Taking your hat off at then end of the 18th

It must relate to the whole idea of taking your hat off when you go in to the club house. I suppose it's done because you're removing the tools or equipment you wear to play the game and so 'stripping' down to the gentleman (or gentlewoman, of course) in order to say thanks for the game, man-to-man.

I always take my hat off to shake hands. My glove is usually off anyway, so that's never been part of the tradition, but it really doesn't bother me if the other players still have their hat and/or glove on.

An additional nicety is that if there's a lady in our group she gets/gives a little cheek kiss.

Such displays of civility are a good thing! They're what make golf a better game than most.