Golf Terms

• ace
  Hole in one.
  
• address
  A player standing in a position ready to hit the ball.
  
• albatross (aka double eagle)
  Three strokes under par for any given hole.
  
• approach
  A shot where the golfer is aiming at the green.
  
• attending the flag
  Holding the flagstick for another golfer while they putt.
  
• away
  The person furthest from the hole.
  
• back nine
  The last nine holes of an 18 hole course.
  
• backspin
  Reverse spin applied to the ball.
  
• ball mark
  The mark left on the green from a struck ball.
  
• best ball
  A golf match where teams are made of two or more players and the best net score from each player is used by the team for each hole.
  
• best shot
  A golf match where teams are made of two or more players and members of each team all hit shots from the best position after their tee shots.
  
• birdie
  A score of one under par for any given hole.
  
• bite
  See backspin.
  
• bogey
  A score of one over par on any given hole.
  
• break
  The curve necessary for a putt to reach the hole.
  
• bump and run
  A low shot that a player hits in order to allow the ball to roll a greater distance to the hole.
  
• bunker
  A hazard filled by sand or grass.
  
• deuce
  A score of two on any given hole
  
• divot
  The grass that is displaced after strking the ball.
  
• dogleg
  The curve of a hole in either a right or left direction.
  
• double bogie
  A score of two over par on any given hole.
  
• double eagle
  A score of three under par on a hole.
  
• draw
  A shot that curves right to left for a right-handed player or left to right for a left-handed player.
  
• drop
  Dropping the ball back in play after it has been determined to be unplayable.
  
• eagle
  A score of two under par on a hole.
  
• fade
  A shot that curves left to right for a right-handed player or right to left for a left-handed player.
  
• fairway
  The grass between the tee and the green.
  
• fat shot
  A shot where the player strikes the ground before hitting the ball.
  
• first cut
  The rough just alongside the fairway.
  
• flagstick
  The pole with the flag at the top that marks the location of the hole.
  
• flier
  A shot that goes far beyond the intended target.
  
• fly the green
  A shot that lands over the green.
  
• fore!
  The word to shout if there is a danger of your shot landing near another group.
  
• foursome
  A group of four playing golf together.
  
• free drop
  In certain situations a player is allowed to drop the ball (within a specified distance from its current location) without a penalty.
  
• front nine
  The first 9 holes of a golf course.
  
• grain
  The leaning of grass towards the sun.
  
• green
  The shortest cut grass which also contains the hole.
  
• greens fee
  The cost to play a round of golf at a given course.
  
• grip
  Holding a golf club. Also the cover on a golf club where a golfer holds it.
  
• gallery
  Spectators at a tournament.
  
• gimme
  A short putt that your opponent doesn't ask you to hit.
  
• good-good
  (See gimme.)
  
• grand slam
  The four major PGA championships.
  
• graphite
  Lightweight material used to make golf clubs.
  
• greens fee
  The cost to play a round of golf.
  
• ground the club
  The process of placing the clubhead behind the ball at address, generally touching the bottom of the grass.
  
• hacker
  Most of us. Not a very good golfer.
  
• half shot
  Improvised shot with ordinarily too much club for the distance.
  
• handicap
  The shots over par a player typically shoots, on average.
  
• head cover
  Protection for the clubhead, usually used on woods.
  
• heel
  End of the clubhead closest to the shaft.
  
• hole-in-one
  See ace.
  
• hook
  Shot that curves severely from right to left (for a right-handed player)
  
• hosel
  Curved area where the clubhead connects with the shaft.
  
• impediment
  Loose debris that you can remove from around your ball as long as the ball doesn't move.
  
• improve your lie
  To move the ball to make a shot easier. This is illegal unless local rules dictate otherwise.
  
• lag
  A long putt hit with the intent of leaving the ball close to the cup.
  
• lateral hazard
  Water hazard marked by red stakes and usually parallel to the fairway.
  
• lay-up
  Conservatively played shot to avoid possible trouble.
  
• lie
  Where your ball is on the ground.
  
• line
  The path of a shot to the hole.
  
• links
  A course by the sea.
  
• lip
  Edge of a cup or bunker.
  
• lip-out
  Ball touches the edge of the cup but doesn't drop in.
  
• loft
  The degree at which a clubface looks upward.
  
• low-handicapper
  Good player.
  
• lpga
  Ladies Professional Golf Association.
  
• mark
  To indicate the position of the ball with a small, round, flat object, such as a coin, usually on the green.
  
• marker
  Small, round object, such as a coin, placed behind the ball to indicate its position when you lift it. Or the person keeping score.
  
• masters
  The tournament with the green jacket. Say no more.
  
• match play
  Game played between two sides. The side that wins the most holes wins the match.
  
• mis-club
  To use the wrong club for the distance.
  
• mis-read
  To take the wrong line on a putt.
  
• mixed foursome
  Two men, two women.
  
• mulligan
  Taking another shot from the same position after being dissatisfied with the first shot.
  
• municipal course
  A public course owned by the state.
  
• nassau
  Bet in which a round of 18 holes is divided into three - front nine, back nine, and full 18.
  
• net score
  Score for a hole or round after handicap strokes are deducted.
  
• nine
  Half of a 18 hole course.
  
• out-of-bounds
  An errant shot that ends up outside of the playable boundaries of the hole.
  
• open face
  Clubface aligned to the right of the target at address, or to the right of its path at impact (for a right-handed player).
  
• open stance
  For a right-handed player, having the left foot behind the right foot at address.
  
• overlapping grip
  A type of grip where the little finger of the right hand lies over the index finger of the left hand.
  
• par
  The average score of a good player on a hole. All the individual pars add up to a par calculation for the course.
  
• pga
  Professional Golfers' Association.
  
• pin
  The pole placed in the hole.
  
• pin-high
  See hole high.
  
• pin-placement
  The location of the hole on the green.
  
• pitch
  A short, high approach shot.
  
• pitch-and-run
  A lower shot than a pitch shot, with more roll.
  
• pivot
  The body turn during the swing.
  
• plane
  The arc of the swing.
  
• play through
  A courtesy offered by one group of players to another so the quicker group can pass the slower group.
  
• practice green
  Place for working on your putting.
  
• preferred lies
  Being able to re-position the ball when it's current position is affected by adverse conditions.
  
• private club
  A member's only golf club. Not open to the public unless as a guest of a member.
  
• pro shop
  A place where you sign up to start play and can buy balls, clubs, and so on.
  
• pro-am
  A tournament with teams of professionals paired with amateurs.
  
• professional
  A golfer who plays and/or teaches golf as a profession.
  
• provisional ball
  A player hits a provisional when they are not sure if their previous shot was lost.
  
• public course
  A golf course open to everyone.
  
• pull
  A straight shot to the left of the target. This is unlike a hook which curves left.
  
• punch shot
  A low trajectory shot.
  
• push shot
  A straight shot to the right of the target. This is unlike a slice which curves right.
  
• putter
  Used on greens. The most important club in a golfer's bag.
  
• rake
  Used to smooth out sand traps. Some of us spend more time with this rake than the one in the garage.
  
• range
  Practice area.
  
• read the green
  Assessing the line of a putt on the green.
  
• relief
  Where you drop a ball that was in a hazard or affected by an obstruction.
  
• rough
  The area of long grass on either side of the fairway.
  
• round
  Eighteen holes of golf.
  
• sand trap
  A bunker.
  
• scramble
  A match where all players tee off and then pick the best shot. Everyone plays from that spot and continues with each set of shots.
  
• scratch player
  One with a 0 handicap.
  
• second cut
  Second level of rough, higher than first cut.
  
• semi-private
  A course with members that is also open to the public.
  
• setup
  Standing at a position ready to hit the ball. See address.
  
• shaft
  The part of the club that joins the grip to the head.
  
• shank
  The 'S' word. Errant shot where the ball goes way right of the intended target.
  
• short cut
  Cut of grass on the fairway or green.
  
• short game
  Shots played on and around the green.
  
• skins
  Betting game where the lowest score on a hole wins the pot. If the hole is tied, the money carries over to the next hole.
  
• slice
  Errant shot that curves from left to right for a right-handed player.
  
• snap hook
  Severe hook.
  
• sole
  Bottom of the clubhead.
  
• square
  Score of a match is even (all square). Also standing at address with the clubface and feet aligned appropriately with the target.
  
• stance
  Position of the feet before the swing.
  
• starter
  Person who sends players off from the first tee.
  
• starting time
  When you tee off at the first tee.
  
• stick
  The pin in the hole.
  
• stiff
  A shaft with not much flex (stiff shaft). Also a shot which ends up close to the hole (knocking it stiff).
  
• stimpmeter
  Device used to measure the speed of greens.
  
• stroke hole
  Hole at which one either gives or receives a shot, according to the handicap of your playing.
  
• stroke
  Movement of club with the intent to hit the ball.
  
• sudden-death
  Form of playoff whereby the first player to win a hole wins the match.
  
• superintendent
  Person responsible for the upkeep of the course.
  
• sweet spot
  Perfect point on the clubface with which to strike the ball.
  
• swing plane
  Angle at which the club shaft travels around the body during a swing.
  
• takeaway
  Part of the swing where the club is brought back away from the body.
  
• tap-in
  Very short putt.
  
• tee it up
  To start play.
  
• tee
  Wooden peg on which the ball is set for the first shot on a hole. Also, the area from which that initial shot is hit.
  
• temporary green
  Used in winter to save the permanent green.
  
• thin
  A mishit where the ball is struck near or above the middle.
  
• three-putt
  We all learn this one early on.
  
• tight
  Narrow fairway.
  
• titanium
  Metal used in lightweight shafts.
  
• top
  See thin.
  
• trajectory
  Flight of the ball.
  
• trap
  See bunker.
  
• triple bogey
  Three over par on one hole.
  
• turn
  Rotation of the body during the swing. Also the point during play where you finish the first 9 holes and are heading to the 10th (make the turn).
  
• unplayable lie
  If you are unable to hit the ball where it lies you can take a drop and incur a 1 stroke penalty.
  
• up and down
  To get the ball into the hole in two strokes from somewhere off the green.
  
• waggle
  Movement of the clubhead prior to the swing. Sergio Garcia is famous for his 'waggle'.
  
• water hazard
  A player earns a 1 stroke penalty for hitting into one of these.
  
• wedge
  Club with high degree of loft.
  
• wood
  Material that clubs used to be made of.
  
• wormburner
  A low errant shot.