Golf Etiquette Abroad: What Changes by Country
The courtesies of golf are universal, but the customs are not. Turn up to a traditional Scottish links in gym shorts, skip the caddie tip in Ireland, or take a phone call on a Japanese course, and you will know about it. This is our country by country guide to the etiquette that changes when you travel, with the verdict on what to do so you play, and are welcomed back, like a local.
Photo: Old Course, St Andrews via Google, contributor Richard Grobben.
What stays the same, what changes
Wherever you play, the core of golf etiquette never changes. Keep pace and let faster groups through, repair your pitch marks and divots and rake the bunkers, stay still and silent while a playing partner hits, mind your shadow on the greens, and respect the order of play and the honour. Do those things and you will be welcome on any course in the world, from a municipal track to a major venue.
What changes abroad is the local culture around the round. Dress codes range from strict to relaxed, caddies are mandatory in some countries and rare in others, tipping customs vary enormously, the mid round lunch break is sacred in parts of Asia and unheard of elsewhere, and attitudes to mobile phones, photography and clubhouse formality differ from one tradition to the next. The table below sets out how the marquee golf nations differ, so you arrive knowing the unwritten rules.
Golf etiquette by country
| Country | What changes | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Home of the game and its etiquette. Caddies common, dress smart, fast play prized, many clubs walking only | Play briskly, take a caddie at the marquee links, carry cash to tip, and respect the traditions. Standing on ceremony is rewarded here. |
| Ireland | Warm and sociable but traditional. Caddies expected at the great links, a caddie tip on top of the fee is the norm | Agree the caddie fee up front, tip well for good service, and enjoy the craic. The welcome is genuine if you respect the course. |
| England | Heathland and links clubs can be formal, with jacket and tie sometimes expected in the clubhouse and strict dress on course | Pack a collared shirt and tidy trousers, check the clubhouse code, and err on the side of smart. Members notice scruffy visitors. |
| United States | Generally more relaxed, carts often mandatory, tipping the bag staff and caddies expected, pace can be slower | Tip the cart and bag attendants, take the cart if required, and budget for a slower round at busy resorts. Casual but courteous. |
| Japan | Highly formal. A long mid round lunch break is standard, caddies common, dress and clubhouse manners strict, baths expected | Embrace the lunch break and the rituals, dress immaculately, and follow your caddie's lead. Politeness and order are everything. |
| Continental Europe | Often relaxed and resort focused, handicap certificates sometimes requested, dress codes vary by club | Carry proof of handicap for traditional clubs, check the dress code, and expect a friendly, cart friendly experience at most resorts. |
| Australia and New Zealand | Egalitarian and welcoming, walking common, dress smart casual, pace brisk, tipping not customary | Walk if you can, keep up the pace, and skip the tip. Friendly, unfussy golf with high standards of course care. |
| UAE and the Gulf | Modern resort golf, carts standard, dress codes enforced in heat, tipping caddies and staff expected | Respect the dress code despite the heat, carry small notes to tip, and book early or twilight tee times to beat the sun. |
A general guide to local custom, not a rulebook. Individual clubs set their own dress codes, caddie and tipping arrangements, so always confirm the specifics directly when you book. Browse tee time options worldwide.
The customs that catch visitors out
Dress codes are the most common trip wire. The traditional clubs of the British Isles and Japan expect a collared shirt, tailored trousers or knee length shorts with proper socks, and often a jacket and tie to eat in the clubhouse, while many courses everywhere ban denim, cargo shorts, gym wear and untucked casual shirts on the course itself. The safe play is to travel with smart golf attire and a collared shirt for the clubhouse, and to read each club's stated code before you arrive rather than assume the resort rules apply.
Caddies and tipping cause the next round of confusion. In Scotland and Ireland a caddie at the great links is part of the experience, the fee is usually set by the club, and a tip on top is expected for good service, so carry enough local cash. In the United States you tip the bag and cart staff as well as any caddie, in Japan the caddie is often included and tipping is not customary, and in Australia and New Zealand tipping is generally not expected at all. The rule of thumb is to find out the local norm before you play and to reward genuine service generously where tipping is the custom.
Finally, watch the small things that signal you understand the culture: keep mobile phones silent and calls off the course at traditional clubs, ask before photographing at private venues, honour the mid round lunch break in Asia rather than rushing it, and follow the lead of your host, caddie or the group ahead. None of this is hard, and all of it marks you out as a guest who respects the game and the place. Get it right and the welcome, almost everywhere, is warm.
Plan a trip and play like a local
Travel with us and the local etiquette is briefed for you, from dress codes to caddie tips to tee time customs. We sequence the rounds, arrange the caddies and handle the hotel and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Golf etiquette abroad questions
Does golf etiquette change from country to country?
The core courtesies are universal, such as keeping pace, repairing the course, staying still and quiet while others play, and respecting the order of play. What changes abroad is the local custom around dress codes, caddies, tipping, mobile phones, the lunch break and how formal the clubhouse is. Reading those local norms before you travel is the difference between blending in and standing out.
Do you tip caddies in Scotland and Ireland?
Yes. In Scotland and Ireland a caddie fee is usually set by the club and a tip on top is expected for good service, commonly a meaningful sum per bag in addition to the fee. Carry cash, agree the fee before you set off, and tip according to how much the caddie added to your round. Always check the club's current caddie arrangements when you book.
What is the dress code for golf in different countries?
Traditional clubs in the British Isles and Japan tend to be the most formal, expecting a collared shirt, tailored trousers or shorts to the knee, and often a jacket and tie in the clubhouse. Much of the United States, continental Europe and resort golf is more relaxed but still bans denim, gym wear and untucked casual shirts on many courses. When in doubt, dress smart and check the specific club's rules before you arrive.
Is it rude to use a mobile phone on the course abroad?
At traditional clubs, especially in the British Isles and Japan, phones should be silent and calls avoided on the course and in the clubhouse, and photography may be restricted. Resort and many American courses are more relaxed about a quick photo or message, but a ringing phone or a loud call mid round is poor form anywhere. Keep it discreet and follow the lead of your host or caddie.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Local custom guidance reviewed June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.