The Unwritten Rules of Golf

From New York Times bestselling author, etiquette expert, and golf enthusiast Peter Post comes a field guide to social intelligence for golfers—both new and seasoned—that will help you play your best game Golf is the only sport where how you treat the other people in the game is as important as the actual game itself. The rules for playing golf are clearly defined, but how golfers expect other golfers to comport themselves before, during, and after a round is less codified. Acting in ways that frustrate your fellow golfers is a fast way to find yourself without partners.

Now bestselling etiquette authority and enthusiastic golfer Peter Post explains what newcomers and even seasoned golfers need to know to confidently handle every situation that doesn’t have to do with hitting a shot. Based on The Emily Post Institute surveys on golfers’ most annoying incidents on the course, Peter addresses:

• How to deal with the biggest frustration in golf—slow play.
• When to speak and when to keep quiet.
• When is a “gimme” acceptable?
• Where to stand when a fellow golfer is making a shot.
• Dealing with sandbaggers and other cheats.
• Dos and don’ts when playing for “a little something.”

Peter Post’s useful tips on the subtleties of the game—such as how and when to offer advice, showing respect for the course, and “piniquette”—will help longtime golfers be better companions on the course. New golfers unsure of the unwritten rules of golf will find all the information they need to feel confident playing with other golfers and to avoid embarrassing themselves. Packed with true stories from golfers about their best moments and worst behavioral blunders on the course, this book is for anyone who appreciates the spirit of the game.