As a golfer, you'll not only play by yourself and with friends, but also get a chance to play with people you don't know. It can be enjoyable to meet new people on the links, and you may even find that you hit it off with someone enough that you make plans to play again in the future. Anytime you play with someone new, you'll want to briefly discuss some rules for the game. This is especially true if you're a serious player. While the course's ground rules — which are posted by the first tee box — are critical, there are some smaller details that you and your new partner can talk about. Here are some options.
Gimme Distance
In golf, a gimme occurs when your ball is close enough to the hole that you don't have to make the putt. It can be a handy situation in terms of speeding up the game, but if you're a shaky putter, you may appreciate being able to pick up your ball instead of trying to sink it. Should you wish to play with gimmes, you'll need to set a distance. For example, some golfers might be strict to say that gimmes should only be within a foot of the hole, while others might be more lenient and say three feet.
Improving Your Lie
Improving your lie — that is, making a small adjustment to your ball before hitting it — is technically illegal, but many golfers do it because it allows them to make better shots. For example, if your ball is up against a twig, you might move the ball to the side a couple inches so that the twig won't interfere. Legality aside, there's nothing wrong with improving your lie — but everyone you're playing with has to agree to it. Be sure to discuss this topic with your new playing partner so that he or she doesn't think you're cheating.
Grounding Your Club
When you ground your club, you set it down in the sand before taking a shot. Technically, this seemingly innocent move is against the rules, but this is a rule that lots of casual players ignore. The advantage of grounding your club is that you can make a more controlled shot; when you have to hover the clubface above the sand, you may lack control. See where your new playing partner stands on this rule, and come to a consensus before you both tee off.
