Kurt the Knife wrote:

I wish I had some sort of basic training on rules, etiquette, etc. when I began playing.

There are many times on the course where I'm paired with someone who either a) doesn't know or b) doesn't care about etiquette.

I prefer to think most the time it is the former.

What is the best way to give unsolicited advice if someone is playing too slow, or steps on your line, or is wearing jeans to play?

I dont want to come off like a pompous ass when giving this advice and this is why 99% of the time I just dont give unsolicited advice. But last time I played some things just really bugged me about the 3 guys I was paired with (really slow players, wearing jeans, and just didn't seem to know normal golf etiquette). But I just stayed silent the entire round.

Is it best just to keep quiet?

Anyone who has ever been "new" to golf, with out having a teacher of some sort, how did you learn?

just say....

"..watch my line please..."

but as to jeans....if the course allowed them....I wouldn't say anything unless they were a friend...

Some excellent questions.

I play with a wide cross-section of golfing humanity. I try to lead by example and repair pitch marks, divot holes and rake bunkers carefully. If a player appears to be a beginner and fails to repair the course, I will politely explain the need to repair the damage we make.

If something another golfer does affects my play (walks on my line, talks during my turn to hit, etc...) I say something directly to the person. I try to add a touch of self-deprecating humor like:

"My putting is bad but walking in my line is giving me some good excuses if I miss. Thanks."

or

"I have the attention span of a gnat so any noise or talking when I am hitting will distract me. Help me out. Thanks."

If the player continues to be a problem then I will just tell them to be quiet or stay off my line. That rarely occurs.

A polite word might help the situation.
I putt side saddle so I face the hole. Other players can stand behind my line of sight and it doesn't bother me at all but if they stand to the side as one would with a conventional putter any movement bothers me.When it happens I just explain the situation and most of the time they will understand.I also putt quickly because I don't have to re=align my setup once I have picked out my line. I just get up to the ball take my line of sight and pull the trigger. It startles anyone who is not used to my style. Not their fault so I have to slow down or I may hit the ball while they are still moving.After you have played a couple of holes with people it is easy to adapt to their routines. It's just common courtesy.

joe jones wrote:

A polite word might help the situation. I putt side saddle so I face the hole. Other players can stand behind my line of sight and it doesn't bother me at all but if they stand to the side as one would with a conventional putter any movement bothers me.When it happens I just explain the situation and most of the time they will understand.I also putt quickly because I don't have to re=align my setup once I have picked out my line. I just get up to the ball take my line of sight and pull the trigger. It startles anyone who is not used to my style. Not their fault so I have to slow down or I may hit the ball while they are still moving.After you have played a couple of holes with people it is easy to adapt to their routines. It's just common courtesy.

I have to be honest, Joe. After three rounds, the speed at which you putt still surprises me.

I would say to someone, "It looks like you may be new to the game. I have played golf for over 30 years and maybe could offer you some advice on proper golf etiquette." I can hear all of you now, what a jerk! Tone and attitude has a LOT to do with this and I feel like if you do this is a gentle manner, the other person will be ready to hear what you have to say.

When it comes to slow play, you can point out that your group is lagging behind the group ahead, and that you simply need to try and catch up. You might point out that this is standard operating procedure on a golf course. That way it sort of takes the onus off you, instead of seeming like its you trying to impose your own will or your own personal pace of play on people, you're just reminding them that there is an objective standard. Conveniently on the back of the scorecards around here, it does state "A round of golf should take no longer than 4.5 hours". I have once or twice invoked that after a slow front nine.

When it comes to stepping in putting lines, I will usually point it out when someone steps in someone else's line, not mine. Again it's easier to be blunt about these things when you take yourself out of the equation. I.e. its much smoother to say to someone "You shouldn't step in your buddy's line" than "You shouldn't step in MY line".

Jeans on the course, let the course deal with that.