If you have recently agreed to a play date, gotten your own tee time or even put your own group together, you must feel comfortable enough with the swing basics to make a go of it on the course.  Kudos, my friend.  You're halfway there. 

However, a well played game of golf is much more than pars and birdies and the other unmentionables :).  It is honoring the age old traditions and etiquette that go along with the great game that we play.
 
I will be very honest. It is no shocker that I did not attend a young ladies finishing school.  I will greet guests in my home with bare feet as easily as I will with a smile.  I have even been known to play a few holes with my socks and shoes stuffed into my golf bag.  

Though Miss Manners would probably get the vapors from my redneck ways, I will not leave a sand trap unraked, walk in another players line or stand behind the hole when someone is putting (notice I didn't mention accidentally talking while someone is swinging ...aren't we all guilty of that at times?) . 

These faux pauxs that I mention may seem like trivial things to a new golfer but for seasoned veterans the breaking of the basic etiquette formalities only enhances his/her perception of your lack of knowledge to the game.