Where's the banter in Amateur Golf?

TT member Adam Cook talks about how the etiquette of golf should be in 2012

Playing golf seriously for the last 3 years has come with its high and its lows, but more and more each day we see golf banter becoming a normal part of the golfing etiquette.

This isn't something that has engrained itself in the beauty of the game at an amateur level but has become a big part of the pro golfing world.

Watching Westwood, McIlroy and Poulter in China recently shows how a relaxed atmosphere can bring the best and worst out in you but it also allows you to see a human side to the immortal heroes we watch weekly.

Golf is a pretty lonely game if you cannot have the fun and banter.

I recently played in an amateur matchplay tournament at my home course where my opponent didn't speak a single word to me for the entire 18 holes.

Rude? Or is it just what is expected these days?

It was by far the longest 4 hours of my life.

On the flipside of this I played in a society with a mix of golfers and characters but the banter was brilliant! We had a clown outfit for the last placed golfer on the day which they had to wear throughout the presentation and a charity shop tweed jacket for every competition winner. The best part of the day for me (apart from the golf) was the the fines panel, dishing out funny fines about all the golfers eg shoes too dirty fined £2, shoes too clean fined £4. It was brilliant great fun.

What is the point in playing a sport and winning if you are not liked doing it?

Look at some of the biggest characters in golf at the moment - do they stick to the norm?! Ricky Fowler, Bubba Watson, Poulter, McIlroy all great golfers and all have their own way of doing things and how they look but they never bring the game into disrepute.

I am not saying that golf needs to become like football or rugby with big loud noisy crowds but I believe having a bit of lighthearted and humorous banter can truly allow you to go out and enjoy yourself where you will produce your best game.

I spent my 1st two years membership on a par 70 golf course playing off 19 every week and got down to 18 playing with the same 3 people in a fairly high brow traditional golf club.

I then moved last year to a par 71 course with 12 of my work colleagues where the club is relaxed and generates what I believe to be the right image for golf in 2012 (relaxed off the course rules).

In 12 months I am now down to 9.8 and havn't looked back since.

I think we need more of these clubs - I know this may upset some people however I know a lot of technically sound golfers who are looking for a new way of playing the game mentally.

Adam Cook