Golf course behaviors that instantly reveal someone's true character
#1Graciousness in Victory and Defeat#2Handles wins with humility#3Handles losses with grace#4Accepts bad breaks#5Respect for the Rules and Etiquette#6Knows and abides by the rules#7Respects the course#8Respects other players#9Plays at a reasonable pace#10Integrity and Honesty#11Counts strokes accurately#12Gives opponents putts#13Fair play#14Owns up to mistakes#15Consideration for Others+15 more
#1How they handle a bad shot (take it in stride vs. throwing clubs, cursing, blaming others)#2Whether they call penalties on themselves#3Repairing divots, ball marks and raking bunkers#4Speed of play and awareness of groups behind them#5How they treat caddies, marshals, course staff and juniors#6Response to a rules dispute (calm discussion vs. aggressive insistence)#7Celebrating an opponent’s good shot vs. pouting or dismissing it#8Whether they help search for lost balls or leave others stranded#9Attitude toward pace-of-play etiquette (insisting on “their” game vs. adjusting)#10Handling of expensive equipment (careful vs. careless)#11How they drink or behave with alcohol on the course (moderate vs. sloppy)#12Blaming external factors constantly (weather, clubs, course conditions)#13Whether they coach/support a less-experienced player vs. belittle them#14Following dress/code and local rules (observant vs. dismissive)#15Verbal tone and body language after losing a close match
#1Club-throwing or tantrums after a bad shot#2"Foot-wedging" or improving your lie#3Slow play or ignoring pace-of-play etiquette#4Neglecting course care (divots, bunkers, ball marks)#5Score fudging or "giving strokes" debates#6Treatment of caddies, staff, or slower players#7Post-round attitude—win or lose
#1How they react to bad shots#2Their treatment of caddies or playing partners#3Their honesty about their lie and rules#4Their pace of play#5How they handle slow play from others#6Their generosity with advice (or unsolicited criticism)#7Their attitude towards "gimmies"#8How they maintain the course#9Their demeanor and conversation in the clubhouse#10How they interact with service staff#11Their willingness to share#12Their reaction to losing a bet or wager#13Their understanding of the history and traditions of golf
#1Honesty#2Respect for Others#3Handling Frustration#4Sportsmanship#5Treatment of Staff#6Obsession with Winning#7Etiquette#8Social Interactions#9Flexibility following a Poor Round#10Sharing the Experience#11Taking Responsibility#12Inclusiveness
#1Honesty about a lost ball#2“Mulligan” habit#3How they treat the caddie or course staff#4Speed of play#5Reaction to a bad shot#6Cleanliness#7Talking on the phone or with the group#8Giving other players advice#9Handling a lost or broken club#10Respect for pace-of-play warnings#11Cheering others#12Keeping score#13Attire and gear#14Patience at the tee#15Being a “sharpshooter” on the green
#1Calling penalties on yourself#2Treat cart staff, starter, ranger, and beverage attendant well#3Repairing ball marks and divots#4Pace-of-play awareness#5Reaction to a bad shot#6Temper and self-control#7Respect for other players’ concentration#8Truthfulness about found balls and scorekeeping#9How they handle winning#10How they handle losing#11Care with safety#12Sportsmanship on rulings and disputes#13Generosity and fairness with honors, tees, and formats#14How they treat beginners or weaker players#15Honoring the course and clubhouse culture+3 more
#1Blaming externals (the club, wind, groundskeeper) vs. taking responsibility#2Throwing clubs or having tantrums vs. composure#3Sulking and bringing down the group vs. shaking it off#4How they speak to cart attendants, beverage servers, and rangers#5Tipping behavior (or lack thereof)#6Acknowledging their work vs. treating them as invisible#7Taking "gimmes" that aren't offered#8Improving their lie in the rough#9Convenient "lost ball" drops closer to the green#10Honest scorekeeping vs. "creative math"#11Letting faster groups play through vs. stubbornly blocking the course#12Being ready when it's their turn#13Excessive practice swings while others wait#14Gracious winners vs. gloaters#15Making excuses vs. congratulating others+7 more
#1How they treat the "Invisible" People#2The "Foot Wedge" and the Vanity Handicap#3The Reaction to a Bad Shot#4Respect for the Course (The Unseen Labor)#5Their Relationship with the Rules#6Attention to "Pace of Play"#7Whether they "Manage Up" or "Manage Down"#8The 19th Hole (The Aftermath)
#1Honest reactions to mistakes#2Pace of play#3How they treat others#4Handling rules/gray areas#5Response to others' success#6Consistency of demeanor