Before you tee off
Local customs, country by country
Walking the links, buggies kept to the paths in a Spanish summer, caddies and spotters in Sri Lanka: the way golf is played differs from one country to the next. Each line comes from the club’s own website and links to its course page.
Spain
- A maximum of two people and their golf bags are permitted per buggy. Alferini Golf
- The minimum age to drive a buggy is 16. Alferini Golf
- Buggies are not permitted on or around the greens or their approaches. Atalaya Golf & Country Club
- In damp conditions players are asked to keep to cart paths only or observe a 90-degree rule. Atalaya Golf & Country Club
- A buggy is always included with a round. Azata Golf
- A golf buggy is always included with a round. Calanova Golf Club
- Only two people are allowed in each buggy. Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort
- Buggies must not be driven within 50 metres of the greens. Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort
- The course can be walked or played with a buggy. Los Naranjos Golf Club
- Buggy drivers must be at least 18. Los Naranjos Golf Club
- The club's course status shows "Summer Rules, Buggies Not Allowed". Real Club de Golf Guadalmina
- Carts are not allowed on or near tees or beyond signs on the green surrounds. Real Club de Golf Las Brisas
- No more than two buggies are allowed in a flight. Real Club de Golf Las Brisas
- Buggy drivers must be at least 18. Santa María Golf Club
- A maximum of two people and their golf bags are permitted per buggy. Tramores Golf
- The minimum age to drive a buggy is 16. Villa Padierna Golf Club (Flamingos)
- One forecaddie per group is mandatory. Real Club Valderrama
- A caddie-pro service is optional. Santa Clara Golf Marbella
- The caddy master's hours are 7:30 to 20:00. Los Naranjos Golf Club
- Visitor times are 12:00 to 13:00, Monday to Thursday. Real Club Valderrama
- The caddie master is open from 07:45 to 19:00. Real Club de Golf Guadalmina
- The caddy master's hours are 7:00 to 21:00. Santa María Golf Club
- Players are asked to report to the starter 10 minutes before their start time. Real Club de Golf Las Brisas
- The club gives a round time of roughly five hours and advises taking a buggy. Alferini Golf
- The club promotes "ready golf" to keep pace of play enjoyable for everyone. Atalaya Golf & Country Club
- Players unable to keep normal pace of play may be asked by the marshal to speed up or skip a hole. Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort
- Shoes with penetrating metal spikes are not allowed on any of the club's courses or in the clubhouse. Alferini Golf
- Soft spikes are compulsory at all times; metal spikes and athletic shoes are not permitted. Real Club de Golf Las Brisas
- Shoes with penetrating metal spikes are not allowed on any of the club's courses or in the clubhouse. Villa Padierna Golf Club (Flamingos)
- The New Course is walkable, but in summer heat the club advises hiring a buggy. Atalaya Golf & Country Club
- Golfers can play with a golf cart or on foot. Santa Clara Golf Marbella
- A local rule gives relief for a ball at rest in an area of wild boar damage. Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort
Florida, USA
- Carts must stay on the paths around all tees, greens and the entire par 3s. Arrowhead Golf Club
- Cart drivers must be at least 16 and hold a valid driver's licence. Arrowhead Golf Club
- Golf-cart drivers must be 18 or over with a valid driver's licence. Biltmore Golf Course
- A golf cart comes with the round. Bonita Fairways Golf Club
- All golf carts have GPS. Lely Resort golf
- Golf carts should stay on paths around all tees and greens. The Links at Fisher Island
- Walking caddies are not permitted. Biltmore Golf Course
- The club runs a Caddie Concierge programme. Tiburón Golf Club
- All carts must be in before dark. Biltmore Golf Course
- Bookings of fewer than four players are paired with others to keep a good pace of play. Arrowhead Golf Club
- The pace-of-play target is 14 minutes per hole, or 4 hours 20 minutes for 18 holes. Arrowhead Golf Club
- Soft spikes only are allowed. Arrowhead Golf Club
- Spikes are permitted at Tiburon Golf Club. Tiburón Golf Club
- Walking is allowed after 2pm. Arrowhead Golf Club
- Walking is allowed Thursday to Sunday and on holidays after 2pm. Biltmore Golf Course
- The Leaf short course is walking-only. Saltleaf Golf Preserve
Scotland
- If a Ballot application for the Old Course succeeds, the club will try to rearrange the Kingsbarns tee time, subject to availability. Kingsbarns Golf Links
- The Old Course can be booked via the ballot, advance tee times, single golfers, a winter package or authorised providers. St Andrews Links
- All users must sign a Safety Policy Acknowledgement Form before driving a buggy. Muirfield
- The undulating terrain is not suitable for golf buggies or carts. North Berwick Golf Club
- Gleneagles offers Caddiemaster caddies who know the courses. Gleneagles
- Caddie requests should be made when booking or at least 14 days before play where possible. North Berwick Golf Club
- The club offers a limited forecaddie service that is advice only, not carrying a bag. North Berwick Golf Club
- All golfers should report to the Starter's Lodge before their tee time. North Berwick Golf Club
- A valid handicap certificate must be shown to the Old Course starter on the day. St Andrews Links
- Old Course players check in at the Old Pavilion beside the first tee. St Andrews Links
- Bookings are not taken for threeballs, two-balls or singles in May to September; smaller groups go on a waiting list for fourball times. Muirfield
- For 36 holes the morning is fourballs (08.20 to 10.10 tee times) and the afternoon is foursomes (alternate shot). Muirfield
- All dogs should be kept on a lead during the bird nesting season (March to July). Carnoustie Golf Links
Barbados
- Golf carts are compulsory at Apes Hill. Apes Hill Golf
- The club has floodlit practice facilities for playing after dark. Apes Hill Golf
- The estate offers floodlit evening matches. Royal Westmoreland Golf
- Limited tee times are available to approved offsite golfers. Royal Westmoreland Golf
- Golf attire and soft spikes are required. Rockley Golf & Country Club
- Little Apes is a par-3 walking course and the club suggests taking three clubs. Apes Hill Golf
- Players are welcome to walk the course. Barbados Golf Club
- Pull trolleys are available as an alternative to electric carts. Barbados Golf Club
- Large troops of Barbados Green monkeys roam the championship course. Apes Hill Golf
Nevada, USA
- Bali Hai offers a forecaddie programme: a forecaddie can be requested to accompany a group. Bali Hai Golf Club
- Each player is guided by a personal caddie. Shadow Creek
- Guests can request a particular caddie in advance of arrival. Wynn Golf Club
- The course is walkable and nine holes are lit for evening play. Angel Park Golf Club
- Singles and twosomes may be moved by one tee time to improve pace of play. Reflection Bay Golf Club
- Course ambassadors assist with pace of play. Bali Hai Golf Club
- Metal spikes are prohibited. Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort
- Golfers must wear a collared shirt, soft spikes and golf-appropriate trousers (no denim). Wynn Golf Club
Sri Lanka
- The club provides caddies. Nuwara Eliya Golf Club
- One caddie per player is compulsory. Victoria Golf & Country Resort
- One ball spotter per game is compulsory. Victoria Golf & Country Resort
- Jeans, tracksuits, collarless polo shirts and sneakers are not permitted on the course or in the clubhouse. Nuwara Eliya Golf Club
Portugal
- A caddie-master service takes care of golf bags on arrival. Oitavos Dunes
- A valid golf handicap certificate is required. Praia d'El Rey Golf
Dubai
- Metal spikes are not permitted. Emirates Golf Club
England
- Two small fenced-off areas on the course protect wildlife on the Site of Special Scientific Interest. Littlehampton Golf Club
Saint Lucia
- Golf carts are mandatory. Sandals St. Lucia Golf & Country Club
The Bahamas
- A twilight tee time is offered in the Golf in Paradise Twilight package. Ocean Club Golf Course
Sources: the clubs’ own websites and the national golf bodies
- www.villapadierna.es/en/alferini/
- www.villapadierna.es/en/tramores/
- www.villapadierna.es/en/flamingos/
- apeshill.com/golf/
- apeshill.com/golf/championship-course/
- apeshill.com/golf/little-apes-par-three-course/
- www.arrowheadgolfnaples.com/golf/faqs
- www.atalaya-golf.com/care-of-courses/
- www.atalaya-golf.com/visitors-welcome/
- www.atalaya-golf.com/new-course/
- azatagolf.com/green-fees-tarifas/
- balihaigolfclub.com/the-experience/
- www.barbadosgolfclub.com/faq
- biltmorehotel.com/miami-golf-resort/course-policies/
- biltmorehotel.com/miami-golf-resort/course-info-practice-facility/
- bonitafairways.com/
- www.calanovagolf.es:443/web/en/index.php
- www.carnoustiegolflinks.com/about-us/environment/
- www.dubaigolf.com/egc/golf/courses-and-academy/the-majlis-course/
- gleneagles.com/golf/
- www.guadalminagolf.com/
- www.higueronmarbellagolfresort.com/the-course/
- www.kingsbarns.com/reservations
- realclubdegolflasbrisas.com/club-info/
- www.lvpaiutegolf.com/golf
- www.littlehamptongolf.co.uk/flora---fauna
- losnaranjos.com/informacion-general/
- losnaranjos.com/
- santamariagolfclub.com/informacion-general/
- santamariagolfclub.com/
- www.muirfield.org.uk/visitors-new/
- www.northberwickgolfclub.com/visitor_information
- www.nuwaraeliyagolfclub.com/club-info
- www.atlantisbahamas.com/things-to-do/golf
- oitavosdunes.com/clubhouse/
- www.praia-del-rey.com/en/activities-golf
- www.reflectionbaygolf.com/tee-times/
- rockleygolfclub.com/facilities/
- www.royalwestmoreland.com/estate/golf/
- www.royalwestmoreland.com/guest-portal/
- saltleafgolf.com/the-leaf-short-course/
- www.sandals.com/golf/st-lucia/
- santaclaragolfmarbella.com/
- www.mgmresorts.com/en/things-to-do/shadow-creek-golf-course.html
- www.standrews.com/golf/courses/old-course
- www.standrews.com/golf/before-your-round
- www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/rswgr-the-ritz-carlton-naples-tiburon/golf/
- www.valderrama.com/golf-course-rates/
- www.victoriagolfresort.com/golf/green-fees.html
- www.wynnlasvegas.com/experiences/golf
- arcisgolf.com/clubs/angel-park-golf-club/golf-course
- fisherislandclub.com/golf-course-tour-page/
- www.lelyresortgolfandcountryclub.com/golf/