Golf Terms

EAGLE – This is a bird in real life, but in golf it means a score of 2 under par on a hole. (I.e. a score of 3 on a par 5 hole)

FACE – This is what you see when you look in the mirror and it is also the part of the clubhead that makes contact with the ball.

FADE – This is a shot (for a right-handed golfer) which curves gradually from left to right.

FAIRWAY – This is the area on the golf course which lies directly between the tee box and the green and is cut really short and maintained really nice. You want to hit from this area if at all possible.

FAT SHOT – This is a shot which is not good. The club hits the ground behind the ball and results in a poorly struck shot that usually doesn’t go very far.

FLAGSTICK – Come’on, you gotta know this one.

FLUB – See dub above.

FOLLOW-THROUGH – The continuation of the golf swing to the end.

FORE – This is spelled differently than the number 4. This is the term yelled when one hits a shot toward another person on the golf course to alert him/her of impending doom from being hit by the ball.

FOURSOME – A term given to a group of… come’on how many do you think players? (hint: 4!)

FREE DROP – A drop that you don’t have to pay for, really that is correct, you get to drop the ball and don’t have to add a stroke to your score. This can happen when there is casual water on the course or ground under repair.

FRINGE – The closely cut area just around the edge of the green.

FRONT SIDE – The first nine holes is usually referred to as the “front side”.

GIMME – A term for a putt that is close enough to the cup that it will certainly be made so the other player says “it’s a gimme” and the player doesn’t have to putt it. However, he does need to add this stroke to his score!

GRAIN – This is the direction that the grass on the green is growing. A golf ball will roll faster with the grain and slower against it.

GREEN – This is a color and also the term used to describe the putting surface on the golf course.

GRIP – This refers to either the part of the shaft by which the club is held by the golfer or the manner in which the golfer holds the club. (i.e. an overlapping grip)

GROSS – The total number of strokes a player takes on his round.

GROUNDING THE CLUB – Placing the clubhead on the ground behind the ball at address position.

GROUND UNDER REPAIR – An area on the golf course that is being repaired. Golfers are able to take a “free drop” if their ball ends up in ground under repair.

HACKER – A golfer who is not very skilled. Same as a duffer.

HANDICAP – The number of strokes a player may deduct from his actual (or gross) score to adjust his score to that of a scratch golfer.

HAZARD – A hazard is any sand trap, lake, pond, bunker, etc. that may cause problems on the golf course. It is normally a good idea to avoid a hazard on the golf course.

HEEL – What you tell your dog to do when walking him/her OR the part of the clubhead nearest the shaft.

HOLE – A 4 inch round receptacle on the green that you try to get your ball into.

HOLE HIGH – An approach shot which is even with the hole but off to one side.

HOLE-IN-ONE – See ACE above.

HOLE OUT – the process of a player completing the hole.

HONOR – the privilege of hitting first on the next tee. The “honor” is gained by having the lowest score on the preceding hole.

HOOK – To hit the ball and have it curve gradually from right to left (for right-handed golfers).

HOSEL – The hollow part of the clubhead that the shaft fits into.