With Bald Mountain and Apple Valley golf courses, Rumbling Bald Resort boasts two of the most beautiful, and challenging courses in the Southeast. The incredible views, meticulously maintained greens, and careful design of Bald Mountain and Apple Valley attract players not only from across the country, but from around the world. Uniting these players is a love of the game, an appreciation for skill and beauty, and an etiquette that transcends all national and linguistic obstacles. Golf etiquette can be boiled down to one word: respect. Respect for the course, respect for fellow players, and respect for the game. Usually, golf is played without referees or officials, and so it is up to every individual to show consideration to others, care for the course, and obey the rules. On the course every player should strive to exercise discipline, courtesy, and sportsmanship at all times, regardless of their level of competitiveness, current level of play, or any other conditions or considerations. Honestly, integrity, and courtesy are the true spirit of the game.

Courses like those at Rumbling Bald Resort are the result of years of painstaking planning, construction, and ongoing care and maintenance on the part of designers, landscapers, gardeners, and groundskeepers. We all love playing on such beautiful courses, and so it is up to each and every player to care for the course, and doing so is relatively easy:

  • After your group has finished playing a bunker, carefully fill and smooth over all holes and footprints left behind. If a rake is left within a reasonable distance from the bunker it should be used to smooth things out for the next group of players.
  • Players and caddies should also take pains to prevent any unnecessary damage to the course such as removing divots when taking practice swings, or by hitting the ground with your club, whether in frustration or for any other reason.
  • Additionally, be sure not to damage the putting green when putting down bags or the flagstick.
  • Avoid standing too close to the hole and be careful when handling the flagstick and removing a ball from the hole, and never use a clubhead to remove a ball from the hole.

Keeping pace is just common courtesy, and you should always play at a good pace. It is a groups responsibility to keep up with the group in front, and to be aware of the group behind.

  • If a group loses a clear hole, delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, no matter the number of players in that group.
  • When it is apparent the group behind can play faster, they should be invited to play through.
  • Always be ready to play when it is your turn to do so.
  • When on or near the putting green, leave your bags or carts just off the green on the way to the next tee.
  • When the play has been completed, leave the putting green quickly.
  • If you think your ball is lost or out of bounds, to save time, play a provisional ball.
  • Players searching for a ball should signal the players behind to play through as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not be easily found.

Finally, and most importantly, consideration for others, both within and outside of your group should be paramount for every player.

  • Don’t disturb other’s play my moving, talking, or making unnecessary noise.
  • Only tee your ball up with it is your turn to play.
  • Remember not to stand close to the ball, directly behind it, or directly behind the hole when a player is about to swing.
  • On the putting green, be careful not to stand on another player’s line of putt or cast a shadow over his line when he is putting.
  • You should remain on or close to the putting green until all other players in the group have holed out.

Such simple etiquette will not only insure that the courses we love continue to provide decades of enjoyment and challenges, but will also guarantee that the spirit of the game of golf will endure from generation to generation.