I have spent my entire life playing on municipal golf courses. This spring I will be joining a country club and was wondering if there was any specific etiquette that may be expected that would be in addition to golf etiquette already expected at a municipal course.

Don't change your shoes in the parking lot!

Take your hat on inside, probably should any where you are. Well at least my grandma thinks you should and it's still a habit for me.

They all have different policies and procedures among them, you should find out all the details before you sign on the dotted line to make sure you can adhere to those policies, that is, you can agree with them!

Most clubs will publish their rules/regs. But on the golf course itself, there's usually nothing different from any other golf course, unless it is published.

The biggie are probably dress codes and tipping of the staff policies- the club I belong to publishes all that in a nice little binder when you join. You can probably get a copy beforehand though.

The biggest "etiquette" I've seen is the membership process and what you are required to do before being accepted. Mandatory dinners, rounds of golf with the board members, reviewing membership lists and disclosing who you know that is already a member... basically there is a lot of a## kissing going on to make sure you will "fit in."

But I think you are asking more about playing etiquette, correct? I don't think there is usually anything out of the ordinary, unless there's local rules.

Play is faster.....replace divots as the course is now "yours". Being in the business for years...we always shunned the member who would buy his equipment elsewhere...so many times we would see a memeber come in with x-out balls. Support the club and the rewards will come back. The pro shop is there for you. Modell's isn't.

Tuck your shirt in. Kind of lame, but I was once asked to do so by a staff member at a club.

Keep the jeans at bay (my club at home only accepts them if it is fairly cold) no T-shirts, REPAIR THE COURSE, don't be that jackass that jams his putter in the hole to get his ball back and ruins the lip (my muni pet-peve) , or ruin the course in other ways (but you know that)

As for the shoes in the parking lot i have never had anyone even look at me funny, what is the problem with that? My dad does it too and he is old school as far as etiquette goes. Just more convenient sometimes. One advantage to clubs is they do have nice locker rooms though, so if you like to use it you can.

I agree, don't understand the 'no changing shoes in the parking lot' comment. That's ridiculous. We have two courses and only one locker room so you have to throw the shoes in the trunk to go between courses.

Our club has a specific rule about changing shoes in the parking lot, wearing your hat with the brim to the front, and what parts of the club house you can go to while dressed for play (no golf shoes in the dining room!).

They spent a ton of money on the locker rooms- use them, that's the attitude.

I think it does look kind of tacky to change your shoes in the parking lot when you have a multi-million dollar locker room to use.

I'm fine with it as long as it is made known up front before you join.

Alright man, relax! I've never been to your club.

Obviously different clubs have different rules, policies and etiquette. Most of the nicer clubs around here don't want their members changing shoes or anything in the car lot.

The majority of our rules are basic private club rules, but here are the majority of them anyhow....

Change Shoes in locker room, not allowed in the parking lot
All bags dropped at bag drop, no carrying bag to range/course
All shirts must have collars and be tucked in at all times
No Cargo Pants or Shorts
No Jeans allowed anywhere at anytime
No carts allowed in the parking lot
All golfers or range beaters must check in at the pro shop
No hats allowed in the restaurant, but anywhere in the pro shop is ok
No outside coolers allowed
All golfers must have their own set of clubs, no sharing
Any cell phone must be on vibrate or silent mode, otherwise they are not allowed
No push/pull carts allowed
All unescorted guests must use a forecaddie, during peak season only

Once you memorize them, its a piece of cake.....

Just didn't realize the shoes thing was so common, but if it's a rule i would always respect the club I was at.

Looking back guess it's pretty laid back at my home club hickory hills, they allow shorts and jeans (in the cold winter) (Payne Stewart grew up there and he was, pretty laid back (only in a good way) the one time I had the pleasure of meeting him as a jr. golfer)

Back on topic you might want to ask a member the for the rules (as stated they differ). I don't know much about the process of becoming a new member but was taught to always hold yourself to the standards of the course.

Some places.....

Kind of usual, common stuff, but maybe this will help.
>>>>>>>>>>>
Learn the names of the people who work for you.

As others have said, the course is now yours, take care of it like it's yours.

Be wary of rushing up behind a group ahead of you, but be quick to offer to let someone play through.

Learn from other members when and where it's ok to skip around on the course when you want to or need to.

Buy something in the shop when you can. Take a lesson a year, more if you can or want to.

Watch your language until you are comfortable with who you play with.

If you want people to think you are rich and powerful, don't act like a stereotype of someone who is. Some of the nicest people I met at clubs had more money than they could spend in several lifetimes...the biggest jerks had a couple million and thought they were a gift to humanity.

Respect ladies day/times. Messing with women golfers is a no-no.

Insider scoop: playing with a good junior golfer at a club can be fun--and they can tell you plenty about how the club works, and think nothing of it.

"Remember that if you are lucky enough to belong to a golf club, you are lucky enough."

The only surprise I every had was with the unwritten rules; the one I got caught on was when the biggest of big wigs had a ranger pull up to us and tell us to let the group (big wig) play through. Well I stuck my opinion where it wasnt wanted. We did let them play through after a lecture and threat of being put on probation. I did get the honor of buying the big wig group "a round" on the 19th, lucky me.

All good points, very good insight.

I will always play with Jrs. most of us were there once, the other day I played with an amazing kid that was like 10-12 years old. He whooped my a** (he was playing from the front tees, but that's where he should be), made a couple of really good birdies (I thought par most holes was great for me that day). Asked me how I hit my driver that far and i told him not to worry he would get much stroger, and told him "I would take your shortgame and putting over my drives anyday."

The best thing to do is use common sense. Having belonged to a few private clubs it all boils down to common sense and respecting other members.

I would most definitely take offense to this if it were to happen to me at my club.

If you are playing faster than my group, the course is not crowded, and you want to play through, no problem! However, whether you are a big wig, little wig, or downright bald should have NOTHING to do with playing through or not playing through.