11 golden rules...

1. be ready.

Make sure that you always know when it is your turn and prepare for the shot in advance by:

• put on the glove at the tee and have club, tee, ball and spare ball ready,
• in the field, prepare for the shot on the way to the ball (estimate distance and choose club/strategy) and
• on the green, even if it is not yet your turn, already read the putting line (without disturbing other players).

2. place equipment.

Always keep your equipment at the same height as you are. Take it with you immediately, even if you miss a short shot. When you reach the green, always place your equipment behind the green or in the direction of the next tee.

3. limit test swings.

Make sure you prepare your shots quickly (preshot routine) and bear in mind that too many practice swings delay the game and cost you unnecessary energy. If the ball lies well, you should limit yourself to one.

4. check the ball.

Watch your ball and those of your team-mates until they come to a standstill. This applies in particular to mis-hit shots. Remember trees, bushes etc. in the landing zone as reference points.

5. play the provisional ball.

If you are in doubt as to whether you will find your ball again or if it may have landed out of bounds, always play a provisional ball.

6. search for the ball.

Keep an eye on the clock: a maximum of 5 minutes is allowed. In private rounds and when the chances of success are low, please do not use the full search time. In addition, there is no point in searching from a distance. Help each other and search in a line, like police officers in a search operation.

7. keep the connection.

Your position is behind the group in front of you, not in front of the group behind you. If you don't have to wait from time to time, you are too slow.

8. pick up the ball.

Pick up the ball as soon as you have made so many shots that you can no longer score any points.

9. let it play through.

Let the following flight play through if you have to search longer or cannot keep up with the flow of play, i.e. if you have a whole fairway free in front of you. The same applies if you are overtaken by a faster flight.

10. putt ready.

Go to your ball immediately after the putt. If it is close to the hole, do not mark it, but hole it. As this is a shot out of sequence, briefly ask your teammates if they agree.

11. release green.

Leave the green immediately after finishing a hole. Only write down the stroke numbers on the next tee or on the way there. The player who has the honour should tee off first and only then write down the stroke numbers.