“I don't care how good you play, you can find somebody who can beat you, and I don't care how bad you play, you can find somebody you can beat,” Harvey Penick 

Let me start this article by stating that there are no horrible golfers, only painfully slow players who show no respect for the game of golf. Even if you don’t have the skills or the experience to play well, you can still have fun on the course and not get in the way of your playing partners. Don’t be afraid to play lousy if you respect every other aspect of the golf experience.

I personally enjoy teeing it up with new players or those who don’t have a lot of skill, as long as they keep up the pace and exhibit some on-the-course knowledge. In fact, if you’re a “horrible” player, you can impress your friends, partners, bosses or clients by possessing knowledge of the history, etiquette or other nuances of the game.

And everybody reading this is smart enough to learn a little something about this great game. Your nearest PGA pro is ready and waiting to help you with your swing and a lesson on etiquette, if needed.

According to Tom Vold, Director of Golf at Tuscany and Rhodes Ranch Golf Clubs in Las Vegas, many of today’s players, whether they are new to golf or have played for awhile, are taking the game for granted.

“Something that is missing from the game today is players who appreciate the traditions of the game, and who truly respect the history of the sport,” says Vold, a PGA of America pro who hails from Canada. “As PGA pros, I think we have lost our way a bit about ensuring that golfers understand these things.”

It’s wonderful that golf is bringing new players—that’s the only way the sport will survive and thrive—but if we all don’t work to appreciate it and pass that appreciation on to others, we’ll lose some of what makes this sport unique. Taking the time to learn about the game will also help you do better business on the course. What will it say about you and how you do business if you act inappropriate on the course and disregard any of the game’s rules or etiquette?

“What will surely impress your partners is for you to be ready to play when it’s your turn, concentrate on your shot and play in a timely manner,” says Vold. “Be respectful of the facility and the other people in the group. Don’t talk on your cell phone or yap while players are hitting, and in general just use common sense and you will have a good time.”

For 99% of us, golf will never be something that we do at a competitive level, save for the occasional company scramble or charity event. And the fact is that most golfers have a handicap in the high teens, and shoot scores in the 90’s. We play golf for fun, and to spend time with people who are important to us.

“Golf is a social game, and is meant to be enjoyed and is supposed to be fun,” says Vold. “Any level of player can show respect for the game and its traditions, and the more we do that, the more we all will enjoy it.”

Nearly all golfers have experienced a round with someone who has no business on the course. The guy or gal who lines up his or her putt for a score of 10 like Tiger Woods lines up a winning putt. Or the person who is hitting shot number 9 from the trees. But we have also played with the good player who thinks he is the reincarnation of Jack Nicklaus, and lines up every putt from all angles and takes an excruciating amount of time to prepare for each shot.

The above examples are of this game’s true “horrible” golfers. They don’t respect their partners or the game.

If all you do is hit a few bad shots during the round but you keep up the pace of play and add to the conversation with your knowledge and you respect your surroundings, consider yourself one of the best golfers around.

People will enjoy their time on the course with you, and you’ll have a great round. Maybe not on the scorecard, but where it counts … in the minds of the people you enjoy.

Golf world challenge: A few quick tips on looking like a pro even when playing badly are: never walk on the line of the putt of your playing partner; don’t talk when someone is hitting; leave your cell phone in the bag; repair any marks or damage to the course; be congenial to your playing partners; if there is a question to who should hit first, offer up the first shot to the other player; make sure you swing when other players are clear; have fun and enjoy the game.