Sports & Recreation
TEERR OOFF GGRREEAATHIA P HIA L P ILAADDEEL PPH HIL
Etiquette on the Green
Tips from the Golf Tour of Greater Philadelphia
The game of Golf boomed in 2020! Thousands of players were lured to this noncontact, healthy outdoor sport during the pandemic. According to the National Golf Foundation and Golf Datatech, roughly 10 million more rounds were played in August of 2020 than in August of 2019. And several million of those rounds were played by children. As many players know, golf has been around for centuries, and has a lot of written and unwritten rules. With the huge influx of golfers this year, it's easy to understand why more mistakes happened on the links. Of course, most people know the basics: be at least 20 minutes early for your tee time, keep up with the pace of play (no dawdling courses are crowded), and always silence your phone. But there are other, more nuanced rules of etiquette - and the Golf Tour of Greater Philadelphia (www.golftourphilly.org) is here to help. Observing these tips should keep everyone happy once you make it to the green. (That's the relatively circular, perfectly trimmed grassy area where you putt the ball in the hole.)
Mark Your Ball
Keep a coin in your pocket, and if your ball is NOT furthest from the hole, carefully replace your ball with the coin. Then when it's your turn, swap the coin with your ball, and sink that putt!
Fix Your Divots
Use a little divot tool or a golf tee to repair any damage that your ball may have caused when it landed on the green.
Never Cross Another Player's Line Of Sight
This can be tricky because you are relatively close to your crew on the green. But be careful to allow the person putting to have a clear view of the hole. Not only should you stay behind the golfer who is putting, your shadow should never touch the player's line of sight either! Literally, never “throw shade.” Ha! As we all know, to err is human, and to forgive, divine. Even seasoned Golf Tour members sometimes commit protocol faux pas. And sometimes, they play perfect golf. For example, in 2019 three of our players had holes-in-one during competitive play (one at Hickory Valley Golf Club, one at Downingtown Country Club, and one at Seaview Golf Club). One of our goals for 2021 is to break that record. Another goal is to continue growing our membership, and we were delighted to welcome new players at our recent open house events. There will be at least one more open house in early Spring 2021 just before our 2021 season starts in earnest. If you are considering joining a league in 2021, but don't know your handicap, GTGP has you covered! All members get their scores posted for them on the US Golf Association (USGA) Tournament Management system, and after your third game, it automatically generates your handicap. We not only track your scores online for you, we have a “Park and Play” registration and payment system which has been very helpful during the pandemic. Members can skip the pro shop and head straight to the practice area and the first tee. Park your car and go play! Golf Tour Philly guarantees your reserved tee times, most during prime Saturday morning slots, and offers various levels of competition: Weekly 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners (“low nets” get credits towards future rounds)
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King of Prussia News
A season-long points race, and… A 2-round championship in September It's all in good fun, and Golf Tour Philly also believes in giving back, so funds are always set aside for an admirable charity: SuperKids of Montgomery County, a nonprofit which supports abused, neglected, and abandoned children. We hope you will join us in the new year. New players will be welcomed throughout the season, and a Golf Tour Philly representative will always be there to welcome you and introduce you to your partners for the day. Of course, we always lookth forward to getting to know you at the “19 hole.” Further information is available on the website www.golftourphilly.org, by emailing TonyMcCarthy@golftourphilly.org or calling 484.753.4914. Happy Holidays, and see you on the links! *The Golf Tour of Greater Philadelphia (GTGP) is a locally-operated golf league for amateur golfers of all abilities. Our classification as a non-profit keeps costs down, and our club organization ensures all members have input in club operations. The result is competitive golf in a collegial atmosphere at a great price! GTGP is also an associate club of the Golf Association of Philadelphia. Members are eligible to play in GAP Member Play Days at private clubs in the area.
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