The Ten Commandments of Golf Etiquette
In 1988 an American minister named Robert Fulghum published a famous and hugely popular short essay called “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”
That same flair for brevity is on fine display in a new book, aimed at beginning golfers and, perhaps especially, those who could do with a little refresher course.
Roland Merullo’s Ten Commandments of Golf Etiquette uses only 52 pages, liberally illustrated by John Recco, to outline in highly readable entertaining prose the basics of good golfing behavior (PFP Publishing; $12.00 paperback, $3.58 on Amazon Kindle).
The short essays on each commandment describe what’s expected of golfers, as well as the rules that help provide much of the game’s inherent appeal. None of it should be news to anyone who’s played more than a few rounds of golf, but as a primer for those just taking up the sport this is a very good introduction.
“Thou Shalt be Quiet”, “Thou Shalt Manage Your Mood”, and “Thou Shalt Learn the Rules” are three of the ten rules for gracious golf, and are among my favorites in this tiny little treatise.
The one about managing one’s mood is the one for which I could use some additional study. As Merullo says, “If you hit a bad shot, made one comment, then shake it off.”
Very good commandment, and one I try to follow. On the other hand, I think that the “one comment” should be thought, and not necessarily said out loud, or at least muttered to oneself. No one needs to hear a “[blank] Me!” immediately after one of my errant drives–other than myself.
I can easily see this slim volume bought in mass quantities for use by forward-thinking golf pros, or perhaps for high school golf team members in the first week of each season.
Review Date: October 2, 2015