Limitations on the Player: Rules/Etiquette of the Game

Once play has begun, a slew of signs, in-ground markers, painted lines, etc. all lie within each hole. All of these rules are assumed by the course officials to be known by the player, especially when playing in actual tournament or play. If not, it is expected that a rulebook should be in bag for immediate reference. Due to the complexity of the rules and ambiguous nature of all the signs that inhabit a golf course, it would be nearly impossible for an "outsider" to play a true game of golf first time around.

The limitations and parameters on the player are obviously the rules, but also include water hazards, in-bounds, so in other words, where the player has the permission or ability to hit from. Some of these vague signs include yardage markers within the ground, hazard stakes, painted drop circles, etc. Yardage markers are either in the ground or marked by stakes and either list the specific yardage to reach the hole or are color coded to a particular yardage amount. Hazard stakes mark in-bounds and out-of-bound areas such as yards, water, etc. Painted drop circles are special areas spray painted upon the grass allowing the player to drop their ball after taking a water penalty. As expressed, the scenarios that players may find themselves are virtually endless.

Referring back to Gillian Rose, she states, "Other forms of discipline include the spatial routing of visitors. Often galleries and museums invite visitors to follow a particular route, either through the layout of rooms or through the provision of floor plans marked with suggest walks" (Rose, 251). Whether the golfer rides in a cart or carries their bag, they are directed throughout the entire course by the cart paths, which are concrete paths that usually run parallel with each hole beginning from the first hole to the eighteenth. For most courses, just as Willow Creek, you must ride on the cart paths. There are no alternative routes, or forks in the road allowing the player to choose their next destination. The destination is already chosen for them and they must follow along or else they cannot play because players may be kicked off the course if they deviate from the set play movement.

Just as important as the rules of golf is the etiquette involved in play. This is an entirely different genre of rules that could essentially have their own rulebook as well: How to dress, how to act, what volume of voices should be used, when to speak/when not to speak, who keeps the score, when to pull the flag, how to walk around someone's invisible line on the green, etc. The proper golf attire is particularly important for majority of golf courses because the player may not even be permitted on the course until they wear the proper clothing. Not only do golf brands such as Nike, Callaway, Ashworth, PING, Adidas, and Under Armour design golf clubs, but also design leading golf apparel for both men and women. "After all, golf wear is a specific field of fashion, and fashion is a language of which the system of signs it sets up exhibits and communicates, and says what it thinks of the world" (Park, 190). There are countless rules of etiquette within this game of golf, and for someone to not be aware would be looked down upon in many cases depending on the stature of the course or whom the individual is playing against.





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