Handy advice from the Smoky Lake Town & Country Golf Club

Jim Fraser, CPGA and pro at the Smoky Lake Town & Country Golf Club, offers a few valuable tips

General pro tip

Etiquette in golf refers to the proper behavior expected on the golf course. How important is it? Well, it is the first section in the International Rules of Golf and it is more often heard in golf than in any other sport in the world. Please remember that the principle of etiquette is consideration for others and for the golf course. Here are a number of etiquette related items to remember when playing golf:

• Quite, please! Never talk when another player is hitting the ball.
• Always conduct yourself in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship.
• Do not hit the ball until you are certain that the group ahead of you is out of range.
• If your ball is headed for someone, give them a warning by yelling “fore” (an internationally recognized alert).
• Keep the round of golf moving by being prepared to hit your shot when it is your turn. You probably don't like waiting on other groups, so don't make other groups wait on you. Always try to keep pace with the group ahead of you.
• Observe all power cart rules and stay on cart paths.
• Repair your divots in the fairway.
• Repair your ball marks on the green.
• Always rake sand bunkers after hitting to erase your footprints and damaged areas where your ball was located.
• Be aware of your shadow on the putting green. Don't stand in a place that causes your shadow to be cast across another player's putting line.
• Never stand in your playing partner's line of sight. Stay out of the way. If your playing partner asks you to move, honour the request.
• A golfer should choose the correct tee for their skill level, regardless of where the other members of the group are playing. This helps to speed up play and make play more even.

All of these etiquette pointers will help you and others enjoy the game of golf for a lifetime.

Tip on playing the course

Smoky Lake Golf Course is a challenging course designed by renowned Western Canadian golf course designer, Sid Puddicombe. Choosing the correct tee ground for your individual skill level is helpful in creating an enjoyable experience. The course is not long compared to today's newer courses, but many of the holes have a high-risk reward element off the tee. Putting is also very important here as the greens have several slopes. If you can avoid three-putting and trouble off the tee you should score well.