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golf terms
Golf Terminology And Glossary
ACE - Golfers term for a hole in one!!
ADDRESS - The position a golfer takes before
hitting the ball or taking a swing.
ALBATROSS - Outdated term for an Eagle,
or a hole played 3 under par.
APPROACH - The shot that puts your ball on the
Green. Usually hit from less than 150 yards and
hit with an Iron
BACKSPIN - A ball with backspin hits the ground
and stops, or rolls backwards a bit before stopping.
BACKSWING - The first portion of the swing where
the golfer raises the club backwards away from the ball.
Also referred to as the takeaway.
BAIL OUT - A shot taken in order to avoid a
dangerous part of a hole. Instead of aiming over a sand
trap one might aim to either side, in order to avoid
the trap.
BALL MARKER - A coin, flat object, or any other
item used to mark the spot of a ball before the ball
is picked up by a player.
BALL RETRIEVER - A telescopic pole with a scoop
on the end to retrieve a ball hit into the water.
BALL WASHER - Device found at each hole used
to clean golf balls.
BASEBALL GRIP - A grip where all 10 fingers
are on the golf club.
BEACH - A golfers term for a sand trap.
BENT GRASS - Golf course grass found mostly
on northern golf courses.
BERMUDA GRASS - Golf course grass found mostly
on southern courses.
BIRDIE - Finishing a hole using one less shot
than Par.
BITE - Term used to describe the action of a
ball as it lands on the ground and stops quickly, thus
appearing to bite the ground in order to stop.
BOGEY - Finishing a hole using one more shot
than Par.
BUNKER - Golfers term for a sand trap.
CADDIE - A caddie carries your golf clubs, provides
assistance with rules, and offers advice with respect
to course conditions.
CARRY - A term that refers to how far a ball
must fly in the air in order to miss a hazard.
CASUAL WATER - Water left on the ground after
a heavy rain. A temporary water hazard from which a
golfer can take Relief.
CHIP SHOT - A very short shot used when a golfer
is very close to the Pin but not yet on the green.
CHIP IN - This occurs when the golfer who has
just played a chip shot and put it in the hole.
CHOKE - This term refers to the grip on a golf
club. Choking up means to move your hands closer to
the top of the club while choking down means to move
your hands further down the club.
CHOP - Striking the ball with an incorrect swing.
CLUBHEAD - This part of the golf club is located
at the opposite end of the grip.
CLUBHOUSE - The part of the golf course where
you can find the Pro Shop, Restaurant, and Bar.
COURSE RATING - This is referred to as the difficulty
level of the course. The higher the number the harder
the course.
CUP - This is object of each hole played. We
try to putt the ball into the cup..
DIMPLE - The small indentations found on a golf
ball.
DIVOT - A clump of grass taken by a golf swing.
This is usually done to get under the ball and put some
back spin on it.
DOGLEG - Refers to the layout of a hole. If
the hole starts out straight and curves to the right
this is referred to as a dogleg right.
DOUBLE BOGEY - A hole that is finished using
2 more strokes than Par.
DOUBLE EAGLE - A hole that is finished using
3 less strokes than Par. Scoring 2 on a Par 5 or a hole
in one on a Par 4 will get you a Double Eagle.
DOWNHILL LIE - When you Approach the
ball it is resting on a hill lower than your feet.
DRAIN - To make a putt on the first try.
DRAW SHOT - A designed shot in which the ball
is hit in such a way that it moves from right to left.
DRIVE - Your first shot from the Tee Box. Usually
hit using a "Driver" see below.
DRIVING RANGE - This is where players go to
practice.
DRIVER - Also known as a 1 Wood, this is the
biggest club in the bag and is used for hitting the
ball as far as possible.
DROP -If a ball is hit OB (out of bounds) the
golfer then stands where the ball went OB and Drops
another ball into play.
DUFFER - A poor golfer. This term is reserved
for experienced golfers who still play poorly.
EAGLE - A hole that is played using 2 less shots
than Par.
FACE - The part of the golf club that makes
contact with the ball.
FADE - Same as a Draw but the ball moves from
left to right.
FAIRWAY - The area directly between the Tee
box and the Green.
FAT SHOT - This is a poor shot where the club
head makes contact with the ground far before it hits
the ball. This shot robs the golfer of distance since
the club head speed is greatly reduced by the ground.
FLAGSTICK - This is the flag which marks the
Cup on every hole.
FLAT STICK - Another name for a putter.
FOLLOW-THROUGH - The remainder of the swing
after the club face has made contact with the ball.
FORE - A warning term yelled to other golfers
alerting them of an incoming golf ball that might hit
them.
FOURSOME - This is the preferred number of people
playing a round of golf. 4
FREE DROP - A drop where you are not penalized
by a stroke. Man made hazards, ground under repair,
and casual water are all instances where a Free Drop
can be used.
FRINGE - The patch of taller grass outlining
the green.
FRONT SIDE - Refers to the first nine holes
on a golf course.
GIMME - When a group of golfers decides to allow
each other to pick up the last putt only when it is
within a certain number of inches from the cup. In other
words, when a golfer putts his ball a few inches from
the hole the other golfers may say "that's a gimme"
and allow the golfer to pick it up.
GRAIN - The direction that the grass on the
green is growing. Usually grows toward the setting sun.
GREEN - The putting service of any hole on a
course.
GRIP - How a golfer holds his club.
GROSS - Total number of strokes taken during
a round by a player.
GROUNDING THE CLUB - Positioning the club head
behind the ball as the golfer addresses the ball.
GROUND UNDER REPAIR - An area of the course
that is currently under repair. A free drop may be used.
HACKER - An unskilled golfer.
HANDICAP - A number given to a golfer in order
to even the playing field. The number is the amount
of strokes that can be deducted from a scorecard.
HAZARD - Any area on a golf course designed
to make the golfer work harder. Sand, water, and rough
are all hazards.
HEEL - The part of the club head closest to
the shaft.
HOLE - Same as cup above.
HOLE HIGH - An approach shot with the right
distance but lacking in accuracy.
HOLE-IN-ONE - Sinking a ball into a cup on your
first shot.
HONORS - The golfer who finishes the hole with
the least amount of strokes gets to Tee Off first on
the next hole. He has honors.
HOOK - To hit the ball and have it move drastically
from right to left.
HOSEL - the hollow part of the club head that
the shaft fits into.
INTERLOCKING GRIP - A type of grip where 2 fingers
interlock on the club.
IRON - 1-9, PW, and SW are all Irons. Not Woods!
JAIL - A shot that is very difficult to play.
If your ball is under a bush and almost impossible to
play you are said to be "in jail".
JUNGLE - When a ball lands in the woods or a
heavy rough you are said to be in the Jungle.
KICK - This is what the ball does when it hit's
the ground. It can kick right, which means hop the the
right when it lands, kick left, or hop forward.
LAG - On long putts or dangerous downhill putts
sometimes a golfer will leave the ball short intentionally
in order to have an easy second putt. This is referred
to as a lag putt.
LATERAL HAZARD - Water running all along a Fairway
is considered a lateral hazard. Basically the hazard
runs along the entire hole and not just a portion of
the hole.
LIE - The position a ball is in after it has
come to rest. If the ball is in thick rough you then
have a bad lie.
LINKS - The holes on a golf course run along
side each other in order to conserve space. Fairways
are divided by shrubs or other man made obstacles.
LIP - The uppermost edge of the Cup.
LOB SHOT - A high shot intended to land a ball
on the green with very little forward roll.
LOCAL RULES - The rules set forward by a specific
golf course.
LOFT - This is the angle of a club face from
perpendicular.
MATCH PLAY - This is where players compete for
a point on the hole. The winner of the hole gets one
point. Most points win.
MEDAL (STROKE) PLAY - The winner is determined
by least number of strokes.
MEMBERS BOUNCE - This is when a ball takes a
good kick as it lands. Instead of hitting the tree and
going OB the ball hits the tree and kicks back into
play.
MULLIGAN - An extra shot offered by a golfer
to another in the event of a really bad shot. We suggest
setting limits on mulligans like one per every nine
holes played to be used at the golfers discretion.
MUNICIPAL COURSE - A public course owned by
the city or county.
NASSAU - This is like match play except there
are winners for the front nine, back nine, and overall
total. 1 point for each.
NINETEENTH HOLE - Golfers term for the clubhouse,
or bar after the round.
OUT-OF-BOUNDS (OB) - An area marked unsuitable
for play by the golf course. Any golfer hitting OB must
hit again from the same spot or closest part to where
the ball went OB.
OVERCLUBBING - Selecting a club that under normal
conditions would send the ball further than desired.
One might over club when facing into heavy winds.
PAR - Number of recommended stokes to complete
a hole or round.
PENALTY STROKE - Additional stroke added to
a golfers score for rule violations, OB shots, lost
balls, or other situations.
PIN - Also referred to as a flagstick.
PITCH - Similar to the Lob Shot and designed
to deliver the ball to the green without much forward
roll.
PITCH AND RUN - A low trajectory shot usually
carried out with a 7 Iron designed to keep the ball
low and have it roll up on the green.
PLAYING THROUGH - When a faster set of golfers
plays through a slower set ahead of them.
PRO SHOP - the golf course shop operated by
the golf pro.
PROVISIONAL BALL - An additional ball hit by
a player who is unsure they will locate their first
ball. If the first ball is found it is played, if not
the player is assessed a penalty stroke and plays the
second ball.
PULL - A ball hit to the left of a target.
PUSH - A ball hit to the right of a target.
PUTT - A shot taken from the green using a putter.
PUTTER - Not a driver and not an Iron. Used
to keep the ball rolling on a green.
READING THE GREEN - Figuring out which path
the ball will roll across the putting surface.
ROUGH - The tall grass lining each side of the
fairway.
ROUND - A complete game of golf. 18 holes.
RUN - How far the ball will roll once it has
landed on the ground after flight..
SANDBAGGER - A golfer who underestimates their
ability in order to win tournaments.
SAND TRAP - Proper name for the beach or a sand
hazard.
SAND WEDGE - An Iron designed specifically to
hit balls out of the sand.
SCRATCH GOLFER - Golfer with a 0 handicap. This
player shoots even par almost every time out.
SHORT GAME - Shots are made from around the
green. Usually chipping, putting, and other controlled
shots.
STARTER - This is the person responsible for
sending the golfers onto the course.
STIMPMETER - Term used to measure the speed
of the greens. % is slow, 11 is fast.
STROKE - A term used to describe the swing of
the club. Can also refer to the number of shots made.
SUDDEN DEATH - A way to determine the winner
by playing additional holes in the event of a tie.
SUMMER RULES - Normal rules according to the
rule book
SWEET SPOT - The center of the club face where
the ball is supposed to make contact with the ball!
TAKEAWAY - Also referred to as the back swing
of a Stroke.
TEE - A wooden peg designed to lift the ball
off the ground. Also the starting point of any hole.
TEXAS WEDGE - When a golfer uses a putter from
off the green.
THIN HIT - Hitting the ball too high. The player
does not get the club face under the ball. Instead they
hit the ball with the leading edge of the club.
THREESOME - A group of golfers with 3 players.
TIGHT FAIRWAY - Narrow fairway with little from
for error.
TOE - The part of the club face farthest from
the shaft.
TRAJECTORY - Path the ball takes through the
air. Usually arc shaped on good shots.
TURN - The part of the round between the front
nine and back nine.
UNDERCLUBBING - Selecting a club which under
normal conditions would not provide enough distance
to reach the target. This is usually done with a strong
wind from behind.
UNPLAYABLE LIE - A golf ball that cannot be
hit from its current position.
WAGGLE - The movements a golfer goes through
prior to striking the ball. A warm up designed to keep
the muscles loose before a shot.
WEDGE - An Iron with a steep loft designed to
make high shots that land with little or no forward
roll.
WHIFF - When a golfer attempts to swing at the
ball and misses completely.
WINTER RULES - Special condition rules that
allow a golfer to improve their lie.
WOOD - Larger clubs made of wood or metal used
for distance shots.
WORMBURNER - This is a shot that has been hit
too thin and never leaves the ground.
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