Is there anything more awkward on the golf course than playing through another group?
For most golfers, I’d say no, except but the only exception might be the first tee shot of the day with fellow players watching.
Playing through is kind of like the first tee jitters as it causes undue pressure, some errant shots, and sometimes it feels like you’re gaining a mortal enemy on the course. The flip side is just as uncomfortable as you’re letting a group play through and jump ahead of you during the round.
In this post we’ll simplify things so you can have the most fun on the golf course and make the best of a weird situation. We’ll review how to invite a group to jump ahead and best practices if you’re the group that is playing through.
Playing Through 101 – Understanding Proper Etiquette
Before getting into the details, let’s clarify what “playing through” is in golf.
While there’s no formal definition of it, this is a common thing to happen in golf. Playing through means you and your group of players move ahead of the group in front of you.
This could be for a variety of reasons; maybe they have a new player in the group that is slowing them down. Or, they aren’t in a rush and just want to enjoy the day. Or, they’re just really slow and you’re tired of waiting on every shot during the round.
But there are some ways to do this properly and ways that are sure to make some enemies on the golf course. So, what are the rules for playing through in golf?
Let’s break it into two categories; letting other players go through your group and how to play through other groups.
Letting Other Golfers Play Through
One of the worst things about golf is the length of time the average round takes. It’s a plague of the game and one of the reasons more people don’t pick up a golf club and give it a shot. So let me first say, we’re not encouraging anyone to play slowly – a round of 18 holes should not take more than about four hours.
But if you’re a foursome, have a new golfer in the group, or maybe a senior (or junior) player who’s moving slow, you will need to let others play through at times. So, what’s the best etiquette to invite a group from behind to go through?
Here are a few situations and the best etiquette to proceed in a seamless fashion.
Scenario #1: Close Proximity
After a few holes, you might realize it’s time to let a single or twosome jump ahead. It’s easy to get tired of seeing them get awkwardly close to your group and want to just focus on golf, not the group behind you.
One way to let them jump ahead is if you’re close enough to just invite them through. This is easy as some tee boxes are close to the previous greens.
For example, let’s say you are about to tee off on a hole and the green from the previous hole is 20-30 yards away. When this happens, it’s easy to simply speak with the group and invite them to play through. Tell them you’re playing a little slower and don’t want to hold them up.
Sometimes golfers will take you up on the offer, hit the next shot, and move along without ever seeing them the rest of the round. Other times, they might say they aren’t in a hurry and just out to enjoy the day. If this happens, don’t ask again and just play golf.
This is probably the easiest way to let a group play through but entirely depends on the course layout as it’s not always possible. If this option doesn’t work, use the next scenario.
Scenario #2: Waving the Group Up
The second scenario is when the group behind you clearly wants to play through. If this happens, the best way to let them jump ahead is to hit your shots up to the green and then wave them up.
It’s best to keep playing so you keep up the pace of play, instead of waiting on a tee box for them. You want to make sure you’re courteous to the group but also keeping up and not playing slow golf.
Also, if you’re not near other players, you can always yell and let them know you’re welcoming them to play through. Just be careful that yelling won’t interfere with any other golfers on the course.
When they play through make sure to stay in your golf cart or far away to avoid getting hit from a golf ball. They’ll probably play quickly on that hole and move on to the next, doing their best to not interfere with your pace of play.
How to Play Through Other Groups in Golf
The other side of the coin is playing through another group; whether they’re slow or you’re only a single or twosome. If you’ve ever played golf, you know how intimidating it can feel to play through another group and pressure seems to mount.
Usually, it’s so intimidating because 3-4 people are watching your golf swing from close range which can make many players nervous. With an audience, it’s easy to feel pressure to hit a good shot; sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t, that’s just golf.
Plus, you’re like trying to rush to get out of their way so you might not make a great swing or skip your routine. Here are the easiest ways to jump ahead of a slow group.
Scenario #1 – Pick Up and Move Along
If you’re someone that gets nervous about hitting in front of strangers, you can always opt to not hit the shot and drive up the hole. For example, if it’s a tough hole or has water or other hazards, just drive up and drop where your drive would hopefully end up.
Obviously, if you’re playing with other golfers it’s a good idea to make sure you’re all on the same page before skipping a tee shot. If you’re on the green, you can always do gimme putts with anyone else instead of holing them out.
Scenario #2 – Fast Golf
If you’re playing a match with a buddy or don’t worry about hitting in front of others, then hit your normal shot. It’s easy to rush the shot but I suggest taking an extra breath, committing to your target, and playing like normal.
You never know, sometimes you might hit a great drive, approach, or putt with an audience and get a little cheer.
Scenario #3 – The Worst Strategy
When playing through, the worst strategy is to hit up on the group more than once with a “warning shot.”
Don’t get me wrong, sometimes you might hit a great shot that goes further than normal and might get near the group ahead. But if you’re bombing drives by them or close to them more than once, they’re going to get mad.
This likely won’t end with them asking you to play through and instead, they might hit your ball back, pick it up, or call the pro shop to complain.
Scenario #4 – The Last Resort
Finally, the last scenario is simply driving ahead of the group and playing through if they refuse to let you go. Because sometimes, groups don’t have the common sense to invite you through even if they’re playing slow. I hate it when golfers are this clueless but it happens and unfortunately you have to skip a hole.
But be careful as this can cause golfers to get mad and is really awkward if you have to see them throughout the round. This is a last resort!
FAQs
Do you have more questions about playing through and getting the right etiquette in this situation? Check out our frequently asked questions and answers to make sure you’re letting golfers play through correctly.
Can you ask to play through in golf?
It depends on the situation. If it’s a packed weekend round and the tee sheet is full of players all day, playing through likely won’t do much other than get you ahead of one group. Then you’re in an awkward situation as jumping ahead accomplished nothing.
However, if you’re playing golf and it’s not as busy in the afternoon or weekdays, playing through is a good idea. It’s an awkward dance with the group ahead, often seeing if they will invite you to go through or if you need to ask.
Usually, the best situation is to play fast so they know you want to go through, and hopefully they will let you. But don’t hit up into their group as it will likely anger them more than make them invite you to jump ahead.
Also, the golf course itself might change the situation. If you’re a guest of a member and it’s a private golf course or country club, it might not be the best idea to play through.
When should a golfer play through?
A golfer should play through if there is room between future groups and there are fewer people in the group jumping ahead. If you’re a foursome and the group ahead is a foursome, it rarely makes sense to ask to play through.
But if you’re a single player or playing with a buddy, it might make sense to jump ahead of the group.
Should you let a single golfer play through?
It depends on the situation. If the course is busy with threesome and foursomes, it might not make sense to have a single jump ahead. I would communicate that with the individual and let them know you’re keeping up with the pace of play but it’s just slow that day.
Who tees off first in golf?
If you’re in a formal tournament, there is usually a tee sheet order. If not, you can go by name or use the trusted tee trick.
Here’s how it works… have your group stand in a circle and let one person spin a tee in the air. Whoever the tee points toward is the first person teeing off. Do the tee flip again to determine who goes next, third, and fourth.
Final Thoughts
Playing through in golf is always an interesting encounter and entirely dependent on the situation. The number one rule is to make sure you’re always polite to fellow players and never hitting up on them with warning shots.
Remember, if you’re a slow group or in no rush, but there is some space ahead of you, it’s a good idea to let a smaller group play through. However, I wouldn’t do this more than once per round as it can slow down your round and make it hard to stay in a good rhythm.
On the other hand, if you’re a single or twosome, playing through is often a good move and important to have the right etiquette. When playing through, make sure to:
- Don’t play slow
- Not take mulligans
- Go through your routine
- Yell fore if you get close to the group
- Be friendly with the group and thank them for letting you jump ahead
Hopefully, this guide will help you navigate playing through other groups and make it easy next time it happens.
