Etiquette

Etiquette is an extremely important part of the game of golf. The etiquette golfers show to one another out on the course is one of the things that distinguish golf from all other sports. But what is it?

Here is a link to the local Golfnutter blog that puts etiquette into a Pattaya perspective:

Some other guidelines:

Dress & Appearance
Please make sure you adhere to the course dress code. Sensible cool clothing is appropriate including polo shirts (some courses won’t permit play in buttoned shirts), shorts where preferred, and soft spikes. Never use the course restaurant without first showering and changing after a round of golf.

Pace of Play
As much as people enjoy playing golf, they don't want their round to take all day. If golfers have to wait too long in between shots they get impatient and they lose their momentum. Here are some things you can do to maintain a good pace of play:

Limit your practise swings.

Plan your shot before it's your turn. Don't wait until your tum to start thinking about what club you will hit, or whether to go over the water or lay up -- be ready in advance. 

Keep up with the group ahead of you. As they leave the green you should be ready to hit up to the green. Don't worry about how far ahead you are of the group behind, focus on staying a reasonable distance from the group ahead.

If your group is starting to lose ground, have the player who putts out first, proceed immediately to the next tee and hit off. Do this for three or four holes and your group should soon catch up.

Play "Ready Golf" Whenever It's Appropriate 
If you are not playing golf in a match play tournament, it is okay to play "ready golf." Ready golf means the golfer who is ready to hit can do so even though he or she may not be farthest away from the hole. Just agree with the others in your group that you will play ready golf when it makes sense. That way they won't think you are just unaware of the rules. It is good courtesy to acknowledge that you are playing ready golf to move things along. 

Ready golf can really help to speed things along, but before you hit be sure that everyone in your group knows that you are going to hit and that you are aware of where everyone in your group is. You certainly do not want to hit someone who is not paying attention, nor do you want several people hitting at one time.

Golf Carts
You don't need a driver's license to drive a golf cart on the course, but you do need some common sense and a great deal of respect for the course and the players around you. 

Be aware, whether you or your caddie drives the cart, you will pay for the costs of repairs should the cart suffer a mishap.

Depending on weather conditions and other variables, courses will post different rules relating to the use of carts. Keep carts on paths at all times — this is a rule that courses use if the ground is very wet and they don't want to damage the fairway grass.

90 Degree Rule — this rule requires you to stay on the cart path or in the rough until you are level (at a 90 degree angle) with your ball. Then you may drive your cart straight out to your ball. When you've taken your shot, drive straight back to the cart path or the rough. Always, under all circumstances, keep all carts, motorized or pull-carts away from the greens and off the teeing ground. Often the course will post signs giving directions as to where they want you to park your cart; please follow the directions