Forty seconds: that is how long the Rules of Golf recommend for playing a stroke once you can play without interference. Etiquette is less codified than people think, but many Italian clubs have turned it into precise bans, from jeans to metal spikes.
Golf etiquette comes down to three duties that the official Rules set out in black and white: integrity, consideration for others and care of the course. On everything else, from clothing to footwear, each club decides for itself, and in Italy the differences are larger than a visitor might imagine.
What the Rules of Golf say
The Rules of Golf published by the R&A devote Rule 1.2a to etiquette (Standards of Player Conduct). It asks three things of every golfer:
- Integrity: follow the Rules, apply the penalties and be honest in all aspects of play.
- Consideration for others: play at a prompt pace, look out for safety and avoid distracting anyone. If a stroke might endanger someone, shout a warning at once, such as the traditional "fore".
- Care of the course: replace divots, smooth bunkers, repair ball marks on the greens and avoid unnecessary damage.
Minor breaches carry no penalty. The Committee may, however, disqualify a player for serious misconduct, that is, behaviour so far removed from what is expected in golf that it justifies exclusion from the competition. Under Rule 1.2b, a club or committee may also adopt its own code of conduct, with a penalty of one stroke, the general penalty or disqualification for the most serious violations.
Pace of play: the forty seconds
The most concrete point is Rule 5.6b: when it is your turn, you are recommended to play your stroke in no more than 40 seconds from the moment you can play without interference, and faster if possible. The text also encourages letting faster groups play through. In stroke play it is permitted to play out of turn in a safe manner, so-called ready golf; in match play the players may agree to do so.
Rule 5.6a, by contrast, forbids unreasonable delay: the first breach costs one stroke, the second the general penalty, the third disqualification. Delays between two holes are penalised on the next hole.
Two rules help avoid wasting time. A ball is lost if it is not found within three minutes of starting to search for it (Rule 18.2a). And if you think it may have gone out of bounds or been lost outside a penalty area, you may play a provisional ball, but you must announce the word "provisional" before the stroke: saying "another ball" is not enough (Rule 18.3).
Dress code: what Italian clubs put in their regulations
Here the Rules are silent and the clubs decide. The most common ban is on jeans; the other garments that often appear in club regulations are tracksuits, sleeveless tops and T-shirts.
| Club | What it asks or forbids |
|---|---|
| Acquasanta (Rome) | Men: polo shirt and long trousers or knee-length Bermuda shorts, long socks recommended; women: polo shirt and trousers, Bermuda shorts or skirt. Jeans, tracksuits and leggings are banned |
| Rapallo | Not allowed: blue jeans, tracksuits, non-sports shorts, T-shirts, sleeveless tops, Crocs, flip-flops, slippers |
| Pevero | No jeans or T-shirts: tailored Bermuda shorts and collared polo shirts |
| Conero (Sirolo) | Crew-neck shirts, sleeveless tops and jeans are banned on the course |
| Mare di Roma | Informal but neat attire: no T-shirts, non-golf caps or metal spikes |
| Il Colombaro (Salò) | Casual dress code |
The Margara extends its rules beyond the course: no swimwear, bare chests or slippers in the common areas, and in the evening at the restaurant long trousers and closed shoes for men. In practice, across the regulations cited above the most common choice is the collared polo shirt, with long trousers or neat Bermuda shorts; jeans and tracksuits are the most frequent ban.
Shoes: soft spikes
Several clubs expressly ask for soft spikes: among them Cervia, Casentino, Conero, Lamborghini, Reggio Emilia, Trieste, Salsomaggiore, Le Pavoniere and Lana. Some clubs also ban metal spikes (Acquasanta, Fiuggi, Ponte di Legno, Mare di Roma). Bring a pair of shoes with replaceable spikes and you will have no problems.
Particular rules that surprise visitors
- Bags and animals. At Lana you play with your own bag and dogs are not allowed; at Pevero every player must have their own bag and children under 6 are not admitted on the course; at other clubs dogs are allowed on a lead.
- Golf carts. At Pevero you must be 18 and hold a driving licence to drive the buggy.
- Practising on the course. At Grado the regulations forbid practising on the course and using driving range balls on the course.
- Large groups. At Villafranca, teams of more than four players must be authorised by the secretary's office.
- Divots and bunkers. The Golf Club Jesolo recalls care of the course in its regulations, from divots to bunkers: it is Rule 1.2a, put into practice.
Where to ask if you are in doubt
If the dress code is unclear, the club office or the hotel concierge can tell you before your tee time. Some properties do this as a matter of routine: Villa d'Este books tee times at the golf club through Guest Relations, and Hotel Castel and Quellenhof Passeier handle tee times for their guests.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to play a stroke?+
The Rules recommend playing the stroke in no more than 40 seconds from the moment you can play without interference, and less if possible. It is a recommendation, not an automatic penalty.
What do you shout when a ball may hit someone?+
An immediate warning, such as the traditional "fore". Rule 1.2a asks this of all players.
How long can you search for a ball?+
Three minutes from the start of the search: after that, the ball is lost and you play again with a penalty stroke from where you played the previous stroke.
Can you play in jeans in Italy?+
At many clubs, no: jeans and blue jeans are banned, among others, by Acquasanta, Rapallo, Pevero, Conero, Lana and Fiuggi. Check the club's regulations before you travel.
Do I need special shoes?+
Several clubs ask for soft spikes, from Cervia to Lana. Some clubs explicitly ban metal spikes.
What happens if I do not respect etiquette?+
For minor breaches the Rules provide no penalty, but a club may adopt a code of conduct with penalties and the Committee may disqualify for serious misconduct.
