, they must be courteous of other golfers on the golf course who take the game more seriously.

Note: Casual golfers play the game of golf as a fun outing. They thrive on making a great shot but don’t get upset when they don’t make the good shot. They will even take a “mulligan” and they don’t worry much about their scores. They may not even keep score. Plus, they don’t worry excessively over the formal rules of USGA golf.

Whereas, the more serious golfers are constantly trying to improve their scores, whether constantly upgrading their equipment, getting professional instruction, and participating in serious golf tournaments.

Most golf courses accommodate both serious golfers and casual golfers on the same course at the same time. This can cause problems primarily for the serious golfers. Serious golfers tend more to adhere to the formal golf rules. While casual golfers tend not to abide the formal rules–certainly not as much.

Here are some tips for casual golfers to avoid incurring the wrath of serious golfers.

The first set of tips are for those who are playing in a group of casual golfers:

1. Make sure that you keep the group moving. It’s easy to spend time talking and joking around–just having a fun time. But this could slow the group down and infuriate a group of serious golfers behind you.

2. Some casual golfers are not very skilled. Therefore, you might want to consider playing your round of golf using a scramble format. The scramble format is where the golfers in the group take their swings from the position of the previous best shot. This speeds things along. It avoids having to wait for a golfer who dribbles the golf ball 30 yards down the fairway or in the rough. This all takes time.

3. Let serious golf groups play through. They will appreciate it.

4. Play “ready golf.” This simply means that when any golfer is ready to swing, go ahead. That means on the fairway and on the green. Waiting for the golfer farthest away often takes extra time.

5. If you’ve got players who like to tee off from tee grounds that are closer, have the golfers tee off from the farthest tee ground first.

The next tips are for casual golfers who are playing with serious golfers:

1. First, even before starting the round of golf, the casual golfers should talk to the serious golfers about what rules they should follow.

2. Make sure that it’s alight for you to take a “mulligan” when you shank a shot.

3. Most likely you will want to order your shots by the farthest from the hole. Most serious golfers abide by this golf rule–even on the green.

4. Cut the chatter so not to distract other golfers.

These tips will help the casual golfer integrate with the more serious golfers on the golf course. Of course, the golf course owners want casual golfers’ money. So they don’t want to discourage the casual golfer. However, they can become an annoyance to the more serious golfer.

Don’t become an annoyance–and enjoy yourself!