A Beginner’s Guide to Golf Etiquette, Bag Placement, and Not Feeling Lost on the Course
No one talks about this part of golf.
Not the swing.
Not the score.
Not the cute outfit.
But the silent panic of thinking:
Wait… where does my bag go?
Can I stand here?
Is the flag supposed to be on the ground??
If you’ve ever felt personally victimized by golf etiquette confusion, welcome. This is your safe space.
Let’s break down exactly where your stuff goes, so you can stop spiraling and start swinging.
🏌️The Golf Bag: Where to Put It on the Tee Box
If you’re a right-handed golfer, your bag goes:
👉 To your left and slightly behind you when you’re hitting.
If you’re a lefty, flip it:
👉 To your right and slightly behind you.
Why? So it doesn’t interfere with your swing and so you can grab your next club without doing a full 180 like you’re in a dance recital.
Also: stay behind the tee markers.
And yes, you must tee up between or slightly behind those markers.
Not in front. Not “close enough.”
We respect the tiny plastic boundaries.
🌱 Tees: Only on the Tee Box
Tees are exclusive.
They live (and die) on the tee box.
Once you hit your first shot:
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No tee in the fairway
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No tee in the rough
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No tee in the bunker
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Absolutely no tee on the green
After that first swing, you play the ball as it lies.
Raw. Honest. Slightly chaotic.
🏌️The Golf Bag: Fairway Edition
Walking down the fairway? Same rule applies.
Right-handed golfer:
👉 Bag stays to your left
Left-handed golfer:
👉 Bag stays to your right
Pro move no one tells beginners:
When you reach the green, park your bag on the side closest to the next tee box.
It keeps pace moving.
It makes your exit smooth.
It makes you look like you’ve done this before.
We love a subtle flex.
⛳ The Golf Bag: On the Green
Repeat after me:
Your golf bag does not go on the green.
Not leaning on it.
Not “just for a second.”
Not “but it’s light.”
The green is sacred short-grass perfection.
Leave your bag on the fringe or cart path, ideally on the side leading to the next hole.
🚩 The Flagstick: In or Out?
Since 2019, you’re allowed to putt with the flag in. Revolutionary.
When everyone is on the green, the player farthest from the hole usually putts first.
If someone wants the flag out, just ask:
“Flag in or out?”
If it comes out:
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Gently lay it down flat
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Keep it away from putting lines
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Don’t drop it like it offended you
We are calm. We are controlled. We place things gently.
🪙 Ball Markers: Where Do They Go?
When you mark your ball on the green:
👉 Place your marker directly behind your ball.
Not beside it.
Not in front of it.
Behind.
If your marker is in someone’s putting line, you can politely move it by measuring a putter-head to the side and then move it back after they putt.
Very polite.
Very aware.
Very not chaotic.
🏖️ Bunkers: Rake & Run
Hit from the sand? Cool. Now fix it.
After you rake:
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Place the rake flat
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Outside the bunker
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Parallel to the direction of play
Do not:
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Leave it in the bunker
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Toss it dramatically
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Abandon it mid-crater
We leave things better than we found them.
🛺 Golf Carts: Don’t Be That Girl
If you’re riding:
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Respect “Cart Path Only” signs
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Never drive onto the green (please)
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Park near the green on the path
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Park on the side closest to the next hole
Efficiency = elegance.
For a deeper dive into course etiquette, check out Golf Etiquette 101.
👯Where You Stand When Someone Else Is Hitting
Stand:
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Off to the side
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Slightly behind them
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Still and quiet
Do not:
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Stand directly behind them
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Stand in front of them
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Shuffle around
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Practice swing in their peripheral vision
No jump scares mid-backswing.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Dumb, Golf Is Just Vague
If you’ve ever felt unsure about where to put your bag, the flag, your feet, your rake, or your entire existence… you’re not alone.
Golf has a lot of unspoken rules.
And historically? They weren’t exactly taught in welcoming ways to women.
But here’s the truth: once you know where to put your stuff, 80% of the intimidation disappears.
And suddenly?
You’re not “new.”
You’re just playing.
See you on the tee box.
Bag to the left. Chin up.